KAZAKHSTAN: 2007 INL END USE MONITORING REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000362 SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/AAE (BALABANIAN),INL/C, SCA/CEN (O'MARA) SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCOR KCRM PREL KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: 2007 INL END USE MONITORING REPORT ASTANA 00000362 001.2 OF 003 ¶1. In 2007, Post provided equipment to GOK institutions throughout Kazakhstan. These include the Statistics Committee of the Procurator General's Office, the Ministry of the Interior's Committee on Combating Narcotics, the Legal Institute of the Ministry of the Interior, Border Guard Service of the Committee for National Security, and the Military Institute of the Committee for National Security. Over the course of the year, Post conducted End Use Monitoring of the equipment in conjunction with separate programs such as training events, site visits, and follow up trips. -------------- STATUS -------------- -------------- COMPUTER EQUIPMENT -------------- ¶2. As part of the program to improve collection and analysis of crime statistics, post purchased 62 computers with printers, two color printers, and four notebook computers for the Criminal Statistics Division of the Procurator General's Office (PGO) on October 1, 2004. On March 17, 2007, an INL program manager conducted end-use monitoring at the PGO's Kokshetau (Northern Kazakhstan) Oblast Department and confirmed that the computer transferred in 2004 was in place and being used by an employee of the Statistics Department for collection of criminal statistics. The monitor, processor and printer were in good condition. During an elections monitoring trip on August 20, an INL program manager conducted end-use monitoring of computers in the Taraz and Zhambyl oblasts. All equipment was in good condition and being used. ¶3. Upon completion of renovation of the Saryagash Border Guard Training Classroom in October 2006, office equipment and furniture was delivered to the training classroom. An INL team conducted end-use monitoring during the Advanced Training on Improved Border Inspection conducted in April 2007. Fourteen computers provided for the classroom were checked and they were operating. The trainers extensively used the 15th computer for showing presentations and video. The furniture was in good condition and other equipment, including a digital video camera and TV, were also used during the training. ¶4. Within the Anti Trafficking in Persons project, Post is strengthening the Study Center on Combating Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons of the Karaganda Law Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (Anti-TIP Center). Along with training for law-enforcement officers, Post provided furniture and equipment to the Anti-TIP Center. Office equipment delivered to the training center includes two computers, two notebooks, one printer, one scanner, one projector and one projector screen. Post conducted end-use monitoring on February 8, 2008. All equipment is being used and in good working condition. -------------- VEHICLES -------------- ¶5. On February 8-9, 2007, Post, jointly with IOM as implementing organization, conducted the follow-up trip to the checkpoints on the Kazakhstani-Uzbek border. During the follow-up trip, the INL representative also conducted end-use monitoring of the 4WD UAZ minivans transferred to four border guard checkpoints during the IOM project in 2006. The checkpoints are Zhibek Zholy, Kazygurt, Tole bi and Gani Muratbayeva. The heads of the checkpoints confirmed that the vehicles are used to transport both border guards and equipment. The vehicles are also used to respond to border incidents. -------------- CONSTRUCTION PROJECT -------------- ¶6. During the "Enhancing Immigration Inspection and Border Control on the Land Border of Kazakhstan with Uzbekistan" project implemented by IOM, INL funded renovations and purchased equipment for a training classroom at Saryagash Border Control Division (Kazakhstani-Uzbek Border) in 2006. IOM hired a local construction company to do all necessary renovations, which included replacement of windows, installation of doorways, and replacement of linoleum flooring. An INL team visited the classroom during the INL Desk Officer's visit in March 2007. The classroom was fully equipped for training. ¶7. In July 2005, Post provided an inspection hangar to the MVD's Committee on Combating Narcotics for use at the Ulken counter-narcotics checkpoint that was completed in 2005. On January 18, 2006, an INL team traveled to Ulken and discovered that the inspection pit was not properly constructed and the soil used was not satisfactory. On December 5, 2007, an INL program manager ASTANA 00000362 002.2 OF 003 visited the Ulken checkpoint during the assessment of six internal "Rubezh-Narkotiki" checkpoints and saw that a new inspection pit had been built and the inspection hangar moved. The new inspection pit was properly built and being used for inspection of vehicles and trucks. ¶8. As part of the INL project to improve border security, INL funded the renovation of a classroom at the Military Institute of the Committee for National Security. During the visit of the Head of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, INL was able to inspect the classroom, which had been well renovated. The Military Institute has asked to provide showcases for equipment which has been transferred by international organizations, including INL, for training purposes. -------------- LABORATORY EQUIPMENT -------------- ¶9. To enable the GOK to analyze suspected narcotics in a scientific, legally defensible process that will produce admissible evidence, Post upgraded the equipment at the Almaty Forensic Laboratory of the Ministry of Justice. INL purchased infrared spectrometer and gas chromatograph, scales, and a digital camera. An INL program manager met with the Head of the National Lab on April 28 to conduct end-use monitoring of the equipment and furniture. The gas chromatograph was in place and was effectively used by the employees of the lab. The Director of the lab said that law enforcement officers bring in an average of 15 to 20 materials, of which 5 to 7 are found to be drugs. According to the Director, the detector of the first gas chromatograph