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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001532 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PRESIDENT OFFERS TO MEET OPPOSITION AHEAD 
OF NOVEMBER 2 PROTEST 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 1506 
     ¶B. BISHKEK 1423 
 
BISHKEK 00001532  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  The Kyrgyz opposition is moving ahead with 
plans for a mass demonstration against the government on 
November 2, but there are some indications that a compromise 
may still be possible.  President Bakiyev and all the members 
of his government appeared in Parliament October 30 in an 
apparent attempt to defuse the tension.  Bakiyev disputed the 
opposition's claims and blamed the Parliament for the delay 
in constitutional reform, but he did offer to meet October 31 
with a small group of opposition leaders.  Prime Minister 
Kulov called for compromise, and offered to meet with civil 
society and political party representatives later on October 
¶31.  Following the meeting in Parliament, Ambassador met 
separately with For Reforms co-chairs Omurbek Tekebayev and 
Almaz Atambayev, who said that the President had offered 
"nothing new" in his address and the opposition would move 
forward with its plans for the November 2 rally.  They 
expected protesters to come to Bishkek from all regions of 
the country.  Atambayev said that the opposition was meeting 
daily with the MVD to settle any unresolved issues regarding 
demonstration logistics.  We, along with like-minded missions 
(German, French, OSCE, Turkish), are delivering a consistent 
message to the government and opposition, calling upon them 
to resolve issues related to constitutional reform, and to 
act legally, constitutionally, and non-violently with respect 
to November 2.  The EAC meeting October 30 is covered septel. 
 END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (SBU) On October 30, President Bakiyev, along with the 
members of the government, appeared in Parliament to address 
the current political situation.  Bakiyev focused on the 
opposition's main demands and aggressively refuted each of 
them.  He said that constitutional reform was stalled because 
Parliament had delayed hearings on the previously submitted 
drafts (Note:  hearings are scheduled to start November 1. 
End note.), and he said he would forward his own draft by 
November 20.  Bakiyev defended the make-up of his government, 
defended his veto of the public television law, and denied 
allegations that his family members were involved in illegal 
businesses. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Bakiyev suggested a meeting with four or five 
opposition leaders in the morning of October 31.  He said 
that the government side would be limited to the President, 
Prime Minister Kulov, State Secretary Madumarov, and Chief of 
Staff Abdyldayev.  He assured the residents of Bishkek and 
the surrounding region that the government would not let 
anyone "destabilize" the situation, and he reminded the MPs 
that their immunity did not extend to unconstitutional acts. 
 
¶4. (SBU) In his remarks, Prime Minister Kulov called 
repeatedly for compromise.  He suggested the situation could 
be resolved by moving forward with constitutional reform, and 
such reform should include election of a new parliament by 
party lists.  The President should remain in office until 
2010, the end of his current term.  Kulov offered to meet 
with civil society and political party representatives later 
on October 31. 
 
¶5. (C) Following the meeting in Parliament, Ambassador held 
separate meetings with For Reforms co-chairs Omurbek 
Tekebayev and Almaz Atambayev.  Claiming that Bakiyev offered 
nothing new during his speech, both pointed out the 
President's aggressive stance towards the opposition.  In a 
chance encounter with MP Sariyev, the Ambassador was again 
told that Bakiyev accomplished nothing during his 
presentation, except to provide more fodder for the 
opposition.  Rather than address the opposition's demands 
directly, including the details of the constitutional reform 
 
BISHKEK 00001532  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
process, Bakiyev simply blamed the opposition and its 
supporters of trying to destabilize the country.  Adding that 
he would submit his version of the draft constitution by 
November 20, the President did little else to appease the 
opposition.  According to Tekebayev, Atambayev and Sariyev, 
President Bakiyev will be continuing his discussions with 
parliamentarians the morning of October 31, despite his 
previously stated intention to meet with opposition leaders 
at 10:00 am. 
 
¶6. (C) Both Tekebayev and Atambayev confirmed that the 
opposition would go forward with its plans for the 
demonstration, which would start at 2:00 pm on November 2. 
They expected that people from throughout the country would 
attend the demonstration.  The Ambassador once again relayed 
our concern that the demonstration be peaceful, 
constitutional, and legal.  Atambayev reassured the 
Ambassador that the opposition was meeting daily with the MVD 
to settle any unresolved issues regarding demonstration 
logistics and will have a number of mixed citizen-police 
patrols roving the area during the demonstration, watching 
for looters and mischievous behavior. 
 
¶7. (C) Representative from several like-minded missions in 
Bishkek (U.S., German, French, Japanese, Turkish) met October 
30 to discuss approaches to the government and opposition 
ahead of the November 2 demonstrations.  The representatives 
agreed on the importance of delivering a consistent message, 
calling upon the government and opposition to resolve issues 
related to constitutional reform and find a solution that 
promotes human rights, rule of law, and democracy; urging 
respect for human rights in recognizing the opposition's 
right to assemble and freely express its opinion during the 
November 2 rally, and to show restraint in any reaction to 
the event; calling upon each side to make public statements 
for restraint; and calling upon the government and opposition 
to act legally, constitutionally, and non-violently.  The 
German Ambassador said his staff had confirmed that the 
opposition was purchasing tents, food, and coats in 
preparation for staying on the square overnight.  He added 
that PM Kulov had told him last week he was prepared to 
address the demonstrators. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶8. (C) About the only thing that everyone agrees on is that 
the situation is unsettled and unpredictable, and that people 
remain worried that events could spin out of control.  In 
Parliament today, President Bakiyev did not sound like a man 
ready to compromise, and the For Reforms leadership did not 
sound ready to have a meeting with the President to talk 
about compromise.  Nevertheless, meetings tomorrow will offer 
some chance of finding a compromise before November 2. 
YOVANOVITCH