EXBS: TURKMENISTAN EXBS ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASHGABAT 000954 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC JHARTSHORN, LSPRINGER, and YWONG SCA/CEN FOR JGORKOWSKI SCA/RA FOR JMCCLELLAN DHS/CBP SBAKER DHS/ICE FOR AMEFFERD DOE/NNSA FOR JNOBLE, AND BPENTOLA DOC/BIS FOR DCREED USCG FOR SHABTEMICHAEL AMEMBASSY BERLIN FOR CBP ATTACHE AMEMBASSY MOSCOW FOR ICE ATTACHE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP KG SUBJECT: EXBS: TURKMENISTAN EXBS ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE JULY, 2009 ASHGABAT 00000954 001.2 OF 004 ¶A. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: The GoTX continues to offer significant challenges in engagement on EXBS initiatives. The Border Service through the MFA has rejected an EXBS offer to build modular shelters in remote border areas. Also, EXBS continues to support the Department of Energy's (DOE) Second Line of Defense (SLD) Program. End summary. ¶B. Completed Actions for Reporting Period. ¶1. Site Assessments and Meetings during this Reporting Period. a. On 6 July, EXBS Advisor and Assistant met with Gurbangeldi Temirov, Deputy Chief for Logistics of the State Border Service, Gurban Begliyev, Head of the State Immigration Service, and Hemra Amannazarov, MFA representative. The purpose of the meeting was introductory; the Deputy Chief for Logistics had missed the previous meetings between the advisor and the Border Service. During the meeting, when the advisor asked about progress with the acceptance of the border shelter project, Temirov told the advisor that the shelters would not be needed from the EXBS Program. Temirov said that he had not heard from EXBS for over two years, so the Border Service took the blueprints and designs for the shelters and contracted with construction companies and international donors to build the border posts with other funds. The designs Temirov showed the advisor were similar to the original EXBS designs, but were more extensive. The EXBS Advisor informed Temirov that the funding was about to expire, and renotification would reduce potential funding for Border Service projects by half and would take many more months to get approved both in WADC and Turkmenistan. Temirov said it was not a concern of his, and that they did not really need EXBS assistance with construction. Temirov did ask EXBS to purchase maritime night radar for the Service. Advisor Note: It is unclear as to the motivation for turning down assistance so long in the making. The previous advisor informed the current advisor that this project was approved by the Border Service and desired. The disgraced EXBS assistant Hommadov had repeatedly told the advisor that the MFA would be sending official approval at any time. Either the Border Service changed their mind, or there has been no contact for a long time. It is near impossible to adequately analyze this as access is severely limited and an MFA representative is always present. This does pose some serious concerns for the future of EXBS in Turkmenistan. If the Border Service does not need the limited funds EXBS is willing to provide, and if the process is so time-consuming for approval between the identification of a need and approval from WADC and the GoTX, then funds would be more productive in other venues, or countries. End Note. b. From 8 - 12 July EXBS Advisor traveled to Tashkent as part of his regional duties. ASHGABAT 00000954 002.2 OF 004 c. From 19-31 July the EXBS Office supported the Department of Energy (DOE) Second Line of Defense (SLD) Portal Monitor Installation Project with site visits for equipment acceptance at Turkmenabad/Farab, Turkmenbashy, Artyk, Watan, Serakhs, Altyn Asyr, Imam-Nazar and Serhetabad. Anne Kohnen from PNNL (Pacific Northwest National Laboratories) and AHTNA Project Manager Travis Brown visited Turkmenistan to conduct the testing. d. On 28 July, Anne Kohnen of PNNL (DOE/SLD) as part of her acceptance visit to the ports of Turkmenistan attended a meeting with the Director of Turkmengasgeophysics (TGG),Mr. Sapar Kajarov. The purpose of the meeting was to finalize arrangements for the contract with TGG for the use of two radioactive sources, Californium-252 and Sodium-22 for use in testing the portal monitors. This contract will be executed in September/October and is the first stage in final acceptance of the monitors. The ultimate goal will be to import 2-3 radioactive sources from the U.S., in particular Cesium-137 and Cobalt-57. These sources will be given to TGG as the only licensed agency in Turkmenistan that can receive, store and transport radioactive sources. Once in country, a team from PNNL and DOE will return to Turkmenistan to test the monitors. The meeting was attended by MFA representative Hemra Amannazarov and Kajarov's assistant and POC for this project, Alla Savenkova. Advisor Note: The initial goal of the PNNL team was to import and utilize the correct sources (Cobalt-57, Cesium-137, and Californium-252). A dipnote was submitted to the GoTX requesting this and assistance with identifying the appropriate agency to