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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 001548 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/01/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KG
SUBJECT: BAKIYEV AND KYRGYZ OPPOSITION CLOSER TO AGREEMENT 
ON CONSTITUTION; NOVEMBER 2 PROTEST STILL ON 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 1537 
     ¶B. BISHKEK 1532 
     ¶C. BISHKEK 1506 
     ¶D. BISHKEK 1423 
     ¶E. STATE 180495 
 
BISHKEK 00001548  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY: According to opposition leaders, in a series 
of meetings October 31 to discuss the opposition's demands 
for reforms, President Bakiyev and the Kyrgyz opposition 
reached provisional agreement on the broad form of a new 
constitution, and President Bakiyev may present a draft along 
the agreed lines to the Parliament on November 2.  While 
constitutional reform was at the center of the opposition's 
demands, several unresolved issues remain.  It appears, 
however, that there was agreement regarding KTR becoming a 
public television station.  The opposition intends to go 
ahead with its planned mass demonstration on November 2, in 
part to ensure that Bakiyev keeps his word on the agreement. 
If this apparent compromise on the constitution holds, it is 
more likely that the demonstration will be shorter in 
duration -- not the "indefinite protest" the opposition had 
promised. 
 
¶2. (C) However, we caution that the opposition's 
interpretation of the agreements concluded may vary from the 
that of the Presidential Administration; moreover, we have 
seen before that President Bakiyev can change his mind on a 
dime and for no apparent reason.  We remain concerned about 
the protest and continue to stress to all sides the need to 
act lawfully, constitutionally, and non-violently (per Ref 
E).  END SUMMARY. 
 
Agreement on Constitution 
------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Meetings at the Parliament, at the Presidential 
Administration, and among the opposition are continuing on 
the eve of the opposition's planned demonstration November 2. 
 Direct discussions between the government and opposition 
began in earnest on October 31, with meetings going on well 
into the night.  President Bakiyev, along with Prime Minister 
Kulov, State Secretary Madumarov, and Chief of Staff 
Abdyldayev met twice with opposition leaders MPs Beknazarov, 
Sariyev, Tekebayev, Eshimkanov, Sherniyazov, and former Trade 
Minister Atambayev.  Between those two meetings there was a 
three-on-three "experts" meeting to discuss possible 
compromise on a draft constitution.  While no overall 
agreement was reached, the President and the opposition did 
agree -- at least according to the opposition -- on the 
outline of a new constitution and there was progress on 
reviving the public television law earlier vetoed by Bakiyev. 
 
 
¶4. (C) On November 1, the Ambassador met separately with 
opposition leaders and "For Reforms" "experts" MP Azimbek 
Beknazarov, MP Omurbek Tekebayev, and MP Temir Sariyev to get 
their assessment of the status of the discussions with the 
government.  Beknazarov indicated that they had reached 
agreement with Bakiyev over the form of a new constitution, 
and that the November 2 protest could turn into a 
celebration.  Sariyev was much less optimistic about the 
agreement, saying he was not sure that Bakiyev would 
implement the agreement.  Tekebayev was somewhere in the 
middle, saying that the large crowd of protesters would 
guarantee that Bakiyev kept his word.  In any event, they 
said that the November 2 protest would take place as planned, 
partly to ensure the President keeps his promise. 
 
Beknazarov:  Over the Moon 
-------------------------- 
 
 
BISHKEK 00001548  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶5. (C) Beknazarov told the Ambassador that he, Tekebayev, and 
Sariyev worked all night with Abdyldayev, Madumarov and Legal 
Policy Department Head Zulpiyev to hammer out a new draft of 
the constitution, one based on the mixed form of government 
draft that Beknazarov's working group wrote earlier in the 
year.  In this version, the President remains Head of State, 
while the party that holds a plurality of seats in Parliament 
appoints the Prime Minister and forms the government. 
Beknazarov was confident that the new draft would provide 
balance within the government. 
 
¶6. (C) He said Parliament would approve the draft 
constitution and the President would sign it on the morning 
of November 2.  At that point, said Beknazarov, the 
demonstration would turn into a mass celebration.  He added 
that the President had also agreed to withdraw his veto of 
the public television law and allow state-owned KTR to become 
independent.  Such developments, gleefully confided 
Beknazarov, indicated a positive step toward full compromise 
between the opposition and the President.  He had no doubt 
that Bakiyev would sign the new draft on November 2, thereby 
setting off a chain of events that would lead to the 
immediate creation of a new government -- although he 
admitted that the President had not agreed to immediate 
implementation. 
 
