VZCZCXRO2221
PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #1117/01 3090307
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 040307Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1495
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2734
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0063
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3125
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2511
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001117 
 
Dept for SCA/CEN and SCA/PPD 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SCUL PHUM KPAO KG
SUBJECT: Christian Missionary Foundation Opens New American 
University in Kyrgyzstan 
 
BISHKEK 00001117  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: The Mercy Christian Foundation, a legally 
registered Christian organization active in the northern Kyrgyz city 
of Tokmok, has partnered with some of the original founders of the 
American University of Central Asia and has opened an American 
Professional Institute in the city.  With an entry class of 42 
students, the directors of the institute have big plans for the 
future, but also have difficulty articulating the role the institute 
will play in the local higher education sector.  End Summary. 
 
An Ambitious Beginning with an Unexpected Partner 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Mercy Charitable Christian Foundation, a legally 
registered religious organization, has been very active in the 
northern Kyrgyz city of Tokmok since 2001.  Over the years, this 
foundation has opened seven primary schools around the city, 
currently teaching over 1,000 students.  This group has also built 
Western-standard playgrounds with adjoining "Jesus Houses" in Tokmok 
and Kara-Balta.  The foundation appears to have close and cordial 
relations with city authorities. 
 
¶3. (SBU) In 2008, the foundation decided to expand its work into the 
higher education field.  Working in partnership with two founders of 
the American University of Central Asia (AUCA) no longer associated 
with the University, the foundation quickly secured the appropriate 
permissions from the Ministry of Education and renovated and 
equipped a small campus complex in Tokmok.  The first class entering 
the Institute consisted of 42 students, primarily from the area 
around Tokmok.  Only a minority of the incoming students are 
graduates of the Institute's primary and secondary schools. 
 
¶4. (SBU) One of the foundation's key partners is Camilla 
Sharshikeeva, former Minister of Education and former Vice President 
of AUCA.  Sharshikeeva said that the intent of the foundation is to 
establish an institution in the mold of U.S. land-grant universities 
with a focus on agriculture and business training.  The institution 
is called American because of its use of the credit system and its 
use of English language training.  Sharshikeeva says that even 
though the institution was founded by the Christian foundation, 
training at the school is entirely secular and expressed no concerns 
over working with a Christian missionary organization.  She said she 
hopes that even larger branches of the school will be opened in 
other educationally under-served regions in Kyrgyzstan. 
 
Comment: Future Path Unclear 
---------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) While Foundation directors and school administrators are 
unanimously enthusiastic about embracing the United States (the U.S. 
flag flies over the school, the Rector has a locally-produced Great 
Seal hanging on his wall, and PAS staff are regularly invited to 
speak at even the most obscure university events), no common thread 
has emerged about the future of the institute.  As best we can tell, 
this Institute has been funded almost entirely by the Christian 
Foundation.  The Institute has not received any U.S. Government 
money, and the Embassy was not involved in the planning stages of 
the institute.  There is a great need in Kyrgyzstan for technical 
education, particularly in agriculture and business administration. 
It is less clear why this education for rural farmers should be in 
English. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Clearly this foundation and this institution have 
supporters.  The grand opening was presided over by former Minister 
of Education and current head of the State Agency for Religious 
Affairs Osmonaliev, and the year-old institution already has its 
full attestation from the Ministry of Education (a feat AUCA has yet 
to fully accomplish).  However, anecdotal reports indicate that the 
institute's curriculum is not as secular as administrators claim, 
and it will be interesting to see how the institute and the 
foundation will be affected by the new Law on Religion. 
 
 
BISHKEK 00001117  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
Gfoeller