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RUEHLMC/MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE CORP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 BISHKEK 000723 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR H, SCA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL MOPS OREP KG
SUBJECT: CODEL FALOEMAVAEGA VISITS KYRGYZSTAN 
 
BISHKEK 00000723  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  U.S. Representative Eni Faleomavaega met 
numerous Kyrgyz officials during his June 29-July 2 visit to 
Kyrgyzstan.  Chairman Faleomavaega expressed appreciation for 
Kyrgyzstan's decision to permit continued U.S. access to 
Manas airport facilities for the transit of personnel and 
cargo to Afghanistan.  Deputy Foreign Minister Kalembekova 
noted how the issue of Afghanistan "united" the United States 
and Kyrgyzstan.  Chairman Faleomavaega discussed a new 
exchange program for Central Asian students to study at U.S. 
universities, and described the formation of a new "Central 
Asia Caucus" in the U.S. Congress.  His Kyrgyz interlocutors 
welcomed his visit, and local media reported on Chairman 
Faleomavaega's meetings.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  (SBU) During his June 29-July 2 visit to Kyrgyzstan, U.S. 
Representative Eni Faleomavaega (D-American Samoa) met 
officials from the Kyrgyz government and parliament, in 
addition to discussions with Kyrgyz students, the Embassy and 
Manas Air Base personnel.  He also toured Manas Air Base.  In 
his meetings with Kyrgyz representatives, Chairman 
Faleomavaega expressed his appreciation for Kyrgyz President 
Kurmanbek Bakiyev's decision to agree on new arrangements for 
U.S. access to transit facilities at Manas International 
Airport for use in ferrying personnel and cargo to support 
multinational efforts in Afghanistan.  Chairman Faleomavaega 
also stressed the significance of President Obama's election, 
and highlighted President Obama's speech in Cairo on 
relations with the Muslim world.  Finally, Chairman 
Faleomavaega carried the message that the U.S., under 
President Obama's leadership, is withdrawing from Iraq and 
re-focusing its foreign policy and military efforts on 
pursuing terrorists in Afghanistan and Pa 
kistan that continue to pose a threat to U.S. and Central 
Asian interests. 
 
Finding Common Ground 
--------------------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU) After noting her "satisfaction" with bilateral 
relations, Deputy Foreign Minister Baktygul Kalembekova told 
Chairman Faleomavaega that the conflict in Afghanistan had 
further "united" the United States and Kyrgyzstan in fighting 
the various "isms" that flow out of the Afghanistan/Pakistan 
region.  Kalembekova stressed President Bakiyev's "Bishkek 
initiative" for discussions on Afghanistan-related issues. 
She highlighted Kyrgyzstan's own Afghanistan experience as a 
resource for joint efforts to reach a peaceful outcome in 
Afghanistan.  Chairman Faleomavaega called on Kyrgyzstan to 
be more forceful in advocating its views, especially 
regarding what Kyrgyzstan can offer on Afghanistan. 
Kalembekova said Kyrgyzstan could export various food items 
and construction materials to Afghanistan, and complained 
about the export of Italian cement to Afghanistan.  Chairman 
Faleomavaega also praised Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian 
countries for their solidarity in not supporting Russia's 
invasion of Georgia last year.  Kalembekova expressed 
appreciation at meeting a member of the U.S. Congress who 
"values us."  She also requested assistance in resolving 
ecological issues, including Soviet-era stockpiles of uranium 
tailings. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Chairman Faleomavaega met with First Deputy 
Minister of Defense Colonel Kenjisariev to discuss military 
assistance and cooperation between the U.S. and Kyrgyzstan. 
Colonel Kenjisariev expressed appreciation for the military 
aid provided through the Office of Military Cooperation that 
helped build a non-commissioned officer academy, special 
forces facility, and a military hospital.  Kenjisariev 
thanked the United States for helping to cultivate the Kyrgyz 
armed forces through training and education opportunities for 
officers and soldiers.  Chairman Faleomavaega conveyed his 
hope to bolster education opportunities for Kyrgyz students 
by sponsoring a bill to increase exchange programs, noting 
that Kyrgyzstan could send young cadets to U.S. military 
academies.  Chairman Faleomavaega was pleased to learn that 
 
