EXBS: UZBEKISTAN EXBS ADVISOR QUARTERLY REPORTING CABLE,

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TASHKENT 001183 SIPDIS DEPT FOR ISN/ECC JHARTSHORN LSPRINGER AND YWONG SCA/CEN FOR JGORKOWSKI SCA/RA FOR JMCCLELLAN DHS/CBP SBAKER DHS/ICE FOR AMEFFERD DOE/NNSA FOR JNOBLE AND BPENTOLA DOC/BIS FOR DCREED USCG FOR SHABTEMICHAEL AMEMBASSY BERLIN FOR CBP ATTACHE AMEMBASSY MOSCOW FOR ICE ATTACHE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP KG SUBJECT: EXBS: UZBEKISTAN EXBS ADVISOR QUARTERLY REPORTING CABLE, 3RD QUARTER, 2009 ¶A. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: Regional EXBS Advisor Barry Johnson assumed his position with responsibilities for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Embassy Tashkent continues to see progress and a good future for programs such as EXBS in Uzbekistan. End summary. ¶B. Completed Actions for Reporting Period. ¶1. Site Assessments and Meetings during this Reporting Period. a. In advance of and during 5-17 April, EXBS Office/Pol- Econ Section provided support to the International Border Interdiction Training and International Rail Interdiction Training courses conducted by Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection trainers at Termez on Uzbekistans border with Afghanistan. b. In May, EXBS Office/Pol-Econ Section discussed with DOE and the Government of Uzbekistan the possible holding of a one-week training program (at a date to be determined) on search and recovery of radioactive sources under the auspices of the Search and Secure Program. c. From 30 May to 5 June, EXBS Advisor Johnson deployed to the Republic of Georgia for the world-wide EXBS Advisors Conference. d. On June 3, EXBS Office/Pol-Econ Section submitted a diplomatic note to the MFA requesting two Uzbek researchers from the Institute of Nuclear Physics attend the Tenth International Conference on Applications of Nuclear Techniques in Crete, Greece 14-20 June in association with the International Nonproliferation Export Control Program. e. On 9 and 10 July, EXBS Advisor Johnson and Pol/Econ Officer Steven Prohaska will conduct introductory meetings with local key Uzbek agencies. ¶2. Training Conducted During Reporting Period. a. From 13 17 April EXBS Advisor Johnson attended the University of Georgia Export Control Academy training on International Export Control Policy. EXBS Assistant Kochetkova attended the course from 13 - 24 April. The first week covered such topics as: Commodity Identification Training, Export Controls, Compliance Programs and Export Control Culture, Overview of Export Control Systems of several countries and the EU, International Export Control Regimes, and Challenges in Export Control such as: Catch-all, Intangible Technology Transfers, and Deemed Exports; and second week covered such topics as: The A.Q Khan network, the Proliferation Security Initiative (PSI),Container Security Initiative TASHKENT 00001183 002 OF 003 (CSI),Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C- TPAT),Transit and Transshipment Challenges; Roles of Freight Forwarders and Brokers in view of Export Controls, Internal Compliance Programs and Government- Industry Outreach. The following individuals attended the training from Uzbekistan: Zayniddinov Oybek The Head of the Currency Control Directorate of Uzbek Customs HQ, and Kudayberdiev Botirjon The Head of the Directorate of Development of Regional Foreign Economic Activity, Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade. The training was delivered in English, no translation was provided. Not all the students had a good command of English; however representatives of all delegations actively participated in the educational process, asked questions and made comments, except for the Uzbek officials. Neither Zayniddinov nor Khudayberdiev asked a single question and neither indicated any significant interest in the subjects and discussions in the course. If there be another opportunity to send Uzbeks to this or similar training, the required level of English should be specified at least as good. b. In the run-up to and during 21 - 22 April, EXBS Office/Pol-Econ Section provided support to nuclear forensics discussions in Tashkent between the U.S. Department of Energy/Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Uzbekistans Institute of Nuclear Physics to boost bilateral scientific ties and collaborate on enhancing Uzbekistans nuclear detection architecture. c. From 6 - 8 May, EXBS Office/Pol-Econ Section supported a Weapons of Mass Destruction Commodity Identification Training (WMD CIT) course taught by U.S. experts from the Department of Energy/National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) as well as experts from Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The training took place at Uzbekistans Higher Military Customs Institute in Tashkent under the auspices of the International Nonproliferation Export Control Program. d. Throughout the quarter, EXBS Office/Pol-Econ Section continued to support U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Second Line of Defense (SLD) activities to maintain radiation portal monitors in Uzbekistan. e. In May and June, EXBS Office/Pol-Econ Section continued to discuss with the Government of Uzbekistan the potential participation of Uzbekistan in the Tenth Annual Export Control Conference in Istanbul, Turkey. ¶3. Training Programs Pending. a. EXBS Office plans to support DOE/NNSA delivery of TASHKENT 00001183 003 OF 003 three XRF portable metal analyzers to the Government of Uzbekistan, as well as a relevant training course, December 14 - 16. b. EXBS is working on a follow-on WMD CIT workshop in Tashkent, March 2010. c. In July, EXBS Office/Pol-Econ Section plan to meet with Government of Uzbekistan officials from Customs, Border Guards, Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade, and Institute of Nuclear Physics to discuss upcoming plans and to hand over to Customs surplus training materials and equipment from the Termez training. d. EXBS is planning to support a Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) activity in August. ¶4. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period. None. ¶5. Equipment Status Update. Inventory and program analysis will be conducted by Regional EXBS Advisor in July and August. ¶6. Red Flag Issues. None. ¶7. CONTACT INFORMATION. Barry A. Johnson is the Regional EXBS Advisor for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and can be reached at johnsonba8@state.gov, or +993-66-30-85-84. Steven Prohaska is Pol/Econ Officer in support of EXBS at Embassy Tashkent and can be reached at +998-71-120-5450, ext 2113. Irina Kochetkova is EXBS Manager in Tashkent and can be reached at +998-71-120-5450. NORLAND