KYRGYZ MFA RESPONDS TO ORGANIZATION CALLING FOR

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000925 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI) E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2019 TAGS: KG PGOV PINR PREL SUBJECT: KYRGYZ MFA RESPONDS TO ORGANIZATION CALLING FOR THE CLOSURE OF THE TRANSIT CENTER REF: BISHKEK 890 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In an apparent mistake, the Embassy has received an original letter from the Kyrgyz MFA responding to a Kyrgyz organization calling itself the "Coordinating Council of the Movement for the Removal of the American Air Base 'Ganci' From the Territory of Kyrgyzstan." The MFA letter, written in response to a letter from the organization, notes the June 22 agreement on the Transit Center at Manas, but acknowledges the need to expedite the investigation of the death of Alexander Ivanov in 2006. Post does not have a copy of the letter the MFA received from the organization. This organization, which appears to be associated with the Comunist Party, held a press conference July 20 but has otherwise not generated publicity. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) In an apparent mistake, the Embassy received an official letter from the Kyrgyz MFA, signed by the Deputy Minister and dated August 7, responding to the "Coordinating Council of the Movement for the Removal of the American Air Base 'Ganci' from the Territory of Kyrgyzstan." The MFA's letter made four points: 1) in February 2009 the Kyrgyz Republic notified the U.S. government that the military airbase should cease operations in 180 days; 2) any schedule for removal of military or civilian personnel from the airbase would fall under the authority of the base commanders and the U.S. Department of Defense; 3) the June 22 agreement was signed with the U.S. regarding cooperation on the Transit Center at Manas Airport; and 4) the process of expediting the investigation of the death of Alexander Ivanov is being pursued through diplomatic channels, and the investigation appears to be nearing an end. ¶3. (SBU) The "Coordinating Council of the Movement for the Removal of the American Air Base 'Ganci' From the Territory of Kyrgyzstan" held a press conference on July 20 to protest the June 22 agreement on the Manas Transit Center. The speaker at the press conference, Alexander Tiperov, is a member of the Communist Party. According to a press report, Tiperov called for the removal of all foreign military bases (i.e., both U.S. and Russian) from Kyrgyz territory. This organization is not well known and has not generated any significant publicity since the July 20 press conference. ¶4. (C) COMMENT: The fact that the Embassy received the original response from the MFA to the "Coordinating Council of the Movement for the Removal of the American Air Base 'Ganci' From the Territory of Kyrgyzstan" instead of its intended destination is a classic example of official Kyrgyz government inefficiency. The content of the MFA response, however, demonstrates the government's attempts to respond positively in the face of harsh criticism to the Transit Center agreement. END COMMENT GFOELLER