AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH KYRGYZ MINISTER OF

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000989 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL ASEC MARR KG SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH KYRGYZ MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS KONGANTIYEV REF: BISHKEK 943 BISHKEK 00000989 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Ambassador held an introductory meeting September 19 with Minister of Internal Affairs Kongantiyev. The Ambassador asked Kongantiyev why the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD) had removed police protection from the Embassy and Marine House; Kongantiyev feigned ignorance and requested a letter from the Embassy detailing past security arrangements. Asked why the MVD had suddenly discontinued providing a bodyguard for the Ambassador, Kongantiyev claimed that it was "illegal" for his Ministry to provide such protection to individuals. On the MVD's August 4 seizure of weapons from a U.S. military training team, Kongantiyev said that bringing the weapons into Kyrgyzstan had been "illegal," and he claimed that the MVD had provided all necessary "expertise" to the Prosecutor General, who was now in charge of the case. The Ambassador said that resolving the weapons case was important for any future training and assistance. End Summary. MVD Security Removed -------------- ¶2. (C) The Ambassador met September 19 with Minister of Internal Affairs Maj.-Gen. Moldomusa Kongantiyev. Following introductions, the Ambassador asked why his Ministry recently removed the "SOBR" quick reaction force from in front of the embassy and the uniformed guard from the Marine House. (Note: The Kyrgyz government has provided additional security to the Embassy since September 2001, and the MVD's "SOBR" team had filled this role since July 2006. A uniformed MVD policeman remains on duty in front of the Embassy and in front of the Ambassador's residence. End note.) The Ambassador also asked why the MVD had suddenly stopped providing her a personal bodyguard. The Ambassador asked if these changes were permanent, and she said that the Embassy was prepared to seek alternatives. ¶3. (C) Kongantiyev initially feigned ignorance of MVD protection for the Embassy or Marine House. He asked how long MVD forces had been providing such protection, from which unit they had been drawn, and if there had been any written agreement. He asked that the Embassy send a letter detailing past arrangements, and then he would consider whether to provide additional security for the Embassy or uniformed security for the Marine House. (Note: The Embassy has since sent a letter to the Minister detailing the arrangements and providing a copy of the written agreement between the Embassy and MVD for the SOBR team. The original agreement was signed in August 2006 and was renewable on an annual basis. It was renewed in August 2007, but the MVD has not renewed the agreement this year. End note.) ¶4. (C) Turning to the issue of bodyguards for the Ambassador, Kongantiyev said that his Ministry did not have a sufficient number of personnel to provide such services. Further, he said, it was "illegal" for MVD to provide bodyguards. Kongantiyev suggested that the Ambassador hire "private security" for her personal protection. (Note: MVD had provided a plain clothes bodyguard to the Ambassador for all public appearances since July 2006. End note.) Weapons Were "Illegal" -------------- ¶5. (C) The Ambassador asked Kongantiyev about the MVD's August 4 seizure of weapons and equipment from a U.S. military training team. She noted that President Bakiyev had told CODEL Reid on August 6 that the incident had been a "mistake" due to "miscommunication" between Kyrgyz government bodies and promised that the situation would be resolved BISHKEK 00000989 002.4 OF 002 quickly. She said that it was important for future training and cooperation that the weapons and equipment be returned to the team before it departs Kyrgyzstan in late September. ¶6. (C) Kongantiyev said that importing the U.S. team's weapons into Kyrgyzstan had been "illegal," and he said that the team should have used Kyrgyz weapons for any training with a Kyrgyz team. He questioned what the team was doing in Kyrgyzstan, and he claimed that the State Committee on National Security (GKNB) denied inviting the team. (Note: The U.S. military team came to Kyrgyzstan at the invitation of the GKNB to conduct counter-terrorism training with the GKNB's elite "Alpha" unit. The team went ahead with the training, despite the seizure of weapons and equipment. End note.) Kongantiyev then said that the only reason that the U.S. team members had not been arrested was that he was a "humanitarian." Kongantiyev also claimed that the MVD had already supplied to the Prosecutor General's Office the "expertise" required for the criminal investigation. MCC and Police Training -------------- ¶7. (C) The Ambassador also noted U.S. assistance to the MVD, including the Millennium Challenge Account Threshold Program. She said that the Threshold Program's police reform component would provide technical assistance on personnel policies, citizen overview, and complaints procedures, as well as training and equipment subject to certain conditions. The Ambassador thanked the Minister for providing office space for the Department of Justice/ICITAP implementers. The Ambassador also mentioned the work of the INL-funded program working with the traffic police, and she noted possible future ATA training. Ambassador again emphasized that it would be better to resolve the current issues before considering any future training or assistance. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) Kongantiyev was disingenuous and aggressive throughout the meeting, and he showed so sign of wanting to resolve or explain any of his Ministry's recent actions against U.S. interests. Kongantiyev did appear somewhat chastened, however, when the Ambassador indicated that future assistance could be at risk if current issues were not resolved. As the Ambassador was leaving, Kongantiyev made a point of saying that he did not want the current problems to interfere with a "positive relationship." "We must continue to help each other, love each other," he concluded, as he took the Ambassador's hand in both of his and shook it for a very long time. GFOELLER