CANADIANS DEMARCHE KYRGYZ ON MANAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000142 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/18/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG SUBJECT: CANADIANS DEMARCHE KYRGYZ ON MANAS Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) The Astana-based Canadian Ambassador, Margaret Skok, briefed the Ambassador on her February 18 meetings with Kyrgyz government officials to protest the announced closure of Manas Air Base. In separate meetings, Skok told Deputy Foreign Minister Baktygul Kalambekova and Minister of Agriculture Iskenderbek Aidaraliyev that Canada supported keeping Manas open because of the Base's importance to stability in Afghanistan, and she accused Kyrgyzstan of pulling out as a partner in the fight against terrorism. Skok put the choice starkly: Kyrgyzstan can be a Russian colony or a country open to the West. Skok predicted that Russia would never follow through with the promised $1.7 billion loan to build the Kambarata 1 dam and hydropower station. However, if Kambarata 1 were to move forward, Skok suggested that Kyrgyzstan should hire a Canadian firm to build the project. (Note: According to press reports, the $1.7 billion would be provided to a 50-50 Russian-Kyrgyz joint venture, with Russia holding a majority of seats on the board. End Note.) ¶2. (C) Deputy Foreign Minister Kalambekova, who has responsibility for Western countries, protested that Kyrgyzstan was not turning away from the West: "We're just telling the Americans that we're not in their camp." Skok dismissed Kalambekova's rationalization, saying that in the matter of the Base and the fight against terrorism, the West stood together. Kalambekova admitted that there were "many differences of opinion" in the government and Parliament over the Base, but she claimed that the Communist Party, with its strong ties to Russia, was the driving force behind closing the Base. ¶3. (C) Skok said she met with Minister of Agriculture Aidaraliyev because he has been a "friend" on other issues. (Note: Aidaraliyev had been First Vice Prime Minister until January 23. End Note.) Aidaraliyev became agitated at the accusation that Kyrgyzstan was backing out as a partner in the fight against terrorism. "We have contributed by hosting the Base, and we will continue to contribute through other organizations," Aidaraliyev protested. He also denied that Kyrgyzstan was becoming a colony of Russia, telling Skok that Kyrgyzstan wanted to continue to be friends with Canada and the United States. ¶4. (C) Comment: Skok was disappointed that she did not get meetings with higher level Kyrgyz officials to deliver her demarche. Neither of the officials she met with is in a position to speak authoritatively about Manas. GFOELLER