UZBEKISTAN: 2008 INL END USE MONITORING REPORT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 10 TASHKENT 000220

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
DEPT FOR INL TIM BARRY AND ANDREW BUHLER
ANKARA FOR DEA CHRIS MELINK

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SNAR PREL ASEC AFIN EAID UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: 2008 INL END USE MONITORING REPORT

REF: a) 07 STATE 166080

TASHKENT 00000220 001.2 OF 010


REF: 07 STATE 166080

SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED Please protect accordingly.

Per instructions in reftel, Embassy Tashkent presents the
required annual End Use Monitoring Report to the Bureau
of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
(INL) for calendar year 2008. As bilateral relations
with Uzbekistan continue to improve, end use monitoring
trips have provided excellent opportunities to network
and rebuild contacts with local law enforcement
officials. A substantial portion of the inventory of
INL-donated equipment has now exceeded its useful
lifespan, and we will remove some quantities of equipment
from our monitoring lists; however, we will continue to
request inspection of such equipment at our discretion.
Meanwhile, INL should consider increasing investments in
Uzbekistan to reflect its growing strategic importance to
the United States in the context of our enhanced regional
approach to resolving the conflict in Afghanistan.

--------------
PROCEDURES
--------------


A. Inventory Management

Timothy Buckley is responsible for the INL Tashkent
program. He can be reached by telephone at: 998-71-120-
5450; fax: 998-71-120-6335; or unclassified email:
BuckleyTP@state.gov. INL Assistant Dmitriy Dogovorov can
be reached by office telephone: 998-71-120-5450; fax:
998-71-120-5400; or unclassified email:
dogovorovd@state.gov.

Post has one full-time Locally Engaged Staff (LES)
position to support INL initiatives in Uzbekistan. The
Embassy continues to improve procedures for INL equipment
monitoring. In 2007 we created an INL equipment database
containing records of all equipment provided to the GOU
and records of previous inspections. The database
includes all equipment-related information and supports
dozens of different queries. INL equipment has been
distributed throughout all 12 provinces of Uzbekistan,
although a majority has now exceeded its reasonable
expected lifespan.

The INL program in Uzbekistan has been very modest in
recent fiscal years and is administered by an officer in
the political and economic section who must divide work
time between several portfolio items. Other than the one
INL LES there are no other post positions with end-use
monitoring responsibilities and there was no change in
staffing from year 2007. Due to post security concerns
the LES is only authorized to visit host government law
enforcement installations when an American officer is
present, which makes end use monitoring more resource
intensive. Other pol/econ officers, especially one who
handles the Export and Related Border Security (EXBS)
portfolio, also occasionally visit facilities to conduct
end use monitoring involving INL-donated equipment.

No other USG agencies represented at post conducted any
end use monitoring of INL-provided resources. However,
in late 2008 and early 2009 a visiting Drug Enforcement
Administration (DEA) Agent conducted some end-use
monitoring of INL-donated equipment, which was an
excellent opportunity to build contacts in the host
government in anticipation of greater engagement on
counternarcotics. The poloff responsible for the INL
portfolio performed end use monitoring tasks for a
project implemented by the Department of Justice
International Criminal Investigative and Training
Assistance Program (DOJ-ICITAP).

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B. Counterpart Agencies

The following Uzbek government entities have received
INL-donated equipment:

Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD)
State Customs Committee
Ministry of Health (MOH)
National Security Service (NSS) (includes the Border
Guards)
Office of the General Prosecutor

Cooperation on end use monitoring improved in 2008 along
with the bilateral relationship, yet there are still
bureaucratic obstacles. The GOU continues to regard its
law enforcement installations as very sensitive and, like
all post's dealings with the government, any request for
access must be submitted well in advance via diplomatic
note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Approval of the
notes can cause significant delays in subsequently
conducting end use monitoring visits. Late approval by
the host government of our formal diplomatic note
outlining visits in the autumn of 2008 resulted in some
of our end use monitoring for calendar year 2008 to be
conducted in January 2009.

In 2008, the secretive National Security Service finally
allowed us to inspect a Jeep Cherokee which it
commandeered from the State Customs Committee several
years ago. The negative aspects of this incident were
well-documented in previous editions of this report, and
this year marked a step in the right direction in that we
could finally confirm the vehicle is being used by the
government, albeit not by the agency it was originally
intended for. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and the
State Customs Committee maintain positive relationships
with the Embassy and appreciate the USG equipment they
have received over the years; however, they are still
bound by bureaucratic procedures which continue to limit
our access and contact with officers.

Embassy Tashkent requires the Government of Uzbekistan to
sign an End User Certificate upon receipt of all INL-
funded equipment. This document requires relevant GOU
agencies to provide the Embassy information regarding
each donated item, including product description, serial
number, and geographical location where the equipment is
deployed. Post submitted a diplomatic note to the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as required by the
Government of Uzbekistan, to request access to specific
equipment for monitoring purposes. It is not possible to
conduct random, surprise inspections at Uzbek law
enforcement installations where our equipment is located.


