VZCZCXRO8098
OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #0956 2661012
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 221012Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1368
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2663
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1034
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3052
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2437
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS BISHKEK 000956 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO PGOV SCUL KG
SUBJECT: OSH TRIP: SOUTHERN KYRGYZ UNIVERSITY GREETS 
AMBASSADOR WARMLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) During a September 16-17 visit to the southern city 
of Osh, Ambassador visited Osh State University.  She found a 
school in good physical shape, eager for international 
cooperation, but tarred by allegations of corruption.  First 
Vice-Rector Turdumamat Kadyrov gave the Ambassador a tour of 
the large campus, which was in much better shape than most 
universities in Kyrgyzstan.  The University has evolved from 
a smaller Pedagogical Institute to today's school of 18 
faculties and 27,000 students.  The school has worked hard to 
forge international ties, attracting 1500 foreign students 
and creating information centers supported by foreign 
governments, including the Korean, German, Turkish, Iranian 
and American Centers. 
 
¶2.  (U) The Ambassador also sat down for an informal meeting 
with 30 students from the faculty of international relations. 
 The students were eager to learn about how to study in 
America, how to get a green card, and whether there might be 
more money for exchanges after the U.S. Presidential 
elections.  The students asked several questions about the 
practice of diplomacy, such as good personality traits of a 
diplomat, length of duty at Post, and functions of the U.S. 
Embassy.  One student wanted to know if Kyrgyz diplomats 
represent their country well in America, and another asked if 
she could become a U.S. diplomat even though she was a Kyrgyz 
citizen. 
 
¶3. (SBU) COMMENT: Osh State is generally considered the best 
university in the south of Kyrgyzstan, but does not compare 
academically to those in the capital.  Many of the brightest 
southern students reportedly head north for school, if they 
can.  However, the University administration has succeeded in 
developing the physical plant of the school, in part through 
active outreach to donors of all stripes.  Osh State is also 
rumored to be among the most corrupt schools in the country, 
an allegation that would seem to be supported by the fact 
that students snickered when the topic of academic honesty 
was broached.  The students, though, seemed interested in the 
U.S., and the American Center at Osh State reported a steady 
flow of students seeking information about America and 
opportunities to visit. 
GFOELLER