EXBS KAZAKHSTAN ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE (NOVEMBER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASTANA 003351 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, 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 2007) ¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: An amendment to the U.S.-Kazakhstan Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) Umbrella Agreement (UA) of December 13, 1993, has been signed. This amendment extends the agreement, which was to expire on December 13, 2007. II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED ¶1. A site assessment of the Kurmangazy vehicle and pedestrian border crossing with Russia was conducted on November 1, 2007. This border site, which is located on the right bank of the Kigash River in the Kurmangazinsk District of Atyrau Providence, consists of a newly constructed vehicle and pedestrian bridge, which replaces a ferry barge system, and a newly constructed single check-point inspectional facility, which operates continuously. ¶2. A site assessment of the Atyrau Airport was conducted on November 2, 2007. Atyrau, which is the capital of Atyrau Province, is located 2,700 kilometers west of Almaty and 350 kilometers east of the Russian city of Astrakhan. This airport operates around the clock with international flights operating primarily to and from Europe and Turkey. Much of the cargo handled by this port is bound for the oil rigs in the Caspian Sea. ¶3. A site assessment of the Aktau Airport was conducted on November 5, 2007. Aktau, which is the capital of Mangystau Province, is located on the Mangyshlak Peninsula and is the only Kazakhstan city with a seaport on the Caspian Sea. Because of this there is a great deal of concern over the airport's capacity to sustain the growing demand for services. This airport terminal, which operates continuously, is scheduled to undergo major reconstruction starting in 2008. Most of the international cargo and passenger flights operate between a range of countries, including Russia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Great Britain, and Georgia. ¶4. A site assessment of the Aktau Seaport was conducted on November 6, 2007. This facility, which is Kazakhstan's only seaport on the Caspian Sea, consists of piers and warehouse serving both commercial cargo and a ferry vessel for passengers and vehicles. The passenger ferry services Baku while vehicles are transported to and from Iran. The port has seven access points and is serviced by rail and vehicle traffic. ¶5. A site assessment of the Temirbaba vehicle border crossing with Turkmenistan was conducted on November 7, 2007. This vehicle border crossing is scheduled to be replaced in 2008 with a new $6 million dollar single check-point inspectional facility. The Second Line of Defense project will not be implemented at this port until after the completion of the new construction. ¶6. A meeting was held on November 1, 2007, at the Kurmangazy vehicle and pedestrian border crossing, with Mr. Altay Hasenov, Head of the Department of Nuclear Materials Control and Technical Devices for the Atyrau Customs office, and Mr. Doskariev Gibratjan, Deputy Head of Customs. Discussion centered on the newly constructed vehicle bridge and single check-point port facilities as well as equipment and manpower requirements of the port in order to meet the projected increase in commercial and passenger traffic that will be generated by the completion of the vehicle bridge. Because of the strategic location of this port and the rapidly improving road system in the ASTANA 00003351 002 OF 004 area, this port is an excellent candidate for EXBS assistance to supplement the Second Line of Defense Radiation Portal Monitors. ¶7. A meeting was held on November 2, 2007, at the Atyrau airport with Mr. Altay Hasenov, Head of the Department of Nuclear Materials Control and Technical Devices for the Atyrau Customs office, Mr. Baltuev Muhfuz, Head of the Atyrau Airport Customs Post, Mr. Drazakov Totlon, Shift Supervisor for the Atyrau Customs Post, and Mr. Kemol bei Afkov, Deputy Director of the airport company. Discussions centered on customs control of the airport, and manpower and infrastructure requirements to secure the airport facility from any possible smuggling of nuclear, chemical, and biological related material. In addition to the terminal arrival and departure gates there is a VIP entrance/exit, and four gates that are used by vehicle and pedestrian traffic in support of airport operations. ¶8. A meeting was held on November 5, 2007, at the Aktau airport, with Mr. Temirbek Ibrasher, Acting Head of the Customs post at the Aktau Airport, Mr. Alexander Desnikov, Aviation Security Officer, Mr. Alibek Mazhikenov, Deputy General Director for the Aktau Airport, Evgeny Rayavkin, Chief of Communication Services, and Mr. Kameshov Amaugeldy, Head of Aviation Security. Discussions centered on the projected reconstruction of the airport facilities and projected increase of international air traffic created by the increase in oil production activity in the Caspian Sea area serviced by Aktau. ¶9. A meeting was held on November 6, 2007, at the Mangystau Province Customs Department Headquarters in Aktau, with Mr.Albek Kantov, Head of the Customs Control Department, Mr. Erlan Butkeouv, Deputy Head of the Customs Control Department, and Mr. Muratbek Spabekov, Head of the Aktau Division of Customs Control Office. Discussion centered on the increased attention the region is receiving from the central government because of its strategic location and the growing oil production capability of the area. The Government of Kazakhstan recent commitment of additional expenditures on infrastructure improvements in the region were discussed as were the manpower and equipment requirements to secure the region from the smuggling of nuclear, chemical, and biological related materials. ¶10. A meeting was held on November 6, 2007, at the Aktau Seaport, with Mr. Amir Atambaev, Head of the Customs Post Aktau Seaport, Mr. Erlik Samagulov, Deputy Commander of the Marine Border Guards, and Mr. Vasily Novikov, Deputy Head of the Aktau Seaport. Discussions centered on manpower and equipment requirements to secure the countries only seaport on the Caspian Sea from the smuggling of nuclear, chemical, and biological related material. Also discussed was the proposed addition of new deep water