Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASTANA1768
2009-10-02 11:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Astana
Cable title:  

KAZAKHSTAN: FY 2009 PROJECT PROPOSALS

Tags:  SNAR SOCI KCRM KTIP KZ 
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VZCZCXYZ0001
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTA #1768/01 2751150
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021150Z OCT 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 6508
UNCLAS ASTANA 001768 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/AAE, SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR SOCI KCRM KTIP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: FY 2009 PROJECT PROPOSALS

REF: STATE 053351

UNCLAS ASTANA 001768

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INL/AAE, SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR SOCI KCRM KTIP KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: FY 2009 PROJECT PROPOSALS

REF: STATE 053351


1. Embassy Astana submits the following proposals for FY 2009/2010
FSA funding for counter-narcotics, border security, drug-demand
reduction, and anti-trafficking in persons programs. Responses are
keyed to paragraph 19 of the reftel.


2. All projects proposed directly respond to targets established in
Post's MSP.

A.1 Counter-Narcotics

Increasing Counter-Narcotics Capacity; $200,000; priority one of
four projects.

B.1 Background

The Government of Kazakhstan has worked closely with the United
States to fight narco-trafficking and wants to continue its close
cooperation. INL provides support to equip and renovate the
Ministry of Interior's Interagency Counter-narcotics Training Center
(CN Training Center). Kazakhstan has welcomed INL Astana's
provision of training programs for the counter-narcotics divisions
of its law enforcement agencies. In recognition of the need for
transnational solutions to transnational crime, the Embassy also
works closely with the Central Asian Regional Information and
Coordination Center (CARICC) in Almaty. Post believes that close
cooperation with CARICC will provide the CN Training Center with the
most up-to-date information and trends on drug trafficking. The
administration of the CN Training Center is eager to work with the
United States and CARICC to provide a regional training program at
the Center. Funding will be used to continue to encourage close
regional cooperation and fund conferences and training sessions.


INL programs also focus on establishing professional relationships
between law enforcement agencies in Kazakhstan and their
counterparts in the United States and elsewhere. Post has
previously funded the travel of mid-level managers to the Turkish
Academy on Combating Drugs and Organized Crime (TADOC),as well as
to the Austrian Ministry of Interior's Canine Center in Bad Kreuzen.
Funding will be used to support study tours and participation of
Kazakhstan officials at international counter-narcotics strategy
meetings.

C.1 Goals

- To diversify training capabilities of the law enforcement
academies;
- To encourage increased regional and international cooperation,
including cooperation with U.S. counterparts;
- To provide necessary training sessions in operations and
investigations;


D.1 Project Description

D.1.1 ($70,000) Training classes will be provided to operations and
investigation officers throughout the country. Best practices will
be presented in the areas of analysis of operative information,
controlled deliveries training events, investigative techniques, and
other practical training programs in drug search, detection and
identification. The project will also provide training sessions for
trainers of the CN Training Center and other law enforcement
training centers and academies.

D.1.2 ($40,000) INL will continue to fund the participation of
canine specialists in a counter-narcotics canine training program at
the Austrian Ministry of Internal Affairs' Canine Training Center in
Bad Kreuzen and other locations.

D.1.3 ($50,000) Specialized equipment will be provided to
counter-narcotics divisions and the CN Training Center to strengthen
their capacity to detect and identify drugs.

D.1.4 ($40,000) INL will continue to fund participation of
Kazakhstani officials at counter-narcotics strategy meetings with
U.S. counterparts. The funds may also be used to provide
information about counter-narcotics legislation and operations in
other countries.

E.1 Performance indicators

- Increases in the seizures of illegal narcotics and the number of
counter-narcotics cases opened and successfully investigated.
- An increase in narcotics seizures using canines.
- The revision and/or update of the strategy for United
States-Kazakhstan counter-narcotics cooperation.

F.1 Sustainability

F.1.1 Kazakhstan recognizes the need to continuously train its
counter-narcotics divisions. The instructors of the CN Training
Center Interagency Counter-narcotics Training Center, as well as
from other law-enforcement training centers, often request training
programs on professional subjects.

F.1.2 Those trained at the Austrian Ministry of Internal Affairs'
Canine Training Center successfully conduct training programs at
their agencies. Through this program, INL intends to increase the
number of instructors trained in Austrian methodology. Kazakhstan
is also developing a textbook to train canine specialists, including
chapters on the Austrian methods. Additional information on
training methods in other countries is also necessary to increase
the effectiveness of Kazakhstani methods.

