KYRGYZSTAN: SECRETARIAT GROWING IN INFLUENCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 001076 E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/26/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KG KPAO SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN: SECRETARIAT GROWING IN INFLUENCE Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Larry L. Memmott for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) On September 23 at an Embassy-hosted function, former BBC correspondent and current speechwriter for President Bakiyev, Sultan Jumagulov, told EmbOffs that the Presidential Secretariat will soon become a key institution in defining the Kyrgyz Government's domestic and foreign policy. The Secretariat was originally established to cover press and protocol for the President,s Administration. Jumagulov said that the U.S. Embassy should use this opportunity to develop a "pro-American lobby" in the Secretariat. He warned that there is already a pro-Russian lobby in the Secretariat, led by Sergey Masaulov, the Director for the government think-tank, the Institute for Strategic Analysis and Assessment. Jumagulov added that the Head of the Secretariat, Oksana Malevannaya, despite her Russian surname, is not pro-Russian. ¶2. (C) Jumagulov further explained that the Secretariat's staff has been working round-the-clock to develop a plan to reform the Presidential Administration. According to him, the plan will be announced this week. Ilim Karypbekov, who also works in the Secretariat, added that the next steps in reforms will be reform of the Cabinet, followed by reform of the whole Government structure. He said the Constitution will also need to be changed. ¶3. (C) Comment: After the July presidential elections, many observers have been anticipating major changes in the government, including the removal of several ministers. The government, however, now appears likely to implement a program of slow and gradual change. End comment. MEMMOTT