VZCZCXRO1841
PP RUEHDBU
DE RUEHEK #0142/01 0391301
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 081301Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8950
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 1944
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0049
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0062
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 0527
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0345
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0059
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0216
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC PRIORITY
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE PRIORITY 2355
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1739
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE PRIORITY
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP PRIORITY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000142 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/08/2017 
TAGS: TAGS
SUBJECT: MORE KYRGYZ CABINET APPOINTMENTS MADE; 
JEKSHENKULOV OUT AS FOREIGN MINISTER 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 140 
     ¶B. BISHKEK 102 
 
BISHKEK 00000142  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Classified By: Charge Lee Litzenberger, Reason 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) A number of new cabinet-level appointments were made 
February 8, including the ministers of Foreign Affairs; 
Finance; and Industry, Energy and Fuel Resources.  The 
February 8 appointments include: 
 
-- Ednan Karabayev, former Deputy Rector of the 
Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, was appointed Minister of 
Foreign Affairs.  Karabayev held the same position in the 
early 1990s. 
 
-- Akylbek Japarov was reappointed Minister of Finance. 
Given Japarov's pro-HIPC position, few, especially those 
within the opposition, believed his reappointment was assured. 
 
-- Igor Chudinov, former Director of KyrgyzGaz, was appointed 
Minister of the newly-created Industry, Energy and Fuel 
Resources. 
 
-- Sabyrbek Moldokulov, former Minister of Industry, Trade 
and Tourism, was appointed Minister of Economic Development 
and Trade. 
 
-- Talantbek Uzakbayev was appointed Minister of Agriculture, 
Water Resources and Processing Industry.  Uzakbayev formerly 
held the position of Director of the Department of Veterinary 
Medicine within the same ministry. 
 
-- Kanybek Osmonaliyev replaces Nur uulu Dosbol as Minister 
of Education and Science.  Osmonaliyev previously held the 
Deputy Minister position within the same ministry. 
 
-- Janysh Rustanbekov was reappointed Minister of Emergency 
Situations, after speculation that he would get the boot for 
embezzlement. 
 
-- Sultan Raev was reappointed Minister of the re-named 
Ministry of Culture and Information.  The addition of 
"information" within the ministry's title suggests that Raev 
may be given the power to oversee all aspects of Kyrgyz media. 
 
-- Salaidin Aidarov was reappointed Chair of the State 
Customs Committee. 
 
-- Shailoobek Niyazov was reappointed Minister of Public 
Health. 
 
-- Toikonbek Kalmatov was appointed Director of the State 
Agency for Religious Affairs, replacing Jolbors Jorobekov. 
 
-- Turuspek Mamashov, who previously held the position of 
Minister of Trade and Tourism, was appointed Director of the 
State Tourism Agency. 
 
-- Nurlan Askarov was reappointed Director of the Vocational 
Training Agency. 
 
-- Turusbek Koyonaliyev was reappointed Director of the 
Information Resources, Technologies and Communications Agency. 
 
-- Bektur Asanov was reappointed Director of the State Agency 
for Physical Culture, Sports, Youth Affairs and Child 
Protection. 
 
-- Toktorbek Akmatov was appointed Chair of the State Tax and 
Duties Committee. 
 
 
BISHKEK 00000142  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶2. (U) With these latest appointments, all ministries have 
been filled and only the agencies for real estate 
registration; procurement and mineral reserves; environmental 
protection and forestry; antimonopoly and competition 
development; construction and architecture; professional 
technical education; geology and mineral resources; and the 
financial police remain to be filled. 
 
¶3. (C) COMMENT: Though rumored late last week, the 
appointment of Ednan Karabayev as FM was a surprise, as a 
number of our interlocutors, including First Deputy Chief of 
Staff Sadyrkulov (reftel B), had predicted former FM 
Jekshenkulov would remain in office at least through June to 
oversee preparations for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation 
Organization summit, to be held in Bishkek this June.  While 
we are not displeased that Jekshenkulov is out at MFA, we are 
cautious over Karabayev's appointment.  Though he has not 
been outspoken as Vice Rector of the Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic 
University, University faculty are widely cited in the media 
as experts, presenting a strongly Russo-centric analysis of 
events.  We understand that Karabayev was fired rather 
quickly from his previous service as FM when, following a 
trip to Israel, his announcement that Kyrgyzstan would open 
an embassy there produced outrage in the Muslim community. 
 
¶4. (C) COMMENT CONT'D: Akylbek Japarov's reappointment as 
Finance Minister is surprising, given his unpopular pro-HIPC 
stance.  According to the IMF, his reappointment may not be 
as positive as it might seem, however.  Much of Japarov's 
responsibilities may be shifted to other areas of the 
government, possibly including the Ministry of Economic 
Development and Trade -- a ministry that appears likely to 
fall within First Vice Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov's 
bailiwick.  In addition to the possibility that several of 
Japarov's personnel may be removed due to staffing cuts, the 
Finance Minister may no longer have oversight over tax 
officials. 
 
¶5. (C) COMMENT CONT'D: Nevertheless, Japarov's first public 
act within the new government was to announce that the 
government would make a final decision about entering the 
Highly Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) initiative by the week 
of February 12.  Referring to a February 7 joint statement by 
the IMF and World Bank, Japarov told reporters February 8 
that, if the government confirms its intention to join the 
initiative, Kyrgyzstan would receive approximately $1 billion 
in debt relief.  Japarov also pointed out that the Asian 
Development Bank is likewise ready to write off about $200 
million.  Although still a proponent of HIPC, it remains to 
be seen whether he has the bureaucratic clout to overcome the 
widespread opposition to HIPC that permeates parliament, the 
government and the media. 
 
LITZENBERGER