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 -------------- TASHKENT 00001768 002 OF 002 ¶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