C. On-Site Inspections

On-site inspections are the only reliable means of
conducting required end use monitoring, even though they
must be arranged far in advance. Typically, the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs then provides us with a local contact
who represents the appropriate ministry and we plan our
visit details. Random, unscheduled visits are not
possible and government officials at all levels
throughout the country adhere to strict bureaucratic
requirements to arrange permission far in advance through
formal channels.

There were 22 scheduled on-site inspections performed in
2008 (and early 2009 as part of our process for the 2008
calendar year) around the country. There were some
opportunities for unscheduled inspections when embassy
officers crossed land borders or visited checkpoints
where some INL-donated equipment is located. For
instance, at an official visit to the border checkpoint
of Xayraton (the main crossing between Uzbekistan and
Afghanistan near Termez) in June 2008, the Ambassador
observed Uzbek Customs officers using INL-donated

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flashlights, leatherman utility toolkits, and search
mirrors to conduct vehicle inspections, even though it
was not an end use monitoring trip.

Scheduled On-site Inspections performed:

Date Location Site
01/14/08 Bukhara Provincial Customs Office
01/15/08 Navoiy Provincial Customs Office
01/25/08 Tashkent MVD Sensitive Investigative Unit
04/25/08 Tashkent Main Forensic Laboratory
08/27/08 Nukus Provincial Customs Office
12/18/08 Tashkent NSS Jeep
01/20/08 Ming-Tepa Border Checkpoint
01/20/08 Kesken-Er Border Checkpoint
01/21/09 Ferghana City MVD Counter Drug Dept
01/21/09 Urgench Khorezm Forensic Laboratory
01/21/08 Urgench MVD Counter Drug Dept
01/22/09 Pitnak-Dustlik Border Post
01/22/09 Yangibazar Border Post
01/23/09 Nukus MVD Counter Drug Dept
01/26/09 Tashkent Main MOH Forensic Laboratory
01/30/09 Tashkent MVD Sensitive Investigative Unit
01/30/09 Tashkent MVD Counter Drug Unit
01/30/09 Tashkent MVD City Police Counter Drug Unit
01/31/09 Tash Region MVD Counter Drug Unit for
Province
02/02/09 Guliston MVD SyrDarya Counter Drug Unit
02/02/09 Jizzakh MVD Counter Drug Unit
02/03/09 Samarqand MVD Counter Drug Unit

There is a large quantity of INL-donated items to be
inspected, many dating from a previous era of stronger
bilateral cooperation. For instance, INL funding was
used to completely equip the Sensitive Investigative Unit
(SIU) of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Equipment at
this facility alone includes everything from handcuffs to
GPS units to computer workstations. In 2007, INL
provided several hundred flashlights and Leatherman
utility toolkits for Customs Officers, particularly for
those stationed in Surkhandarya Province near the
Afghanistan and Tajikistan borders. It is therefore not
practical to inspect all INL-donated equipment on an
annual basis. This year we conducted field visits to
check the status of key collections of INL-funded
equipment or items which we did not inspect in 2007. We
prioritized major items such as vehicles, laboratory
instruments, and the extensive equipment provided to the
counter-narcotics-focused SIU. We also visited several
small provincial police stations where INL-funded TVs,
VCRs, and camera equipment was distributed.


D. Secondary Methods of Monitoring Resource Status
Comparison of Records

Written and computerized government records in Uzbekistan
are not well-developed and are not yet a reliable source
of information. Frankly, we would not likely be granted
regular access to such databases. Rather, we use our own
detailed databases to identify priority equipment to
inspect each year and submit diplomatic notes to arrange
permission to conduct physical on-site inspections.

--------------
STATUS - COMMODITIES
--------------


A. Type of Commodity

The following major equipment, mostly purchased during
previous fiscal years, is included on our end-use
monitoring inventory:

Computers to SIU -- In January 2004, Embassy delivered 25
workstations to the counter-narcotics-focused Sensitive
Investigative Unit within the Ministry of Internal
Affairs.

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Communications Equipment to SIU -- In July 2003, 30
cellular telephones, 30 Motorola GP-360 handheld radios,
and four Thuraya satellite phones were provided to the
SIU within the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Vehicles to Customs -- In August 2000, the Uzbek State
Customs Committee received nine 4-wheel-drive Jeep
Cherokees and spare parts.

Vehicles to SIU -- In December 2003, INL delivered 28
vehicles to the SIU of various makes and models to assist
with counternarcotics investigations.

