U/S BURNS LAUNCHES NEW ENGAGEMENT WITH KYRGYZ

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000801 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, EEB E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/22/2019 TAGS: PREL ECON PGOV KDEM KG SUBJECT: U/S BURNS LAUNCHES NEW ENGAGEMENT WITH KYRGYZ REPUBLIC REF: BISHKEK 638 BISHKEK 00000801 001.2 OF 003 Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Lee Litzenberger, Reason 1.4 (b) and ( d). ¶1. (C) Summary: Under Secretary for Political Affairs Bill Burns and a group of high-level U.S. officials met Prime Minister Chudinov and other senior Kyrgyz officials on July 11, shortly after meeting with President Bakiyev. On July 12, the U.S. delegation met with a group of election focused NGO representatives and alumni of U.S. exchange programs. In a separate meeting on July 12, Foreign Minister Sarbayev pushed President Bakiyev's Bishkek Initiative, which seeks to bring together Afghanistan,s neighbors in Bishkek for regular meetings to resolve regional issues. Sarbayev also lamented Russian actions against Kyrgyz labor migrants, which the Kyrgyz view as part of Moscow's reaction to the Manas-related agreements. End Summary. ¶2. (U) Under Secretary Burns, joined by Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake, National Security Council Senior Director for Russia and Central Asia Michael McFaul, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East and South Asia David Sedney, visited Bishkek July 11-12 for discussions with senior Kyrgyz officials and civil society representatives. Septel details U/S Burns' meeting with Kyrgyz Republic President Kurmanbek Bakiyev. This cable reports on the delegation's additional meetings in Bishkek. Prime Minister Hosts the Delegation -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Following a July 11 Bakiyev meeting, Prime Minister Igor Chudinov hosted a dinner at President Bakiyev's compound for the delegation. President Bakiyev's Chief of Staff Daniyar Usenov, Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev and Bakiyev's Foreign Policy Advisor Aibek Moldogaziev, who all attended the Bakiyev meeting, identified possible areas for expanded U.S.-Kyrgyz business and economic engagement. The Kyrgyz side mentioned converting Kyrgyz bilateral debt service payments into humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan (reftel),using Ex-Im Bank financing for the purchase of tractors and other equipment, moving forward with the Central Asia South Asia (CASA) electricity export initiative, and encouraging U.S. firm AES's involvement in the Kyrgyz electricity sector. Civil Society Speaks Out -------------- ¶4. (C) Prior to a July 12 roundtable discussion with a varied group of alumni of U.S. exchange programs, U/S Burns met separately with three representatives of an alliance of election monitoring NGOs. The group encouraged the United States to focus attention on the July 23 Presidential elections. Dinara Oshurahunova, director of the Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society, lamented that the Presidential election was "just a game," but confirmed plans to monitor the election, to include parallel ballot counting. Asiya Sasykbayeva, director of International Center Interbilim, alleged that the government had released criminals to create disturbances and attack opposition candidates. Burns underscored U.S. support for a free and credible election process and noted our appreciation for the courage and commitment of the groups in an extremely difficult environment. We did not underestimate the challenges they faced, and we encouraged their continued pursuit of a freer and more open electoral process. ¶5. (SBU) In his roundtable discussion with 10 exchange program alumni, U/S Burns solicited new ideas on how the United States could improve bilateral relations and assist in the Kyrgyz Republic's development. Uluk Kydyrbaev, director BISHKEK 00000801 002.2 OF 003 of the Bishkek Business Club, and Ainura Cholponkulova, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce, pressed for U.S. programs that would help business associations become more sustainable, develop skills to influence the Kyrgyz government's policy-making process, and organize educational exchanges with U.S. businesses. Oshurahunova noted that the U.S. needed to expand public outreach on Manas to counter information mostly provided by the Russian-influenced press. She said that more transparency and openness would help members of civil society defend the importance of the Manas facility. Rysbyubyu Beybutova, dean of the department of international relations at Kyrgyz National University, voiced a common view that U.S. educational exchange program opportunities should be increased. AkiPress News Agency director Marat Tazebekov complained of government efforts to impose more controls on internet media. Foreign Minister Expands on Issues of Engagement -------------- --- ¶6. (C) The delegation's last meeting was with Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev. In a one-on-one meeting before the larger group get-together, Burns thanked Sarbayev for his personal efforts to reach agreement on the Transit Center. Burns also stressed the importance to the United States of a credible electoral process -- a point Sarbayev acknowledged. Sarbayev agreed with U/S Burns' observation that transparency of Transit Center operations would help build civil society support for the facility. ¶7. (C) In the full delegation meeting, Sarbayev welcomed the initiatives outlined by U/S Burns to broaden U.S.-Kyrgyz relations. He promoted President Bakiyev's Bishkek Initiative and suggested the creation of a permanent Central Asian Conflict Resolution Center in Bishkek. Sarbayev requested a quick response on the Hatfield/Ivanov shooting case. Responding to Sarbayev's concern about Russian pressure on the Kyrgyz Republic to include measures against Kyrgyz labor migrants in Russia, U/S Burns suggested that the United States and the Kyrgyz Republic work together to relieve such pressures, and expressed hope that greater transparency in U.S. foreign policy intentions would reduce Russian suspicions about U.S. intentions in Central Asia. In closing, Sarbayev inquired about the possibility of employing skilled Kyrgyz workers in the United States and the issue of multiple entry visas. Burns noted that this was an area to explore; we had been able to reach agreements with other countries on some of these issues, on the basis of reciprocity. Sarbayev on China -------------- ¶8. (C) U/S Burns asked Sarbayev, who before becoming Foreign Minister was Kyrgyz Ambassador in Beijing, to comment on China and its role in Central Asia. Sarbayev credited the Shanghai Cooperation Organization with increasing China's involvement in the region, and the 10-fold increase in recent years in bilateral trade between China and the Kyrgyz Republic. He praised China's "market-based" economic policy, noted the increasing number of private sector businessmen now in the Communist party, and said that the institution of private property allowed for greater (future) changes in China. Sarbayev also praised the decision by Hu Jintao to pass the mantle of leadership to a younger generation in a peaceful, orderly fashion. "They could have remained in power, but chose instead to seek a smooth transition." Sarbayev also noted that Chinese society was in rapid transition, with Western values on the rise -- "They even celebrate Christmas now." Tour of Manas Transit Center BISHKEK 00000801 003.2 OF 003 -------------- ¶9. (U) Prior to their departure for Tashkent, the delegation toured Manas facilities and met soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division, who were transiting to Afghanistan. Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) Senior Kyrgyz officials were unanimous in welcoming U/S Burns' visit and message as an indication of a positive shift in U.S. policy toward Kyrgyzstan and the region. Building on the positive momentum of Transit Center agreements, the Kyrgyz are eager to broaden our relations, especially in the areas of economic development and policy dialogue. The Kyrgyz are convinced that Russia will take measures against the Kyrgyz Republic for agreeing to host the Transit Center, and cited as an example the recent actions in Moscow to close a large Kyrgyz market. The Kyrgyz indicated to the delegation they hope the U.S. will help weather the effects of Russian actions by promoting economic growth and, if needed, offering political support. ¶11. (U) U/S Burns has cleared this cable. LITZENBERGER