F.1.3 Samples of specialized equipment at the CN Training Center
will allow operations officers to be trained and be more effective
in the field.

F.1.4 Kazakhstan is committed to cooperation with the United States
to fight narcotics trafficking. Conferences and strategy meetings
serve to increase cooperation with the United States and other
countries.

G.1 Timeline

G.1.1 Training program for operations and investigating officers:
12-18 months.
G.1.2 Training program for canine instructors: 12 months.
G.1.3 Specialized equipment: 12 months.
G.1.4 Conferences and strategy meetings: 12 months.

H.1 Evaluation

INL Officer and/or Program Managers attend training events, which
gives them an opportunity to evaluate the trainers, curriculum, and
training sites. INL also conducts end-use monitoring during
training sessions, meetings, and other visits.


A.2 Border Security

Border Security; $100,000; priority two of four projects.

B.2 Background

INL Astana has both equipped border posts and regional training
centers and provided training classes for border guards. INL funded
exchange programs and study tours for trainers at the Military
Institute of the Committee for National Security (Military
Institute) and Border Guard Service (BGS) training centers. A
sustainable project was conducted jointly with the Department of
Canine and Cavalry Training of the Military Institute. Canine
instructors received a train-the-trainer course and started to
conduct training courses for their cadets based on the newly
acquired knowledge. An administrative building and veterinary
clinic for canines were renovated, but need further support. A
training center was equipped for the Border Guard Aviation Division
in Astana to allow for specialized training sessions of border
guards that work at the international airport. A language lab and
English language software were provided to the Military Institute,
and INL plans to continue support for English language instruction.

Previous interactions between the BGS and its U.S. counterparts have
led to close cooperation and mutual understanding. This cooperation
will be furthered not only by projects in the border security area,
but also by counter-narcotics strategy meetings (D.1.4).

C.2 Goal

- To increase training capacity for the BGS.
- To increase language skills of the BGS.
- To increase the cooperation between the BGS and the United States

D.2 Project Description

D.2.1 ($30,000) Training courses will be provided to border guard
personnel in the areas of border control and counter-narcotics.
Training courses will also be conducted on any equipment provided by
INL.

D.2.2 ($25,000) Specialized canine training courses will be provided
for canine instructors of the Customs Control Committee, BGS, and
Military Institute.

D.2.3 ($25,000) English language training courses will be provided
to the English language instructors and cadets at the Military
Institute.

D.2.4 ($20,000) INL will support participation of the BGS and the
Military Institute in the counter-narcotics strategy meetings.

E.2 Performance Indicators
- An increase in narcotics seizures.
- An increase in the number of instructors and cadets with
English-language proficiency.

F.2 Sustainability

F.2.1 Training courses on equipment will be provided at the main
border guard training centers. Those that participate in training
activities will be able to train others at their posts.

F.2.2 Through training courses in the canine area, Post is
increasing the number of canine instructors.

F.2.3 Through the train-the-trainer courses, Post will increase the
language instruction capacity of the BGS. Cadets trained by these
instructors will be able to participate in exchange programs
supported by INL.

G.2 Timeline

G.2.1 Training program: 12 months.
G.2.2 Training program in the canine area: 12 months.
G.2.3 English-language program: 12 months.

H.2 Evaluation

INL Officer and/or Program Managers attend training events, which
gives them an opportunity to evaluate the trainers, curriculum, and
training sites. INL also conducts end-use monitoring during
training sessions, meetings, and other visits.

A.3 Trafficking in Persons

Countering Trafficking in Persons; $75,000; priority three of four
projects.

B.3 Background

Over the past year, Kazakhstan increased its efforts to investigate,
prosecute, and convict traffickers. It has also increased funding
for public awareness efforts. The primary weaknesses, identified in
the trafficking in persons report, were victim identification and
victim protection programs.

INL has previously focused primarily on prosecution and prevention,
which have significantly improved. These programs provided
in-service training courses for police and established an
anti-trafficking training center. Prosecutors, judges, and NGOs
have also been trained. INL-sponsored liaison meetings have
increased cooperation between Kazakhstan and destination countries.

Since 2008, INL has funded meetings and study tours to promote
victim assistance and protection and provided grants to local NGOs
to conduct public outreach and awareness programs. All of these
programs require further development and implementation.

