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

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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

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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.


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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