MANAS UPDATE: WAITING FOR THE SIGNATURE TO BECOME

S E C R E T BISHKEK 000720 DEPT FOR SCA - PDAS MOON AND DAS KROL MOSCOW PASS TO U/S BURNS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/06/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KG SUBJECT: MANAS UPDATE: WAITING FOR THE SIGNATURE TO BECOME PUBLIC REF: STATE 35762 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Lee Litzenberger, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) In a private meeting July 5 with Charge, a relaxed but tired Krygyz FM Sarbayev said that President Bakiyev had signed the bill ratifying the new arrangement to establish a Transit Hub at Manas International Airport. Sarbayev added that he expected the signature to be made public on July 6. He commented that he had been "hard at work" since his return July 2 from Geneva to obtain the signature over the strong objections of Russia. ¶2. (C) Sarbayev then raised issues related to implementation of the Transit Center agreements. It was important, Sarbayev explained, that he and President Bakiyev be able to demonstrate to critics of the agreement that the new arrangement will bring benefits to Kyrgyzstan. For example, Sarbayev asked how the U.S. envisioned setting up a Supervisory Board for the $20 million joint economic development fund. Sarbayev also provided contact information for a Kyrgyz firm that the Government would like to be able to compete to ship goods by road to Afghanistan. ¶3. (C) Next, Sarbayev asked when the Embassy would provide the diplomatic note outlining the economic assistance programs the U.S. had negotiated as part of the Transit Center Agreement (reftel). Charge replied that the U.S. also expected a diplomatic note from the MFA informing us that Kyrgyzstan had completed all actions needed to bring the agreements into force, and suggested both these notes could be exchanged over the course of the coming week. ¶4. (C) Sarbayev confirmed that he and President Bakiyev would be available to meet with the senior delegation led by U/S Burns during their visit July 11-12. Sarbayev did not have a firm time for the meetings, but assured Charge they would be scheduled. (Note: The Kyrgyz White House contacted our protocol office late on July 6 to suggest that the "main meeting" with President Bakiyev take place July 11 in the evening. End Note.) ¶5. (C) In response to the Charge's question, Sarbayev shed some light on President Bakiyev's vaguely conceived "Bishkek Initiative" that the latter is sure to raise with U/S Burns. As Sarbayev explained, the idea was to offer Bishkek as a permanent venue for meetings to discuss issues related to stability in Afghanistan and regional security. These did not need to replicate the official dialogue already underway through the G-8, OSCE and other initiatives. Rather, they could be used to open up a parallel dialogue among leading academics and former statesmen, similar to the "Track II" process of the Middle East Peace Process. For example, Sarbayev said, perhaps (with our help) the Kyrgyz could invite Zbigniew Brzezinski, and say, former Russian PM Primakov for a conference on regional security. Sarbayev indicated his openness to discuss the concept further and willingness to incorporate suggestions from the U.S. and others. Comment -------------- ¶6. (S) As of COB Bishkek time, we have not received the diplomatic note confirming ratification, nor have we seen press reporting that Bakiyev signed the ratification bill. However, Sarbayev's firm assurances that the document has been signed were supported by similar messages over the weekend that were passed to the Base by a Ministry of Internal Affairs contact. Charge has not been able to reach Sarbayev by phone, but will continue to try to do so. LITZENBERGER