MANAS: GRANT OF AUTHORITY

S E C R E T STATE 032985 NSC FOR GENERAL JONES, CENTCOM FOR GENERAL PETRAEUS OSD FOR SECRETARY GATES, DEPT FOR P - U/S BURNS, DEPT FOR SCA - DAS KROL E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/03/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR MOPS KG SUBJECT: MANAS: GRANT OF AUTHORITY REF: BISHKEK 297 Classified By: A/S Richard A. Boucher for reasons 1.4(b) and (d). ¶1. (S) In response to REFTEL request, Manas base negotiator Ambassador Jackson McDonald is authorized to make a tactical shift and move discussions with the Kyrgyz delegation from seeking continued access to the Manas base to discussing an orderly withdrawal from the base without further approval from Washington. This tactical shift is authorized once Ambassador McDonald and his team determine that the Kyrgyz side will not come to an agreement based on the team?s interagency-approved guiding instructions and that an additional round of negotiations or additional authorization would NOT lead to a successful conclusion. The team is authorized to extend its stay if additional time is necessary to determine whether an agreement is possible. The team is requested to report results of its April 4 deliberations as soon as possible and provide recommendations on next steps. CLINTON