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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000892 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/01/2018 
TAGS: PGOV PREL MARR KG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR'S INTRODUCTORY CALL ON KYRGYZ FOREIGN 
MINISTER 
 
REF: A. STATE 93357 
     ¶B. STATE 92669 
     ¶C. STATE 92333 
 
BISHKEK 00000892  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Tatiana Gfoeller, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) Summary:  Ambassador delivered copies of her 
credentials to Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Karabayev during a 
brief introductory meeting September 2.  Ambassador stressed 
that she hoped to strengthen the bilateral relationship in 
areas of shared values and interests, including security 
cooperation, economic development, good governance, and 
education.  Ambassador also delivered Ref A points asking the 
Kyrgyz government to refrain from recognizing South Ossetia 
and Abkhazia during the Collective Security Treaty 
Organization (CSTO) meeting September 5 in Moscow.  Karabayev 
said he welcomed further development of the bilateral 
relationship, particularly in the sphere of economics and 
trade.  Karabayev asked for a quick decision on the Kyrgyz 
request to establish a consulate in New York, and he asked 
for U.S. assistance to establish monitoring stations to 
measure damage caused by fuel dumping by U.S. airplanes. 
Referring to the CSTO meeting, Karabayev said that the Kyrgyz 
government would make any decisions in line with its national 
interests.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. (C) On September 2, Ambassador Gfoeller paid a brief 
introductory call on Foreign Minister Ednan Karabayev in 
order to deliver a copy of her letter of credence. 
Ambassador thanked Karabayev for meeting with her on her 
first day of work in Kyrgyzstan.  She congratulated Karabayev 
on the 17th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan's independence, and 
gave him a copy of President Bush's national day message to 
President Bakiyev (Ref C).  Noting the Secretary's letter of 
condolence to Karabayev (Ref B), Ambassador also expressed 
condolences over the August 24 airplane crash near Manas 
International Airport. 
 
¶3. (C) Ambassador said that she hoped to build on the 
accomplishments of former Ambassador Yovanovitch and continue 
to strengthen the U.S.-Kyrgyz bilateral relationship. 
Ambassador said that she wanted to build a stronger 
relationship based on shared interests and values, including 
security and anti-terrorism cooperation through the Manas 
Coalition Air Base.  She said that the United States was 
committed to helping Kyrgyzstan build its democracy and good 
governance, particularly through the Millennium Challenge 
program, and she said we would continue to look for 
opportunities to build economic and trade relations. 
Ambassador also noted the importance of bilateral cooperation 
on education, with the American University of Central Asia 
being a centerpiece of that effort. 
 
¶4. (C) Karabayev welcomed the Ambassador to Krygyzstan.  He 
praised the work of former Ambassador Yovanovitch, and he 
said he looked forward to working closely her during her 
tenure here.  Karabayev said he wanted to get past "problem 
areas," such as the Manas Air Base, and concentrate on 
greater cooperation in the sphere of economy and trade; he 
hoped that the two sides could realize "concrete projects." 
 
¶5. (C) Karabayev asked for a fast response from the 
Department on the Kyrgyz government's request to accredit a 
consular officer and open consular services in New York. 
Karabayev said there was an increasing number of Kyrgyz 
citizens in the New York area who need such services. 
Ambassador told Karabayev that she would try to get an answer 
as quickly as possible. 
 
¶6. (C) Karabayev said that the natural environment, with 
mountains, glaciers, and water, was Kyrgyzstan's biggest 
asset.  He then asserted that fuel dumped from U.S. airplanes 
operating out of Manas Air Base was threatening the 
 
BISHKEK 00000892  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
environment.  He asked for U.S. assistance to establish 
monitoring stations around the country to measure the damage 
to the environment.  (Note:  A KC-135R Stratotanker assigned 
to Manas Air Base dumped 31,000 liters of fuel at 
approximately 7300 meters above ground level in a remote 
mountain area in southern Kyrgyzstan as the result of an 
in-flight emergency in June 2008.  This was the first fuel 
dumping from a U.S plane in Kyrgyzstan since September 2005. 
End note.) 
 
¶7. (C) Karabayev also raised the Yasynov case.  (Note: 
Karabayev was referring to a Kyrgyz citizen who was allegedly 
injured as a result of a 1999 road accident involving a 
vehicle driven by an embassy officer.  The U.S. government 
has declined to accept the jurisdiction of a Kyrgyz court, 
essentially asserting sovereign immunity in the matter.  End 
note.) 
 
¶8. (C) Ambassador raised Ref A points concerning Russia's 
recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia.  She expressed 
appreciation that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, at 
its August 28 summit meeting, had not recognized the 
independence of Georgia's breakaway territories.  Ambassador 
urged that CSTO members not allow Russia to use the September 
5 meeting to secure international recognition for the 
territories.  Ambassador also asked how the Commonwealth of 
Independent States (CIS), which will hold its summit meeting 
in Bishkek October 10, will approach the issue.  Karabayev 
visibly tensed up at the mention of the SCO, CSTO, and CIS 
meetings.  He gave a very general statement that all 
international organizations needed to strengthen their 
mechanisms of cooperation.  Referring to the CSTO meeting, 
Karabayev said that the Kyrgyz government would make any 
decisions in line with its national interests. 
 
¶9. (C) Comment:  Two forces were in play during the meeting. 
On one hand, Karabayev appeared on edge at any mention of 
Russia or the summit meetings, and he clearly did not want to 
talk about Russia's actions in Georgia.  He also cast his 
review of the bilateral relationship, including the Manas Air 
Base and fuel dumping, as problems.  However, on the positive 
side, Karabayev made a point of meeting with the Ambassador 
on her first day in the office.  Her MFA meeting had been set 
with the Deputy Foreign Minister, but Karabayev, who 
complained in an aside to the Ambassador that he had to 
travel early the next morning, made time to take the meeting 
himself.  He was cordial throughout, but he seemed a man 
under pressure. 
GFOELLER