KAZAKHSTAN FY 2010 COUNTRY TEAM ASSESSMENT OF 1206 FUNDING

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 001842

SIPDIS

STATE FOR SCA/CEN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL MASS MCAP PARM EAID KOMC KZ

SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN FY 2010 COUNTRY TEAM ASSESSMENT OF 1206 FUNDING
PROPOSAL

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1. SUMMARY: The Ambassador and Embassy Astana's Country Team
approve the Kazakhstan Fiscal Year 2010 1206 funding proposal. The
proposals are for equipment and training for the Kazakhstan
Peacekeeping Brigade (KAZBRIG) of the Airmobile Forces Command and
the Air Defense Forces. The proposal for KAZBRIG includes 450 night
vision goggles (NVGs); nuclear, chemical, biological (NBC) personnel
protective equipment; and associated training and transportation.
The Caspian region proposal includes a mobile command center for the
special operations forces (SOF),and shelters for the Air Defense
Forces Huey II helicopters that support this SOF response force.
The KAZBRIG proposal is estimated at $7.23 million and the Caspian
region proposal is estimated at $2.91 million. The proposals are
consistent with the requests of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Defense
(MOD),CENTOM's Theatre Security Cooperation Goals, and the U.S.
Embassy Astana Mission Strategic Plan. END SUMMARY


2. KAZBRIG requires NVGs and NBC equipment to achieve
interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces. At exercise Steppe
Eagle 2008, a NATO interoperability evaluation team observed
shortfalls in KAZBRIG's ability to operate at night and protect its
soldiers and equipment inside the NBC threat envelope. 1206 funding
is identified as most appropriate in this case to achieve KAZBRIG
interoperability in the quickest manner. Kazakhstan's participation
in Operation IRAQI FREEDOM ended in October of 2008. Assisting
KAZBRIG achieve interoperability is very important as the Government
of Kazakhstan considers alternate missions to support the U.S. in
the international fight against terrorism.


3. Kazakhstan recognizes a significant capability gap in its
ability to protect, defend, and/or react to terrorist events against
American and Kazakh citizens and critical petroleum infrastructure
in the North Caspian region. The FY 2008 1206 allocation for
Kazakhstan included approximately $10 million worth of equipment
(fast boats, NVGs, dive equipment, etc.) for SOF to begin creating
the capability to close this gap. This FY 2009 proposal would
complete the purchase of equipment necessary for Kazakhstan to
create a unit capable of deterring terrorist activity, as well as
quickly reacting to any events in the North Caspian region. Shelters
would allow Air Defense Forces to provide a controlled environment
for maintenance and mission preparation of existing and projected
Huey II aircraft, which could deploy with the unit to crisis
response site as required in the Caspian region.


4. OMC and United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) have worked
closely with KAZBRIG since its creation and it is anticipated that
introduction of this equipment will not affect KAZBRIG's force
structure. However, the stand-up of SOF capability and additional
Huey-II helicopters will affect the force structure of the Western
Regional Command and Air Defense Forces respectively. Additionally,
Military Unit 53975 of the Air Defense Forces currently operates two
Huey II helicopters at Pervomaika Airfield outside of Almaty. MOD
plans to move these helicopters to the Caspian area to directly
support SOF when the unit receives its full allocation of aircraft.


5. Kazakhstan has good relations with its neighbors. Neighboring
nations will support an increase in the level of security within
Kazakhstan and the North Caspian.


6. With proper training, technicians from Kazakhstan should be able
to properly operate and maintain all equipment included in these
proposals. The FY 2008 1206 purchase included NVGs for the SOF
forces. OMC would ensure that training for KAZBRIG NVGs is similar
to the training planned for the SOF.


7. Post is not aware of any credible evidence of gross violations
of human rights by the units who are proposed to receive assistance.
Human rights vetting will be conducted for all training as required
by the Arms Export Control Act and will be periodically re-evaluated
over time. U.S. Embassy, Astana has selected a Defense Institute of
International Legal Studies (DIILS) seminar for human rights
training. This seminar was executed during the second quarter of FY

2009. Additionally, Leahy vetting occurs for all security
assistance training activities with Kazakhstan. OMC works closely
with the Regional Security Office, Legal Attach and
Political/Economic sections to ensure all Kazakh trainees meet Leahy
requirements. This certification process will continue to ensure

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compliance with the Foreign Assistance Act.


8. OMC Kazakhstan will include end-use monitoring of these items
within our larger end use monitoring and security cooperation plan.
Additionally, OMC Kazakhstan will conduct at a minimum a semi-annual
100% inventory and inspection of all NVGs and inspect all storage
facility documents related to accountability of NVGs. When training
teams are on hand, they will be tasked to inspect the night vision
devices during the course of their duties as well as inspecting
security procedures. OMC will keep serial numbers for all night
vision devices on file in case of theft or loss.


9. POC for this memorandum is Lieutenant Colonel James G. Yentz,
Chief, Office of Military Cooperation, Office, tel +7 7172 702100
Ext. 2321, email: yentzj@state.gov.

HOAGLAND