EXBS: AZERBAIJAN ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - June

UNCLAS BAKU 000554 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC - YWONG, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN DEPT FOR EUR/ACE - KBILGE CBP/INA FOR CSTALLWORTH, RWATT, KCHAISSON, CDONOFRIO USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY, RTALLEY DOC FOR PETERSEN-BEARD COAST GUARD FOR SHABTEMICHAEL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP AJ SUBJECT: EXBS: AZERBAIJAN ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - June 2009 ¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: ¶A. Government of Azerbaijan (GOAJ) refusal to submit information required for Leahy human rights vetting continues to threaten EXBS funded training events as well as prospects for a DTRO funded green border program. ¶B. EUCOM Counter Narco-terrorism has indefinitely postponed engagement with the Government of Azerbaijan and thus cancelled the trip scheduled for the week of 29 June. The stated reason for disengagement was a reduction in CNT funding and therefore a refocus of efforts. ¶C. Maritime Advisor (MA) Lieutenant Michael Fisher has departed Post and the position has been transferred to Tbilisi. All EXBS maritime issues for Azerbaijan should be directed to EXBS Advisor David Hall. ¶D. Advisor David Hall will be in Washington for consultations on July 23rd and 24th. II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD: The EXBS Advisor continued to provide information and other support for the University of Georgia study on Azerbaijan's export control capabilities. 2-4 June: Advisors Fisher and Hall participated in the annual EXBS Advisor's conference in Tbilisi. 15 June: The EXBS Advisor met with Mr. Fuad Mikaioglu of the non-governmental organization Baku Center for Foreign Trade Security (BCFTS) to discuss details of a BCFTS proposal for EXBS funding of a website dedicated to export controls in Azerbaijan. Based on the Advisor's recommendations BCFTS amended the proposal and it has been sent to the Advisor Management Team for approval. The website will be administered by the Cabinet of Ministers but its development, updates, and maintenance will be performed by BCFTS. The website will contain: legal documents related to export control in Azerbaijan; instructions and forms useful for companies applying for export, import, and transit licenses; links to government agencies that take part in licensing; a "Questions and Answers" section where licensing agencies communicate directly with industry; reports on current joint projects and related activities and; current updates on international export control developments and multilateral regimes. The site will be in Azeri, Russian, and English. 18 June: The EXBS Advisor participated in a conference call hosted by International CTR Project Manager Major Jack Donahue. The purpose of the call was to coordinate efforts on equipment and training provisions to the Coast Guard of Azerbaijan. 18 June: Maritime Advisor Mike Fisher conducted an out briefing with General Mehdiyev of the Azerbaijani Coast Guard during which General Mehdiyev expressed desire for continued relations with EXBS and with the U.S. Coast Guard. 19 June: The EXBS Advisor chaired a meeting of the Peace and Security Working Group to discuss Caspian Maritime Domain Awareness activities, prospects, and future requirements. 23 June: The EXBS Advisor attended a session of the DTRO project management review chaired by Retired Rear Admiral Byrd. The session was dedicated to a discussion of land and maritime border issues and Leahy vetting issues. 25 - 27 June: The GOAJ sent three representatives to the 10th annual International Export Control Conference in Istanbul. The participants were Mr. Fikrat Karimov of the Cabinet of Ministers, Mr. Anar Mammadov of the State Customs Committee, and Aykhan Alizadeh of the Foreign Ministry. ¶B. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD: 24-25 June: The Department of Energy International Nonproliferation Export Control Program (INECP) held a two-day Advanced End Use/End User (EU/EU) workshop for representatives of the Government of Azerbaijan export licensing community. The workshop was designed for government licensing personnel and technical staff actively involved in the review of export license applications. Participants were 17 government officials from the following agencies: Ministry of Communication and Information Technologies, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Emergency Situations, Ministry of Defense Industry, Ministry of Transportation, State Customs Committee, National Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Industry and Energy. ¶C. ITEMS DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD: Description US $ Value MerCruiser Engine Repair Tools $769.81 ¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE: TRAINING: The International Border Interdiction II course scheduled for 6 to 10 July was cancelled due to the refusal of the Foreign Ministry to provide information needed for Leahy human rights vetting. Six Customs officers will travel to the United States on an International Visitors Program from 25 July to 1 August. The purpose of this exchange is to provide technical assistance to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan as they prepare to launch a national targeting and risk management center in Baku. EQUIPMENT - Procurement in process: Description US $ Value Repair Parts & consumables for KZ PB Engine* $6,988.82 * EXBS Baku is not pursuing further repairs to the engines on the Kazakhstan Patrol Boat. The KZ Maritime Border Guard has refused access of to the vessel by the manufacturer of the vessel's engine making continued work impossible. ¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY: The local media reported seizure of "containers of uranium" in Baku was confirmed to be Iridium-192 by the Institute of Radiation Problems and the Ministry of Emergency Situations. POC for this report is David Hall, EXBS Advisor. LU