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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 001710 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/05/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KDEM MARR ASEC KG
SUBJECT: PM KULOV:  CAUTIOUSLY MOVING FORWARD IN A NEW ERA 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 1705 
     ¶B. BISHKEK 1621 
 
BISHKEK 00001710  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
Classified By: Amb. Marie L. Yovanovitch, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1. (C) SUMMARY:  Ambassador met with Prime Minister Kulov 
November 30 to discuss a range of issues.  Kulov called the 
new constitution "flawed" and said that the president emerged 
as the "big winner."  He expressed little faith in the 
political opposition, saying they were disunited and corrupt. 
 He said that Bakiyev would address parliament December 4 and 
urge the deputies to pass stalled legislation; if the 
deputies did not act, "anything" would be possible, including 
dissolving parliament.  Kulov said that public and 
parliamentary opinion was very strong that the U.S. was at 
fault for the collision at Manas Airport and should provide 
compensation.  Kulov said that he favored joining the HIPC 
initiative, but Kyrgyzstan would join only if the government 
determined it would be in the country's interest.  END 
SUMMARY. 
 
Current Political Situation 
--------------------------- 
 
¶2. (C) Kulov said that he did not view the new constitution 
as a big accomplishment.  He had preferred a different 
version that he had hoped would be passed.  The new 
constitution, he said, is flawed and "much needs to be 
changed."  He added that it is not good when things are done 
in such a hurry. 
 
¶3. (C) Contrary to some analysts' views, Kulov believes that 
the PM does not acquire more powers under the new 
constitution.  Kulov said that it is the President who is the 
big winner.  Presidential powers remain the same, and 
President still appoints the PM.  Therefore, under Kyrgyz 
conditions, "the Prime Minister will always be that person 
the president needs."  Kulov said that in Kyrgyzstan today, 
political parties are not strong or well developed, but the 
new constitution gives them an important role in the 
parliament.  He said that Bakiyev would be able to field the 
strongest party, and even if his party does not win the 
majority, if the majority party fails to form a government, 
he can then ask any party to form a government. 
 
¶4. (C) During the early November demonstrations, Kulov said 
he told the Opposition not to focus on personalities.  He 
said that his own role during this period was to assure that 
whatever happened was peaceful and that there was no 
North-South divide.  Kulov said that the Opposition wanted to 
take over the White House and other critical points, and he 
told them that while he was for reform, he wanted this to be 
done peacefully.  He claimed opposition leader Almaz 
Atambayev said that even if 1000 people die, it would be 
worth it, because we "have to take power."  Kulov said he 
replied that he would not support this, to which Atambayev 
said "then you are supporting the south over the north." 
Kulov said that may be, but power at such a cost is worth 
nothing.  He said he told the Opposition that even if they 
came to power, they would fail, because they did not have a 
unified view and they were corrupt.  Kulov predicted that if 
the Opposition did come to power, he (Kulov) would be back in 
power within 2-3 years, because he would be needed. 
 
¶5. (C) Looking to the future, Kulov said the President would 
go to Parliament December 4 and ask the deputies to pass 
about 50 pending laws covering economic development and other 
measures needed to implement the constitution.  If the 
parliamentarians did not act, the PM said "anything was 
possible," including dissolution of parliament.  He noted, 
however, that the President cannot just write a decree 
dissolving parliament; this has to be done according to the 
law and the constitution.  Kulov said that there are "many 
possibilities in the law" to dissolve parliament.  Somewhat 
contradictorily, Kulov also said that that the only 
possibility to dissolve parliament and the best way forward 
would be for Kulov himself to resign.  He said he was 
prepared to do this, but the President did not want him to 
 
BISHKEK 00001710  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
go.  Kulov concluded that dissolution of the parliament was 
not the most likely scenario. 
 
Harassment of NDI/IRI/IFES 
-------------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) The Ambassador raised concerns about the Prosecutor 
General's investigation into the activities of NDI, IRI, and 
IFES, and she passed Kulov a copy of the diplomatic note the 
Embassy had sent requesting an explanation for the 
investigation.  Kulov said he was unaware of the situation 
and claimed the government had nothing to do with it, that 
the PG has higher powers to review what is happening and even 
change government decisions.  He added that the PG does not 
report to the PM under the new constitution.  (Comment:  On 
December 1, Deputy Chief of Staff Sadyrkulov told Ambassador 
that the Prime Minister had agreed that the harassment of 
USAID grantees must stop and that State Secretary Madumaorv 
should call the Prosecutor General.  End Comment.) 
 
Collision at Manas Airport 
-------------------------- 
 
¶7. (C) The Ambassador told Kulov that our report of the 
accident at Manas Airport was not yet ready, but we had 
indications that it would differ from the Kyrgyz report.  The 
Ambassador said we want to share the report before it is 
released to the press and want to lay out a way forward.  She 
said it would be important to work together constructively. 
 
¶8. (C) Kulov said that public opinion and parliamentary 
opinion was very strong that the U.S. was at fault and that 
the U.S. should provide compensation.  The Ambassador noted 
that the public/parliament might not have all the facts, and 
we also have a parliament that watches such issues; it was 
best to try to work on this together.  Kulov suggested that 
we not make our report public, but try to work together to 
find a compromise.  The Ambassador pointed out that the 
Kyrgyz had already publicly released their report and that 
our procedure was to release publicly the findings; moreover 
we could not leave the misimpression that the U.S. was 100% 
to blame if that was not the finding. 
 
REMAP 
----- 
 
¶9. (C) The Ambassador outlined for the PM USAID's new 
Regional Energy Market Assistance Program (REMAP).  The Prime 
Minister was interested, but suggested we wait on a full 
briefing until the new Ministry of Energy is formed.  He 
expects this to happen before the end of the year.  He is 
very interested, but wants the new ministry to handle this. 
 
HIPC 
---- 
 
¶10. (C) The PM said there is a firestorm around the issue; 
only two people (himself and the Minister of Finance) are in 
favor of HIPC.  He noted that Kyrgyzstan would only join if 
it was in their interests, and the President would do 
whatever the PM advised. 
 
KIDNAPPING OF EMBASSY SPOUSE/SD TEAM 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶11. (C) Ambassador briefed Kulov on the recent kidnapping of 
an Embassy spouse (Ref B) and thanked the Prime Minister for 
the excellent investigative efforts of the MVD.  She noted 
that had the Surveillance Detection (SD) Team been 
operational at the time of the kidnapping, there might have 
been a chance to prevent the incident.  She asked the Prime 
Minister to sign an MOU regarding the SD Team and passed a 
suggested draft.  The Prime Minister said he would ask his 
lawyers to review the document and would get back to the 
Ambassador. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
BISHKEK 00001710  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶12. (C) While most agree that the Prime Minister came out 
ahead with the new constitution, the PM himself is playing 
this very carefully.  He remains a target of the opposition 
and needs a continued alliance with the President. 
Ironically, one outcome of the November demonstrations is the 
strong "tandem" between the President and Prime Minster that 
everyone had hoped for in 2005.   Perhaps this desire not to 
overplay his hand accounts for the caution the PM displayed 
in his meeting with the Ambassador.  From REMAP to the 
harassment if USAID democracy grantees, Kulov was attentive 
and polite but noncommittal.  On the September airplane 
collision at Manas, however, Kulov clearly laid out Kyrgyz 
expectations; this is significant coming from a consistently 
strong proponent of the Base. 
YOVANOVITCH