EXBS RUSSIA MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE

UNCLAS MOSCOW 001512 SIPDIS DEPT FOR NP/ECC - ACHURCH DEPT FOR EUR/ACE - DMARTIN CBP/INA FOR PWARKER USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP UP RS SUBJECT: EXBS RUSSIA MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE MAY 2009 Summary: This cable highlights activities of the Export Control and Related Border Security (EXBS) Russia Program Office for the period of May 01, 2009 to May 31, 2009. End Summary ¶1. EXBS contractor Commonwealth Trading Partners (CTP) through its Russian partner, the Center for Export Controls (CEC),conducted export controls training in Kaliningrad May 5-6 for approximately 20 Russian Customs inspectors. Specialists from the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control (FSTEK),Customs, and CEC updated the audience on major Russian export controls laws and changes to those laws, as well as Russian government agencies' areas of responsibility in upholding export controls regulations. The training consisted of two parts: day one was devoted to Russian export rules and regulations; and day two consisted of hands-on computer work with the Product Identification tool (PIT). This software has been used by Russian Customs as a supplemental aid in identifying and classifying commodities presented for export. Seminar participants successfully used the PIT tool in day-long exercises meant to simulate real-life situations. The Kaliningrad session is one in a series of PIT tools and export controls trainings conducted by CTP and CEC in various cities across Russia through June for regional Customs inspectors. The last training in the series will occur in early June in Vladivostok. ¶3. EXBS is working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send at least three English-speaking Russian government delegates to the Tenth Annual Export Control Conference in Istanbul, Turkey June 25-27. This year's conference is jointly sponsored by the State Department-coordinated EXBS program and the government of Turkey. It will allow international export control experts to engage in discussion and debate regarding the state of export controls around the globe. Specialists in strategic trade controls from 60 countries and Taiwan have been invited to participate. ¶4. EXBS resolved an issue concerning 8 CT-30 kits which had been sent to the program in Russia. The sets of tools designed to detect contraband materials in confined spaces were intended to help Russian Customs perform cargo inspections. However, several factors, including the existence of Russian analog instruments, plus the effort required to certify them for use in Russia, proved to be a detriment to their being accepted by Russian Customs. With the assistance of the Action Officer for Russia, the kits have found a permanent home at US posts in Guatemala and Belize. ¶5. EXBS Russia is pleased to announce that a recent event regarding Air Cargo Interdiction Training (IACIT) of Russian Customs by US Customs in New York was featured in Ambassador John Beyrle's electronic newsletter of May 1st. The newsletter can be accessed via the following hyperlink: http://moscow.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/nl0905e .pdf ¶6. On May 14, EXBS Advisor Joan Agerholm and EXBS Program Coordinator Konstantin Troyan met with the director of a prominent export controls training center in St. Petersburg to discuss possibilities for cooperation on EXBS-supported programs. ¶7. A delegation of seven Russian Customs officers visited the US May 16-23 for technical discussions and demonstrations of Non-Intrusive Inspection (NII) equipment. The visit was hosted by the Office of International Affairs of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and supported by EXBS. The group visited the cities of Washington, DC; Savannah, GA; and Buffalo, NY for an intensive week of consultations and field observations of equipment used to inspect cargo by means of x-ray and gamma-ray technology. The EXBS Russia Advisor, EXBS Program Coordinator, and Program Manager from the CBP Office of International Affairs accompanied the delegation, providing program and logistical support. This visit is detailed in MRN 00001503 dated 06/09/2009. ¶8. (Comment): Russian Customs had requested this visit as an aid to better understand the advantages and drawbacks of the deployed US equipment against the recent purchases of NII technology in Russia. Based on informal feedback from the Russian delegation, the visit was very successful in terms of the level and extent of technical information and hands-on demonstrations of the scanning equipment in a live setting. There is even some indication that future equipment purchases will favor movable rail-based gamma scanners manufactured by US companies, as opposed to European-manufactured equipment. BEYRLE