VZCZCXRO5144
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHEK #0176/01 0581533
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 271533Z FEB 09
FM AMEMBASSY BISHKEK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1872
INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 2213
RUEHFT/AMCONSUL FRANKFURT 3839
RUEHAST/USO ALMATY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 000176 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR CA/OCS: MBOND 
CA/OCS/CI: WBISTRANSKY, GFULLER, MSAINTVICTOR 
CA/VO/F/P: MURBANCIC, MEARL 
SCA/CEN: GORKOWSKI 
ALMATY FOR CBEARD 
FRANKFURT FOR RCO KBROUGHAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: CASC CVIS KFRD KOCI PREL KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZSTAN ADOPTIONS: AMBASSADOR'S MEETING WITH 
VICE PRIME MINSITER ABDULLAEVA YIELDS HOPEFUL RESULTS 
 
REF: A. BISHKEK 133 
     ¶B. 08 BISHKEK 1197 
     ¶C. 08 BISHKEK 1172 
     ¶D. FULLER/CHITTENDEN E-MAILS 
 
¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On February 27, 2009, Vice Prime Minister 
for Social Issues Uktomkhan Abdullaeva met with the 
Ambassador and the Consular Section Chief to discuss the 
current status of international adoptions in Kyrgyzstan. 
While the Kyrgyz adoption commission is still working on its 
reports to Parliament, Abdullaeva was hopeful that the 
situation could be resolved soon.  The Ambassador repeatedly 
stressed that any new legislation or international agreements 
should not be retroactively applied to the 65 U.S. families 
currently stuck in adoption limbo.  Abdullaeva agreed and 
promised to raise these pipeline cases with Prime Minister 
Chudinov when he returns to Kyrgyzstan the week of March 1st. 
 As to Kyrgyzstan's announcement (see ref D) about the 
requirement for an "international agreement" on inter-country 
adoptions, the solution may be as simple as a memorandum 
specifying the various roles and responsibilities of the 
organizations involved in inter-country adoptions.  End 
Summary. 
 
----------------- 
At Last We Meet! 
----------------- 
 
2). (SBU) After concerted efforts by Embassy staff, newly 
appointed Vice Prime Minister Uktomkhan Abdullaeva agreed to 
meet with the Ambassador and the Consular Section Chief 
February 27 to discuss the current status quo of 
international adoptions.  As stated in reftel C, adoptions in 
Kyrgyzstan had been operating for the past years with little 
control.  Abdullaeva stated that the Ministry of Education 
lacked a complete listing or database of children currently 
in orphanages and children's homes.  As a result, there are 
24 children that the Ministry cannot locate.  It is believed 
that these children were adopted abroad but no records can be 
located.  Abdullaeva pointed out the previous lack of 
controls concerning adoption agency registration ) noting 
that the U.S. agency Christian World Adoptions was approved 
for business in Kyrgyzstan by an administrative advisor with 
no authority.  As part of their reviews, Abdullaeva stated 
that "whole conspiracies" among adoption facilitators, 
government officials and judges were uncovered.  She 
indicated that these problems must be resolved before future 
adoptions can go forward. 
 
-------------------------------- 
But What About the 65 Families? 
-------------------------------- 
 
3). (SBU) The Ambassador immediately raised the issue of the 
65 U.S. families who have waited months for the completion of 
their adoptions.  The Ambassador adamantly stated that any 
new legislation or agreements cannot be retroactively applied 
to these families.  Abullaeva agreed.  When queried for 
clarification for Kyrgyzstan's new requirement for an 
"international agreement" on inter-country adoptions, 
Abdullaeva stated either an individual agreement between 
nations or the Hague Convention on Inter-Country Adoptions 
would satisfy that requirement ) "whichever comes sooner." 
While the ratification and implementation of the Hague 
Convention may take time, the Kyrgyz government wants some 
sort of official document outlining the roles and 
responsibilities of the U.S. governmental agencies, 
departments and private organizations as they pertain to the 
adoption process.  The Ambassador and Consular Section Chief 
agreed to consult with the Department for further guidance. 
In the interim, Abdullaeva agreed to speak to Prime Minister 
Chudinov about these 65 families and request authority to 
deal with these directly herself.  As the Vice Prime Minister 
on Social Issues, this is well within her sphere of 
responsibilities. 
 
---------------------------------------- 
Cholpon Who? The Mystery Woman Revealed 
---------------------------------------- 
 
4). (SBU) Present at the meeting was Cholpon Kalmurzaeva, an 
advisor in Prime Minisiter Chudinov's office who is in charge 
 
BISHKEK 00000176  002 OF 002 
 
 
of the Child Protection Unit.  Over the last several months, 
various rumors have circulated from U.S. adoptive parents 
that their local agents had met with "Cholpon" in the Prime 
Minister's Office.  "This Cholpon," adoption community 
members contended, "seems to be controlling things about 
adoptions."  Previous post attempts to locate this mystery 
woman often yielded conflicting and misleading information. 
Kalmurzaeva appeared very amenable to learning more about the 
Hague Convention, to discussing potential interim solutions, 
and establishing a framework for future adoptions. 
Abdullaeva and Kalmurzaeva were shocked to learn the high 
price charged by the Kyrgyz Embassy in Washington for 
document authentication.  (Note: Authentication of adoption 
dossier costs $2,000 and many parents have been forced to 
re-authenticate their dossiers due to delays.  End Note.)  In 
this context, the Ambassador stated forcefully that the 65 
pipeline families have already paid enough and should not 
have to re-register or go through new bureaucratic hoops. 
Kalmurzaeva was surprised to learn that the Ministry of 
Education had not sent several adoption cases involving 
special needs children forward to court.  According to 
Kalmurzaeva, her office had instructed the Ministry of 
Education several weeks ago to complete processing on such 
cases as soon as possible. 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
5). (SBU) Post will immediately follow up with Abdullaeva,s 
office the week of March 1st to learn the results of her 
request.  While Post is hopeful that there may finally be 
some movement for the 65 U.S. families stuck in the pipeline, 
Post urges the Office of Children Issues to be cautious when 
discussing such issues with adoptive parents.  It would also 
appear that most of the Kyrgyz concerns over adoption 
processing can be answered through more outreach on the Hague 
Convention on Inter-Country Adoption and through Kyrgyzstan's 
participation in an upcoming International Visitors' Program 
on Adoptions.  Post will continue to engage the Kyrgyz 
government at all levels for the swift resolution of these 65 
adoption cases. 
GFOELLER