EXBS: KAZAKHSTAN ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000569 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC PVANSON, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN DEPT FOR ISN/ECC-AMT LSPRINGER DEPT FOR EUR/ACE RBUCK DEPT FOR SCA/RA JSCHLOSSER DEPT FOR SCA/CEN MO'MARA CBP/INA FOR CDONOFRIO AND RWATT USDOE/NNSA CWALKER, TPERRY AND EDESCHLER DOC FOR DCREED AND GPETERSEN-BEARD USCG FOR BGOLDEN AMEMBASSY BERLIN FOR CUSTOMS ATTACHE AMEMBASSY TASHKENT, BISHKEK, BAKU, DUSHANBE AND ASHGABAT FOR EXBS ADVISORS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP KZ SUBJECT: EXBS: KAZAKHSTAN ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE (OCTOBER 2006) ¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: ¶1. The Kazakhstan EXBS Program office completed its move across town from the interim Embassy Branch Office to the New Embassy Compound in October and is now fully operational, with brand-new computers and a beautiful new office space. ¶2. Andrew Offenbacher concluded his tenure with the EXBS Program in Kazakhstan on November 3. New EXBS Program Advisor Michael Seguin arrived at post October 26 and has assumed charge of the office. ¶3. In a letter sent to the embassy in October, Kazakhstan's Customs Control Committee Chairman Askar Shakirov confirmed his interest in visiting the United States to learn about, among other things, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's automated systems that help facilitate the flow of passengers and commercial goods. Chairman Shakirov proposed that the visit take place during the first half of ¶2007. The trip is anticipated to be arranged within the framework of the State Department's Voluntary Visitor Program. II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED ¶1. October 3-5 - EXBS Program advisor conducted meetings with Kazakhstani officials from the Atomic Energy Committee and the Ministry of Industry and Trade on the margins of an export control workshop in Almaty. ¶2. October 10 - Baku-based EXBS Regional Maritime Advisor Mike Taffe joined EXBS Program Coordinator Gulnara Abildaeva and EXBS TDY Advisor Jim Kelly for meetings with representatives of Kazakhstan's Maritime Border Guard Division in the Caspian coastal cities of Aktau and Bautino. In Bautino, Mike Taffe installed navigation software for the three fast response boats that were provided to Kazakhstan by the EXBS Program earlier this year. A possible future boat ramp site was also identified, and a date was set for the painting of the three boats' hulls with anti-fouling paint. Jim Kelly (EXBS TDY Advisor) and Gulnara Abildaeva (EXBS LES) met briefly with Major General Berkaliyev (First Deputy of the Border Service responsible for maritime and land border matters in Kazakhstan) at the Airport in Atyrau. The Major General advised us that President Nazarbayev had expressed his satisfaction with the SAFE boats donated by the U.S. He also advised us that the BG could use 3 additional SAFE boats, as well as a large vessel (with armaments and the capability of carrying 30 sailors) to patrol the Caspian near Atyrau; modular shelters for piers/border check points; large trucks; and tool kits. He also said that he will upon request provide EXBS with statistics demonstrating the effectiveness of the BG's patrolling activities. ¶B. TRAINING DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶1. October 3-5 - The Department of Energy/National Nuclear Administration's (DOE/NNSA) International Nonproliferation Export Control Program (INECP) held a workshop in Almaty on export controls for biological research institutes. The workshop achieved its goal of providing the bio institutes with information on Kazakhstan's national export control system, and was rather innovative in that it accomplished this by providing a forum for Kazakhstani nuclear firms such as Kazatomprom to share their extensive experience in establishing internal compliance programs. The Almaty-based Nuclear Technology Safety Center (NSTC) NGO did an excellent job of organizing the event, upon conclusion of which all participants were ASTANA 00000569 002 OF 003 provided with a copy of their recently-published "Model Internal Compliance Program Guide." ¶2. October 9-10 - The Monterey Institute's Center for Nonproliferation Studies hosted a two-day workshop in Almaty dedicated to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1540 in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Embassy Astana Political Officer John Cooney attended the event. ¶3. October 31-November 1 - EXBS Program Coordinator Gulnara Abildaeva attended the second annual EXBS Program Workshop for Locally Employed Staff in Bratislava, Slovakia. ¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶1. A replacement air conditioning control card and a voltmeter were transferred to the Border Guard's Maritime Division during the October 10 meeting. ¶2. As mentioned above, three navigation software packages were installed on the Maritime Border Guard Division's three EXBS-provided boats. ¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE ¶1. The NNSA INECP's Regional Internal Compliance Program workshop, originally scheduled for October 31-November 2 in Almaty, has been postponed and is now expected to be held in early 2007. ¶2. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Weapons of Mass Destruction / Proliferation Prevention Initiative (DTRA WMD-PPI) "Combating WMD Proliferation at Maritime Ports" training referred to in the September report has also been postponed from its original October 31-November 2 dates. ¶3. Representatives of the NNSA's Second Line of Defense Program will meet with Kazakhstani Customs and other agencies in Astana on November 15 and 16 to discuss the program's implementation schedule, roles and responsibilities, and other issues. ¶4. Department of Commerce contractor Commonwealth Trading Partners will send a representative to conduct an Internal Control Program follow-up Product Classification Workshop in Astana on November 23 and 24. ¶5. The NNSA's INECP will hold a Commodity Identification Training in Almaty from December 4-8. For the first time, the course will cover materials and equipment related to the production of not only nuclear weapons, but also chemical and biological, as well as missile technology. ¶6. In the month of November or December, INECP will send a representative of the NSTC to three posts on Kazakhstan's border with China to Russify the software and operating system used to power the three x-ray fluorescence metal analyzers that were provided to Kazakhstani Customs earlier this year. The NTSC representative will also review how the units are being used at the ports of entry. ¶7. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has scheduled an International Seaport Interdiction Training for Kazakhstan from February 12-16 in Charleston, North Carolina. ¶8. The EXBS Program's chosen contractor is currently working on ASTANA 00000569 003 OF 003 Task Order 79, which includes the procurement of four modular shelters and high-clearance Ural trucks for transfer to Kazakhstan's Border Service. ¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY ¶1. BBC reports October 5: First Deputy Director of the Federal Security Service (Russia) and head of the Border Guard Service, Army General Vladimir Pronichev announced plans to allocate $160 million in 2007 for improved border control infrastructure. Gen. Pronichev indicated the $160 million is roughly the same amount allocated for Kazakhstani-Russian border enhancement for 2006 (totaling roughly $320 million). Funds are specifically intended for 20 facilities including administrative buildings and service housing. EXBS Advisor will attempt to confirm these initiatives in upcoming Kazakh Border Guard meetings. ¶2. SKRIN Newswire reports October 24: President Putin of Russia and President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan signed six documents on October 3 regarding the establishment of an international nuclear center on Russian territory. An agreement on joint construction of additional car check-points at borders, as well as the simplification of border crossings for residents was also signed. EXBS Advisor will attempt to confirm these initiatives as they relate to enhanced border crossing infrastructure in upcoming Kazakh Border Guard meetings. ¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION ¶1. Please see paragraph A, item 2 and paragraph C, item 1 and 2 above. III. RED FLAG ISSUES. ¶1. None. ORDWAY