Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TASHKENT988
2008-08-26 10:34:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Tashkent
Cable title:
UZBEKISTAN: U.S.-FUNDED X-RAY VAN REPAIR IMPROVES
how-toVZCZCXRO8708 PP RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG DE RUEHNT #0988 2391034 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 261034Z AUG 08 FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0212 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 4310 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0524 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 4927 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0783 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0550 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0806 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4511 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2803 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0822 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7564 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1461 RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 0196 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC 0363 RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2765 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC 0214 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0350 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2024 RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1432 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL 0001
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000988
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, EXBS FOR JEFF HARTSHORN, ASTANA FOR
NAS ANTHONY BEAVER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS ASEC PGOV KZ UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: U.S.-FUNDED X-RAY VAN REPAIR IMPROVES
CUSTOMS' SCREENING CAPABILITIES
REF: TASHKENT 518
UNCLAS TASHKENT 000988
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, EXBS FOR JEFF HARTSHORN, ASTANA FOR
NAS ANTHONY BEAVER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS ASEC PGOV KZ UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: U.S.-FUNDED X-RAY VAN REPAIR IMPROVES
CUSTOMS' SCREENING CAPABILITIES
REF: TASHKENT 518
1. (SBU) On August 20, POLOFF and Embassy LES visited
Tashkent International Airport, where representatives of the
U.S.-based Allied Technical Services had completed repairs of
an X-ray van for Uzbekistan's State Customs Committee (SCC)
under the auspices of the Export Control and Related Border
Security Program (EXBS). (Note: A previous attempt to repair
the van in May had been unsuccessful due to problems with
certain parts, reftel. End note.) The Allied Technical
Services representatives had transported additional
parts--including a motor, control panels, and monitors--to
Tashkent from an EXBS-provided van in Kordai, Kazakhstan that
the Government of Kazakhstan no longer wished to use.
Improved Detection Capabilities
--------------
2. (SBU) Lt. Col. Andrey Kravchin thanked the U.S. for its
assistance with the X-ray repair van, noting that the van
would be transported to Alisher Navoiy Park to assist Customs
in screening some 5,000 participants during Uzbekistan's
Independence Day celebrations. (Comment: The timing of this
repair, just days before Uzbekistan's September 1
festivities, is fortuitous and will greatly enhance Customs'
ability to detect items of concern, such as weapons and
contraband. End comment.) Kravchin also stated that the
repaired van can be driven onto the apron when necessary,
thus improving Customs' ability to screen items from parked
aircraft.
Praise for U.S. Assistance, Request for More
--------------
3. (SBU) Kravchin highly praised U.S.-provided training in
1998-1999 on how to maintain these vans, and asked whether it
would be possible for the U.S. to provide similar assistance
in the future. Kravchin explained that Customs would like to
develop its own capability to maintain the X-ray van, and
lamented that Customs officials who had been trained in the
1990s have since moved on. Customs is now afraid of
tinkering with the equipment, given their lack of training
and their need to have the van constantly operational for
emergencies. Kravchin also asked for assistance in upgrading
the van's computer system, which would allow it to conduct
self-tests to identify malfunctions, and for an additional
700-amp rechargeable battery because the current one in the
X-ray van has exceeded its service life.
BUTCHER
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, EXBS FOR JEFF HARTSHORN, ASTANA FOR
NAS ANTHONY BEAVER
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PBTS ASEC PGOV KZ UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: U.S.-FUNDED X-RAY VAN REPAIR IMPROVES
CUSTOMS' SCREENING CAPABILITIES
REF: TASHKENT 518
1. (SBU) On August 20, POLOFF and Embassy LES visited
Tashkent International Airport, where representatives of the
U.S.-based Allied Technical Services had completed repairs of
an X-ray van for Uzbekistan's State Customs Committee (SCC)
under the auspices of the Export Control and Related Border
Security Program (EXBS). (Note: A previous attempt to repair
the van in May had been unsuccessful due to problems with
certain parts, reftel. End note.) The Allied Technical
Services representatives had transported additional
parts--including a motor, control panels, and monitors--to
Tashkent from an EXBS-provided van in Kordai, Kazakhstan that
the Government of Kazakhstan no longer wished to use.
Improved Detection Capabilities
--------------
2. (SBU) Lt. Col. Andrey Kravchin thanked the U.S. for its
assistance with the X-ray repair van, noting that the van
would be transported to Alisher Navoiy Park to assist Customs
in screening some 5,000 participants during Uzbekistan's
Independence Day celebrations. (Comment: The timing of this
repair, just days before Uzbekistan's September 1
festivities, is fortuitous and will greatly enhance Customs'
ability to detect items of concern, such as weapons and
contraband. End comment.) Kravchin also stated that the
repaired van can be driven onto the apron when necessary,
thus improving Customs' ability to screen items from parked
aircraft.
Praise for U.S. Assistance, Request for More
--------------
3. (SBU) Kravchin highly praised U.S.-provided training in
1998-1999 on how to maintain these vans, and asked whether it
would be possible for the U.S. to provide similar assistance
in the future. Kravchin explained that Customs would like to
develop its own capability to maintain the X-ray van, and
lamented that Customs officials who had been trained in the
1990s have since moved on. Customs is now afraid of
tinkering with the equipment, given their lack of training
and their need to have the van constantly operational for
emergencies. Kravchin also asked for assistance in upgrading
the van's computer system, which would allow it to conduct
self-tests to identify malfunctions, and for an additional
700-amp rechargeable battery because the current one in the
X-ray van has exceeded its service life.
BUTCHER