AMBASSADOR AND MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS DISCUSS UPCOMING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000033 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN (J. MUDGE),INL (M. MCCOWAN) AND G/TIP (M. HALL) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM KDEM PGOV PREL SMIG SNAR KZ SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR AND MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS DISCUSS UPCOMING VISIT AND BILATERAL COOPERATION ASTANA 00000033 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: On April 18, Ambassador Ordway met with Minister of Internal Affairs Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov to discuss the early May VIP visit and progress on bilateral counter-narcotics, anti-trafficking in persons, and security cooperation. Vice Minister of Internal Affairs Alek Shpekbayev also attended the meeting. End Summary. PREPARING FOR VIP VISIT -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador expressed appreciation for the Ministry of Internal Affairs' (MVD) support of previous VIP visits and looked forward to the MVD's cooperation and support for the upcoming VIP visit. Minister Mukhamedzhanov assured the Ambassador that all agencies concerned are preparing for the upcoming VIP visit and the highest level of security would be provided for the party. CARICC AND COUNTER-NARCOTICS COOPERATION -------------- ¶3. (SBU) Mukhamedzhanov confirmed that the Central Asia Regional Information Coordination Center (CARICC),an intergovernmental anti-narcotics center, will be located in Almaty and will likely be headed by a Kazakhstani. The center is joint initiative of the signatories to a May 1996 the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) cooperation memorandum, ratified by all five Central Asian countries. Russia and Azerbaijan joined the group at a later date. Kazakhstan lobbied successfully for CARICC to be located in Almaty, the base for many regional offices of international organizations. While a director has not been chosen, Mukhamedzhanov indicated that the ideal candidate to lead CARICC would combine law enforcement expertise with the skills of a diplomat. Mukhamedzhanov commented his choice would be Anatoliy Vyborov, currently chairman of the MVD anti-narcotics committee. ¶4. (SBU) According to Mukhamedzhanov, drugs are an increasing problem for Kazakhstan and other countries in the region. The most common corridor for narcotics trafficking, especially heroin, runs from Afghanistan via Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan on to Russia and Western Europe. However, other routes are becoming popular: via Iran, over the Caspian Sea, and through Turkey into Central Asia and beyond. Mukhamedzhanov expressed concern about reports that the volume of heroin production in Afghanistan has increased, which would be expected to increase trafficking through Kazakhstan. He estimated that hundreds of kilograms of heroin are trafficked via Kazakhstan every day. Although he did not give statistics, Mukhamedzhanov lamented that only a small portion of this contraband is seized. He indicated that he consistently raised anti-narcotics concerns to President Nazarbayev. (Note: Official statistics show that only 160 kilograms of heroin were seized in 2005. End Note) ANTI-TRAFFICKING: INVESTIGATIONS, STATISTICS AND TRAINING -------------- -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Turning to anti-trafficking efforts, Ambassador Ordway expressed dismay that law enforcement and prosecution numbers were down over the past year. He noted difficulties this year in obtaining precise statistics related to trafficking in persons (TIP). Mukhamedzhanov acknowledged that TIP was a serious problem, which Kazakhstan had taken steps to address over the last five years. According to Mukhamedzhanov, the MVD noted an increase in cases of women trafficked from Uzbekistan to Kazakhstan for sexual exploitation. In Southern Kazakhstan, the MVD had evidence that organized crime syndicates were facilitating this type of trafficking. He noted that smaller numbers of women are trafficked from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan for the same purpose. Kazakhstani women are also trafficked abroad, often to "Arab countries." ¶6. (SBU) According to Mukhamedzhanov, in 2006, seven criminal investigations were begun on trafficking of persons from Kazakhstan abroad, nearly matching the nine cases for all of ¶2005. Legislative amendments enacted in March, he said, significantly toughen and expand criminal liability for trafficking crimes. ¶7. (SBU) The Ambassador mentioned that during his March visit to Karaganda, he had an opportunity to visit the MVD Academy, ASTANA 00000033 002.2 OF 002 which is proposing to open an anti-TIP training center with some USG assistance. Mukhamedzhanov reiterated his personal commitment to seeing the project through. UPCOMING A/S PATTERSON VISIT -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Finally, the Ambassador informed Mukhamedzhanov of the upcoming visit to Astana of Assistant Secretary for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Anne Patterson. Minister Mukhamedzhanov welcomed this visit and promised to come up with proposals for a future U.S.-KZ workshop or roundtable where Kazakhstan's counter-narcotics strategy could be discussed. The Minister lamented the Soviet-era training of senior law enforcement personnel which had left them woefully unprepared for transnational crime issues. TRACY