KAZAKHSTAN: EXBS ADVISOR'S REPORTING CABLE (AUGUST 2009)

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001514 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN DEPT FOR ISN/ECC: JFRIEDMAN, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN, SROBINSON DEPT FOR ISN/ECC-AMT: LSPRINGER, DLYONS DEPT FOR EUR/ACE: DFISCHER DEPT FOR SCA/RA: JSPILSBURY CBP/INA: KCHAISSON AND BPICKETT USDOE/NNSA: CWALKER, TPERRY, EDESCHLER DOC FOR DCREED 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 (AUGUST 2009) ¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: ¶1. Two Kazakhstani Customs Officers, Lieutenant Colonel Marat Kabdushev, and Lieutenant Colonel Abzal Shogelbaev, are participating in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) from August 24 until September 16. ¶2. In response to a diplomatic note, Dr. Gulnara Eligbayeva, Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Committee, has accepted an invitation to attend 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 new Astana EXBS advisor, Paul J. Shott, arrived in Astana on August 30. The current Astana EXBS advisor, Robert Colbert, will depart post on September 12 and be on leave until his Personal Service Contract ends on September 29. ¶4. The departing EXBS advisor would like to acknowledge the outstanding support given to the EXBS program in Astana by Ms. Maureen MacDougall at the Regional Procurement Support Office in Frankfurt. During the last two years Ms. MacDougall has solicited bids and executed contracts within very short timeframes which enabled the EXBS program to absorb end of year money from other agencies and expend that money in a timely fashion. II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD: ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED ¶5. On August 10, the EXBS advisor participated, along with Defense Attach Keith Harrington, USAID Stephen Kelly, and Political Officer Colleen Altstock, in a meeting with the Mr. Paul Murphy and Mr. Denis Krivosheev from SAFERWORLD, a London-based international NGO working to prevent and reduce violent conflict and promote cooperative approaches to security. ¶6. On August 11, the EXBS Advisor met with two representatives from the Customs Control Committee: Mr. Yermek Kozhabergenov, Head of the International Cooperation Department, and Mr. Sukurov Nurbolat, Head of the Department for Modernization and Perspective Development. This meeting was requested by the Customs Control Committee to discuss the World Customs Organization's designation of Astana as a Regional Training Center for Central Asia. The Customs Control Committee requested U.S. assistance in preparing this new training center for the grand opening ceremony scheduled for December in Astana during the World Customs Organization Secretary General's visit. ¶7. On August 13, the EXBS advisor participated in a special country team meeting with General David Petraeus, Commander of the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM),and his staff. During this meeting the EXBS advisor briefed the participants on border security and nonproliferation efforts in Kazakhstan. ¶8. On August 21, the EXBS advisor met with Lieutenant Colonel Marat Kabushev at the U.S. Embassy in Astana prior to his depart to Washington D.C. to participate in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) from August 24 until September 16. ¶B. TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶9. None ASTANA 00001514 002 OF 002 ¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶10. None ¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE ¶11. On August 11, a fund cite for $300,000 was received from the Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative (NSOI) for the purchase of a portable modular shelter complex. ¶12. The Regional Procurement Support Office/Frankfurt (RPSO) is executing a contract for the procurement of five (5) portable modular shelter complexes valued at $1,178,330. These shelters are part of the Kazakhstan Green Border Project and will be purchased using EXBS and NSOI provided funding. ¶13. The Regional Procurement Support Office/Frankfurt (RPSO) is executing a contract for the procurement of five (5) X-ray baggage screening systems valued at $620,565 for the Kazakhstan Customs Control Committee. ¶14. Using EXBS funding the Astana General Services Office has procured 85 laptops and 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 ¶15. None ¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION ¶16. None III. RED FLAG ISSUES: ¶17. None HOAGLAND