VZCZCXRO6716
PP RUEHDBU RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #1303/01 2541143
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 111143Z SEP 06
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8120
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1704
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1180
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0299
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2118
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1500
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001303 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KPAO KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PRESIDENT ATTENDS SEPTEMBER 11 CEREMOPNY AT 
MANAS AIR BASE 
 
BISHKEK 00001303  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY:  President Bakiyev led the Kyrgyz 
Government delegation to the September 11 ceremony at the 
Manas Air Base.  Bakiyev said that it was symbolic that his 
first visit to the Base should come on such a momentous day, 
and he re-affirmed Kyrgyzstan's commitment to the war on 
terrorism.  Both the Ambassador and Base Commander Col. Reese 
thanked the Kyrgyz Government for its efforts and cooperation 
in the rescue of Maj. Jill Metzger, who had been abducted in 
Bishkek September 5.  In addition to being a thoughtful 
remembrance of the victims of September 11, the ceremony had 
political significance, as the President's participation was 
an important show of support for the Air Base, and the 
presence of such a high level delegation represented the 
President's efforts to show unity from a government that is 
often fractious.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) President Kurmanbek Bakiyev led a Kyrgyz Government 
delegation to the Embassy and Base's September 11 
commemoration ceremony at the 376th Air Expeditionary Wing, 
Manas Air Base.  The delegation included Prime Minister Felix 
Kulov, Speaker of Parliament Marat Sultanov, Foreign Minister 
Alikbek Jekshenkulov, and other senior officials.  Also in 
attendance were invited guests from the religious 
communities, the diplomatic corps, and local government 
officials from the area around the Air Base, as well as 
formations of Spanish, French, Kyrgyz, and American troops. 
 
¶3. (U) The ceremony included remarks from President Bakiyev, 
Ambassador Yovanovitch, and Manas Air Base Commander Col. 
Reese.  In addition, the Mufti of the Kyrgyz Republic, 
Murataly Jumanov, and the Base Chaplain offered prayers.  The 
ceremony concluded with a wreath laying, the playing of taps, 
and a moment of silence in honor of those who lost their 
lives on September 11. 
 
¶4. (U) During his remarks, Bakiyev, who had been Prime 
Minister at the time of the attack, spoke of his laying 
flowers at Ground Zero and of how impressed he had been by 
the determination of the American people to eliminate 
terrorism.  He noted that the Kyrgyz Government and 
Parliament had responded quickly to the request to provide 
territory for the Base.  No country can defeat terrorism 
alone, he said, and Kyrgyzstan, alongside the other CIS 
countries and countries in the region, would continue to make 
its contribution to the war on terrorism.  He also expressed 
his appreciation to all those who carry out this war. 
 
¶5. (U) Both the Ambassador and Col. Reese thanked the Kyrgyz 
government officials for their efforts and cooperation in the 
rescue of USAF Maj. Jill Metzger, who had been abducted in 
Bishkek on September 5.  The Ambassador noted that while 
terrorists use their perverted ideology to divide us, much 
more unites us than divides us -- our common humanity, our 
commitment to justice, and our choice for freedom over 
tyranny. 
 
¶6. (U) Following the ceremony, Bakiyev, Kulov, and the rest 
of the delegation were given a tour of the Base facilities, 
including the accommodations, dining hall, medical unit, and 
gymnasium.  They also witnessed a military police dog 
demonstration.  Following the tour, Bakiyev gave an impromptu 
press conference at which he remarked how impressed he was by 
the living conditions, organization, and efficiency of the 
Base.  Bakiyev also noted that this was the first visit to 
the Base for him, Prime Minister Kulov and Speaker Sultanov, 
and it was "symbolic" that it should come on such a momentous 
day.  Kyrgyzstan, he said, was determined to continue its 
support for the war on terrorism.  The Base had already 
contributed much to achieving stability in Afghanistan, and 
the situation there is better than it was in 2001, but more 
still remained to be done. 
 
 
BISHKEK 00001303  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶7. (U) In addition to the Base ceremony, Post sponsored a 
civilian-oriented September 11 event based around the 
visiting Citizen Dialogue tour.  The two tour participants -- 
both women, a student and professional -- were the key 
speakers at a standing-room-only September 11 forum hosted by 
the Islamic University.  Surrounded by copies of the front 
pages of both international and U.S. papers from September 
11, 2001, the speakers discussed the integration of American 
Muslims into American society.  Audience questions focused on 
practical aspects of Muslim life in America.  The event was 
covered by camera crews from local and national channels. 
 
¶8. (SBU) COMMENT:  In addition to being a thoughtful and 
moving remembrance of the victims of September 11, the 
ceremony had political significance.  The participation of 
President Bakiyev, and the presence of such a high level 
Kyrgyz Government delegation, represented an important show 
of support for the coalition Air Base.  Following months of 
negotiations over the status of the Base, the President's 
public statements were a welcome expression of Kyrgyz 
commitment to the partnership.  However, given the 
President's desire to balance competing interests, this 
commitment is not fixed.  Following a very difficult summer, 
the President's participation in the ceremony also 
represented a step forward in the bilateral relationship. 
Interestingly, the presence of the large Kyrgyz delegation 
also represented Bakiyev's attempt to demonstrate unity from 
a government in which the president and prime minister often 
do not get along, but it is clear that those relations are 
still strained.  END COMMENT. 
YOVANOVITCH