Given the shortcomings identified in the latest trafficking in
persons report and the need to improve victim protection, INL Astana
will develop and implement a victim advocacy program to ensure
victim safety and cooperation during investigations and trials.

The College of Advocates is Kazakhstan's defense attorney bar
association. Members of the defense bar are required to provide pro
bono services and are court-appointed through a schedule maintained
by the College of Advocates. Kazakhstani law requires that a
defendant have an attorney before trial begins, but does not provide
an attorney-advocate for victims. A victim or the police, on behalf
of the victim, can ask for a court-appointed attorney-advocate
through the College; however, the advocates are not always
effective, because they were not trained. Therefore, a NGO lawyer,
social worker, or psychologist better represent most victims of
trafficking in court.

C.3 Goals

- To promote victim assistance and protection.
- To increase Kazakhstan's capacity to successfully investigate and
prosecute traffickers.

D.3 Project Description

($75,000) INL, working jointly with the Ministry of Internal
Affairs, the College of Advocates (the Kazakhstani defense attorney
bar association),and NGOs, will implement a victim advocacy program
to train defense attorneys who act as advocates for victims of
trafficking during investigations and trials. This program will
ensure the safety of victims and improve cooperation with police,
which will lead to successful investigations and convictions of
traffickers. International expert assistance can be provided to
conduct an assessment of advocacy legislation and provide
recommendations necessary amendments to strengthen victim advocacy
laws. The program may also include curriculum development and the
incorporation of victim advocacy in law schools.

E.3 Performance Indicators

- An increase in the number of attorney-advocates appointed.
- An increase in the number of successful investigations and
prosecutions.

F.3 Sustainability

Kazakhstan is well aware that victim protection is an identified
weakness. It is willing to improve in this area. Kazakhstan is
improving legislation to ensure access of all citizens to qualified
legal assistance and is strengthening the role of advocates in the
legal process.

Identifying and training a group of attorney-advocates who will
represent victims in court will also strengthen victim advocacy. As
victims feel protected and more comfortable participating in
investigations and testifying, successful prosecutions of
traffickers will increase.

G.3 Timeline

Training program: 12 months.

H.3 Evaluation

INL Officer and/or Program Managers attend training events, which
gives them an opportunity to evaluate the trainers, curriculum, and
training sites. NGOs are also required to submit reports following
their activities.


A.4 Drug Demand Reduction Program

Drug Demand Reduction Program in Schools; $50,000; priority four of
four projects.

B.4 Background

In 2009, the Government of Kazakhstan demonstrated its commitment to
drug prevention through an unprecedented increase of the budget for
the implementation of the 2009-2011 Anti-Drug Strategy. This
strategy provides for police inspectors in schools throughout the
country and an increase in information campaigns. The Ministry of
the Education and Science is seeking to implement the best
international practices of drug prevention and, during the first
meeting with INL Astana, requested a drug demand reduction training
program for school officials. According to the results of the
survey commissioned by INL during fiscal year 2009, teachers and
parents are the primary sources of anti-drug information. Given
this information, INL would like to increase parent and teacher
capacity through training courses and encouraging greater parental
involvement.

C.4 Goals

- To train school officials and police inspectors to better inform
students of the dangers of drug use and strategies for preventing
drug addiction.
- To give parents the tools to prevent drug use by their children.
- To build cooperation among parents, school officials, and police.


D.4 Project Description

($50,000) INL will jointly implement the program with the Ministry
of Education and Science and other relevant agencies to train school
officials and police inspectors and trainers to educate their
colleagues in the regions. Additionally, the project will encourage
active parental involvement in drug prevention and cooperation among
parents, school officials, and police. The project will fund
information campaigns, educational materials, and seminars and
training events to increase public information and resources devoted
to drug prevention.

E.4 Performance Indicators

- An increase in the usage of effective drug prevention programs in
schools.
- A decrease in the number of registered drug addicts under the age
of 18.

F.4 Sustainability

In addition to materials developed in earlier INL projects and by
the Government of Kazakhstan, training sessions and seminars will
result in the development of additional materials and methodologies
that can be incorporated into future programs. Trained trainers
will spread drug demand reduction techniques throughout the
country.

G.4 Timeline

Training program: 12 months.

H.4 Evaluation

INL Officer and/or Program Managers attend training events, which
gives them an opportunity to evaluate the trainers, curriculum, and
training sites. NGOs are also required to submit reports following
their activities.

HOAGLAND