Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT518
2008-05-02 12:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: CUSTOMS OFFICIALS REQUEST FURTHER
how-toVZCZCXRO3999 PP RUEHBW DE RUEHNT #0518 1231234 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 021234Z MAY 08 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9605 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 3937 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0150 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 4552 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0427 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0367 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0430 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4154 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2431 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0466 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1099 RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 0111 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7397 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0238 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2465 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1158 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 1806 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC 0006 RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000518
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, EXBS FOR JEFF HARTSHORN, ASTANA FOR NAS
ANTHONY BEAVER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2018
TAGS: ASEC PBTS PGOV KZ UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: CUSTOMS OFFICIALS REQUEST FURTHER
ASSISTANCE
Classified By: Poloff Steven Prohaska for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L TASHKENT 000518
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, EXBS FOR JEFF HARTSHORN, ASTANA FOR NAS
ANTHONY BEAVER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2018
TAGS: ASEC PBTS PGOV KZ UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: CUSTOMS OFFICIALS REQUEST FURTHER
ASSISTANCE
Classified By: Poloff Steven Prohaska for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (SBU) A representative from Allied Technical Services
worked on the repair of an X-ray van provided by the Export
Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program to
Uzbekistan's State Customs Committee May 1-2. Customs used
this van between 1998 and 2007 primarily to scan the
belongings of VIP visitors to Tashkent International Airport
for items of concern including weapons and contraband.
Customs also transported the van to major holiday events such
as Navruz on March 21 and Independence Day on September 1 to
scan the luggage and belongings of attendees. Due to the
large number of people present at such events, this vehicle
has played a crucial role in maintaining security. Indeed,
the counter indicated that this van has conducted 52,575
inspections. Customs officials including First Deputy Chief
Khayrulla Fayzullaev and Lt. Col. Andrey Kravchin expressed
their deep gratitude to Poloff and Embassy LES for
EXBS-provided assistance.
2. (SBU) The van, however, is still not operational due to a
faulty motor that must be replaced. The Customs officials
were anxious to get the vehicle up and running as soon as
possible, and asked if this could be done before August. Lt.
Col. Kravchin also inquired as to whether a similar, fully
operational van in use in Shymkent, Kazakhstan that the
Kazakhs no longer want could be given to Uzbekistan's
Customs. Furthermore, because the vehicle must be serviced
at least once per year, with the manufacturer recommending
maintenance every six months, Kravchin hoped that EXBS could
provide training for certain Customs officials which would
allow them to do this themselves.
3. (C) Comment: This X-ray van is but one example of the many
ways that EXBS has furthered mutual counterproliferation
goals in detecting and interdicting items of concern in
Uzbekistan, and Post would not object to the transfer of the
operational van in Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan. The one at
Tashkent International Airport could then be cannibalized for
spare parts. Interestingly, the Customs officials were not
familiar with the Modalities and Information-Sharing Proposal
for border security assistance that Post submitted to the
Government of Uzbekistan in December, suggesting that if MFA
has shared it with Customs, the document has not been shared
widely among members of the Committee. (Note: MFA Americas
Desk Chief Ismat Fayzullaev told Poloff recently that Customs
had given its approval to the proposal almost immediately,
unlike other parts of the Government of Uzbekistan. End
note.) Poloff sensed frustration from Kravchin that coming
to an agreement on modalities will be an important factor in
determining the extent of further EXBS assistance to
Uzbekistan.
NORLAND
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, EXBS FOR JEFF HARTSHORN, ASTANA FOR NAS
ANTHONY BEAVER
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/02/2018
TAGS: ASEC PBTS PGOV KZ UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: CUSTOMS OFFICIALS REQUEST FURTHER
ASSISTANCE
Classified By: Poloff Steven Prohaska for reasons 1.4 (b, d).
1. (SBU) A representative from Allied Technical Services
worked on the repair of an X-ray van provided by the Export
Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) program to
Uzbekistan's State Customs Committee May 1-2. Customs used
this van between 1998 and 2007 primarily to scan the
belongings of VIP visitors to Tashkent International Airport
for items of concern including weapons and contraband.
Customs also transported the van to major holiday events such
as Navruz on March 21 and Independence Day on September 1 to
scan the luggage and belongings of attendees. Due to the
large number of people present at such events, this vehicle
has played a crucial role in maintaining security. Indeed,
the counter indicated that this van has conducted 52,575
inspections. Customs officials including First Deputy Chief
Khayrulla Fayzullaev and Lt. Col. Andrey Kravchin expressed
their deep gratitude to Poloff and Embassy LES for
EXBS-provided assistance.
2. (SBU) The van, however, is still not operational due to a
faulty motor that must be replaced. The Customs officials
were anxious to get the vehicle up and running as soon as
possible, and asked if this could be done before August. Lt.
Col. Kravchin also inquired as to whether a similar, fully
operational van in use in Shymkent, Kazakhstan that the
Kazakhs no longer want could be given to Uzbekistan's
Customs. Furthermore, because the vehicle must be serviced
at least once per year, with the manufacturer recommending
maintenance every six months, Kravchin hoped that EXBS could
provide training for certain Customs officials which would
allow them to do this themselves.
3. (C) Comment: This X-ray van is but one example of the many
ways that EXBS has furthered mutual counterproliferation
goals in detecting and interdicting items of concern in
Uzbekistan, and Post would not object to the transfer of the
operational van in Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan. The one at
Tashkent International Airport could then be cannibalized for
spare parts. Interestingly, the Customs officials were not
familiar with the Modalities and Information-Sharing Proposal
for border security assistance that Post submitted to the
Government of Uzbekistan in December, suggesting that if MFA
has shared it with Customs, the document has not been shared
widely among members of the Committee. (Note: MFA Americas
Desk Chief Ismat Fayzullaev told Poloff recently that Customs
had given its approval to the proposal almost immediately,
unlike other parts of the Government of Uzbekistan. End
note.) Poloff sensed frustration from Kravchin that coming
to an agreement on modalities will be an important factor in
determining the extent of further EXBS assistance to
Uzbekistan.
NORLAND