Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK234
2009-03-19 11:11:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH IOM KYRGYZSTAN CHIEF
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C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000234
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2019
TAGS: KTIP PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH IOM KYRGYZSTAN CHIEF
REF: BISHKEK 181
Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000234
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2019
TAGS: KTIP PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH IOM KYRGYZSTAN CHIEF
REF: BISHKEK 181
Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
1. (C) On March 19, Ambassador met with Zlatko Zigic, Chief
of Mission for the International Organization for Migration
(IOM),to discuss developing trends in human trafficking and
methods to combat it. He said that since 2005, indictments
and convictions have fallen significantly while the volume of
trafficking victims, particularly labor migrants sent to
Kazakhstan and Russia, has grown. Only recently, he claimed,
did the world's economic crisis temporarily stem the flow of
labor migrants. Zigic blamed the "corrupt Bakiyev regime"
for exacerbating the trafficking in persons (TIP) problem.
2. (C) To emphasize this point, Zigic told of a case where
two rescued victims were returning from Turkey when, upon
arrival, they were removed from the plane by human
traffickers and whisked away in a car waiting on the tarmac.
Although the criminals were caught and the women rescued for
a second time, he said that two border guard officials were
found guilty of assisting the traffickers.
3. (C) The Ambassador mentioned that she had heard that some
organized gangs in Kyrgyzstan specialize in kidnapping
"blond, Russian-looking girls," converting them to Islam,
often forcibly, and then shipping them to Gulf countries as
prostitutes (reftel). She asked Zigic if he found this
credible. Zigic emphatically confirmed that such is indeed
the case in the Kyrgyz Republic, though he thought that "even
non-Russian looking girls" are sometimes subjected to forced
conversion to Islam and subsequent prostitution.
4. (C) Zigic assured Ambassador that IOM would continue to
fight human trafficking in Kyrgyzstan. When asked if anyone
in the government was working to stem the flow of trafficking
victims, Zigic said that Aigul Ryskulova, chairperson of the
State Committee for Migration and Employment, was one of the
few government officials committed to combating human
trafficking and instrumental in keeping the National TIP
hotlines operational. He said that IOM is in discussions with
the Norwegian government to develop a gender education
program, focusing on the empowerment of women through the
establishment of training centers in rural areas.
5. (C) Zigic also provided Ambassador with a copy of IOM's
newly released educational book about the dangers of human
trafficking, to become a part of the curriculum for middle
and high schools throughout the country. In closing, Zigic
welcomed any new Department of State programs to combat
trafficking in persons, declaring that "IOM is at your
disposal."
GFOELLER
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/19/2019
TAGS: KTIP PGOV PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR MEETS WITH IOM KYRGYZSTAN CHIEF
REF: BISHKEK 181
Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (
d).
1. (C) On March 19, Ambassador met with Zlatko Zigic, Chief
of Mission for the International Organization for Migration
(IOM),to discuss developing trends in human trafficking and
methods to combat it. He said that since 2005, indictments
and convictions have fallen significantly while the volume of
trafficking victims, particularly labor migrants sent to
Kazakhstan and Russia, has grown. Only recently, he claimed,
did the world's economic crisis temporarily stem the flow of
labor migrants. Zigic blamed the "corrupt Bakiyev regime"
for exacerbating the trafficking in persons (TIP) problem.
2. (C) To emphasize this point, Zigic told of a case where
two rescued victims were returning from Turkey when, upon
arrival, they were removed from the plane by human
traffickers and whisked away in a car waiting on the tarmac.
Although the criminals were caught and the women rescued for
a second time, he said that two border guard officials were
found guilty of assisting the traffickers.
3. (C) The Ambassador mentioned that she had heard that some
organized gangs in Kyrgyzstan specialize in kidnapping
"blond, Russian-looking girls," converting them to Islam,
often forcibly, and then shipping them to Gulf countries as
prostitutes (reftel). She asked Zigic if he found this
credible. Zigic emphatically confirmed that such is indeed
the case in the Kyrgyz Republic, though he thought that "even
non-Russian looking girls" are sometimes subjected to forced
conversion to Islam and subsequent prostitution.
4. (C) Zigic assured Ambassador that IOM would continue to
fight human trafficking in Kyrgyzstan. When asked if anyone
in the government was working to stem the flow of trafficking
victims, Zigic said that Aigul Ryskulova, chairperson of the
State Committee for Migration and Employment, was one of the
few government officials committed to combating human
trafficking and instrumental in keeping the National TIP
hotlines operational. He said that IOM is in discussions with
the Norwegian government to develop a gender education
program, focusing on the empowerment of women through the
establishment of training centers in rural areas.
5. (C) Zigic also provided Ambassador with a copy of IOM's
newly released educational book about the dangers of human
trafficking, to become a part of the curriculum for middle
and high schools throughout the country. In closing, Zigic
welcomed any new Department of State programs to combat
trafficking in persons, declaring that "IOM is at your
disposal."
GFOELLER