BISHKEK 00000723  002.10 OF 003 
 
 
four Kyrgyz students have graduated from U.S. military 
academies and one recent cadet just departed to study at West 
Point.  Chairman Faleomavaega thanked Colonel Kenjisariev and 
the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense for playing a definitive role 
in securing continued access to Manas during the recent 
renegotiations. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) In his meeting with President Bakiyev's Foreign 
Policy Advisor Aibek Moldogaziyev, Chairman Faleomavaega 
noted President Bakiyev's decision on Manas and stressed that 
shifting policy has required the U.S. to place a greater 
focus on Afghanistan.  Moldogaziyev agreed that the recent 
situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan, particularly in 
Pakistan's Swat Valley, forced his government to reconsider 
its decision in order to support Coalition efforts. 
Moldogaziyev suggested that Kyrgyzstan stood ready to play an 
even greater role, raising President Bakiyev's Bishkek 
Initiative and suggesting that Kyrgyz companies should be 
awarded more contracts to assist in Afghan reconstruction 
efforts.  Chairman Faleomavaega also noted his intent to hold 
oversight hearings on Central Asia in August or September and 
discussed the emerging Central Asian Congressional Caucus 
that Representative Faleomavaega will co-chair.  They further 
discussed the possibilities of increasing ties, including 
scholarship opportunities in the United States for Kyrgyz 
students. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) During his discussions with the deputy ministers, 
parliamentarians, and students, Chairman Faleomavaega 
recounted a meeting two years ago with Kyrgyz Ambassador to 
the U.S. Zamira Sydykova and other Kyrgyz officials in which 
they lamented the low level of payments they received for 
hosting Manas Air Base.  Faleomavaega recalled telling them 
that if they thought the payment was not sufficient, then 
they should get serious and "kick us out."  He was surprised 
in February when the Kyrgyz heeded his advice, and he told 
his interlocutors that he frankly thought that given the $900 
billion the United States has spent in Iraq, we could easily 
afford another $60 million in payments for the base. 
 
Discussion at Parliament 
------------------------ 
 
¶7.  (SBU) In a meeting with Kabay Karabekov, the Deputy Chair 
of the Jogorku Kenesh's Committee on International Affairs 
and Interparliamentary Cooperation, Chairman Faleomavaega 
noted the two countries' common interests in fighting 
extremists in Afghanistan, and thanked Parliament for its 
approval of the agreement to establish a transit center at 
Manas Airport.  Karabekov replied that those interests were 
shared by all countries in Central Asia and in the former 
Soviet Union, and noted that recent special operations 
against alleged terrorists in southern Kyrgyzstan underline 
the importance of tackling extremism everywhere.  Karabekov 
also said that Kyrgyzstan is trying to cooperate with 
Uzbekistan to prevent extremists from crossing regional 
borders, but that the relationship is "very complex," and 
much remains to be done.  Chairman Faleomavaega described the 
proposed student exchange program, and repeated his points 
about the nascent Central Asia Caucus in the U.S. Congress. 
 
Energy and Environmental Issues 
------------------------------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU) In his meeting with Ministry of Energy State 
Secretary Batyrkul Baetov, Chairman Faleomavaega emphasized 
opportunities for renewable energy and detailed the workings 
of small-scale wind turbine technology for the benefit of 
rural communities.  Chairman Faleomavaega also suggested that 
U.S. experts visit Kyrgyzstan to aid in surveying areas for 
potential renewable power generation.  Both sides discussed 
the legacies or uranium mining and nuclear testing in Central 
Asia, and Kyrgyz officials disclosed problems associated with 
uranium tailings sites throughout the country. 
 
 
BISHKEK 00000723  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
American University of Central Asia 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Chairman Faleomavaega visited the American 
University of Central Asia and received a briefing on the 
school's history and current operations.  He then met a group 
of about 15 students for an informal discussion on issues 
including Manas Air Base, President Obama and impressions of 
Kyrgyzstan.  Chairman Faleomavaega noted Kyrgyzstan's 
contributions to the international effort to combat extremism. 
 
Touring Manas 
------------- 
 
¶10.  (SBU) After two days of meetings discussing Manas, 
Chairman Faleomavaega visited Manas Air Base, received a 
briefing and tour led by Base Commander Colonel Blaine Holt, 
and lunched with service members.  On behalf of his 
Congressional colleagues, he thanked them and their families 
for their tremendous sacrifices, shared the outcome of his 
meetings with Kyrgyz officials, and his sense of the 
importance of their mission.  Chairman Faleomavaega expressed 
that he was impressed by the efficiency of base operations 
and the excellent care they provide for transiting troops. 
He further explored the potential for greater cooperation 
with Kyrgyz firms and encouraged the Base leadership to 
assist them to develop the quality materials the base 
requires, and purchase more goods locally whenever possible. 
 
News Coverage 
------------- 
 
¶11.  (U) The Embassy issued a press statement regarding 
Chairman Faloemavaega's visit.  Two leading media outlets, 
AkiPress and 24.kg, reported on Chairman Faleomavaega's visit. 
 
¶12.  (U) Chairman Faleomavaega cleared this cable. 
 
LITZENBERGER