Tekebayev:  Cautiously Optimistic 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) Tekebayev told the Ambassador that the President had 
agreed to a mixed system of government as Beknazarov 
described above, but said there was no draft yet and the 
future draft would be based on the June 2005 version.   He 
said the President wants to retain his full powers, and so 
would probably not agree to the immediate formation of a new 
government.  While they had not reached a "full agreement" 
with the President, and if Bakiyev wished to stay in office, 
it would be in his best interest to adopt the new 
constitution -- especially with thousands of angry protestors 
surrounding the White House.  Tekebayev said the 
demonstrators would act as a "guarantor" to ensure that 
President Bakiyev kept his word.  The Ambassador, once again, 
stressed the importance of conducting the demonstration in a 
peaceful, legal manner.  With a small smile, Tekebayev, in 
response, assured the Ambassador that control would be 
established, unless the government uses force against the 
protestors. 
 
Sariyev:  Less than Impressed 
----------------------------- 
 
¶8. (C) Sariyev said that while an agreement had been reached 
regarding the implementation of the new draft constitution, 
the October 31 meetings had done little to address the other 
demands of the opposition.  He said that November 2 could 
still be problematic, as a number of questions, including on 
personnel, remained unanswered by President Bakiyev, and he 
was not certain that the President would keep his promise to 
allow the formation of a new government after signing the 
constitution on November 2.  He said that Parliament was 
currently discussing what should take place at the November 2 
session (i.e., should there be a vote on a new draft 
constituion). 
 
¶9. (C) Like Beknazarov and Tekebayev, Sariyev added that the 
demonstration would take place, despite these new 
developments, to ensure that the President realized the 
seriousness of the situation.  Sariyev promised that it would 
be a peaceful rally and that the MVD and Procurator had 
provided assurances that no aggression would be allowed -- on 
either side. 
 
Preparations for Rally Continue 
 
BISHKEK 00001548  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
------------------------------- 
 
¶10. (SBU) Preparations for the November 2 rally are 
continuing.  Protest organizers have designated separate 
rally points near the center of the city for different 
parties and groups to meet, starting as early as 9:00 am near 
the Parliament.  From the rally points, the groups plan to 
walk to the central Ala-too Square, where the protest would 
begin at 2:00 pm. 
 
¶11. (SBU) Several businesses have said that they will close 
for the day, and some stores are adding additional security 
to protect against looting or property damage.  According to 
press reports, 6500 police will be deployed for the rally, 
but dispersed around the city to protect property.  Deputy 
Interior Minister Suvanaliyev said that the police would 
carry only rubber bullets.  The National Guard will be 
deployed to protect government buildings.  Kadyr Malikov, a 
leading Islamic scholar and frequent critic of the Muftiyat 
and official clergy, issued a fatwa urging Muslims to refrain 
from looting, theft, and illegal occupation of property. 
 
Embassy Coverage of Events 
-------------------------- 
 
¶12. (C) The Embassy will deploy roving teams in Embassy 
vehicles to observe conditions around the city on November 2. 
 In addition, the Embassy has two fixed observation posts in 
offices with views of Ala-too Square and the White House. 
There will be a command center set up at the Embassy with 
dedicated phone lines to keep in regular contact with each 
team and to maintain event logs. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶13. (C) Sariyev and Beknazarov claimed that the President was 
a broken man, who appeared to have lost his confidence, his 
public bluster and was ready to compromise.  Beknazarov said 
the President complained that the opposition was leaving him 
"with nothing."  It appears the President may be starting to 
take the opposition seriously and could be making some 
compromises -- although Tekebayev bluntly said, "We do not 
trust him," and will insist the President sign the new 
Constitution and the law on the media before the 
demonstrators go home.  The question is whether the agreement 
that is finally hammered out will be enough for the 
emboldened opposition and whether the opposition has the 
political strength to intimidate the President into further 
compromises from the street.  There is also the question of 
whether the President, a mercurial man, will stick to the 
agreements the opposition thinks he has made.  (We have been 
unable to talk to sources in the Presidential Administration 
with knowledge of the negotiations.) 
 
¶14. (C) The opposition seems to be ready to stay the course 
(or at least the weekend), and if it is not successful now, 
come back in the spring for more demonstrations.  The weather 
could be helpful as the forecast for November 2 calls for 
clearing skies in the afternoon, and dry and warm for the 
next several days. 
 
¶15. (C) As the November 2 demonstration draws near and there 
is no compromise, there is more anxiety among our 
interlocutors.  However, the fact that the two sides are now 
talking is a good sign.  We remain, however, concerned that 
thousands of people in the same place could create an 
unpredictable situation that neither the opposition nor the 
Government will manage well. 
 
YOVANOVITCH