EXTRANCHECK: PSV AT INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS - LICENSE

UNCLAS BISHKEK 000911 SIPDIS SIPDIS COMMERCE FOR OEA/532/RITTER/HAMES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: BEXP ETRD ETTC KG SUBJECT: EXTRANCHECK: PSV AT INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS - LICENSE D366931 REF: USDOC 6658 ¶1. State Economic and Commercial Officer Gregory Winstead conducted post-shipment verification (PSV) at the Institute of Physics Environmental Laboratory in Bishkek on July 12, ¶2007. ¶2. Post met with laboratory director Ivan Vasiliev for approximately 45 minutes. Vasiliev verified that only he and his assistant use the specialized equipment in the analysis of water and soil samples in conjunction with Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. He pointed out the security precautions in place to prevent theft or unauthorized access. Vasiliev explained his work in the context of the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) and the role the ISTC and this specialized equipment play in keeping him and the remaining scientists at the institute employed in Kyrgyzstan. The specialized equipment consists of several components, which appear to be kept in close proximity, and which are partially shielded by a device designed ostensibly to contain gamma radiation. Vasiliev confirmed that no modifications had been made to the equipment, and verified that ISTC retains ownership of the equipment. ¶3. Post was able to schedule the meeting without delay, and experienced no reluctance by Vasiliev or his assistant in answering questions. Vasiliev provided a copy of the installation report. Post was not able to match all the serial numbers on the installation report with the equipment in the laboratory. Instead of the "CP-5SL" model number described in reftel, post could only locate a "CP5-CO" code on the equipment. Due to the installation configuration, not all of the specialized equipment could be lifted to check for additional serial or identification numbers. (Post notes that the serial numbers were not identified in the reftel message.) Post did view equipment described as a detector, cryostat and analyzer. ¶4. Recommendation: All indications were that the equipment is being used in accordance with the terms of the export license and that the end-user, the Institute of Physics Environmental Laboratory, appears to be a reliable recipient of sensitive U.S. technology for this transaction. The issue described above concerning the inability to match serial or identification numbers may simply be a problem with record-keeping. LITZENBERGER