From the cable (para 5)
"In an astonishing display of candor in a public hotel where the brunch was taking place, all of the businessmen then chorused that nothing gets done in Kyrgyzstan if President Bakiyev's son Maxim does not get "his cut." Prince Andrew took up the topic with gusto, saying that he keeps hearing Maxim's name "over and over again" whenever he discusses doing business in this country. Emboldened, one businessman said that doing business here is "like doing business in the Yukon" in the nineteenth century, i.e. only those willing to participate in local corrupt practices are able to make any money. His colleagues all heartily agreed, with one pointing out that "nothing ever changes here. Before all you heard was Akayev's son's name. Now it's Bakiyev's son's name." At this point the Duke of York laughed uproariously, saying that: "All of this sounds exactly like France."
Personal observation: I lived in Communist Poland during the days of Solidarnosc' and martial law. The idea that Prince Andrew could hold a luncheon in a local hotel and not have it recorded and reported back to the government is insane, especially in a country that was formerly part of the Soviet Union.
You can bet the farm that every word said at the luncheon was recorded and probably filmed. No doubt some of the hotel staff worked for the Kyrgyistan intelligence agency. Based on her five postings in the Soviet Union, Russia, Poland, and two former Soviet Republics, our ambassador was well aware of that fact, hence her measured responses. Prince Andrew did more damage to British interests than helping them. His cockiness was a liability, not an asset.
OK, I’m not really concerned whether Andrew harmed English interests or not.
I simply enjoy the rare spectacle of a man speaking honestly.
And it looks the British Business contigent agreed with him.
Anyway, baksheesh is not entirely a new concept, and has been the price of doing business in certain places for virtually millenia.
In America, you have to hire the right law and PR firms, over there, you just get the President’s son a Benz and a nice account in Dubai.