KYRGYZSTAN: RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR SEEKS WWII ALLIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000455

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PINR KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN: RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR SEEKS WWII ALLIES

BISHKEK 00000455 001.2 OF 002



1. (SBU) Summary: The Russian Embassy sponsored a vintage
Soviet-style Victory Day concert, emphasizing the common
Soviet heritage of CIS member states. Following the concert,
Russian Ambassador Vlasov proposed to the Ambassador that the
United States co-host next year's 65th anniversary Victory
Day celebration. Vlasov also encouraged German participation
as part of a revamped non-militaristic "victory of peace"
celebration. End Summary.

Long Live the Great Patriotic War Victory
--------------


2. (SBU) Russian Ambassador Valentin Vlasov hosted a Victory
Day celebration, featuring images of Soviet troops liberating
Berlin and Russian martial music, in Bishkek May 6. The
event, which our Ambassador attended, lasted nearly three
hours, and included performances by folk troupes from several
former Soviet republics. Vlasov praised Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS) states for their past cooperation,
Soviet heritage, and joint victory against fascism.
Throughout the event, he emphasized CIS member states' Soviet
links -- a constant theme of Vlasov's tenure in Bishkek.

Allies uber Alles
--------------


3. (SBU) Vlasov later approached the Ambassador to propose
that all the World War II allies co-host the 65th Victory Day
celebration in 2010. "As the Soviet Union's most important
wartime ally," he explained, "we want patriotic songs and
performances that would represent World War II for the United
States." Following the Ambassador's remark that his proposal
was an "interesting idea" to explore, Vlasov called over
German Ambassador Holger Green and suggested that Germany
also take part in next year's celebration. Green, nonplussed
by Vlasov's proposal, responded that Germany had no suitable
German martial music and would also not want to recall World
War II. Vlasov dismissed Green's concerns, commenting that
"we were all, including Germans, fighting Nazis." Vlasov
offered to drop the military content for next year, and
instead incorporate song and dance to celebrate "the victory
of peace." He concluded that by the end of the war, Germans
were also happy that it was over. A visibly flustered Green
slipped away without any further comment.


4. (SBU) As Green departed, Turkish Ambassador Serpil
Alpman, currently doyenne of the Diplomatic Corps, joined the
discussion, welcomed Vlasov's idea and volunteered to
coordinate next year's event. Alpman suggested including
China and Japan in the event, but their views could not be
solicited due to their absence at the Victory Day event.
(Note: The Chinese Ambassador and Japanese Charge likely
departed the Russian event early in order to attend the
Israeli National Day celebration. End Note.) However,
Alpman noted that Japan might have reservations due to
disputes with Russia over the Kuril Islands seized at the end
of World War II.

Comment
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5. (SBU) Vlasov's outlandish idea of expanding the
Soviet-style Victory Day celebrations into an international
festival of allies is typical of Vlasov's attempts to act as
primus inter pares within the Diplomatic Corps. His
suggestion to the Ambassador is also not his first attempt to
engage in joint events with the U.S. Embassy. He has
previously mentioned possible joint press events and work on
counter-narcotics, which we have not pursued with the
Russians. Despite Vlasov's outreach to us and the Germans,
his main Victory Day theme was to reinforce solidarity among
former Soviet republics.

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GFOELLER