BRITISH DEMARCHE KYRGYZ ON MANAS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000151 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/19/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG SUBJECT: BRITISH DEMARCHE KYRGYZ ON MANAS REF: A. BISHKEK 150 ¶B. BISHKEK 146 ¶C. BISHKEK 145 ¶D. BISHKEK 142 ¶E. BISHKEK 123 ¶F. BISHKEK 96 Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Astana-based British Ambassador Paul Brummell and FCO Central Asia Department Head Martin Fenner briefed the Ambassador on the results of their February 19 demarche to Deputy Foreign Minister Baktygul Kalambekova in support of Manas Air Base. Brummell and Fenner said they tried to strike a positive tone in their demarche, expressing appreciation for Kyrgyzstan's "steadfast support" in the fight against terrorism, and they urged that the Kyrgyz Parliament not pass the law to nullify the Base agreement. (Note: Later in the day on February 19, the Parliament did pass the law. Ref C. On February 20, President Bakiyev signed the law, and the Embassy received official notification. Ref A.) ¶2. (C) Brummell and Fenner characterized Kalambekova's response as "very defensive." Kalambekova voiced standard Kyrgyz government talking points: the American Base was only supposed to be here one or two years, and we are now in the eighth year; the Base is not needed because the situation in Afghanistan is stable, with a Constitution, Parliament, President, and government; therefore, the Americans are using Afghanistan as a pretext to maintain a presence in Kyrgyzstan. ¶3. (C) Brummell argued that the security situation in Afghanistan is deteriorating, and the central government has only limited control in the country. Kalambekova conceded the point, but argued that Afghanistan's problems were economic and developmental, "and cannot be solved by soldiers." Brummell pointed out that the UK has a large contingent in Afghanistan, and in their view the military presence was necessary to bring stability. Kalambekova then launched into a litany of complaints about Manas Air Base, including the "indiscriminate killing" of Kyrgyz citizen Ivanov, fuel dumping "poisoning our environment," and the 2006 accident which damaged a Kyrgyz passenger jet. ¶4. (C) Brummell and Fenner told the Ambassador that the main purpose of their trip to Bishkek was to deliver the demarche. They had expected the vote in Parliament to be delayed, but will nevertheless deliver the same points to the Speaker of Parliament today. GFOELLER