AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000911

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH TURKISH COUNTERPART

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Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana Gfoeller for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: On September 8, Ambassador made an
introductory call on Serpil Alpman, Turkey's Ambassador to
the Kyrgyz Republic. The envoys discussed a range of issues,
including which embassy would serve as the next NATO Contact
Point Embassy, Kyrgyz government pressure against foreign
universities, and interest in greater coordination among the
diplomatic community in Bishkek. End summary.


2. (C) Ambassador met September 8 with Serpil Alpman,
Turkey's Ambassador in Bishkek. The Ambassadors discussed
which Embassy might serve as the NATO Contact Point Embassy
for the 2009-2010 rotation. Alpman explained that Turkey had
served as the Contact Point Embassy for the last two
rotations and was ready to pass the responsibility to another
NATO-member embassy in Bishkek. Ambassador said that the
U.S. Embassy would not be a good choice at the present time.
She explained that the presence of Manas Coalition Air Base
gives rise to black press and suspicion about U.S. intentions
in Kyrgyzstan, and having the U.S. Embassy serve as the NATO
representative would add to those suspicions, which could
adversely affect the Base. The Ambassadors suggested that
either the French or German Embassy might consider serving as
NATO representative, and Alpman said she would ask NATO about
the possibility of the French permanent Charge d'Affaires
filling the void.


3. (C) The Ambassadors also discussed the problems faced by
the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University and the American
University of Central Asia (AUCA) as a result of government
pressure. Ambassador noted that AUCA has a long-term
agreement to use two historic buildings in central Bishkek,
but the government is pushing AUCA to give up those buildings
and move to another location. Alpman said that Bishkek City
mayor Nariman Tuleyev is pressuring the Turks to pull out of
Manas University as well, and she speculated that the
administration may be trying to "get rid of the university
and sell the land." Alpman expressed her frustration with
the administration, claiming that the Turkish government,
having already invested over $100 million, was looking to
expand the university's capacity.


4. (C) Ambassador asked what actions should be taken to
protect the universities. Alpman stated that the Turkish
embassy had already delivered letters, notes, and demarches
demanding that the city administration back off. She
believed that Deputy Prime Minister Elmira Ibraimova,
responsible for education and social issues, could be an ally
to reach President Bakiyev, and Alpman said that she
considered State Secretary Dosbol Nur uulu to be another
ally.


5. (C) Alpman explained the two-pronged approach to
Turkish-Kyrgyz relations by supporting education and
investment projects. She said that in addition to funding
Manas University, the Turkish government supported other
education establishments, such as the theological department
at Osh State University, a vocational school for girls, and a
high school for gifted students. Alpman expressed her
concern about the growing prominence of Fetullah Gulen-funded
high schools in Kyrgyzstan (she noted that Gulen is a devout
Turk who has run afoul of the Turkish government in the past
for his intense religious views). Alpman said that these
private schools are growing in popularity because most of the
instruction is in English but that the ultra-conservative
message may have a negative impact on Kyrgyz youth. Alpman
added that her government promoted investment opportunities
in Kyrgyzstan for Turkish businesses. She said that several
Turkish companies successfully operate in the free trade
zones near Bishkek, producing items such as building
materials and plastic bottles. In the south, Turkish firms
have increased exports of Kyrgyz food products in the last
few years.

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6. (C) When asked about the possibility of growing Islamic
fundamentalism in the south, Ambassador Alpman said that she
believed Hizb ut-Tahrir (HT),the Islamic Movement of
Uzbekistan, and the Islamic Jihad of Uzbekistan are becoming
more active there. Although not necessarily violent in its
actions, Alpman felt that HT operated more like a "public
relations" organization, inciting hatred and purveying
extremist Islamic ideology in support of the rest of the
extremist community.


7. (C) Alpman said she supported the initiative of the
Chinese Ambassador, as dean of the diplomatic corps, to
organize more activities and briefings for the entire
diplomatic corps in Bishkek. She said she had found past
events for the diplomatic corps organized in cooperation with
the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be useful.
GFOELLER