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

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000771

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/CEN
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC: YWONG, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN, SROBINSON
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC-AMT: LSPRINGER
DEPT FOR EUR/ACE: DFISCHER
DEPT FOR SCA/RA: JSPILSBURY
CBP/INA: SBAKER AND BPICKETT
USDOE/NNSA: CWALKER, TPERRY, EDESCHLER
DOC FOR DCREED
USCG FOR SHABETIMICHAEL
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 (APRIL 2009)

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


1. On April 27, Kazakhstan tightened epidemiological control at all
airports, seaports, and land border crossings in response to reports
of cases of H1N1 influenza virus in other countries. Kazakhstan has
prohibited the importation of pork products from certain countries
and is using the Fever Scan M3000 thermal imaging system at airports
in Astana, Almaty, Atyrau, Aktobe, Aktau, and Karaganda to screen
for individuals with elevated body temperatures.


2. On April 24, Laurel Cotton, the Project Coordinator for the U.S.
Department of Energy's Second Line of Defense (SLD) Program, met
with representatives from the Customs Control Committee in Astana
prior to conducting site visits to Southern Kazakhstan from April
27-30.


3. From May 18-22, an International Counterproliferation Program
(ICP) course on Weapons of Mass Destruction Basic Investigative
Analysis will be held in Astana. The course will be presented by
officials from the Department of Defense, the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, and the Department of Homeland Security.

II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD


A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED


4. On April 7, the EXBS Advisor met with Lars Karlsson, Director,
Capacity Building, World Customs Organization (WCO),and
representatives from the Customs Control Committee, including Ermek
Kozhabergenov, Acting Head of the Department of International
Relations, Botagoz Abilova, Chief Specialist of International
Relations Department, and Dauren Tulemissov, Deputy Head of Customs
Control Organizing Department, to discuss EXBS activities in
Kazakhstan. During this meeting it was revealed that the Kazakhstan
Customs Control Committee plans to make a presentation at the May
meeting of the WCO in Norway, in an effort to gain designation of
Kazakhstan as a Regional WCO Training Center and therefore tap into
WCO capacity-building assistance in creating a Regional Customs
Academy.


5. On April 9, the EXBS team met with Lt. Colonel Erik Sergazin,
Head of the Customs Control Organization of the Customs Control
Department in Almaty, and Aktolkyn Abeuova, Head of the
International Relations Division of the Customs Control Department
in Almaty. Discussions were conducted on training and equipment
needs of the Almaty Customs Control Department.


6. On April 9, the EXBS team met with Alexander Nestertsov, Director
of Alkor LTD in Almaty, and inspected the three portable shelter
complexes and related equipment produced by this company prior to
acceptance of the property.


7. On April 16, there was an Embassy Security Assistance Working
Group (SAWG) meeting during which EXBS-sponsored activities
scheduled through September were discussed.


B. TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD


8. During April 13-24, the EXBS program manager and two
representatives from Kazakhstan attended the University of Georgia's
Center for International Trade and Security Export Control Academy
in Athens, Georgia. The participants from Kazakhstan were Azat

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Makhmudov, International Security Division of the Department of
Multilateral Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and
Zhussupbekov Nurlan, Export Control Department of The Ministry of
Industry and Trade.


C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD


9. On April 9, a ceremony was held in Almaty where three portable
shelter complexes and related equipment valued at $700,000 were
transferred to Major General Shintas Utyapov, Commander of the
Shigis Regional Border Guard Directorate. Funding for these
shelters was provided by the U.S. Department of State's Nuclear
Smuggling Outreach Initiative (NSOI) in response to a need
identified by the Kazakhstan Border Guard Service.


D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE


10. During May 11-16, EXBS is sponsoring an International Border
Interdiction Training (IBIT) course which will be conducted by U.S.
Customs and Border Protection in McAllen, Texas for 12 Kazakhstan
Customs officials.


11. During June 8-12, EXBS is sponsoring an International Rail
Interdiction Training course which will be conducted in Saryagash,
Kazakhstan, by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.


12. During June 18-19, EXBS is sponsoring an Enterprise Outreach
Workshop in Almaty, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of
Energy's International Nonproliferation Export Control Program
(INECP). This workshop will involve local compliance experts from
Kazakhstani organizations that have developed, or are developing,
the capacity for an internal compliance program under which a
supplier organization has procedures to determine if their items
require an export license or raise technical issues related to
non-proliferation.


E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR
RELATED BORDER SECURITY


13. None


F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION


14. During April 13-15, the U.S. Navy Central Command (USNAVCENT)
sponsored a visit to the U.S. by Rear Admiral Abikeyev, Chief of the
Kazakhstan Border Guard Service's Maritime Directive, and two
members of his staff. The purpose of the visit was to view the
cooperation between the U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies
on the maritime border between the United States and Canada,
focusing on the Great Lakes, Maine, and Washington areas.

III. RED FLAG ISSUES.


15. None.

MILAS