Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK142
2009-02-18 08:38:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
CANADIANS DEMARCHE KYRGYZ ON MANAS
how-toVZCZCXRO5159 OO RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHEK #0142 0490838 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 180838Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1803 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2876 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0715 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID 0098 RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0145 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0187 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1224 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3263 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2649 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
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).
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
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