Laboratory Equipment to MVD In July 2004, post
delivered and finished installation of laboratory
equipment to enhance the GOU's capabilities to perform
forensic analyses of explosives substances. Equipment
donated to the explosives laboratory at the Ministry of
Internal Affairs included a Sabre-2000 portable explosive
detector, five digital scales, and an Agilent
Electrophoresis system. A Nicolet IR Spectrometer system
was previously delivered to the lab in 1999.

Laboratory Equipment to MOH Lab -- The main forensic
laboratory at the Ministry of Health (which analyzes
narcotic substances) received several sophisticated
instruments funded by INL, including an Agilent Gas
Chromatograph and Mass Spectrometer System, which greatly
supported evidence processing in criminal drug cases.
This is the only active project (administered by DOJ-
ICITAP) for which we are continuing to purchase and
transfer extensive quantities of equipment.

Miscellaneous Equipment to Border Guards -- In October
2001, INL provided the then Committee for State Border
Protection document examination equipment to improve
passport control activities at border checkpoints.
Donated equipment included: 100 Universal Desktop
Magnifiers and spare lamps, 200 Hand-Held UV-spot
detectors and spare UV lamps, eight Multifunctional
Passport Readers, and one set of Passport computer
software with samples of more than 2,000 different
passports and identification documents.

Miscellaneous Equipment to SIU Basic investigative
equipment was distributed to the Counter Drug Department
of the Uzbek Ministry of Internal Affairs. The equipment
transferred included 21 digital video cameras, 68
portable digital audio recorders, 36 digital cameras, and
19 TV sets and VCRs. We were able to check a significant
amount of this equipment during visits to provincial
police stations this year.

Furniture for Border Checkpoints -- INL supported a joint
border project with the Embassy Export Control and
Related Border Security Program (EXBS),which provided
modular shelters for Uzbek Border Guards. INL Tashkent
purchased, delivered, and installed custom-made furniture
for the shelters.


B. Location

Computers to SIU -- The 25 workstations are located at
the main SIU headquarters in Tashkent.

Communications Equipment to SIU -- All equipment,
including 30 cellular telephones, 30 Motorola GP-360
handheld radios, and four Thuraya satellite phones, is
located at the main headquarters in Tashkent.

Vehicles to Customs -- The nine 4-wheel-drive Jeep
Cherokees were dispersed throughout the country. Uzbek
Customs assigned three vehicles to counter-smuggling
units in Tashkent Province (which includes rugged
mountain terrain in its territory) as well as one each to
Bukhara, Navoi, Karakalpakstan and Ferghana Provinces.

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The two remaining vehicles, which were commandeered by
the National Security Service and the Office of the
General Prosecutor, are located in Tashkent.

Vehicles to SIU -- The 28 vehicles delivered to the SIU
are based at the headquarters in Tashkent.

Laboratory Equipment to MVD Equipment donated to the
explosives laboratory at the Ministry of Internal Affairs
included a Sabre-2000 portable explosive detector, five
digital scales, and an Agilent Electrophoresis system. A
Nicolet IR Spectrometer system was previously delivered
to the lab in 1999. It is located in Tashkent.

Laboratory Equipment to MOH -- The main forensic
laboratory at the Ministry of Health is where our most
active INL project is proceeding. We continued to donate
a range of sophisticated laboratory instruments to the
facility, which is located in the capital of Tashkent. A
small amount of equipment, including microscopes and
refrigerators, were donated to other provincial
laboratories.

Miscellaneous Equipment to Border Guards -- Document
examination equipment to improve passport control
activities at border checkpoints is distributed to more
than 40 checkpoints around the country as well as the
Border Guard Academy.

Miscellaneous Equipment to MVD Basic investigative
equipment was distributed to the Counter Drug Department
of the Uzbek Ministry of Internal Affairs. Numerous
equipment is maintained at the SIU headquarters in
Tashkent, while other communications equipment was
distributed to various counter drug departments at
provincial command posts throughout the country.

Furniture for Border Checkpoints -- INL-provided
furniture is located at four rural border checkpoints.
Two are on the border with Kyrgyzstan in the Ferghana
Valley and two are on the border with Turkmenistan in
Khorezm and Karakalpakstan Provinces in the far
northwest.


C. Use

Computers to SIU -- Emboffs visited the facility in
January 2008 and a visiting DEA Agent performed an
inspection visit in January 2009. In both cases it was
clear that the computer equipment is being actively used
by law enforcement officers for its intended purpose of
supporting counternarcotics investigations.

Communications Equipment to SIU -- Emboffs and a visiting
DEA Agent inspected the equipment this year. The cell
phones are now obsolete but some are still in use; in
other cases officers have returned the phones for
inventory purposes but prefer to use their personal
phones with modern features. The satellite phones are
not in use due to the high cost of the service, which the
SIU could no longer afford when the Government of
Uzbekistan suspended cooperation with the DEA in early

2007. As a whole, the array of equipment provided by the
U.S. