Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK259
2009-03-27 08:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:  

URGENT REQUIRMENT TO RESTORE 64K IVG LINE FOR

Tags:  ACOA ANET KG 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0001
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEK #0259 0860818
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 270818Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHNW/DIR DTSPO WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2024
INFO RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT PRIORITY 3852
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000259

SIPDIS

FOR DTS-PO MAIN DIRECTOR FROM AMBASSADOR GFOELLER
DIR DTSPO BRS/SDD BRS/CMD
DEPARTMENT FOR IRM/OPS AND SCA
FRANKFURT FOR RIMC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/26/2019
TAGS: ACOA ANET KG
SUBJECT: URGENT REQUIRMENT TO RESTORE 64K IVG LINE FOR
EMBASSY BISHKEK

Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

CONFIDENTIAL -- ENTIRE TEXT

DIRECTOR ORSHOSKI,

I AM WRITING TO REQUEST YOUR PERSONAL HELP TO RESTORE ONE 64K
IVG CHANNEL FOR EMBASSY BISHKEK. WE DESPERATELY NEED THIS
CAPABILITY IN ORDER TO HAVE SECURE VOICE COMMUNICATIONS WITH
WASHINGTON POLICYMAKERS. NEXT WEEK, WE WILL HOST A SENIOR US
NEGOTIATING TEAM, LED BY AMBASSADOR JACKSON MCDONALD. AT
ISSUE IS FUTURE ACCESS TO MANAS COALITION AIRBASE HERE IN
BISHKEK, WHICH IS A VITALLY IMPORTANT LOGISTICS HUB FOR
OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM IN AFGHANISTAN.

AMBASSADOR MCDONALD AND HIS TEAM WILL NEED RELIABLE SECURE
VOICE CONNECTION TO WASHINGTON DURING THEIR NEGOTIATIONS NEXT
WEEK. IN RECENT MONTHS, EMBASSY BISHKEK HAS HAD CHRONIC
ISSUES TRYING TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN SECURE VOICE. WE
HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH DTS-PO, AND APPRECIATE THE SUPPORT
WE HAVE RECEIVED. OF THE MANY SOLUTIONS CONSIDERED AND
TRIED, ONLY THE 64K IVG CHANNEL HAS PROVEN TO WORK.
INITIALLY, POST WAS UPGRADED TO THREE 64K IVG CHANNELS, BUT
WE NOW UNDERSTAND THIS CANNOT BE SUSTAINED, AND WE CAN ONLY
HAVE ONE 64K IVG CHANNEL. WE UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT THAT, BUT
WE NEED ACCESS TO AT LEAST ONE 64K CHANNEL.

UNFORTUNATELY, WE LEARNED THIS MORNING THAT DTS-PO HAS
RECONFIGURED OUR IVG LINES TO 16K, WHICH WILL NOT SUPPORT
SECURE VOICE. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, GIVEN THE OPERATIONAL
REQUIREMENTS WE FACE HERE, AND GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE KNOW
THE 64K OPTION WORKS. IN SUM, THERE APPEAR TO BE NO
TECHNICAL REASONS IMPEDING OUR ACCESS TO SECURE VOICE; WE
NEED ONLY YOUR SUPPORT TO INSTRUCT YOUR STAFF TO RESTORE ONE
64K IVG LINE TO BISHKEK.

MY DCM, LEE LITZENBERGER, PLANS TO CALL YOU AT OOB YOUR TIME
IN WASHINGTON TODAY, MARCH 27, TO DISCUSS THIS URGENT MATTER
FURTHER. I APPRECIATE YOUR ASSISTANCE IN ADVANCE TO RESOLVE
THIS ISSUE.

GFOELLER