VZCZCXRO3201
RR RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHEK #1173/01 3230315
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180315Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1527
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2751
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/OSD WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1114
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 3142
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2528
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 001173 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN (GORKOWSKI) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV ECON SOCI KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN: VIEWS FROM ISSYK KUL'S SOUTH SHORE 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 1094 
     ¶B. BISHKEK 1124 
     ¶C. BISHKEK 1134 
     ¶D. BISHKEK 1144 
     ¶E. BISHKEK 1165 
 
BISHKEK 00001173  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  An Issyk Kul regional chief briefed the 
Ambassador October 24 on the shift of his region's economic 
foundation largely to agricultural and livestock pursuits. 
While the Soviet Union's collapse took its toll on major 
industrial and tourist facilities, the chief expressed hope 
that tourism would reclaim its role in the regional economy. 
Yet power cuts, which are affecting the region for the first 
time this winter, will challenge the local government.  End 
summary. 
 
Agriculture and Livestock Predominate 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) At the conclusion of the Ambassador's visit to 
Issyk Kul oblast, Ton Rayon (district) chief Kurmanbek 
Urjanov briefed the Ambassador October 24 about local 
conditions.  Urjanov said the area now lacks any factories, 
and most local inhabitants work in agriculture or with 
livestock.  He noted that 90% of residents in higher 
elevations raise livestock, and highlighted attempts to 
cultivate yak meat for export to Europe.  However, Urjanov 
said that European regulations were proving challenging for 
local producers.  Despite an official fishing moratorium in 
effect in Lake Issyk Kul, he confirmed that a local plant 
still processes fish caught in the lake. 
 
Economic Voids and Hopes for Tourism 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶3.  (SBU) The collapse of the Soviet Union, Urjanov 
explained, forced the closure of a military diode factory 
that had employed nearly 2,000 people.  A multistory hotel 
complex, financed by an Uzbek agricultural collective but 
abandoned before completion in the early 1990s, now sits as a 
"ruin," he noted.  While a wealthy Kyrgyz citizen has begun 
construction of a Central Asian fairytale-themed lakeside 
resort, no other significant, recent construction projects 
were apparent on Lake Issyk Kul's south shore.  Urjanov 
talked up prospects for ecotourism and local yurt production, 
but added that most tourists come from Kazakhstan and Russia. 
 Based on Embassy's observations, the southern shore is much 
less developed than the northern shores (reftels). 
 
Winter Woes 
----------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Urjanov confirmed that this is the first year that 
the region is facing electricity shortfalls due to nationwide 
power problems.  While noting that the hospital and 
kindergartens were fine, he said that nine of 30 schools 
relied on electricity for heating, and added that back-up 
plans for those schools and their students had not yet been 
determined. 
 
Looking Outside 
--------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Urjanov, like many other officials we met, had 
recently been to China on an official trip.  He seemed 
impressed with an agricultural institute he visited in Xian, 
and lamented that a similar institute in the Kyrgyz Republic 
had closed.  Urjanov noted that given the scope of Chinese 
capabilities, the Kyrgyz had limited potential for export to 
the Chinese market. 
 
Comment 
------- 
 
BISHKEK 00001173  002.8 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Urjanov, like other officials the Ambassador met, 
openly discussed his region's hardships, and his comments 
reflected views heard elsewhere during the visit to Issyk Kul 
oblast.  Interestingly, he also contrasted favorably 
"secular" attitudes and the limited numbers of mosques found 
in northern oblasts of the Kyrgyz Republic with the 
"Islamization" reportedly taking over in southern oblasts 
like Batken, Osh and Jalalabad. 
GFOELLER