VZCZCXRO5052
OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #1045/01 2881006
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 141006Z OCT 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1440
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2706
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1069
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3093
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2479
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001045 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KG
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS TO KYRGYZ PRESIDENT 
 
BISHKEK 00001045  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for Internet distribution. 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  Ambassador Gfoeller presented her 
credentials to President Bakiyev on October 14 in a ceremony 
at the Kyrgyz White House full of military precision, pomp, 
and circumstance.  Other Ambassadors participating in the 
presentation ceremony were from Argentina, Finland, Japan, 
Malaysia, Pakistan and South Korea.  The President 
highlighted Kyrgyz-American relations in a positive manner 
and emphasized Kyrgyzstan's intention to continue pursuing a 
"multi-vector" foreign policy in his subsequent remarks to 
the assembled Ambassadors.  He gave an upbeat read-out of the 
just-completed CIS Summit.  END SUMMARY. 
 
Bakiyev Reaffirms "Multi-Vector" Foreign Policy 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶2.  (SBU)  In her formal remarks as she was presenting her 
credentials, the Ambassador thanked Bakiyev for Kyrgyzstan's 
contribution to regional security and the war on terror, and 
expressed the desire to work together for the prosperity and 
development of Kyrgyzstan and the enhancement of bilateral 
relations.  In his formal remarks to the group of assembled 
new Ambassadors, Bakiyev reaffirmed Kyrgyzstan's choice to 
pursue "multi-vector" foreign relations (codeword for good 
relations with both Russia and the West).  He touched on 
relations with each Ambassador's country, but spent the most 
time on the U.S.  He reaffirmed Kyrgyzstan's support to 
combat global terrorism, expressed hope that the U.S. would 
resolve the current financial crisis that was affecting 
countries around the world, and said he looked forward to 
working with the new administration to continue close 
relations based on equality and mutual respect.  In his other 
remarks, Bakiyev notably did not echo the theme of Muslim 
brotherhood sounded by both the Pakistani and Malaysian 
Ambassadors. 
 
CIS and Central Asian Summits a Success 
--------------------------------------- 
¶3.  (SBU)  Following the ceremony, Bakiyev joined the 
Ambassadors for a champagne toast (non-alcoholic beverages 
were also available for the Muslim Ambassadors).  He opened 
up by asking if any of the new Ambassadors had ever served in 
the Kyrgyz Republic before.  Only the Ambassador responded, 
stating that she had briefly visited Kyrgyzstan in 1994 while 
adviser on CIS affairs to then-NATO Secretary General Manfred 
Woerner.  She commented appreciatively regarding the 
helicopter tour of the beautiful nearby mountains she was 
taken on.  Bakiyev responded by praising Kyrgyzstan's natural 
beauty.  In response to a question from the Finnish 
Ambassador, Bakiyev said the recently held CIS Summit had 
created new "formats" for members that would make CIS 
mechanisms that had not worked in the past become more 
effective in responding to crises.  He also stressed the 
importance of the first ever meeting of the five Central 
Asian presidents, which set a positive precedent for further 
cooperation. 
 
Bakiyev Relaxed and in Good Humor 
--------------------------------- 
¶4.  (SBU)  President Bakiyev was relaxed throughout the 
ceremony, taking in stride the Japanese Ambassador's breach 
of protocol when the latter insisted on introducing his wife 
and Defense Attache (following strict instructions from the 
Protocol Officer not to do this.)  The Japanese Ambassador's 
wife confounded the error by then stepping to the wrong side 
of the room.  When she realized her mistake, she tried to 
cross the room, but then got tangled up in the next 
Ambassador's entry to present credentials.  Bakiyev remained 
amused and relaxed, joking about the glitch.  He made a point 
of shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries not only with 
each Ambassador but also with all of their staffs as well, 
telling one Russian-looking young translator: "Good luck, 
little girl! ("devochka") with paternal bonhomie. 
 
BISHKEK 00001045  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Bakiyev did not appear fatigued or uncomfortable 
standing throughout the one-hour event.  Kyrgyz protocol was 
-- uncharacteristically -- impeccably well organized for the 
event.  For example, the Ambassador and DCM were amazed to 
see, at the precise moment they emerged from the White House, 
the protocol car with the U.S. flag waiting for them right at 
the door.  It appears that the exit was choreographed so that 
the American Ambassador exited first and received a 
resounding goose-stepping salute. 
GFOELLER