Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK159
2009-02-23 11:37:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
BRITISH AND TURKISH ENGAGE KYRGYZ ON MANAS
how-toVZCZCXRO9746 RR RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHEK #0159/01 0541137 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 231137Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1835 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2897 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1249 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3290 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2676 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 SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000159
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR ECON KG
SUBJECT: BRITISH AND TURKISH ENGAGE KYRGYZ ON MANAS
REF: A. BISHKEK 124
B. BISHKEK 151
C. BISHKEK 152
BISHKEK 00000159 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Amb. Tatiana Gfoeller, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000159
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR ECON KG
SUBJECT: BRITISH AND TURKISH ENGAGE KYRGYZ ON MANAS
REF: A. BISHKEK 124
B. BISHKEK 151
C. BISHKEK 152
BISHKEK 00000159 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Amb. Tatiana Gfoeller, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: British Ambassador Brummell informed the
Ambassador that two key Kyrgyz Parliamentary leaders repeated
the same Manas Air Base talking points that he heard during
his earlier demarche to Kyrgyz Deputy FM Kalambekova. Social
Democrat Bakyt Beshimov, the sole Parliamentarian who voted
against the anti-Base legislation, told Brummell the Base
supported Kyrgyz and regional security. World Bank and IMF
officials cited economic woes as the basis for Kyrgyz
pressure on the Base. Turkish Ambassador Alpman recounted
Kyrgyz comments to a visiting Turkish delegation that the
Kyrgyz side is waiting for a U.S. proposal on Manas -- a line
Kyrgyz officials are using with many who ask about Manas Air
Base. End summary.
Parliamentary Views on Manas
--------------
2. (C) Following their earlier discussion regarding his
demarche to Kyrgyz Deputy FM Kalambekova (ref B),
Astana-based British Ambassador Paul Brummell briefed the
Ambassador about his additional meetings in Bishkek regarding
Manas Air Base. Brummell said he delivered the same points
regarding Manas to Parliament Speaker Aitibai Tagayev, an Ak
Jol faction leader and Social Democrat Bakyt Beshimov in
separate meetings. According to Brummell, Tagayev and the Ak
Jol leader (Ak Jol occupies most seats in Parliament)
utilized the same basic talking points Kalambekova had used.
Beshimov, who cast the sole vote against the Base agreement
renunciation, expressed his view that Manas Air Base is
beneficial to the Kyrgyz Republic and that its presence aids
the region in its fight against terrorism and
narco-trafficking. Beshimov added that the Kyrgyz government
is short-sighted and will not admit that Afghanistan is
unstable. (Note: See ref A for more on Beshimov's views.
End note.)
The Economic Argument
--------------
3. (C) Brummell informed the Ambassador that the local
International Monetary Fund and World Bank representatives
told him that Kyrgyz budgetary woes were the basis for Kyrgyz
pressure on Manas Air Base, and reasoned that the Kyrgyz
wanted to squeeze the Base for more funds. (Note: See ref C
for more on Kyrgyz economic problems. End note.)
Turks Raise Manas Amidst Energy Discussions
--------------
4. (C) Turkish Ambassador Serpil Alpman briefed the
Ambassador about the February 20 meetings of visiting
Minister of Energy Hilmi Guler with President Bakiyev, PM
Chudinov, Energy Minister Davydov and Small and Medium-Sized
Energy Systems Director (and former Prime Minister) Kulov.
Alpman asked Guler to raise the Manas Air Base issue with his
interlocutors, who reportedly replied that the Kyrgyz side
was waiting for the United States to make a proposal on the
Base. (Note: Alpman also added that Presidential
Administration officials were quite opposed to the Kulov
meeting, and reasoned that Bakiyev and his team still viewed
Kulov as a potential rival. End note.)
5. (C) Alpman told the Ambassador that Guler considered the
energy component of his visit as a success -- a conclusion
which Alpman did not support. Guler focused on potential
energy sector investment by Turkish firms, which Alpman
viewed as risky due to limited protection of investment in
the Kyrgyz Republic.
BISHKEK 00000159 002.2 OF 002
Comment
--------------
6. (C) British and Turkish engagement with the Kyrgyz on
Manas Air Base complements efforts by Canadian and European
Union officials to emphasize the importance of Manas on
multinational operations in Afghanistan. The Kyrgyz clearly
have talking points explaining their reasons for seeking the
Base's closure, but readily reveal their "if asked" talking
point that they are looking for a U.S. proposal on the Base.
