AMBASSADOR MEETS HEAD OF THE UN CENTRE FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001033 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI) E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/15/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KG SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS HEAD OF THE UN CENTRE FOR PREVENTATIVE DIPLOMACY REF: BISHKEK 952 BISHKEK 00001033 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller for Reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Ambassador met with Ambassador Miroslav Jenca, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventative Diplomacy for Central Asia. Jenca reported that Foreign Minister Sarbayev had told him that President Bakiyev and Uzbek President Karimov had come to an understanding on the issue of the Russian base in southern Kyrgyzstan. However, Jenca said that in his meetings with Uzbek officials they had expressed a great deal of concern about Russian intentions in the region. END SUMMARY. No New Russian Bases? -------------- ¶2. (C) On August 26, Ambassador met with Ambassador Miroslav Jenca, the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventative Diplomacy for Central Asia. After congratulating the Ambassador on finding a mutual understanding with the Kyrgyz regarding the Transit Center at Manas, Jenca recounted a meeting he just had with Foreign Minister Sarbayev. Jenca said that Sarbayev told him that there had been a misunderstanding in the press, and that there would be no new Russian bases in Kyrgyzstan. Rather, "they are just putting old bases in order." Jenca was puzzled by what Sarbayev meant, since the agreement on a new Russian base has been widely publicized. The Ambassador suggested that Sarbayev was attempting to blur the distinction between old Soviet and new Russian bases. ¶3. (C) Discussing his meetings with Uzbek officials, Jenca said that the Uzbeks were concerned over Russian intentions in the region. However, Jenca said that Sarbayev characterized the Kyrgyz-Uzbek relationship as largely positive, although admitting some possibilities for tension. According to Sarbayev, Bakiyev and Karimov had a one-on-one meeting at the informal CSTO summit at Issyk-Kul, and came to an understanding about the Russian presence in Southern Kyrgyzstan. The Bishkek Initiative -------------- ¶4. (C) Jenca said that Sarbayev raised the Bishkek Initiative, describing it rather vaguely as a regional forum on Afghanistan, hosted by Kyrgyzstan. Jenca told Sarbayev that he should raise the idea with Ambassador Kai Eide, the head of the UN Assistance Mission to Afghanistan. Jenca said he also told Sarbayev that it would be difficult to gain broad donor support for the notion without first having lined up the other Central Asian countries, and then having discussed the idea with the Government of Afghanistan. While critical of the Kyrgyz approach of proposing first and defining later, Jenca was broadly supportive of increasing ties between Afghanistan and Central Asia. He also said that the UN is considering organizing an event aimed at increasing ties between Afghanistan and Central Asia, likely focused on education and infrastructure. Counterterrorism -------------- ¶5. (C) Jenca said that he did not view terrorism as an immediate threat in Kyrgyzstan, but that there is potential for the threat to grow. In Tajikistan however, which he had just visited, he saw concrete evidence that terrorists are crossing over from Afghanistan and operating within the country. Jenca said that the UN is working with the EU to prepare a series of conferences on how to implement UN BISHKEK 00001033 002.2 OF 002 counterterrorism measures in the region. Water and Energy -------------- ¶6. (C) Referring to the Aral Sea Summit on April 28 in Almaty, Jenca said the fact that the five Central Asian Presidents had come together was positive. The UN is engaged on water and energy issues, and is considering the establishment of a high-level process to discuss those issues at the regional level. Jenca said that he believes that Bakiyev and Karimov are willing to work together, in spite of the obvious tensions between the countries on the water and energy fronts. Comment -------------- ¶7. (C) Earlier that day, the Ambassador delivered Sarbayev,s invitation to bilateral consultations in Washington (reftel). Jenca said that Sarbayev told him in some detail about his upcoming visit to Washington, indicating that within a few hours of receiving the official invitation, Sarbayev was already bragging about it to a visitor. GFOELLER