transferred by INL in 2003 was broken and had not properly functioned for more than a year. The cost to replace the detector is approximately $6,000. -------------- OTHER EQUIPMENT -------------- ¶10. In support of the Anti-TIP Center, INL provided office furniture and furnished a dormitory in 2007. INL purchased standard sets of furniture for bedrooms and kitchens so that officers in training from different cities of Kazakhstan can stay at the Center. Participants can only begin using the dormitory after the official opening of the center. INL program manager conducted end-use monitoring of the furniture, household goods, and visual aids transferred to the dormitory on February 5, 2008. ¶11. During the delivery of additional equipment to "Aul" and "Zhezkent" border checkpoints located on the Kazakhstani-Russian Border, an INL team received information from the border guards working at those checkpoints that equipment delivered in 2005 was very useful in the detection of drugs. The endoscopes were used to examine the gas tanks and border guards were able to find drugs hidden in inaccessible places. ¶12. In 2007, INL transferred a digital language laboratory to the Financial Police Academy. The lab includes an instructor's terminal, 15 terminals for students, an instructor's computer, one multimedia centralized control system, 15 tables with divisions, 15 monitors, 16 pairs of headphones, and accessories. The manager of the language lab at the Academy received training on the use of the lab; however, due to the fact that the manager left the Academy, the staff needs additional training. Post will make ensure that the staff of the Academy receives proper training. ¶13. In September 2005, INL and the Canine Enforcement Program of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) co-sponsored an exchange of puppies between the U.S. Canine Training Center and the Kazakhstani Customs Canine Center with the goal of more effectively interdicting the flow of narcotics. In June 2007, Post conducted end-use monitoring of the dogs. One of the dogs was at the Canine Training Center going through a regular medical examination and another was serving on the Kazakhstani-Russian border. The Head of the Customs Canine Center said that dogs have been working well. -------------- PROBLEMS -------------- ¶14. The GOK cooperated with INL in end-use monitoring monitoring. However, due to the immense size of Kazakshtan, Post was unable to check each piece of equipment provided to agencies in different regions. -------------- IMPACT -------------- ¶15. The Statistics Division of the Procurator General's Office: The computers transferred to different regions in 2004 were the ASTANA 00000362 003.2 OF 003 initial part of the project. Another 146 computers were transferred to other remote villages and towns. The employees of statistics divisions no longer need to submit paper copies of crime statistics. The GOK plans to provide an internet network for all statistics to be transferred directly to the oblast and central levels. ¶16. The National Laboratory of Narcotics Control, Forensics Science Center of the Ministry of Justice: As many as twenty samples a day can be processed by the lab with the available equipment. Post hopes that with the new liquid chromatograph being delivered in 2008, the forensics experts will increase their capacity to resolve criminal investigations through forensic analysis of evidence. ¶17. The Committee on Combating Drugs of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD): The hangar at the Ulken "Rubezh-Narkotiki" checkpoint allows detailed inspection of vehicles in severe weather conditions. MVD told Post that the highest seizures of drugs are registered at the Ulken and Syrdarya posts. In 2006, police working at Ulken seized five kilos of heroin and, during the first ten months of 2007, seized more than two kilos of heroin. The next step for strengthening the "Rubezh-Narkotiki" checkpoints is to provide training and communications equipment. ¶18. Financial Police Academy in Astana: As soon as the language lab is working at full capacity, the Financial Police Academy will be able to improve the English language skills of its cadets, who will be able to participate in training at law enforcement institutions abroad to improve their financial crime detection and investigation skills. ¶19. Karaganda Legal Institute, Anti Trafficking in Persons Study Center: The Anti-TIP Study Center is used to provide training for migration police and MVD officers. During each cycle of training, approximately 30 students are enrolled. In 2007, Post conducted four training events and trained 77 law-enforcement officers, including migration and criminal police. Post will continue conducting training at the Anti-TIP Study Center. ¶20. Border Guard Service of the Committee for National Security: The relationship with the Border Guard Service has continued to improve. INL provided equipment to the Kazakhstani-Uzbek, Kazakhstani-Kyrgyz, Kazakhstani-Turkmen and Kazakhstani-Russian borders. Equipment provided helps border guards to detect drugs and other contraband. The visit of the Deputy Director of the Border Guard Service to the in November 2007 resulted in plans for cooperation in the areas of border protection and combating drugs. ¶21. The Military Institute of the Committee for National Security: The relationship with the Military Institute was initiated on March 10, 2006. In June 2006, Post provided samples of equipment purchased for use on the border. In November 2006, Post conducted Identification of Fraudulent Documents and Detection of Drugs training for 34 cadets of the Institute. From May 17 to 26, the Head of the Military Institute visited various U.S. Government Agencies and the U.S. Border Patrol Academy, which resulted in an invitation to the Head of the U.S. Border Patrol Academy to visit Kazakhstan, which took place in September 2007. The professional relationship has been firmly established between the two institutes. As a result, two graduate of the Military Institute were invited to take part in a four-month training course in Artesia, New Mexico. Post will continue working with the Institute. In March 2008, the Military Institute will receive a language lab which will help to improve the language skills of cadets and trainers. ORDWAY