LETTER FROM KYRGYZ PRESIDENT TO AFGHAN COUNTERPART

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000693 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/26/2019 TAGS: PREL PGOV MOPS KG SUBJECT: LETTER FROM KYRGYZ PRESIDENT TO AFGHAN COUNTERPART BISHKEK 00000693 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gregory Winstead, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: An advisor to Kyrgyz President Bakiyev requested the Charge's assistance in transmitting a letter from Bakiyev to Afghan President Karzai. The Embassy arranged for U.S. military aircraft to carry the letter to Kabul, where it has been given to Embassy Kabul for subsequent delivery to Afghan authorities. The letter comments on the recent Bakiyev-Karzai meeting in Russia, and most importantly puts Bakiyev on the record with another head of state expressing support for U.S. and international operations in Afghanistan. Bakiyev's advisor hopes the letter will spur positive feedback from Afghan officials, especially as it relates to the Kyrgyz Republic's decision to aid Afghanistan by hosting the Manas Transit Center. End summary. ¶2. (C) Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's Foreign Policy Advisor Aibek Moldogaziev asked the Charge for the Embassy's assistance in delivering a letter from Bakiyev to Afghan President Hamid Karzai. Embassy arranged for a U.S. military air crew to carry the letter to Kabul, where it has since been given to Embassy Kabul for subsequent transmittal to Afghan authorities. (Note: The Kyrgyz Republic and Afghanistan lack diplomatic missions in each other's countries. Therefore, Kyrgyz authorities requested our assistance to transmit the original letter. End Note.) ¶3. (C) Moldogaziev, in his request to the Charge, suggested that Kyrgyz authorities would be receptive to a positive response from Afghan authorities, especially since the Kyrgyz Republic's decision to support a new agreement on the Manas Transit Center is due partially to Karzai's request for Kyrgyz support for regional peace and security. ¶4. (SBU) The Russian-language letter, dated June 24 and attached to a Kyrgyz diplomatic note to the Afghan foreign ministry, contained an English translation, which we have repeated (with some slight editing) below: (Begin text) Your Excellency, It was a pleasure to meet you in the city of Yekaterinburg at the SCO meeting. I greatly support your opinion that the failed war with extremism and terrorism in Afghanistan could possibly expand to Central Asia and even further. The world community is taking into serious consideration the difficult situation in Afghanistan, which is associated with the threat of terrorism, illegal drug trafficking and transboundary organized crime. The Kyrgyz Republic is doing its best to stabilize the situation in Afghanistan. The Kyrgyz Republic is interested in participating in international community programs to support Afghanistan. In this regard, the Kyrgyz Republic has an initiative to organize a permanent international conference in Bishkek where security and stabilization issues of the Central Asian region will be taken into account. I would like to notify you that the President of the USA, B. Obama, has informed me about the new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and also confirmed the dispatch of additional forces and financial means in order to support the people of Afghanistan. The Kyrgyz Republic is interested in increasing the BISHKEK 00000693 002.2 OF 002 efficiency of international efforts to regulate the situation in Afghanistan, specifically by being ready to assist in increasing the efficiency of international forces and the Government of Afghanistan by allowing the transit of cargo. Realizing that now is the critical period for all countries that are interested in establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan, the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic came up with the decision to conclude the agreements with the Government of the USA about the collaboration, order and conditions for use of the Transit Cargo Center at Manas International Airport in order to support the actions of international forces in helping the Government of Afghanistan. At the present time, the indicated agreements are under consideration by the Parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic. I hope that this decision, which has been taken with the effort of international society, will help stabilize the situation and will bring peace in brotherly Afghanistan. Your Excellency, please accept in conclusion the assurances of my highest consideration. Kurmanbek Bakiyev (End text) Comment -------------- ¶5. (C) This letter, which comes after the Kyrgyz Parliament's ratification of the agreements, is significant for documenting Bakiyev's support to another head of state of U.S. and international efforts in Afghanistan. ¶6. (U) Embassy Bishkek appreciates Embassy Kabul's assistance in delivering this letter to Afghan authorities. LITZENBERGER