EXBS KAZAKHSTAN ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE (JANUARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000284 SIPDIS 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 (JANUARY 2008) ¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: ¶1. Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, Republican leader of the Foreign Relations Committee, visited Kazakhstan on January 10-11, 2008, to discuss energy cooperation, as well as Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction Program implementation. Subsequent to this trip, Senator Lugar introduced legislation to repeal Jackson-Vanik restrictions on trade with Kazakhstan and establish permanent normal trade relations. ¶2. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mitchell Shivers signed a five-year cooperation plan with Kazakhstan envisaging fresh U.S. assistance in matters ranging from military reform and equipment acquisition to education and training. II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED ¶1. On January 15, 2008, the EXBS team had a very successful meeting with high ranking representatives of Border Guard Services of the National Security Committee and the Customs Control Committee of the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The meeting focused on discussions on EXBS donated equipment and future implementation, training, and delivery issues. Also discussed was the assessment of excessive storage fees on EXBS donated equipment caused by delays in customs clearance and two controversial newspaper articles. One article was on a rail car alleged to have highly radioactive material that was turn back from Uzbekistan, through Kazakhstan, to Kyrgyzstan. Another article concerned an alleged Kazakhstani policy change in relation to border controls and the closing or consolidation of border stations on the Russian Border. Both of these news articles were refuted by the representatives present at the meeting. The Customs Control Committee was represented by Ermek Kozhabergenov, Acting Head of the Department of International Relations; Ermek Smagulov, Deputy Head of the Customs Control Organization Department; Alexandra Vozhakova, Head of Radioactive Materials and Technical Means Department, Ajdyn Turashev, Chief Specialist of the Customs Control Organization Department; Botagoz Abilova, Chief Specialist of International Relations Department. The Border Guard Service was represented by Abilay Nurakhmetov, Head of Border Cooperation Division; Lt. Colonel Talgat Kerikbayev, Deputy Head of Engineering Department. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was presented by Kanat Shekaliyev from the International Security Department. ¶2. On January 23, 2008, the EXBS team attended a Border Security Donor Coordination meeting at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)in Astana, Kazakhstan. Represented at the meeting were the Kazakhstan Border Guard Services of the National Security Committee, the Kazakhstan Customs Coordination Committee of the Ministry of Finance, the Border Management and Drug Action Programmes in Central Asia (BOMCA/CADAP),the British Embassy, the International Organization for Migration (IOM),the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),the United Nations High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR),the United Nations Office on Drug Controls (UNODC),the International Criminal Police Organization (OIPC-Interpol),and the U.S. Embassy (EXBS, DTRO, OMC, INL). Each agency made a presentation on their accomplishments in Kazakhstan during the last six months and on their future plans for the coming year. ¶3. On January 29, 2008, a special country team meeting was held for ASTANA 00000284 002 OF 003 Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mitchell Shivers and Rear Admiral Miller (CENTCOM). During this meeting the EXBS Advisor presented an overview of EXBS activities in Kazakhstan and a summary of the Second Line of Defense efforts in the installation of Radiation Portal Monitors. ¶4. On January 29, 2008, a meeting was held with Glen Spindel, Deputy ICE Attache-Frankfurt. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in Frankfurt has area responsibilities which include Kazakhstan. The Deputy ICE Attache was in country as part of the WMD International Investigations course team. Discussions during this meeting covered EXBS activities to date in Kazakhstan and Second Line of Defense efforts in installing Radiation Portal Monitors. ¶B. TRAINING DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶1. An International Counterproliferation Program (ICP) course, "WMD International Investigations", was taught in Astana, Kazakhstan, from January 28 - February 1, 2008. This course was attended by twenty-eight persons from four agencies. There were eight representatives from the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MCHS),fifteen representatives from the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD),four representatives from the Customs Services, and one representative from the Financial Police. This course is designed for criminal investigators to enhance specialized investigative skills in transnational investigations of Weapons of Mass Destruction incidents. ¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶1. On December 15, 2008, three CT-30 Contraband Inspection Kits were delivered to the Border Guard Services of the National Security Committee and accepted by Major General Berkaliyev, Deputy Director of the Border Guard Service. ¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE ¶1. The Department of Energy Second Line of Defense Program is continuing its project to install portal monitors at border sites. The EXBS team accompanied Ms. Laurel Cotton, the Project Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Energy's Second Line of Defense (SLD) Program, to a meeting in Astana with Kazakhstani Customs Control Committee officials on February 4, 2008, to discuss a broad range of matters concerning the SLD program, including training and equipment delivery issues. The SLD equipment for Phase One installation is scheduled to arrive in Kazakhstan from Russia in four rail shipments between February 4th and 20th, 2008. EXBS will assist in obtaining customs release for SLD equipment in Almaty. EXBS will also send a Diplomatic Note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requesting access to the requested sites for U.S. technical specialists so that they can begin the installation of the portal monitors and related equipment during March 2008. ¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY ¶1. None. ¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION ASTANA 00000284 003 OF 003 ¶1. A Diplomatic Note is being drafted concerning a proposal by Michael Fisher, EXBS Caspian Region Maritime Advisor, to have the U.S. Coast Guard conduct a Basic Small Boat Operation Course for Kazakhstani Marine Border Guards (MBG) in Bautino, Kazakhstan from June 2 to June 27, 2008. The purpose of the training is to provide hands-on instruction to further enhance the MBG's capabilities in the operation of the three EXBS donated SAFE boats. The course will include classroom training and at sea exercises. III. RED FLAG ISSUES. ¶1. None ORDWAY