Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA1376
2009-08-12 06:43:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:
KAZAKHSTAN: EXBS ADVISOR'S REPORTING CABLE (JULY 2009)
how-toVZCZCXRO0383 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHTA #1376/01 2240643 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 120643Z AUG 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6008 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 1835 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1905 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1203 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0864 RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1294 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1390 RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 1785
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001376
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, ISN/ECC, EUR/ACE, SCA/RA, CBP/INA
STATE PASS TO DOE/NNSA
AMEMBASSY BERLIN FOR CUSTOMS ATTACHE
AMEMBASSY TASHKENT, BISHKEK, BAKU, DUSHANBE AND ASHGABAT FOR EXBS
ADVISORS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MNUC KNNP KSTC KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: EXBS ADVISOR'S REPORTING CABLE (JULY 2009)
ASTANA 00001376 001.2 OF 002
I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001376
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, ISN/ECC, EUR/ACE, SCA/RA, CBP/INA
STATE PASS TO DOE/NNSA
AMEMBASSY BERLIN FOR CUSTOMS ATTACHE
AMEMBASSY TASHKENT, BISHKEK, BAKU, DUSHANBE AND ASHGABAT FOR EXBS
ADVISORS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MNUC KNNP KSTC KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: EXBS ADVISOR'S REPORTING CABLE (JULY 2009)
ASTANA 00001376 001.2 OF 002
I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS
1. The Export Control and Related Border Security Program (EXBS)
was successful in nominating three Kazakhstani Customs Officers,
Ermek Smagulov, Marat Kabdushev, and Abzal Shogelbaev, for
participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)
in Washington D.C., from August 24 to September 16.
2. On July 27, a Diplomatic Note was sent to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs inviting Dr. Gulnara Eligbayeva, Kazakhstan Atomic
Energy Committee, to a Technical Experts Working Group (TEWG)
conference in Istanbul, Turkey, from September 15-18. This event is
sponsored by the Department of Energy's International
Nonproliferation Export Control Program (INECP).
3. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of
International Affairs has announced that Karen Chaisson will replace
Sandy Baker as Kazakhstan program manager for CBP.
4. The new Astana EXBS advisor, Paul J. Shott, is scheduled to
arrive in Astana on August 30. The current Astana EXBS advisor will
depart post on September 12 and be on leave until the end of his
contract.
II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD
A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED
5. On July 16, the EXBS advisor was informed that Kazakhstan
Customs Control Committee Chairman Kozy-Korpesh Zhaparkhanovich
Karbuzov and the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization
(WCO) Kunio Mikuriya signed a Memorandum establishing a Regional
Training Centre for Central Asia in Astana, Kazakhstan. The opening
ceremony of this Central Asia Regional Training Centre is scheduled
for December in Astana during the WCO Secretary General's visit.
6. On July 16, the EXBS advisor was informed that Kazakhstan had
deposited their instruments of accession to the Revised Kyoto
Convention on the simplification and harmonization of Customs
procedures to the WCO Secretary General, raising the number of
contracting parties to sixty-two.
7. On July 17, the EXBS advisor was informed by Colonel Mermankulov
Meirkhan, Customs Control Committee, that the Government of
Kazakhstan is interested in entering into an extradition agreement
with the United States. Mr. Alzhan Nurbekov, Senior Prosecutor of
the International Cooperation Department, was designated as the
Kazakhstani point of contact and Senior Special Agent Kenneth Jones,
Legal Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Astana, was designated at the
point of contact for the U.S.
8. On July 28, the EXBS advisor participated in a Security
Assistance Working Group (SAWG) meeting on border security
assistance to the Government of Kazakhstan.
B. TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD
9. From July 16-17, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of
Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT)
successfully conducted an U.S.-Kazakhstan Export Control and
Counter-Proliferation Exchange Workshop for prosecutors and
investigators in Almaty. The workshop consisted of 23
representatives from the General Prosecutor Office, Ministry of
Interior, Customs Control Committee, and National Security
Committee. U.S. participants included Nancy Langston, OPDAT
Resident Legal Advisor, U.S. Embassy Kyrgyzstan; Heather Schmidt,
Trial Attorney, National Security Division of the U.S. Department of
Justice; James Warwick, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of
ASTANA 00001376 002.2 OF 002
Maryland; John Burgess, Senior Special Agent and Assistant ICE
Attache, U.S. Embassy Singapore; and Olga Kalashnikova, OPDAT
Program Analyst for Counterterrorism Programs.
C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD
10. None
D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE
11. The Regional Procurement Support Office/Frankfurt (RPSO) is
working on the procurement of three (3) portable modular shelter
complexes valued at $850,000 for the Kazakhstani Border Guard
Service. The Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative (NSOI) has
provided an additional $300,000 in funding to be added to this
contract for procurement of an additional portable modular shelter
complex in support of the Kazakhstan Green Border Project.
12. The Regional Procurement Support Office/Frankfurt (RPSO) is
working on the procurement of six (6) x-ray screening systems valued
at $625,000 for the Kazakhstan Customs Control Committee.
13. The Astana General Services Office is working on the
procurement of 85 laptops and nine (9) power point projectors with
screens valued at $75,000 for the Kazakhstani Border Guard Service's
Training Centers.
