AMBASSADOR HOSTS BRIEFING ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000502 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KG SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HOSTS BRIEFING ON SECURITY ASSISTANCE FOR KYRGYZ FOREIGN MINISTER REF: A. BISHKEK 237 ¶B. BISHKEK 246 ¶C. BISHKEK 267 ¶D. BISHKEK 382 ¶E. BISHKEK 404 ¶F. BISHKEK 462 BISHKEK 00000502 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller for Reasons 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) Summary: On May 22, the Ambassador hosted Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev for a briefing by Office of Military Cooperation (OMC) Chief Patrick Crabb on security assistance to the Kyrgyz Republic. The OMC chief reviewed current programs and funding, and emphasized the importance of a framework agreement to secure continued OMC projects. The Foreign Minister appreciated the briefing and asked questions relating to Foreign Military Financing and border security. End Summary. SPELLING OUT THE OMC PROGRAMS -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador hosted Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev for a May 22 tea cum briefing at her residence by the Embassy's Office of Military Cooperation (OMC) chief Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Crabb. The briefing, the sixth in a series of informational sessions for FM Sarbayev, covered a range of OMC security assistance programs, to include Foreign Military Financing (FMF), International Military Education and Training (IMET),CENTCOM Counter Narcotics/Counter Terrorism (CN/CT),and other funding under 1206 and 1207 authority. Crabb touted recent OMC program accomplishments, such as the numerous Kyrgyz military and civilian graduates of the George C. Marshall Center for Eurasian Security Studies, the $12 million in equipment and supplies provided under 1206 authority, and the Birdik elementary school, which is being rebuilt through the CENTCOM Humanitarian Assistance program. FUNDING CONTINGENT UPON THE FRAMEWORK AGREEMENT!!! -------------- -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Crabb closed with a theoretical glimpse into Kyrgyzstan's future as a continued recipient of OMC funding. However, Crabb cautioned that future funding hinged upon the continuation of the framework agreement. Without the framework agreement, Crabb estimated Kyrgyzstan would lose $47 million of the $60 million currently allocated for the upcoming fiscal years. JUST TO CLARIFY... -------------- ¶4. (C) After thanking Crabb for the briefing, Sarbayev asked if the reduction could happen this year. Crabb affirmed that the absence of a framework agreement could affect programs immediately. In response to Sarbayev's question about FMF spending, Crabb explained that the U.S. government planned to allocate $2.9 million to address the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense's request for a MI-8 helicopter simulator. Asked if the Kyrgyz could use funds to purchase weapons, Crabb stated that Kyrgyz legislation prevented the sale of weapons by the U.S. government to Kyrgyzstan. HOW DO WE RESOLVE OUR BORDER ISSUES? -------------- ¶5. (C) Sarbayev also asked if any programs assisted the Border Service, noting that the current situation with disputed borders between Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan was both delicate and dangerous. "The Uzbeks," he said, "are provoking us." Crabb noted that OMC programs BISHKEK 00000502 002.2 OF 002 helped build numerous facilities for the Border Service, to include a headquarters in Osh and complexes in Khaydarkan and Kapchegai. Sarbayev asked for Crabb's advice on how the Kyrgyz government should resolve the border disputes. Crabb recommended the establishment of additional large border posts, an increase in small "green" border posts, and the creation of mobile border service teams to patrol between the border posts. GFOELLER