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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BISHKEK 001057 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PHUM KG
SUBJECT: KYRGYZ PARLIAMENTARIANS VISIT TRANSIT CENTER 
 
BISHKEK 00001057  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  On September 15, the Manas Transit 
Center hosted a delegation of Kyrgyz Parliamentarians and 
other officials for a briefing and tour of Center facilities. 
 The delegation, led by Vice Speaker Isabekov, pressed for 
more contracts to be awarded to Kyrgyz firms, especially 
those selling fruits and vegetables.  The group also 
advocated for an increase in the flow of information from the 
Transit Center, and offered to help get out the word on the 
benefits of the Center for Kyrgyzstan.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2.  (SBU)  On September 15, eight members of Parliament, 
along with Deputy Foreign Minister Baktygul Kalambekova, 
visited the Transit Center to meet with the Center's director 
and tour the facilities.  The delegation was led by Vice 
Speaker Kubanychbek Isabekov and consisted exclusively of Ak 
Jol (governing majority) party members.  Their stated aim was 
to observe any operational or structural changes since the 
signing of the new Transit Center agreement and ensure that 
the U.S. was meeting all terms of the agreement.  After 
receiving a mission brief, the delegation toured housing and 
recreation facilities, the cargo holding area, and climbed 
aboard a KC-135 refueler for a first-hand look at one of the 
Center's primary missions.  A group of local television crews 
and newspaper reporters accompanied the MPs throughout the 
visit. 
 
BUY KYRGYZ! 
----------- 
 
¶3.  (SBU)  An ongoing theme among the Parliamentarians was 
the push for the Transit Center to purchase more goods, 
primarily fruits and vegetables, from Kyrgyz vendors.  The 
MPs pressed for Kyrgyz companies to be given priority when 
the Transit Center awarded contracts (which is provided for 
in the bilateral agreement).  In an effort to help Kyrgyz 
firms become more competitive, the Parliamentarians requested 
additional information regarding the U.S. military's quality 
standards for consumable products. 
 
EDUCATION ON POSITIVE EFFECTS 
----------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU)  During the visit, the MPs tabled additional 
requests of the Transit Center Director to help them educate 
their constituents about the Transit Center and the positive 
effect it has on the Kyrgyz population.  The delegation asked 
for more information about humanitarian assistance efforts 
conducted by the Transit Center, suggesting that a report 
detailing the Center's activities be sent to Parliament each 
month. 
 
¶5.  (SBU)  Vice Speaker Isabekov suggested that the Transit 
Center provide more articles to the Kyrgyz language press, 
stating that the Kyrgyz people "don't know about your 
positive impact."  The Parliamentarians asked about fuel 
dumping and the Transit Center's ecological impact on the 
surrounding area.  The MPs were assured that the joint 
Kyrgyz-U.S. ecological committee, established as a result of 
the new Transit Center agreement, would investigate and 
analyze any environmental issues that may arise. 
 
PRESS REPORTING 
--------------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU)  Press reporting on the visit has been mostly 
positive, continuing the trend of the President's September 
11 visit to the Transit Center.  The three leading Kyrgyz 
television stations, National TV and Radio (NTRC), Channel 1, 
and NTS TV all provided detailed positive coverage of the 
visit.  NTRC led with previous footage of the President's 
visit before starting coverage of the Parliamentarian visit. 
The story picked up the theme of the Parliamentarians' 
interest in more local contracts for the Transit Center.  The 
piece ended with a clip of Isabekov saying that he was fully 
 
BISHKEK 00001057  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
satisfied with the visit, that everyone could see that the 
Center was functioning in accordance with the agreement and 
that there were no weapons, nuclear devices, or other illegal 
items at the Center. 
 
¶7.  (SBU)  Vecherniy Bishkek, the most widely circulated 
newspaper, carried a story with a slightly ironic tone, under 
the headline "The Americans got closer to us by 60 million 
dollars."  The article noted that 'friendly relations' 
between our two countries increased from 17 million USD to 60 
million USD.  Following this, the article, like the other 
news stories, then focused mainly on the Parliamentarians' 
interest in increasing local contracts.  The most critical of 
the articles, in the Kyrgyz supplement of Russia-based 
"Moskovskiy Komsomolets," poked fun at the Parliamentarians 
for pushing for local contracts while "they feverishly 
stuffed their bags with foreign chocolates."  However, even 
this piece was not negative towards the Transit Center. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶8.  (SBU)  The Parliamentarians and accompanying press were 
obviously impressed at their access to the Transit Center ) 
and with the facilities themselves.  After seeing the living 
quarters and eating at the dining hall, one Parliamentarian 
joked to an Embassy Officer that he would not mind serving in 
the U.S. military given the "high quality" living conditions. 
 We expect that the increased coverage and visibility of the 
operations of the Transit Center should help reduce the 
negative rumors and speculation in the media.  Our next step 
will be to highlight the humanitarian work of the Center and 
its employees in order to build public support for its 
continuing operation. 
GFOELLER