KYRGYZSTAN RETURNS WEAPONS SEIZED FROM U.S.

C O N F I D E N T I A L BISHKEK 000987 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/09/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KG SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN RETURNS WEAPONS SEIZED FROM U.S. SPECIAL FORCES TRAINING TEAM IN AUGUST 2008 Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana C. Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) SUMMARY: On September 8, 2009, in a sudden turn of events, the GOKG returned to Embassy Bishkek the remainder of the weapons seized from a U.S. Special Forces training team in August 2008. The return of the weapons brings to a close more than a year of efforts to recover the weapons, since before the Ambassador,s arrival at Post. The return of the weapons appears to be the result of a significant general improvement in bilateral relations, including the recent signing of the Transit Center agreement and an upcoming visit to the Transit Center by Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev to commemorate 9/11 . END SUMMARY ¶2. (C) On September 7, 2009, an Embassy contact in the Prosecutor General's office contacted the Embassy and said that the Kyrgyz government was prepared to return the remainder of the seized weapons. On September 8, Embassy officers, with officials from the Prosecutor General's office, went to the headquarters of the Presidential Protective Service to retrieve the weapons. Upon arriving at the Presidential Protective Service headquarters, the Embassy officers were informed that there had been a delay in the release of the weapons given the absence of Service Chief Janysh Bakiyev, the brother of President Bakiyev. Embassy officers were notified at that time that the weapons could not be returned until Janysh Bakiyev approved the transfer. ¶3. (C) Later that same day, Embassy officers were informed that the earlier hurdles had been overcome, that President Bakiyev had issued a Presidential Order allowing the weapons to be returned to the U.S. side, and that the associated criminal investigation had been closed. Upon returning to the Presidential Protective Service headquarters for a second time, the Embassy officers successfully retrieved all remaining weapons. None of the ammunition confiscated with the weapons was returned, however. After the serial numbers of the weapons were checked, they were secured in an Embassy vehicle and transported to the Transit Center at Manas. They will be flown back to the U.S. in the coming days ¶4. (C) COMMENT: After more than a year of Embassy insistence, the sudden return of the seized weapons comes on the heels of the new Transit Center agreement, a visit by U.S. CENTCOM Commander General David Petraeus, and the planned visit to the Transit Center by President Bakiyev on September 11. The return of the weapons is another indicator of a significant improvement in bilateral relations and the Government of Kyrgyzstan's interest in building closer and stronger relations with the U.S. GFOELLER