It appears the Kyrgyz are trying to tell those who ask that
it is time for the U.S. to float a new Manas proposal.
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/23/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR ECON KG
SUBJECT: BRITISH AND TURKISH ENGAGE KYRGYZ ON MANAS
REF: A. BISHKEK 124
B. BISHKEK 151
C. BISHKEK 152
BISHKEK 00000159 001.2 OF 002
Classified By: Amb. Tatiana Gfoeller, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary: British Ambassador Brummell informed the
Ambassador that two key Kyrgyz Parliamentary leaders repeated
the same Manas Air Base talking points that he heard during
his earlier demarche to Kyrgyz Deputy FM Kalambekova. Social
Democrat Bakyt Beshimov, the sole Parliamentarian who voted
against the anti-Base legislation, told Brummell the Base
supported Kyrgyz and regional security. World Bank and IMF
officials cited economic woes as the basis for Kyrgyz
pressure on the Base. Turkish Ambassador Alpman recounted
Kyrgyz comments to a visiting Turkish delegation that the
Kyrgyz side is waiting for a U.S. proposal on Manas -- a line
Kyrgyz officials are using with many who ask about Manas Air
Base. End summary.
Parliamentary Views on Manas
--------------
2. (C) Following their earlier discussion regarding his
demarche to Kyrgyz Deputy FM Kalambekova (ref B),
Astana-based British Ambassador Paul Brummell briefed the
Ambassador about his additional meetings in Bishkek regarding
Manas Air Base. Brummell said he delivered the same points
regarding Manas to Parliament Speaker Aitibai Tagayev, an Ak
Jol faction leader and Social Democrat Bakyt Beshimov in
separate meetings. According to Brummell, Tagayev and the Ak
Jol leader (Ak Jol occupies most seats in Parliament)
utilized the same basic talking points Kalambekova had used.
Beshimov, who cast the sole vote against the Base agreement
renunciation, expressed his view that Manas Air Base is
beneficial to the Kyrgyz Republic and that its presence aids
the region in its fight against terrorism and
narco-trafficking. Beshimov added that the Kyrgyz government
is short-sighted and will not admit that Afghanistan is
unstable. (Note: See ref A for more on Beshimov's views.
End note.)
The Economic Argument
--------------
3. (C) Brummell informed the Ambassador that the local
International Monetary Fund and World Bank representatives
told him that Kyrgyz budgetary woes were the basis for Kyrgyz
pressure on Manas Air Base, and reasoned that the Kyrgyz
wanted to squeeze the Base for more funds. (Note: See ref C
for more on Kyrgyz economic problems. End note.)
Turks Raise Manas Amidst Energy Discussions
--------------
4. (C) Turkish Ambassador Serpil Alpman briefed the
Ambassador about the February 20 meetings of visiting
Minister of Energy Hilmi Guler with President Bakiyev, PM
Chudinov, Energy Minister Davydov and Small and Medium-Sized
Energy Systems Director (and former Prime Minister) Kulov.
Alpman asked Guler to raise the Manas Air Base issue with his
interlocutors, who reportedly replied that the Kyrgyz side
was waiting for the United States to make a proposal on the
Base. (Note: Alpman also added that Presidential
Administration officials were quite opposed to the Kulov
meeting, and reasoned that Bakiyev and his team still viewed
Kulov as a potential rival. End note.)
5. (C) Alpman told the Ambassador that Guler considered the
energy component of his visit as a success -- a conclusion
which Alpman did not support. Guler focused on potential
energy sector investment by Turkish firms, which Alpman
viewed as risky due to limited protection of investment in
the Kyrgyz Republic.
BISHKEK 00000159 002.2 OF 002
Comment
--------------
6. (C) British and Turkish engagement with the Kyrgyz on
Manas Air Base complements efforts by Canadian and European
Union officials to emphasize the importance of Manas on
multinational operations in Afghanistan. The Kyrgyz clearly
have talking points explaining their reasons for seeking the
Base's closure, but readily reveal their "if asked" talking
point that they are looking for a U.S. proposal on the Base.
It appears the Kyrgyz are trying to tell those who ask that
it is time for the U.S. to float a new Manas proposal.
GFOELLER