KYRGYZSTAN: POLITICAL "REFORMS" ON THE WAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 001114 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN: POLITICAL "REFORMS" ON THE WAY Classified By: Charge D'Affaires Larry L. Memmott, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: Charge discussed with the Head of the President's Secretariat, Oksana Malevanaya, plans to "reform" the government. Malevanaya indicated that changes in the structure of the government have been finalized and will soon be announced. The Secretariat will increase its control over government decision-making and include an "analytical group" to advise the president. The role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be boosted. Malevanaya stressed the importance of bringing groups outside the government, including business, mass media, and NGOs into the decision-making process. The proposed changes are not really "reforms" as we define that term, but a restructuring. Nonetheless, it may open some opportunities for us to have influence and attempt to push a limited reform agenda. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) On October 6 Charge met with Oksana Malevanaya, Head of the President's Secretariat, to discuss upcoming changes in the government. Malevanaya, a former member of Parliament and Director of the independent TV and radio broadcasting company NTS, told the Charge that the planned changes have already been finalized and will likely be announced by the end of October. Malevanaya said that the government was preparing the legal framework, including draft laws and presidential decrees, necessary to implement the reforms. Malevanaya, who will remain as the Head of the Secretariat, noted that the Secretariat had only been created 10 months ago but said that during that time problems of managing government decision-making had been clearly visible, convincing the president to want to enact "true reforms." She admitted, however, that changing a bureaucracy was difficult and that some people in the government were resistant to change. ¶3. (C) Malevanaya said the Secretariat would take the lead in government decision-making and would have a strong internal analytical group that would provide the Secretariat and President Bakiyev with analysis and recommendations. She emphasized that the Secretariat will be staffed with young people who, "would bring new ideas into government." The Secretariat would reach out to a wide-range of groups and interests, including business groups and leaders, NGOs and mass media, in order to formulate the most effective government policy possible in an environment of transparency. Malevanaya stressed the importance of maintaining a high level of communication between the government and all interested groups outside of the government. ¶4. (C) Malevanaya said that one of the biggest challenges facing the government was training of civil servants. The new reforms would strengthen the government's foreign policy by increasing the role of the Ministry of Foreign affairs, in coordination with the Secretariat, in the government's foreign policy making process. Malevanaya said that the government was focused on regional security and stability issues, highlighting President Bakiyev's "Bishkek Initiative." The government was also focused upon border issues and the threat of religious extremism. ¶5. (C) Charge proposed a meeting between the Secretariat staff and Embassy staff, including a briefing by Embassy staff on the activities of the USG in Kyrgyzstan once the changes have been announced and the Secretariat has had time to take up its expanded role. Malevanaya responded with enthusiasm, recalling with fondness earlier associations she had had with the Embassy and suggesting that we work closely together in the future. ¶6. (C) COMMENT: Malevanaya demonstrated great interest in maintaining strong contacts and a close working relationship with the Embassy. We believe that such a relationship will offer us another valuable track upon which to promote U.S. interests, including our long term interests in real political and economic reform. MEMMOTT