KAZAKHSTAN: BORDER SECURITY DONOR MEETING

UNCLAS ASTANA 001973

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN (OMARA),INL/AAE (BUHLER),ISN/ECC (HARTSHORNE),
SCA/RA (CUMMINGS),CENTCOM FOR MALCOM AND ROESNER, DHS FOR CBP -
GLYNCO

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PGOV KCRM KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: BORDER SECURITY DONOR MEETING



1. On July 16, Embassy Astana's International Narcotics and Law
Enforcement Section hosted a Border Security Donor Coordination
Meeting. Participants included the Deputy Head of the United
Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) from Tashkent, the
European Union Border Management Program in Central Asia (BOMCA),
the Office of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Post's offices of
Military Cooperation (OMC),Defense Threat Reduction (DTRO),Export
Control and Border Security (EXBS). The participants agreed to
create a common database of equipment and training provided to the
Border Guards (INL will create and maintain the database),share a
list of events planned for the year, and conduct future Donor
Coordination Meetings with the participation of the Border Guard
Service of the Committee for National Security.


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BACKGROUND
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2. At a June 27 meeting with INL Officer and visiting ISN/ECC
officer (EXBS),General Berkaliyev, First Deputy Head of the Border
Guard Service of the Committee for National Security, agreed to
regular border assistance coordination meetings with interested
donors. To lay the groundwork for future meetings, INL hosted a
preparatory meeting of donors to work out a common approach for
cooperation with the Border Guard Service.


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WAY FORWARD
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3. The donors jointly decided that it would be convenient for all
donors to participate in a common database of equipment and training
provided to the Border Guard Service. Zhuldyz Akisheva, UNODC
Deputy Regional Representative for Central Asia proposed modeling
the database on the existing web-based Paris Pact database. INL
Officer pointed out that that the donors would likely want a simple,
nimble system. Furthermore, donors agreed to share annual plans,
conduct joint assessment trips, and distribute trip reports and
assessments in order to avoid duplication and overlapping projects.
The next meeting was scheduled for September, after the August
holiday recess.


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COMMENT
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4. As with the counter-narcotics donor coordination meeting
reported septel, having enough participants resident in Astana to
conduct coordination meetings is a necessary and welcome first step
in the effort to maximize impact of scarce program funding. If
enthusiasm and energy are any indication, the future looks bright.
Conducting the next meeting with the participation of the
traditionally insular Border Guards will be the true test of future
cooperation.


MILAS