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

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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