UZBEKISTAN FORENSIC LAB EXPERTS VISIT USA

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000922


DEPARTMENT FOR INL/AAE (BUHLER) AND EUR/ACE
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR ICITAP MARK MOGLE
ASTANA FOR INL ANTHONY BEAVER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR ASEC PREL KCOR KCRM UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN FORENSIC LAB EXPERTS VISIT USA


1. (U) SUMMARY: The Bureau of International Narcotics and
Law Enforcement Affairs (INL),with the support of the
Department of Justice Criminal Investigative Training
Assistance Program (ICITAP),arranged for the participation
of Uzbek forensic experts in the 18th International
Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS) Triennial Meeting
in New Orleans, Louisiana. They then visited the Harris
County Forensic Laboratory in Houston, Texas, where they
observed quality assurance techniques at a modern American
facility. This training opportunity complements ongoing
INL-funded equipment upgrades at the laboratory in Tashkent
and will significantly assist its efforts to gain
international accreditation and enhance the professional
development of Uzbek laboratory staff. End summary.

INL Forensic Laboratory Project
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2. (U) The Main Forensic Laboratory of the Ministry of
Health is an important resource supporting criminal
investigations in Uzbekistan. INL is in the midst of a
multi-year laboratory improvement project administered by
the U.S. DOJ ICITAP. As part of the laboratory improvement
project, Embassy Tashkent and ICITAP arranged participation
of Uzbek forensic experts in the 18th International
Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS) Triennial Meeting
held in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 21-25. It was the
first time forensics officials from Uzbekistan participated
in a professional forum of such importance. During the
world triennial meeting Uzbek officials met not only with
colleagues from the United States, but also from
Kazakhstan, Columbia, Russia, Turkey, Portugal, and the
United Arab Emirates.


3. (U) The workshops on the first day covered International
Accreditation Standards, giving Uzbek officials a better
appreciation of ISO accreditation process, something they
had no exposure to in the past despite setting it as a
long-term goal.


4. (U) Workshops on the subsequent days covered Forensic
Laboratory planning and design. This lecture was
reinforced by a side meeting with a laboratory design firm
later in the week. Both the workshop and the private
meeting gave the Uzbek group significant insights into
areas they had not been previously trained in. This was
particularly useful since Uzbekistan is in the process of
designing and constructing a new laboratory building, and a
DOJ official at the conference stressed the importance that
the Uzbeks get the design right at the outset.


5. (U) Significantly, the Uzbek participants heard several
lectures on human rights, torture, and genocide, which
helped reinforce the important role the forensic experts
play in the criminal justice system. A presenter from the
University of Istanbul even touched on Abu Ghraib, which
surprised the Uzbek attendees. Speakers also discussed
detailed investigations of mass disaster cases, death in
custody cases, and sensitive investigations involving
government and paramilitary groups. Uzbek officials were
introduced to the field of forensic nursing as well.


6. (U) At the conclusion of the conference, the forensic
experts flew to Houston to visit the Harris County Forensic
Laboratory. Deputy Chief of the Forensic Laboratory Dr.
Ashraf Mozayani personally demonstrated existing forensic
laboratory and quality assurance programs. Mozayani was
able to easily relate to the Uzbek guests because she had
personally conducted INL-sponsored training in Uzbekistan
on multiple occasions.


7. (U) During a busy two-day schedule in Houston, the Uzbek
forensic experts visited many different departments,
including DNA and Serology, Biology, Toxicology,
Anthropology, Morgue, Controlled Substance, Trace Evidence
and Investigation. They also participated in discussions
about management, budgeting, and justification of
equipment, labor, and other resources.


8. (U) The Uzbek experts noted that their Harris County
Forensic Laboratory visit gave them a superb practical view
of the material covered in the IAFS lectures from the week
before. Embassy Tashkent has already been invited to watch
a presentation by the chief of the Uzbek Forensic Bureau
that sums up the results of the trip for those laboratory
personnel who could not visit the United States.

RESULTS:
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9. (U) Uzbek officials recommended that forensic experts
throughout the region should participate in similar
planning, design, and accreditation presentations. Some of
the lessons they took away from their visit included the
following:

a. The need in larger laboratories to establish a Director
of Operations position. Such a professional would manage
administrative, financial, business and operations
activities, allowing the scientific experts to focus on
what they do best.

b. The importance for forensic laboratories in the former
Soviet Union to learn about the possible addition of
disciplines that cover Forensic Nursing and Forensic
Investigation.

c. The critical need for full-time Quality Manager
positions in laboratories to coordinate efforts to meet
international standards.

d. The usefulness of exchange programs between U.S. and
Uzbek experts from similar forensic facilities. The
practical view of day-to-day forensic operations proved to
be a huge benefit for the Uzbek experts, and they believe
that a continuation of these programs will only make them
more successful.

COMMENT:
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10. (U) We hope that exchange programs such as these will
contribute to the Uzbekistan Main Forensic LaboratoryQs
long-term goal of obtaining international accreditation.
The visit already paid dividends in enhancing the
professional skills of the laboratory staff, which adds
value to the donations of sophisticated equipment made
under the auspices of the ongoing INL project. A modern,
accredited forensic laboratory facility in Uzbekistan will
greatly enhance the validity of evidence analysis in
criminal investigation and further the cause of judicial
reform in the country.

BUTCHER