Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BISHKEK987
2009-09-09 10:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bishkek
Cable title:
KYRGYZSTAN RETURNS WEAPONS SEIZED FROM U.S.
how-toVZCZCXRO1355 RR RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW DE RUEHEK #0987 2521018 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 091018Z SEP 09 FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2634 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1530 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3581 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2972 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
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).
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
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