E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR
RELATED BORDER SECURITY
14. None
F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION
15. The EXBS advisor notified Shewit Habtemichael,
U.S. Coast Guard International Affairs, that the Ambassador has
decided that no U.S. Government funds should be expended to repair
the "Sea Ark," a 42-foot vessel donated in 1996 to Kazakhstan's
Maritime Border Guards.
III. RED FLAG ISSUES:
16. None
HOAGLAND
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN, ISN/ECC, EUR/ACE, SCA/RA, CBP/INA
STATE PASS TO DOE/NNSA
AMEMBASSY BERLIN FOR CUSTOMS ATTACHE
AMEMBASSY TASHKENT, BISHKEK, BAKU, DUSHANBE AND ASHGABAT FOR EXBS
ADVISORS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PARM PREL ETTC MNUC KNNP KSTC KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: EXBS ADVISOR'S REPORTING CABLE (JULY 2009)
ASTANA 00001376 001.2 OF 002
I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS
1. The Export Control and Related Border Security Program (EXBS)
was successful in nominating three Kazakhstani Customs Officers,
Ermek Smagulov, Marat Kabdushev, and Abzal Shogelbaev, for
participation in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP)
in Washington D.C., from August 24 to September 16.
2. On July 27, a Diplomatic Note was sent to the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs inviting Dr. Gulnara Eligbayeva, Kazakhstan Atomic
Energy Committee, to a Technical Experts Working Group (TEWG)
conference in Istanbul, Turkey, from September 15-18. This event is
sponsored by the Department of Energy's International
Nonproliferation Export Control Program (INECP).
3. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of
International Affairs has announced that Karen Chaisson will replace
Sandy Baker as Kazakhstan program manager for CBP.
4. The new Astana EXBS advisor, Paul J. Shott, is scheduled to
arrive in Astana on August 30. The current Astana EXBS advisor will
depart post on September 12 and be on leave until the end of his
contract.
II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD
A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED
5. On July 16, the EXBS advisor was informed that Kazakhstan
Customs Control Committee Chairman Kozy-Korpesh Zhaparkhanovich
Karbuzov and the Secretary General of the World Customs Organization
(WCO) Kunio Mikuriya signed a Memorandum establishing a Regional
Training Centre for Central Asia in Astana, Kazakhstan. The opening
ceremony of this Central Asia Regional Training Centre is scheduled
for December in Astana during the WCO Secretary General's visit.
6. On July 16, the EXBS advisor was informed that Kazakhstan had
deposited their instruments of accession to the Revised Kyoto
Convention on the simplification and harmonization of Customs
procedures to the WCO Secretary General, raising the number of
contracting parties to sixty-two.
7. On July 17, the EXBS advisor was informed by Colonel Mermankulov
Meirkhan, Customs Control Committee, that the Government of
Kazakhstan is interested in entering into an extradition agreement
with the United States. Mr. Alzhan Nurbekov, Senior Prosecutor of
the International Cooperation Department, was designated as the
Kazakhstani point of contact and Senior Special Agent Kenneth Jones,
Legal Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Astana, was designated at the
point of contact for the U.S.
8. On July 28, the EXBS advisor participated in a Security
Assistance Working Group (SAWG) meeting on border security
assistance to the Government of Kazakhstan.
B. TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD
9. From July 16-17, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of
Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training (OPDAT)
successfully conducted an U.S.-Kazakhstan Export Control and
Counter-Proliferation Exchange Workshop for prosecutors and
investigators in Almaty. The workshop consisted of 23
representatives from the General Prosecutor Office, Ministry of
Interior, Customs Control Committee, and National Security
Committee. U.S. participants included Nancy Langston, OPDAT
Resident Legal Advisor, U.S. Embassy Kyrgyzstan; Heather Schmidt,
Trial Attorney, National Security Division of the U.S. Department of
Justice; James Warwick, Assistant U.S. Attorney, District of
ASTANA 00001376 002.2 OF 002
Maryland; John Burgess, Senior Special Agent and Assistant ICE
Attache, U.S. Embassy Singapore; and Olga Kalashnikova, OPDAT
Program Analyst for Counterterrorism Programs.
C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD
10. None
D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE
11. The Regional Procurement Support Office/Frankfurt (RPSO) is
working on the procurement of three (3) portable modular shelter
complexes valued at $850,000 for the Kazakhstani Border Guard
Service. The Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative (NSOI) has
provided an additional $300,000 in funding to be added to this
contract for procurement of an additional portable modular shelter
complex in support of the Kazakhstan Green Border Project.
12. The Regional Procurement Support Office/Frankfurt (RPSO) is
working on the procurement of six (6) x-ray screening systems valued
at $625,000 for the Kazakhstan Customs Control Committee.
13. The Astana General Services Office is working on the
procurement of 85 laptops and nine (9) power point projectors with
screens valued at $75,000 for the Kazakhstani Border Guard Service's
Training Centers.
E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR
RELATED BORDER SECURITY
14. None
F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION
15. The EXBS advisor notified Shewit Habtemichael,
U.S. Coast Guard International Affairs, that the Ambassador has
decided that no U.S. Government funds should be expended to repair
the "Sea Ark," a 42-foot vessel donated in 1996 to Kazakhstan's
Maritime Border Guards.
III. RED FLAG ISSUES:
16. None
HOAGLAND