Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK513
2009-05-28 09:53:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
TURKISH PRESIDENT PRESSES KYRGYZ COUNTERPART ON
how-toVZCZCXRO4634 RR RUEHDBU DE RUEHEK #0513 1480953 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 280953Z MAY 09 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2242 INFO RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA 0823 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 2220 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 3094 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0103 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3021 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0015 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3435 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2821 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000513
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR KG TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESIDENT PRESSES KYRGYZ COUNTERPART ON
MANAS AIR BASE
Classified By: Amb. Tatiana Gfoeller, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000513
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR KG TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESIDENT PRESSES KYRGYZ COUNTERPART ON
MANAS AIR BASE
Classified By: Amb. Tatiana Gfoeller, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On the sidelines of a May 28 opening ceremony for a
new building at the International Ataturk Alatoo University
in Bishkek, the Ambassador spoke briefly with visiting
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, and then at length with
Turkish MFA Under Secretary for Political Affairs Unal
Cevikoz for a readout of Gul's May 27 one-on-one meeting with
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. In response to a U.S.
request, Cevikoz said Gul had spent much time pressing
Bakiyev to reconsider the decision to close Manas Air Base.
Gul reportedly raised the need to stabilize Afghanistan and
underscored the damage closing Manas would have on NATO while
it is "under fire" in Afghanistan. In response, Bakiyev
claimed that "high-level negotiations were currently underway
between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic to reverse
the decision to close Manas."
2. (C) Cevikoz described Bakiyev as "defensive," but added
that Bakiyev assured Gul "not to worry" about the Manas
issue. However, when Gul pressed Bakiyev to explain what he
wanted (presumably in relation to the Manas issue),Bakiyev
reportedly cited $5 billion in U.S. assistance to Pakistan,
and complained that the United States never "adequately
compensated the Kyrgyz Republic nor paid any high-level
attention to the country." Gul apparently responded that
perhaps Bakiyev had grounds to feel aggrieved, but that with
the arrival of a new Obama Administration it would be best
not to start relations on such a bad foundation. "Perhaps,"
Gul suggested, "if you ask nicely, the Americans might pay
more rent and give you more high-level attention."
3. (C) Cevikoz told the Ambassador the overall visit had
gone "well," and included additional meetings with Prime
Minister Chudinov and Parliament Speaker Tagayev. Gul is
scheduled to depart Bishkek May 28.
Common Roots
--------------
4. (SBU) In his remarks at Ataturk Alatoo University, Gul
stressed the common ethnic roots of the Turks and the Kyrgyz,
and expressed his sense of "coming home" to the Kyrgyz
Republic. He praised educational cooperation between Central
Asian states and Turkey, and noted that the Turkish
university encouraged a "broad mindset" among its Kyrgyz
students. Gul commented on the multilingual abilities of
Ataturk Alatoo graduates, who speak Kyrgyz, Turkish, Russian
and English, and highlighted new internet facilities at the
university that connect local students to resources in
Turkey, Russia and the United States.
GFOELLER
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/28/2019
TAGS: PREL MOPS MARR KG TU
SUBJECT: TURKISH PRESIDENT PRESSES KYRGYZ COUNTERPART ON
MANAS AIR BASE
Classified By: Amb. Tatiana Gfoeller, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) On the sidelines of a May 28 opening ceremony for a
new building at the International Ataturk Alatoo University
in Bishkek, the Ambassador spoke briefly with visiting
Turkish President Abdullah Gul, and then at length with
Turkish MFA Under Secretary for Political Affairs Unal
Cevikoz for a readout of Gul's May 27 one-on-one meeting with
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. In response to a U.S.
request, Cevikoz said Gul had spent much time pressing
Bakiyev to reconsider the decision to close Manas Air Base.
Gul reportedly raised the need to stabilize Afghanistan and
underscored the damage closing Manas would have on NATO while
it is "under fire" in Afghanistan. In response, Bakiyev
claimed that "high-level negotiations were currently underway
between the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic to reverse
the decision to close Manas."
2. (C) Cevikoz described Bakiyev as "defensive," but added
that Bakiyev assured Gul "not to worry" about the Manas
issue. However, when Gul pressed Bakiyev to explain what he
wanted (presumably in relation to the Manas issue),Bakiyev
reportedly cited $5 billion in U.S. assistance to Pakistan,
and complained that the United States never "adequately
compensated the Kyrgyz Republic nor paid any high-level
attention to the country." Gul apparently responded that
perhaps Bakiyev had grounds to feel aggrieved, but that with
the arrival of a new Obama Administration it would be best
not to start relations on such a bad foundation. "Perhaps,"
Gul suggested, "if you ask nicely, the Americans might pay
more rent and give you more high-level attention."
3. (C) Cevikoz told the Ambassador the overall visit had
gone "well," and included additional meetings with Prime
Minister Chudinov and Parliament Speaker Tagayev. Gul is
scheduled to depart Bishkek May 28.
Common Roots
--------------
4. (SBU) In his remarks at Ataturk Alatoo University, Gul
stressed the common ethnic roots of the Turks and the Kyrgyz,
and expressed his sense of "coming home" to the Kyrgyz
Republic. He praised educational cooperation between Central
Asian states and Turkey, and noted that the Turkish
university encouraged a "broad mindset" among its Kyrgyz
students. Gul commented on the multilingual abilities of
Ataturk Alatoo graduates, who speak Kyrgyz, Turkish, Russian
and English, and highlighted new internet facilities at the
university that connect local students to resources in
Turkey, Russia and the United States.
GFOELLER