EXBS KAZAKHSTAN ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE (MAY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 001021 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN, SROBINSON DEPT FOR ISN/ECC-AMT LSPRINGER DEPT FOR EUR/ACE DFISCHER DEPT FOR SCA/RA JSPILSBURY DEPT FOR SCA/CEN MO'MARA CBP/INA FOR KCHAISSON AND RWATT USDOE/NNSA CWALKER, TPERRY AND EDESCHLER DOC FOR DCREED USCG FOR SHABETIMICHAEL 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 (MAY 2008) ¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: ¶1. Kazakhstan will conduct an operational-tactical exercise "Atom-Antiterror- 2008" in Almaty on June 6 under the auspices of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism. This exercise is targeted to improve interaction between state bodies in order to prevent and localize a possible terrorist threat against the Nuclear Physics Institute in Alatau. Fifteen Kazakhstani government agencies will participate, including representatives from the security services and law enforcement. ¶2. There has been a change of leadership in the Kazakhstani Border Guard Services of the National Security Committee. Lieutenant-General Bolat Seitkazynovich Zakiyev, the Director of the Border Guard Service and the Deputy Chairman of the National Security Committee has retired along with Major-General Khussain Berkaliev, First Deputy Director of the Border Guards Service. II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED ¶1. On May 6, the EXBS program manager met with Lieutenant-General Bolat Seitkazynovich Zakiyev, the Director of the Border Guard Service, along with Colonel Bizhanov, Deputy Head of the Border Control Department, Colonel Tanalinov, Head of the Engineer Division, and Lt. Colonel Islamov, Deputy Head of the Engineer Division. The officials of the Border Guard Service were briefed on EXBS efforts in Kazakhstan aimed at providing needed equipment and training. During the meeting the Border Guard Service officials informed EXBS of Kazakhstan's need for additional modular shelters to house a new field engineering battalion at the Sary Agash border crossing in Southern Kazakhstan. This new field engineering battalion is to build a green border defense barrier between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The Border Guards are planning to install search and target land radars in the south-west Kazakhstan regions bordering Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. ¶2. On May 12, there was a special Country Team meeting held in Astana. During this meeting a roundtable discussion was held with a student delegation led by Ambassador Laura Kennedy from the National War College. The delegation was conducting the international travel portion of its "Field Studies in National Security" program. During this meeting the EXBS Advisor provided an overview of the EXBS program and the Second Line of Defense program in Kazakhstan. ¶3. On May 13, the EXBS Advisor participated in a meeting on the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) for FY 2009. EXBS, in coordination with the Office of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL),proposed a country specific visit by mid-level managers from the Customs and Border Guard Services. The Customs Control Department nominees included Mr. Kaisar Malgazhdarov, Head of the Northern Kazakhstan region, Mr. Abilklan Manabayev, Senior Specialist in Almaty, and Mr. Daulet Saduakasov, Head of the Eastern Kazakhstan region. The Border Guard nominees include Colonel Aidar Kapizov, Depurty Head of the Division of Border Guard Cooperation, Colonel Darkhan Oralbayev, Commander of the military base 2094, and Major Aidar Balgabayev, Head of the Border Guard Division of the Kostaniskaya oblast. ¶4. On May 23, EXBS participated in a meeting between various U.S. Embassy donor offices and representatives of the Border Guard Service lead by Major-General Mazhitov. During the meeting the ASTANA 00001021 002 OF 003 Border Guard Service outlined their needs for the FY09. These include search and target designation radars, portable shelters, ground sensor radiobarriers, and training for the Border Guards in the southern Kazakhstan region. ¶B. TRAINING DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶1. None. ¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶1. None ¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE ¶1. The U.S. Department of Energy's Second Line of Defense (SLD) program in Kazakhstan is approaching its next major milestone with the installation of radiation portal monitors at the Phase One sites along the southern border. Acceptance testing of this equipment will be conducted beginning on June 19 and will continue until all sites are tested. A SLD training team from the Pacific Northwest National laboratory will conduct a training needs assessment at these sites approximately two weeks following acceptance testing, beginning approximately mid July. ¶2. The Republic of Kazakhstan's facility construction at the Sypatai Batyr crossing will not be complete in time for SLD to complete installation of equipment during Phase One of this project. SLD will defer installation of this equipment until this construction is complete. ¶3. The EXBS program manager is conducting market research on the proposed acquisition of modular shelters, surveillance automated ground sensor systems, and vehicles. Also, the Regional Procurement Support Office in Frankfurt, Germany, has been contacted and provided a copy of the Statement of Work for the acquisition of four Rapiscan Model627DV X-ray machines. ¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY ¶1. On May 22, the EXBS Advisor informed the Department of Energy's Second Line of Defense management of a letter from the Kazakhstan Ministry of Finance stating that all material imported under the CTR Umbrella Agreement will be subject to customs duties and taxes as stipulated by law until completion of inter-government procedures necessary for the Amendment to the Agreement to take effect. This means that until the CTR agreement is ratified, the Second Line of Defense can no longer import anything into Kazakhstan without paying duty. Therefore the EXBS team assisted the SLD in the transportation and storage of a shipment of 18 handheld radiation-monitors (MKC-A03-1) and Thorium-232 calibration filters (MKC-A03-1) in a bonded warehouse pending the ratification of the CTR Umbrella Agreement. ¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION ¶1. The EXBS teams in Baku and Astana continue to coordinate activities related to preparation for the SAFE Boat Operations Course to be conducted in Bautino, Kazakhstan from July 7 to August 1, 2008. ASTANA 00001021 003 OF 003 III. RED FLAG ISSUES. ¶1. None ORDWAY