EU-UNDP HOSTS CONFERENCE ON CENTRAL ASIAN BORDER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 001768

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, INL (A. BUHLER),EXBS (J. HARTSHORN)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/16/2017
TAGS: SNAR PGOV PREL AF UZ KG
SUBJECT: EU-UNDP HOSTS CONFERENCE ON CENTRAL ASIAN BORDER
MANAGEMENT

Classified By: Poloff Steven Prohaska for reasons 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) Summary: The Border Management in Central Asia and
Central Asia Drug Action programs (BOMCA/CADAP) hosted a
donors conference in Tashkent on October 5 to coordinate
national and organizational projects related to border
security and trade facilitation in Central Asia. BOMCA/CADAP
is an EU/UNDP venture and has been involved with several
border security projects in Central Asia, including
Uzbekistan. Western countries that were represented appear
to have had relatively little bilateral success with
Uzbekistan recently. End Summary.

A Forum for Border Management Coordination
--------------


2. (SBU) On October 5 in Tashkent, the Border Management in
Central Asia (BOMCA) Program and Central Asia Drug Action
Program (CADAP)--programs funded by the European Union and
implemented by the United Nations Development Program
(UNDP)--hosted a conference on border security and trade
facilitation in Central Asia. Attendees included
representatives from the BOMCA/CADAP, United Nations Office
of Drugs and Crime (UNODC),UNDP, World Bank, German
corporation GTZ, Japan International Cooperation Agency,
EBRD, United Kingdom, France, Turkey, OSCE, Asian Development
Bank, and United States. The purpose of the conference was to
review ongoing projects from each country or organization and
to discuss coordination.

Organizational Projects in Central Asia
--------------


3. (SBU) Pierre-Paul Antheunissens, the Chief Technical
Advisor from BOMCA, spoke about the importance of improving
links and information-sharing between agencies with regard to
border management. BOMCA has recently provided a training
center at Termez, constructed a border post at Mamyk, and
built a border crossing point at Sarasiyo. The GOU built its
own border crossing point at Qorasu, and BOMCA funds
originally intended for it instead went toward a border post
at Tinchlik. BOMCA has supplied cabins and generators to
Qorasu, and will do the same in Tinchlik this year. Recently
BOMCA has also constructed a border post at Sokh, an
Uzbekistan exclave on Kyrgyzstan's territory.


4. (SBU) The BOMCA representative stressed that trade and
transit are integral to the security agenda. BOMCA can help
border security efforts first through the adoption of the EU
Integrated Border Management (IBM) concept, which has been
used before in the Balkans. The three pillars of IBM include
improving intra-service cooperation, interagency cooperation,
and cross-border and international cooperation. The project
is intended to both enhance border security and facilitate
legal trade and transit. Secondly, BOMCA can introduce a
"corridor" approach, which is the same approach being pursued
by the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. BOMCA is focusing
its efforts on two corridors: the North-South corridor begins
in Ashgabat and extends through Kunia Urgench, Karakalpakia,
Beneu, and Astrakhan. The Ferghana Valley corridor
originates in Tashkent/Khujand, and extends through Kokand
and Osh to Irkeshtam, China. BOMCA also is renovating or
constructing training infrastructure for border guards in
every coun
try except Kazakhstan.


5. (SBU) UNODC's representative indicated that the
organization is cooperating closely with BOMCA/CADAP. It had
assisted the GOU with the Termez border point and provided
modern equipment to a number of checkpoints. UNODC is
interested in follow-up projects on precursor control, and is
about to launch a new project on combating human trafficking.
UNDP has written several policy briefs on boosting exports
and improving the textile industry in Uzbekistan. A
representative from the OSCE stated that OSCE had conducted a
training workshop in Uzbekistan on travel document security
in March.

National Projects
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6. (SBU) The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is
pursuing a "Central Asia plus Japan" dialogue promoting
intra-regional cooperation. Ongoing assistance includes
training on customs administration and the provision of
equipment for border management. Japan has allocated roughly
$200,000 each to Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. In
August, Japan delivered equipment including notebook
computers, video cameras, lanterns, and flashlights to
Uzbekistan and delivered an X-ray inspection system, notebook
computers and printers to Tajikistan. The equipment for
Uzbekistan has gone to Ferghana Valley sites, such as the
Tinchlik and Sokh border posts, and the Pap, Andarkhan,
Vuadil, Qorasu, and Madaniyat border crossing points. Japan
also is planning a training program on customs policy and
administration for senior and administrative level officials
in Central Asia.


7. (SBU) A member of the British Embassy stated that
Britain's bilateral cooperation with Uzbekistan was limited,
and the UK is moving away from projects that involve British
personnel traveling to Uzbekistan to train Uzbeks. Instead,
the UK is adopting a new strategy focusing on regional
projects that use multilateral organizations like BOMCA.
Much of France's activity also involves advising and
supporting BOMCA, and includes helping BOMCA to find police
experts that can conduct training in Uzbekistan.


8. (SBU) Poloffs gave brief remarks on issues of interest to
participants, including post's desire to get bilateral
working groups on border security up and running with the
GOU, DTRA's installation of Radiation Portal Monitors in
country, the UNODC-implemented Termez river port and border
liaison office projects, and other projects related to
trafficking in persons.

Worsening Narcotics Situation in Afghanistan
--------------


9. (SBU) UNODC gave a presentation on opium production in
Afghanistan. The representative stated that opium poppy
cultivation has increased by 17% this year to an area
covering 19,300 hectares. Production has also increased 34%
in 2007, which is almost double the level in 2004. While
cultivation and production in northern Afghanistan has
declined, the cultivation in southern Afghanistan alone was
higher than Afghanistan's total cultivation in 2004. In 2006
and 2007, seizures of opium in Central Asia have been higher
than seizures of heroin.

Comment
--------------


10. (C) Judging from the remarks of participants, bilateral
border management cooperation between the Western countries
represented and the GOU appears to have been relatively low.
The greater activity between some multilateral organizations
and the GOU may reflect Uzbekistan's greater willingness to
engage with these organizations over several individual
Western countries. BOMCA/CADAP plans to host additional
conferences in the future on border management issues, which
should give us the opportunity to coordinate border security
efforts with a variety of other countries and international
organizations. BOMCA has a new regional team leader, retired
U.S. Air Force General Scott Pilkington, who called on
Ambassador October 11 and appears ready to intensify the
program's efforts to improve regional border management
practices, while complementing bilateral programs already
underway.
NORLAND