KAZAKHSTAN: ASSESSMENT TRIP

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000473 SIPDIS STATE FOR INL (BALABANIAN); SCA/CEN (OMARA),SCA/RA SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SNAR KCRM KCOR PREL KZ SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ASSESSMENT TRIP ¶1. Summary: From February 25 through 27, Post assessed the premises of the Border Guard Service in two cities for the establishment of a new classroom. The Border Guard Divisions on the Kazakhstani-Russian border discussed additional needs with the representatives of the Embassy and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). End Summary. ¶2. On January 18, Post met with General Major Khussain Berkaliyev, First Deputy Director of the Border Guard Service. He requested the opening of additional training classrooms along the border. As part of the INL sponsored IOM "Enhancing Immigration Inspection and Border Control on the Border of Kazakhstan with Uzbekistan" project, one classroom was renovated and opened in Saryagash (South-Kazakhstan oblast) on the Kazakhstani-Uzbek border in November 2006. General Major Berkaliyev has been pleased with the use of the classrooms for the professional development of the border guards. -------------- KOSTANAY -------------- ¶3. On February 25, the Embassy's International Narcotics and Law Enforcement (INL) Section visited the border control division in Kostanay (Northern Kazakhstan) with IOM. The head of the border station in Kostanay showed the premises available for training, but the rooms were not large enough. An alternate building shown to the assessment group was a good site, however it was being used by support personnel and would require some reconstruction to create a large-enough training room. The Border Guard Service has decided to separate border control and border patrol personnel and assign them to separate buildings. The alternate building would not be available until the reorganization process is completed. -------------- MOBILE GROUP IN KOSTANAY -------------- ¶4. Aidar Balgabayev, the Head of the Border Guard Division of Kostanaiskaya oblast, requested that Post provide assistance in equipping mobile groups during a pilot phase. The Division covers the 1,380 km border along the territory of the Kostanay oblast. Twelve checkpoints are located along that portion of the border. Passenger flow through the Kairak automobile checkpoint was 70,000 people and 20,000 vehicles in July 2007. The border areas between the border guard checkpoints are not well guarded. According to the Head of the Division, the green zone is not equipped with sensors. Mobile groups would patrol the area between three sectors Uzynkol, Karabalyk and Zhetykara and the mobile group may be based in Karabalyk. ¶5. Vehicles with good off-road capabilities are the priority need. Traffickers use better vehicles such as Hunters and Urals with good off-road capabilities. Border guards cannot catch traffickers with their old UAZ vehicles. Among necessary equipment requested are mobile night vision devices, stationary and mobile means of communication, radar guidance systems, vehicle inspection equipment, drug detectors, and gear for three different seasons. ¶6. The border guards would like to staff the mobile groups with four people, including one officer and three contractors, one of which will drive the vehicle. If larger vehicles are provided, the ideal mobile group would consist of up to seven people, including a canine specialist and dog. ¶7. The Border Guard Service will send INL the proposal for the mobile groups pilot project in mid-March. The Border Guard Service also has requested assistance in obtaining the list of standard equipment with which the U.S. Border Patrol mobile groups are equipped. They would also like to learn more about the experience and functions that U.S. Border Patrol mobile groups perform. If the initial mobile groups prove their effectiveness, the Border Guard Service will introduce more of them on the most vulnerable sections of the border. According to Berkaliyev, the mobile group project is part of a larger effort to strengthen the green zone. -------------- URALSK -------------- ¶8. Together with IOM representative and the Head of the Border Guard Military Unit in Uralsk, post has assessed the premises proposed for the training classroom. Three rooms are available for training. It will be necessary to do slight renovations, but otherwise the rooms in the administrative building are suitable for the establishment of a training classroom. A bus would be needed to transport participants. The training classroom would be used by participants from Aktobe, Atyrau and Aktau (Western Kazakhstan). ASTANA 00000473 002 OF 002 -------------- OTHER NEEDS -------------- ¶9. New checkpoints Kaztalovka, Saikhin and Dzhanibek opened on the Kazakhstani-Russian border six months ago and are in need of assistance. The checkpoints have no infrastructure, water, light or communications. Duman Yelemessov, the Head of the Uralsk Border Guard Military Unit, requested modular shelters for the three checkpoints. They also need dogs, though Yerzhan Ospanov, the First Deputy Head of added that conditions would need to be improved at the checkpoints. -------------- COMMENTS -------------- ¶10. The training classroom will be established in Uralsk. Assistance for mobile groups could be provided in Kostanay. Foreign expertise is necessary during the initial stages of creating the mobile groups. The Border Guard Service does not yet have a clear picture of how the mobile groups should function. ORDWAY