piers and facilities which will provide the capability of handling larger commercial vessels from all countries bordering the Caspian Sea. ¶11. A meeting was held on November 6, 2007, at the Aktau Seaport Border Guard base, with Admiral Berkliyev, Commander of the Maritime Brigade in Aktau. Discussions centered on the winterization of the EXBS donated FAST boats and continued support of the EXBS mission. ¶12. A meeting was held on November 7, 2007, at the Temirbaba vehicle crossing with Mr. Erlan Kilibaev, Head of the Customs Post, and Arhat Uohbaev, Senior Controller. Discussion centered on the construction of the new border inspection facility and the impact this will have on port operations. The new infrastructure at this facility, when completed, should greatly enhance the posts capacity of preventing the smuggling of nuclear, chemical, and biological ASTANA 00003351 003 OF 004 related material by integrating the border regulatory agencies into a single check point facility, with adequate inspectional areas, and integrated Radiation Portal Monitors. ¶13. On November 12-13, 2007, the EXBS Advisor participated in the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan's Country Team Offsite meeting at the Okzhepes Sanatorium in Brovorvoe, Kazakhstan. Topics involving EXBS included discussions of progress made in achieving the FY 2009 Mission Strategic Plan goals of Partners in Regional and Strategic Security and Ensuring Non-Proliferation to Bolster Global Security. Also discussed were matters related to EXBS participation in International Cooperative Administrative Support Services (ICASS) and how to improve services providers adherence with the mission's service goals. ¶B. TRAINING DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶1. On November 26-27, Kevin Cummings, U.S. export control specialist, assisted a Kazakhstan nongovernmental organization, Business Inform, in conducting a "Product Identification Tool (PIT) Technical Workshop" in Shymkent for Kazakh Customs officials in that region. This training focuses on the identification of nuclear, biological, and chemical materials, and the use of Kazakhstan's software and licensing systems. The PIT project is part of the U.S. - Kazakhstan bilateral cooperation on export controls under EXBS. ¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶1. No equipment delivered during this reporting period. ¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE ¶1. Task Order 79 Donations. Delivery of the original water tanks for the four modular shelters donated to the Border Guards was delayed due to difficulties encountered in the Customs clearance process created by a change in the Kazakhstani law which required the submission of the Shipper's Exportation Declaration (SED) for all shipments arriving in Kazakhstan. The EXBS office applied to the Ministry of Economy and Budget Planning to approve the release of the water tanks from the Almaty airport warehouse without charging the warehouse storage fees. The official letter from the Vice Minister, Ministry of Economic and Budget Planning, approving the release of the water tanks from the Almaty airport warehouse without charging the warehouse storage fees was passed on to the Customs Control Committee on November 19. However, the letter has not made it to the local customs authority in Almaty and the water tanks are still being held. ¶1. Department of Energy Second Line of Defense (DOE/SLD) continues with its project to install portal monitors at border sites. A diplomatic note was sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting its assistance in gaining duty free entry of the DOE/SLD radiation portal monitoring equipment scheduled to arrive in Kazakhstan during January 2007. This equipment to be installed at the following Phase One sites: Kordai, Karasu, Sapytai Batyr, Kazgurt, Zhibek Zholy, Kaplanbek, and Sary-Agash. ASTANA 00003351 004 OF 004 ¶2. A Commodity Identification Training (CIT) course for Customs Control Committee personnel was conducted the week of December 3, 2007, in Brovorvoe, Kazakhstan. This was the fifth CIT seminar in Kazakhstan and the second one that will not require U.S. instructors to present any training materials. The training was monitored by Richard Talley, Program Manager for the Causasus Region and Central Asia for the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration's (DOE/NNSA) International Nonproliferation Export Control Program (INECP),and Chuck Willingham, Staff Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. ¶4. On December 8, 2007, the EXBS Advisor met with Mr. Richard Talley, Program Manager for the Caucasus Region and Central Asia for the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration's (DOE/NNSA) International Nonproliferation Export Control Program (INECP),and Mr. Chuck Willingham, Staff Engineer, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, on the International Nonproliferation Export Control Program's country plan for Kazakhstan and to discuss proposed training for Customs and Border Guards during 2008. ¶5. From December 3 - 7, 2007, EXBS Program Manager Gulnara Abildaeva and EXBS Program Assistant Oxana Limareva travelled to Frankfurt, Germany, to participate in the Foreign Service Institute's training class on Managing Foreign Assistance Awards Overseas. This course prepares employees to link assistance programs with post-specific strategic planning goals and objectives and to develop a post-specific assistance awards program from concept and design, through implementation and management, to evaluation of the results. ¶6. There will be an International Counterprofliferation (ICP) program "WMD International Investigations" course, taught in Astana, Kazakhstan, from January 28 - February 1, 2008. This course is designed for approximately 30-35 criminal investigators to enhance specialized investigative skills transnational investigations of Weapons of Mass Destruction incidents. ¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY ¶1. None. ¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION ¶1. None. III. RED FLAG ISSUES. ¶1. None POC for this report is Robert Colbert, EXBS Advisor, Email: Colbertrj@state.gov, Phone +7 (3172) 70 2420; EXBS Program Manager Gulnara Abildaeva, Email: AbildaevaG@state.gov, Phone +7 (3172) 70 2320; EXBS Program Assistant Oxana Limareva, Email: LimarevaO@state.gov, Phone +7 (3172) 70 2237. ORDWAY