Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BISHKEK773
2008-07-30 08:16:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZ PRESIDENT CRITICIZES MINISTERS OVER PRICE
how-toVZCZCXRO9161 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHEK #0773 2120816 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 300816Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1241 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2609 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0991 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3002 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2387 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000773
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PRESIDENT CRITICIZES MINISTERS OVER PRICE
RISES, LACK OF PREPARATIONS FOR COMING WINTER
REF: A. BISHKEK 680
B. BISHKEK 593
Classified By: Classified by: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Lee Litzenberger
for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000773
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PRESIDENT CRITICIZES MINISTERS OVER PRICE
RISES, LACK OF PREPARATIONS FOR COMING WINTER
REF: A. BISHKEK 680
B. BISHKEK 593
Classified By: Classified by: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Lee Litzenberger
for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) During a July 24 government meeting, President
Bakiyev berated cabinet ministers and government officials
for poor performance in dealing with price increases and the
lack of preparations for the coming winter. Bakiyev
complained that too much time was spent "studying problems"
rather than acting on them. He reprimanded Prime Minister
Chudinov for "poor management" of the cabinet and encouraged
him to provide a list of any officials who should be sacked.
Numerous media outlets were invited to cover the meeting, and
the session was broadcast by state television later in the
day.
2. (SBU) Bakiyev criticized several ministers and heads of
state agencies directly. Bakiyev attacked Minister of
Economic Development and Trade Akilbek Japarov for inadequate
analyses and forecasts about rising food costs and overall
inflation. The president scolded Jumasarlik Nurjanov, the
head of the State Agency for Antimonopoly Policy and
Competition Development, for only recently regulating the
profits of Gazprom Neft Asia, which has a monopoly on fuel
supply to the country. Bakiyev was critical of the Minister
of Industry, Energy, and Fuel Resources, Saparbek Balkibekov,
who, he claimed, has insufficiently prepared the nation for
the upcoming winter and inevitable energy shortages.
3. (SBU) Bakiyev noted the critically low level of the
Toktogul Reservoir, and he warned that if the water level
dropped much further, the hydroelectric power station would
shut down. He said that this would cause a chain reaction of
additional, smaller power stations down river also to cease
operating. Bakiyev suggested that those "well-off people" inQrge houses could
afford to switch from electricity to
coal-burning heating systems. Bakiyev ordered the energy
minister to cut two of three phases of electricity to
privately owned two- and three-storey houses around Bishkek,
as well as to public saunas and bathhouses. This, Bakiyev
claimed, would allow for "main sections of the population" to
be supplied with electricity this winter.
4. (C) Comment: The government meeting received wide
coverage in the local press, both pro-government and
opposition. While some reported the event as an attempt by
the President to show that he is in charge and taking action,
others saw this as an attempt to deflect blame for the
current poor state of preparations on food and energy
security (See Refs A and B). By publicly criticizing
individual ministers and officials, Bakiyev seemed to be
setting Q stage for a cabinet shake-up. While there have
been no personnel changes as of a week after the meeting, we
anticipate that some heads may roll if economic conditions
worsen. Shortly after the President's speech, Bishkek city
officials began cutting phases at private houses, including
at two Embassy-leased residences, which are now on back-up
generators.
LITZENBERGER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/30/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PRESIDENT CRITICIZES MINISTERS OVER PRICE
RISES, LACK OF PREPARATIONS FOR COMING WINTER
REF: A. BISHKEK 680
B. BISHKEK 593
Classified By: Classified by: Charge d'Affaires, a.i. Lee Litzenberger
for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (SBU) During a July 24 government meeting, President
Bakiyev berated cabinet ministers and government officials
for poor performance in dealing with price increases and the
lack of preparations for the coming winter. Bakiyev
complained that too much time was spent "studying problems"
rather than acting on them. He reprimanded Prime Minister
Chudinov for "poor management" of the cabinet and encouraged
him to provide a list of any officials who should be sacked.
Numerous media outlets were invited to cover the meeting, and
the session was broadcast by state television later in the
day.
2. (SBU) Bakiyev criticized several ministers and heads of
state agencies directly. Bakiyev attacked Minister of
Economic Development and Trade Akilbek Japarov for inadequate
analyses and forecasts about rising food costs and overall
inflation. The president scolded Jumasarlik Nurjanov, the
head of the State Agency for Antimonopoly Policy and
Competition Development, for only recently regulating the
profits of Gazprom Neft Asia, which has a monopoly on fuel
supply to the country. Bakiyev was critical of the Minister
of Industry, Energy, and Fuel Resources, Saparbek Balkibekov,
who, he claimed, has insufficiently prepared the nation for
the upcoming winter and inevitable energy shortages.
3. (SBU) Bakiyev noted the critically low level of the
Toktogul Reservoir, and he warned that if the water level
dropped much further, the hydroelectric power station would
shut down. He said that this would cause a chain reaction of
additional, smaller power stations down river also to cease
operating. Bakiyev suggested that those "well-off people" inQrge houses could
afford to switch from electricity to
coal-burning heating systems. Bakiyev ordered the energy
minister to cut two of three phases of electricity to
privately owned two- and three-storey houses around Bishkek,
as well as to public saunas and bathhouses. This, Bakiyev
claimed, would allow for "main sections of the population" to
be supplied with electricity this winter.
4. (C) Comment: The government meeting received wide
coverage in the local press, both pro-government and
opposition. While some reported the event as an attempt by
the President to show that he is in charge and taking action,
others saw this as an attempt to deflect blame for the
current poor state of preparations on food and energy
security (See Refs A and B). By publicly criticizing
individual ministers and officials, Bakiyev seemed to be
setting Q stage for a cabinet shake-up. While there have
been no personnel changes as of a week after the meeting, we
anticipate that some heads may roll if economic conditions
worsen. Shortly after the President's speech, Bishkek city
officials began cutting phases at private houses, including
at two Embassy-leased residences, which are now on back-up
generators.
LITZENBERGER