EXBS: KAZAKHSTAN ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASTANA 000781 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 (NOVEMBER 2006) ¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: ¶1. Michael Seguin, new Kazakhstan EXBS Advisor, completed turnover of the EXBS program office from outgoing Advisor Andrew Offenbacher. A thorough review of program priorities, the diplomatic landscape in Kazakhstan and appropriate posture to take with government agencies, and initiatives, was discussed in detail with Ambassador Ordway and the DCM, Kevin Milas. Program focus discussions on current events as well as budget plans, past, present, and future for the EXBS program was also covered. A number of administrative areas such as EXBS property inventory, and Gulnara Abildaeva's (EXBS FSN/LES) grade classification was also discussed. (Note: Michael Seguin has projected Christmas leave 19-30 December, Gulnara Abildaeva will be in charge of the EXBS office until Mike Seguin's return on 12/30.) ¶2. November 14 - The formal dedication of the Embassy opening was completed. Embassy contacts to include Border Guard and Customs officials as well as Kazakhstan's Head of State, President Nursultan Nazarbayev were in attendance for the ceremony. This was the new EXBS advisor's first opportunity to meet some of the key Border Guard and Customs officials. Several hundred people attended. After the dedication Ambassador Ordway expressed his thanks to the Embassy staff for a successful ceremony. ¶3. Kazakhstan's Customs Control Committee Chairman Askar Shakirov's proposed visit to the United States under the Volunteer Visitor Program (VVP) is progressing through the planning stage. A diplomatic note was sent by the EXBS office to the Chairman in November stating that a proposed itinerary would be presented to him before the first of the year for his, and two additional candidates, visit. Presently, the EXBS office is waiting for word from the VVP office in D.C. that the EXBS proposal, with Ambassador Ordway's approval, is acceptable before presentation to the Chairman. It is the EXBS Advisor's intent to accompany the Chairman and his delegation on this visit together with one EXBS LES. ¶4. EXBS Advisor conducted interviews to fill the new EXBS LES position and hired Oxana Limareva. The EXBS office welcomes the needed addition of Oxana, a talented, tried, and experienced U.S. Embassy employee who will make a significant contribution to the success of the office. ¶5. Other administrative activities accomplished: Country clearances for Erik Deschler (DOE),Elizabeth Smiraldo (DOC/CTP), Chris Walker (DOC). Diplomatic Notes for Chairman Askar Shakirov (Customs VVP) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dates for software upgrades). II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED ¶1. No site assessments were conducted during November due to the transition of the EXBS office advisor. However, an annual calendar for FY07 was developed for presentation to the Kazakhstani Border Guard and Customs agencies indicating one week each month to be dedicated to EXBS office site surveys. The EXBS office is prepared to initiate a site survey schedule, beginning in January, that will touch all quadrants of Kazakhstan's borders in FY07. This scheduled approach will aid in deconflicting site assessments with other U.S. agencies and the Kazakhstani government. ¶2. As of the end of November Baku-based EXBS Regional Maritime ASTANA 00000781 002 OF 004 Advisor Mike Taffe reported that planned hull anti-fouling paint for the donated SAFE boats (3-each) in Aktau, Kazakhstan did not occur - specifics for the delay were not noted. A new date for the painting is yet to be determined. EXBS advisor Mike Seguin is planning a visit to Aktau to meet with Border Guard officials to better understand the state of the SAFE Boat program. While in the area conducting site surveys and a planned joint Office of Military Cooperation / EXBS meeting with MoD and Border Guard officials, Specific areas of concern regarding the SAFE boat project, noted in the October report, will be addressed. ¶3. EXBS advisor met with DTRA, OMC, and INL to discuss FY07 engagement plans for FY07 to deconflict proposed activities. This effort was in support of the creation of a proposed FY07 budget and activity plan prepared for Jeff Hartshorn's review (Kazakhstan's Central Asian EXBS Program Manager). ¶4. November 8 - Laura Smiley, DTRA Program Manager, hosted a DTRA / USCG planning event that included officials from the MoD, Border Guard, Customs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the planning steps to execute a body of training on Maritime interdiction. The group in attendance identified the timeline and activities proposed for the joint WMD-PPI (Prevention Proliferation Program). Next steps are for the Kazakhstani agencies in attendance to agree on a timeline for scheduling the initial planning stages for this multi-part and multi-week event which will focus on Maritime Interdiction equipment, training, and doctrine as well as train-the-trainer techniques. ¶5. November 15-16 - Erik Deschler, DOE, hosted an event in Astana with Kazakhstan Customs, Contractors, and the EXBS office to discuss the status of the Second Line of Defense Program (SLD). After four years of planning, the SLD program is in the final contracting stages to begin installation of 31 Portal Monitors at 9 Kazakhstan Border Sites. This "Phase I" part of the SLD Program