AMBASSADOR DELIVERS DRAFT TRANSIT CENTER

S E C R E T BISHKEK 000343 DEPT FOR SCA - DAS KROL E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/14/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KG SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR DELIVERS DRAFT TRANSIT CENTER AGREEMENTS TO KYRGYZ FOREIGN MINISTER REF: A. STATE 35237 (NOTAL) ¶B. BISHKEK 300 Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (S) On April 14, the Ambassador delivered to Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Sarbayev revised texts, in English and Russian, of the status of forces agreement and the agreement specific to the Transit Center at Manas International Airport. The Ambassador informed Sarbayev that she had authority to sign both agreements. ¶2. (S) Sarbayev said he would pass the documents to President Bakiyev. Sarbayev indicated that he could not speak openly within the Ministry building, but he agreed to meet with the Ambassador at her residence on April 15 in the afternoon. ¶3. (S) Asked by the Ambassador how he wanted to handle any press statements for the signing of the agreements, Sarbayev said it was "premature" to discuss public statements. He admitted that "we haven't thought about this yet" and said he would ask the President for instructions on how to handle the public aspects of the agreements. ¶4. (S) Comment: Sarbayev appeared uncomfortable discussing the agreements in the Ministry. He refused to discuss the documents in front of the MFA Americas Desk Officer, and he was reluctant to speak at all in his office. It seems clear that the Kyrgyz have not yet figured out how they are going to present their change of course on Manas within the government, much less how they want to roll out the news publicly. GFOELLER