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PP RUEHLN RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #1133/01 3111102
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P 061102Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1503
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
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RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0065
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RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
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RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
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RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3129
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2515
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO BRUSSELS BE
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001133 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN AND SCA/PPD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO KG
SUBJECT: Embassy Election Events a Hit with Kyrgyz Elites and 
Students 
 
BISHKEK 00001133  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Embassy Bishkek hosted sx public events November 
5 to mark the U.S. presidential elections.  The events took place at 
the Chief of Mission's Residence (CMR); the American Corners in 
Jalalabad, Kant, and Karakol; and the American Centers in Bishkek 
and Osh.  Prominent opposition politicians attended the Ambassador's 
event.   With the exception of the American Center in Bishkek, where 
the Consular Section hosted an event for American citizens, all 
events were geared to a Kyrgyz audience.  End summary. 
 
KYRGYZ VIP'S MARK U.S. ELECTIONS AT THE CMR 
-------------------------------------------- 
¶2. (SBU) The morning event at the Chief of Mission's Residence was 
an open house attended by about 50 local government officials, 
members of the diplomatic corps, NGO representatives, 
politically-engaged Kyrgyz elite, and the media.  Elections in the 
Kyrgyz Republic are regarded as holidays, and many guests wished the 
Ambassador "Happy Holiday!" and "Congratulations on your elections!" 
even before the results were clear.  Common questions had to do with 
the practice of color-coding states (red state/blue state) and the 
Electoral College system.  Many of the guests were pleasantly 
surprised by the graciousness of Senator McCain's concession speech, 
with the Russian Ambassador commenting, "He is also a worthy man." 
Many guests insisted on staying for and appeared quite touched by 
Senator Obama's victory speech. 
 
OPPOSITION POLITICIANS TAKE NOTE 
-------------------------------- 
¶3. (SBU) Omurbek Tekebayev, one of the most prominent Kyrgyz 
opposition leaders, accepted the Ambassador's invitation to the 
event.  Tekebayev rubbed shoulders with many government officials, 
and also eagerly collected materials (in Kyrgyz and Russian) about 
the U.S. electoral system.  His assistants also took note of 
displays on the elections process.  Roza Otunbayeva, a former 
foreign minister and currently a parliamentarian representing the 
Social Democratic Party also attended, and made the rounds of other 
politicians in attendance.  The Ombudsman informed the Ambassador of 
his interest in building a solid relationship with the Embassy.  The 
opposition politicians seemed appreciative of the Ambassador's 
invitation to the event. 
 
IN THE SHADOW OF THE RUSSIAN AIRBASE 
------------------------------------ 
¶4. (SBU) In the city of Kant, located twenty miles outside of 
Bishkek and site of the Russian airbase, Embassy staff hosted an 
event for approximately 25 local students, teachers, and elected 
officials at the American Corner.  With CNN predicting the winner 
state-by-state in the background, Emboff's spoke with guests about 
the Electoral College, the differences between the two candidates 
and their parties, and the fundamentals of the election process. 
Two Kant City Council members recently elected on October 5 fueled 
the discussion by comparing the Kyrgyz and U.S. electoral process. 
The council members were quite inquisitive about polling stations, 
ballots, and the overall election process.  They admitted that the 
current Kyrgyz system was extensively flawed and hoped to learn from 
Americans about the importance of transparency as a weapon to 
eliminate corruption. 
 
KARAKOL EVENT IS STANDING ROOM ONLY 
----------------------------------- 
¶5. (SBU) Spilling out into the corridor, over sixty students, 
teachers, NGO representatives and local journalists gathered in the 
American Corner in Karakol.  Embassy staff, joined by six Peace 
Corps volunteers, fielded questions on electoral process and 
differences between the U.S. political parties.  The students in 
attendance were the best students from the various institutions and 
universities near Karakol, so the questions were nuanced and the 
students were surprisingly well-informed about the U.S. presidential 
campaign.  When asked what they expected from an Obama 
administration, several students expressed the hope that the United 
States would be more "peaceful" and would work more closely in 
cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and other countries in the region. 
 
BISHKEK 00001133  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
ENTHUSIASM IN SOUTHERN KYRGYZSTAN 
--------------------------------- 
¶6. (SBU) Close to 30 Kyrgyz students, teachers, and local media 
attended an election discussion at the American Center at Osh State 
University.  Pol-Econ Chief and USAID 
Society and State Advisor outlined the U.S. election process and 
took questions from the students and press. While there were a 
number of questions about the two-party system, the campaign 
process, and the Electoral College, attendees were particularly 
interested in whether the results of the election would affect U.S. 
foreign relations, including the relationship between the U.S. and 
Kyrgyzstan.  Other areas of interest for the students included 
personal wealth of the candidates, life of ex-presidents and race 
relations in the U.S.  At the American Corner in Jalalabad, the 
Cultural Affairs Officer held an event for over 50 Kyrgyz students. 
Questions posed were similar to those at the other student events. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Comment: While there was little coverage of the U.S. 
presidential election campaigns in Kyrgyz mainstream media, Kyrgyz 
youth proved to be surprisingly well-informed about the U.S. 
presidential race.  Perhaps it was a self-selecting crowed, but 
their interest in, and knowledge of, U.S. politics should be 
credited to the American Corners and Centers, which provide free 
internet access to students.  Since Kyrgyzstan's independence, this 
was Embassy Bishkek's largest U.S. election outreach effort. 
 
GFOELLER