is a multimillion dollar (DOE funded - not EXBS funded) program which is projected to be completed by the end of August 2007. EXBS plays a central role in supporting the project to assist in project communication and to help deconflict other border initiatives. ¶B. TRAINING DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶1. November 1 - EXBS Program Coordinator Gulnara Abildaeva completed the second annual EXBS Program Workshop for Locally Employed Staff in Bratislava, Slovkia. ¶2. November 23-24 - The Department of Commerce/Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) conducted an extremely well done Internal Control Program (ITP) workshop geared toward orienting various Kazakhstani agencies - most notably the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoI&T) - with customized Kazakhstani software for use in commodity identification. This software will be used to support Kazakhstan's industry outreach efforts and standardize the method used for Nuclear Commodity Identification. This event was extremely beneficial for the new EXBS advisor as Elizabeth Smiraldo (CTP) was prepared with a complete engagement history on DOC's engagement and efforts in supporting Licensing, control lists, and legislation since the early 1990's. After the event, Mike Seguin (EXBS) received positive feedback on the event from Dina Akpanbayeva (Head of Licensing, MoI&T) who indicated the value of this effort to her agency as well as a desire for continued support for this workshop throughout Kazakhstan. Ms. Akpanbayeva also indicated a need for other related support in both hardware / software including focus on Biological and Chemical commodities in the future. Also discussed ASTANA 00000781 003 OF 004 was the "Tracker" program. Ms. Akpanbayeva (MoI&T) indicated that Tracker was no longer an area of engagement Kazakhstan was interested in as they have developed their own software and moved beyond what Tracker can offer. EXBS Advisor asked for a formal diplomatic note to document this. ¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶1. No equipment delivered during this reporting period. ¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE ¶1. Diplomatic note sent to the MFA for dates for DOE to conduct installation and necessary software upgrades to 3-each portable X-ray Florescence (XRF) metal analyzers used at various border locations. As of the end of November, still waiting for a response. INECP will send a representative of the NSTC to the three concerned border posts near China to update the software and operating system used to power the three x-ray analyzers that were provided to Kazakhstan Customs earlier in June of 2006. The NTSC representative will also review how the units are being used at the ports of entry. ¶2. EXBS office is in preliminary planning stages for USCBP sponsored 5-day ISIT training event to be held February 12-16 in Charleston, S.C. for 18 mid-level and senior Border Guard officers. Purpose is to conduct training (Train-the-Trainer) in "Hands-On" Interdiction techniques and practices. ¶3. December 4-8 - EXBS office will attend planned DOE sponsored Commodity Identification Training Seminar in Almaty. 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. ¶4. December 7-8 - EXBS Advisor will present EXBS program orientation overview to USAID seminar on Customs control in Almaty. ¶5. December 14-15 - DOC/CTP workshop on Internal Control Program (ICP) for Industry will be held in Almaty. EXBS Office will attend this event which is the mirror image of the November 23-24 ICP held in Astana. However this workshop will be attended by Industry administrators verse government administrators. This Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoI&T) oriented event focuses on licensing and Nuclear Commodities Identification and associated software designed for the MoI&T by the DOC. ¶8. The EXBS Program's chosen contractor is currently working on Task Order 79, which includes the procurement of four modular shelters and high-clearance Ural trucks for transfer to Kazakhstan's Border Service. Dates of distribution TBD. ¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY ¶1. Several mid-level Kazakhstan Customs officials were detained the week of November 20 in Almaty when Kazakhstani authorities discovered 12.5 kilos of cocaine on board the Lufthansa flight to Frankfurt the officials had boraded. Investigation is on going and it is not clear whether the Customs officials were directly involved with the smuggling. However, at least one mid-level Customs official dismissed. ¶2. October's EXBS report made reference to a BBC news release ASTANA 00000781 004 OF 004 regarding a $160 mn Russian appropriation that is allocated in 2007 for improved border control infrastructure for the Kazakh / Russian border. The EXBS office, in dialogue with Kazakhstani Border Guard General Officers, was unable to confirm the accuracy of this appropriation and plan. Follow-up will continue to determine the substance behind this report along with the SKRIN Newswire report (October 24) that Vladimir Putin and President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev signed "six documents" on October 3, agreeing to terms associated with joint participation in the establishment of an international nuclear center in Russian territory. ¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION ¶1. Please see paragraph II, item A and paragraph 2, above. III. RED FLAG ISSUES. ¶1. None. ORDWAY