work with on 12 June as a follow-up to dipnotes of January and February. However, EXBS determined that Turkmengasgeophysics (TGG) possessed several alternate sources that were marginally acceptable to PNNL and therefore, a contract process was initiated with diplomatic notes on 30 June and was approved by the MFA on 14 July. The TGG sources will not fully test the RPMs, but will indicate problems with construction and installation of monitoring equipment. DCM Curran has been told by the MFA that they approve our importation, but TGG has requested approval in writing. Once written permission has been received from the MFA, EXBS will grant these sources to the GoTX/TGG, then contract to utilize these sources for the final testing. In addition, Advis, the subcontractor for the installation of the monitors and subsequent maintenance contractor for the monitors will be authorized by dipnote to administer future contracts with TGG. Post, in particular, the GSO and Contracting Officer Samuel Dykema, has been extremely supportive in the venture. ¶2. Training Conducted During Reporting Period. a. CIT. Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) conducted a three-day workshop on Commodity Identification Training (CIT) from 14 - 16 July, 2009, at the President Hotel for 19 Customs and ASHGABAT 00000954 003.2 OF 004 Border Service Officers. The workshop was well-run and instructors Charles Willingham, Nataliya Shabarkina, Dmitry Bogomolov, and Tamara Tazhibayeva did a wonderful job training in the visual identification of materials and commodities that can be used in the production of WMD, and strengthening the role of export control enforcement in preventing the spread of WMD by encouraging a stronger relationship between enforcement, licensing, and technical organizations. b. NCL. From 21 ? 24 July, Commonwealth Trading Partners conducted an National Control List (NCL) licensing workshop for 11 technical experts and officials from the GOTX at the Grand Turkmen Hotel. Training and exercises were conducted by instructors Stephan Hall, Joseph Chuchla and Mario Dorigo. The goal of the training was to assist Turkmenistan's licensing officials and career managerial staff in the establishment of a functional licensing organization utilizing a multi-lateral based national control list (NCL) and an inter-agency process, and building a "one- stop-shop" for dual-use and military license processing. This four-day training workshop had a four-fold purpose. First, structuring and staffing the organization. Second, performing the basic functions in administering the NCL and of requiring and reviewing export licenses. Third, focusing on developing a model for interagency analysis and adjudication of dual-use and munitions export license applications utilizing the dual-use and Wassenaar International Military control lists, and UNSCR 1540 guidelines. Fourth, developing the procedure and timeline for establishing a national control list and then a licensing organization. Unfortunately just after training began, four Customs Officers arrived at the hotel. Due to Leahy Vetting rules, these officers were turned away. The MFA expressed their apologies for the late arrival and failure to transmit their names to EXBS prior to the start of the course, and expressed understanding at the reasons for the turn-away. ¶3. Training Programs Pending. a. The Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP) Air Cargo Interdiction Training (IACIT) was postponed from 3 - 7 August until 2 - 6 November. b. DOE/NNSA will also conduct a three-day workshop on X- Ray Fluorescence (XRF) Technology from 18 - 20 August, 2009, to include donations of three XRF Metal Analyzers to the GOTX. EXBS Ashgabat will prepare diplomatic notes and handle administrative matters in support of this training. c. From 24 - 28 August, EXBS will conduct training for local Customs officials on Radiation Isotope Identification Devices (RIIDS) and the VaporTracer to include the donation of 15 detectors at the completion of ASHGABAT 00000954 004.2 OF 004 training. ¶4. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period. No equipment was delivered during the reporting period. ¶5. Equipment Status Update. a. CT-30 kits. EXBS is awaiting the delivery of 4-5 CT-30 Kits from WASHDC. Delivery is expected within FY2009. ¶6. Red Flag Issues. The difficulty in acquiring positive support for many EXBS programs and projects continues to frustrate efforts at export control and related border security in Turkmenistan. The modular shelter program is the prime example. This project is an integral part of the 2008 and 2009 Program Plans for Turkmenistan and if EXBS is not successful in getting the GoTX to support this program, a reduction of EXBS effort in the future may be required. In addition, most requests for participants from agencies other than Customs and the Border Service are ignored. ¶7. CONTACT INFORMATION. Barry A. Johnson is the Regional EXBS Advisor for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and can be reached at johnsonba8@state.gov, or +993-66-30-85-84. CURRAN