JAPAN AND UK TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PHYSICAL

UNCLAS ASTANA 000433 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS SCA/CEN FOR M. O'MARA DOE FOR C. KENNEDY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP KGIC MCAP KZ SUBJECT: JAPAN AND UK TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PHYSICAL PROTECTION UPGRADES AT ALATAU AND ULBA ¶1. (SBU) On March 5, PolOff met with embassy representatives from Japan and the United Kingdom to discuss the projects of their countries at the Institute for Nuclear Physics (INP) in Alatau and at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant. Both the U.K. and Japan are focusing on physical protection projects. ¶2. (SBU) Martin Child, Political Officer at the British Embassy, told Poloff that the United Kingdom intends to provide over $550,000 to INP for security upgrades. The funding will pay for a closed circuit television system and an alarm system. Child said that $1.5 million is needed to fully complete the security upgrade at Alatau. ¶3. (SBU) Shion Kawai of the Japanese Embassy reported that Japan is providing funding to both Alatau and Ulba. Japan intends to spend $3,225,000 at Ulba. The money will be used to renovate a fence, install closed circuit television, and improve the security of the entrance gate. Japan has allocated $800,000 for Alatau, which will be spent primarily on construction and renovation of the main fence at INP. ¶4. (SBU) Child reported that the U.K. has become frustrated with a lack of progress at Alatau. He read aloud an e-mail from Simon Evans, Deputy Director of the Global Threat Reduction Office, who said that there are "problems across the board." Shion complained of a lack of coordination among the relevant Kazakhstani ministries and agencies. Child said that he sensed the Kazakhstanis may try to play donors off of each other. When Child told the Kazakhstanis that he planned to coordinate with the Japanese, the Kazakhstanis discouraged the idea. ¶5. (SBU) Nevertheless, both countries are moving ahead with their projects. A delegation from Japan will travel to Kazakhstan in April to inspect Ulba and Alatau in order to further develop Japan's program plan. The U.K. is hoping that a representative from its Global Threat Reduction Office can join the Japanese delegation. Child and Kawai said that their countries are interested in further coordination with the United States. ORDWAY