KAZAKHSTAN: EXBS ADVISOR'S REPORTING CABLE (OCTOBER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 002003

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
DEPT ALSO FOR ISN/ECC JFRIEDMAN, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN, SROBINSON
DEPT ALSO FOR ISN/ECC-AMT LSPRINGER, DLYONS
DEPT ALSO FOR EUR/ACE DFISCHER
DEPT ALSO FOR SCA/RA JSPILSBURY
CBP FORINA KCHAISSON AND BPICKETT
ENERGY FOR 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 (OCTOBER
2009)

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I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS:

NONE

II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD:


A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED


1. October 8, EXBS Advisor had his initial meeting with Border
Guard leadership. The Deputy Chairman was unavailable so the
meeting was chaired by Admiral Kenzhebergen Abikeyev, Commander of
the Kazakhstan Maritime Border Guards. Admiral Abikeyev welcomed
the advisor and thanked him for all the support EXBS has given in
the past and expressed his hopes for further support in the future.
He then discussed some of the threats and challenges facing the
border guards, elaborating on the diverse border conditions and
threats ranging from narcotics to terrorism. He briefly discussed
the border guards' three year plan for strengthening the
Uzbek/Kazakh border, which involves portable shelters supplied by
the EXBS program. Admiral Abikeyev then explained procedures for
requesting meetings and visits, which requires Diplomatic Notes to
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with the final decision being made
by the National Security Chairman. (NOTE: The meeting was very
short, 20 minutes, and no issues were covered in any depth. The
message conveyed was one of "cautious cooperation" under the firm
guidance of the KNB. END NOTE.) Advisor requested border visits to
the sites on the Uzbek border where portable shelters will be
deployed.


2. October 12-13, EXBS Advisor attended the First Preparatory
Conference for the 18th OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum held
in Astana. Although titled "Economic and Environmental," the
two-day conference mainly dealt with transportation security and
streamlining customs procedures. Delegates from over 30 OSCE
countries attended the conference and discussed topics ranging from
legal and regulatory procedures to infrastructure improvement. The
first day focused on streamlining customs procedures, problems
within the transportation infrastructure, and simplifying customs
clearance procedures. Several concepts were introduced ranging from
literally no control over goods to complex clearance procedures.
The two main concepts were "one stop shop" where representatives of
all required agencies are located at the port of entry and "single
window" where documents are transmitted to a single database which
is accessible by all agencies for clearance. Kazakhstan has
recently introduced one stop shop as their clearance procedure and
has noted considerable time savings at the ports of entry. Most
agreed that customs clearance procedures need to be standardized and
streamlined; however this process will require changes in legal and
regulatory frameworks, which can only be achieved by government
cooperation on the bilateral and multilateral level. The second day
focused on trade facilitation, strengthening private-public
partnerships, modernizing national transit systems, and security at
border crossing points. Border security can be strengthened by
utilizing an integrated border management concept, which requires
high level government cooperation to ensure interagency cooperation
as well as cross-border cooperation. The bottom line is that trust
must exist between governments, agencies, and the private sector
before real progress can be made in streamlining trade
facilitation.


3. October 14, EXBS Advisor briefed a team from the Government
Accounting Office (GAO) on the EXBS program. The team was in Astana
to evaluate the 1206 program operated by the Office of Military

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Cooperation.


4. October 21, EXBS Advisor attended the International Donor
Coordination meeting hosted by EU BOMCA. Representatives from OSCE,
UNHCR, UNODC, UNDP, BOMCA, and the Embassies of Lithuania, France,
UK, Czech Republic, and Russian Federation gave updates on ongoing
projects and briefed on plans for future engagement on border
security projects.


5. October 22, Advisor briefed members of CAPSTONE on the EXBS
program in Kazakhstan and answered questions on border security
trends and capabilities.


6. October 26, Advisor met with Mr. Nurlan Zhussupbekov and Mr.
Turmakhan Orazanbet, export control experts from the Export Control
and Licensing Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade.
They gave advisor a brief overview on the export control and
licensing systems in Kazakhstan. We discussed dual use and
munitions/military use lists, procedures for license application,
volume of licenses processed, and training provided. Mr.
Zhussupbekov briefed advisor that a new procedure has been approved
and will be adopted before the year's end. The new procedure will
provide for a "single window" where all information will come to the
licensing department for coordination between the required
ministries. Currently, the system requires the exporter to
coordinate letters between the required ministries and submit a
completed package to the licensing department for licensing
determination, a process which takes anywhere from 30 days to four
months. The new procedure, by regulation, must be completed within
30 days. Mr. Zhussupbekov expressed concern that the 30-day time
limit wasn't enough time to give the process due diligence and fears
that it will weaken the licensing process.


B. TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

None

C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

None


D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE

TRAINING:

International Rail Interdiction Training scheduled for November 16 -
20 in El Paso Texas has been cancelled due to border guard and
customs inability to fill class slots.

EQUIPMENT:


1. The Regional Procurement Support Office/Frankfurt (RPSO)
executed 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. Delivery of
the first shelter is scheduled for October 13.


2. The Regional Procurement Support Office/Frankfurt (RPSO)
executed a contract for the procurement of five (5)
X-ray baggage screening systems valued at $620,565 for the
Kazakhstan Customs Control Committee. Delivery date pending.


E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR

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RELATED BORDER SECURITY

None


F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION

None

III. RED FLAG ISSUES:

None

HOAGLAND