Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK36
2009-01-12 13:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
RUSSIAN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN KYRGYZSTAN UNDERWHELMS
how-toVZCZCXRO4660 OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHSK RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHEK #0036 0121305 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 121305Z JAN 09 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1655 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2797 RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1160 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3190 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2576 RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS BISHKEK 000036
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL SCUL KG
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN KYRGYZSTAN UNDERWHELMS
LOCALS
UNCLAS BISHKEK 000036
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL SCUL KG
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN KYRGYZSTAN UNDERWHELMS
LOCALS
1. (SBU) Post attended the ideologically-awkward opening of a
"Russian Center" at Bishkek Humanities University on
September 11, 2008, an attempt by Russia to increase its soft
power in Kyrgyzstan. The center was unveiled by Russian
Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov, Russkii Mir
director Vyacheslav Nikonov, and Kyrgyz Minister of Education
Ishengul Boljurova. It is the third such center in
Kyrgyzstan, more than Russia has in any other country; other
Russian centers are located in Kant, directly across from an
American Corner, and Osh. A fourth is planned in Karakol.
This latest center, which consists of two rooms full of books
about Russian culture and history, cost 3 million rubles
(about $100,000) in construction and an unspecified amount
in computers and other technology.
2. (SBU) Mironov praised the center as a way to learn more
about Russia's great language and culture, and about how to
study in Russia. Boljurova responded that there is indeed a
large demand to learn Russian in Kyrgyzstan, but asked the
Russians to focus more on creating economic links and jobs in
Kyrgyzstan. Nikonov, whose Russkii Mir (Russian World)
foundation runs these centers as part of a campaign to
improve Russia's image abroad, argued that the Kyrgyz should
welcome this center since they are part of a great
civilization symbolized by the term Russkii Mir. He believes
that the civilization is based on linguistic, ethnic,
cultural and geographic ties to Russia.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Russia is still well-regarded in
Kyrgyzstan, based on the opportunities for employment it
offers, its historical role in Kyrgyzstan's development, and
the greater fear of other neighboring states. However,
official Russian efforts to improve relations through the
functionality of the Russian language and nostalgia for
(ethnic Russian) Soviet triumphs were tepidly received by the
largely ethnically Kyrgyz university audience and are likely
to encounter resistance generally. Nikonov and the center
offer little about Russia today, either as a model for
Kyrgyzstan's future development or in enticement to rejoin
this supposed civilization.
4. (SBU) These Russian centers appear to be modeled on
American Corners, which offer users books in English on a
wide range of topics, internet access, information about
America, and are used as a platform for American-related
cultural and educational programming. In Kyrgyzstan, there
are five official corners managed by the Embassy and an
additional seven American centers at universities which are
supplied with materials by the Embassy but managed by the
school. END COMMENT.
GFOELLER
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO PGOV PREL SCUL KG
SUBJECT: RUSSIAN PUBLIC DIPLOMACY IN KYRGYZSTAN UNDERWHELMS
LOCALS
1. (SBU) Post attended the ideologically-awkward opening of a
"Russian Center" at Bishkek Humanities University on
September 11, 2008, an attempt by Russia to increase its soft
power in Kyrgyzstan. The center was unveiled by Russian
Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov, Russkii Mir
director Vyacheslav Nikonov, and Kyrgyz Minister of Education
Ishengul Boljurova. It is the third such center in
Kyrgyzstan, more than Russia has in any other country; other
Russian centers are located in Kant, directly across from an
American Corner, and Osh. A fourth is planned in Karakol.
This latest center, which consists of two rooms full of books
about Russian culture and history, cost 3 million rubles
(about $100,000) in construction and an unspecified amount
in computers and other technology.
2. (SBU) Mironov praised the center as a way to learn more
about Russia's great language and culture, and about how to
study in Russia. Boljurova responded that there is indeed a
large demand to learn Russian in Kyrgyzstan, but asked the
Russians to focus more on creating economic links and jobs in
Kyrgyzstan. Nikonov, whose Russkii Mir (Russian World)
foundation runs these centers as part of a campaign to
improve Russia's image abroad, argued that the Kyrgyz should
welcome this center since they are part of a great
civilization symbolized by the term Russkii Mir. He believes
that the civilization is based on linguistic, ethnic,
cultural and geographic ties to Russia.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Russia is still well-regarded in
Kyrgyzstan, based on the opportunities for employment it
offers, its historical role in Kyrgyzstan's development, and
the greater fear of other neighboring states. However,
official Russian efforts to improve relations through the
functionality of the Russian language and nostalgia for
(ethnic Russian) Soviet triumphs were tepidly received by the
largely ethnically Kyrgyz university audience and are likely
to encounter resistance generally. Nikonov and the center
offer little about Russia today, either as a model for
Kyrgyzstan's future development or in enticement to rejoin
this supposed civilization.
4. (SBU) These Russian centers appear to be modeled on
American Corners, which offer users books in English on a
wide range of topics, internet access, information about
America, and are used as a platform for American-related
cultural and educational programming. In Kyrgyzstan, there
are five official corners managed by the Embassy and an
additional seven American centers at universities which are
supplied with materials by the Embassy but managed by the
school. END COMMENT.
GFOELLER