EXBS: RUSSIA ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - NOVEMBER

UNCLAS MOSCOW 002937 SIPDIS STATE FOR ISN/ECC JFRIEDMAN, ACHURCH, ROWEN, NJOHANSON, LSPRINGER CBP FOR INA, PLEASE PASS TO TCORWIN USDOE WASHDC ALSO FOR NNSA, PLEASE PASS TO TPERRY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP UP RS SUBJECT: EXBS: RUSSIA ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - NOVEMBER 2009 ¶1. Begin summary: BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: By mutual agreement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)and the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C. will postpone until at least March 2010 an International Visitors Program (IVP)requested by a new Russian federal agency, Rosgranitsa, to US ports of entry. Schedule conflicts and the holiday season were the reasons for the postponement. Rosgranitsa is charged with ensuring security of facilities and IT infrastructure at ports of entry. EXBS is working with CBP and the Russian Embassy to develop this visit. Planning with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs proceeds on the reinstituted Program Review and additional Export Licensing Exchange scheduled for the first week of February in Washington. EXBS provided thoughtful input to the QDDR process and also the Performance Plan and Report for 2009, coordinated at Post by USAID. EXBS is gathering data on training conducted through the program for the past 5 years at the request of UGA/CITS, which is doing an assessment of the Russian export controls system. Assistant participated in EXBS LES Conference November 17-19 in Germany. End summary. ¶2. Completed Actions for Reporting Period. ¶A. Site Assessments and Meetings During the Reporting Period. i. November 9 - EXBS Assistant met with Rosgranitsa development department to discuss general areas for possible cooperation beyond IVP in spring 2010 (due to last-minute, unexpected tightening of the rules regarding prior notification of foreigner visits, the Advisor could not attend this meeting, which was scheduled just before key Rosgranitsa officials left for an extended business trip). The meeting was cordial, with Rosgranitsa expressing interest in further technical cooperation, but offering no specific areas of interest. Both sides agreed to reconnect in early 2010. ii. November 12 - EXBS Advisor participated in USAID-coordinated Assistance Working Group meeting chaired by the DCM. EXBS was among several funders that provided input to a draft cable that attempts to lay out the strategic direction of foreign assistance programs in Russia, suggests new and innovative tactics, and identifies funding gaps. The cable is aligned with the approach of EXBS Russia over the past year, which envisions Russia as an important strategic partner in the nonproliferation effort, as opposed to an aid recipient. iii. November 30 - At Ambassador Beyrle's request, EXBS wrote a memorandum reporting on the US Government's review of the Export Administration Act (EAA). Special thanks are extended to the Foreign Commercial Service and also the Economic Section for their thoughtful inputs. ¶B. Training Conducted During Reporting Period. i. No EXBS-funded training was conducted during this reporting period. ¶C. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period. i. The EXBS Russia program does not distribute equipment. ¶3. Imminent Training or Equipment Status Update i. EXBS continues to work with CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)on an IVP requested by the Central Region (Moscow) Customs Administration scheduled for December 12-20. The delegation will visit ports of entry in Southern California, including Los Angeles (Long Beach) and San Diego to observe procedures and technologies for processing passenger and cargo traffic. Then they will travel to Washington for introductory meetings with officials of CBP and ICE, as well as visit Dulles Airport's cargo processing center. ¶4. Significant Developments in Export Controls, Nonproliferation, or Related Border Security i. On November 27, Russia signed an agreement to form a customs union with Kazakhstan and Belarus. The union will take effect on January 1, with the three countries using the same foreign trade tariffs and rules with one another, though it will likely take another six months for all tariffs to be synchronized. The leaders of the three countries hailed the accord as a major step forward, while some analysts expressing skepticism about the pact's ability to significantly boost trade along the already-transparent borders. ¶5. Country Plans and Other Assistance i. Received approval from ISN/ECC for FY08, FY09, and FY10 Program Plan. Plan has been reviewed and approved by USG agencies. EXBS will submit an abstract of the programs in advance of its meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on December 8. As the lead agency, MFA has previously given broad approval to our program ideas. In addition to receiving final stakeholder approval for the Program Plan, the purpose of this meeting will be to continue to move forward arrangements for the reinstituted Program Review and additional Export Licensing Exchange scheduled for the first week of February in Washington. ¶6. CONTACT INFORMATION. Joan Agerholm is the EXBS Advisor for Russia and can be reached at AgerholmJA@state.gov, or +7 (985) 410-30-87. Konstantin Troyan is the EXBS Assistant for Russia and can be reached at troyanka@state.gov, or +7 (985) 923-05-18. BEYRLE