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

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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

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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

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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,

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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

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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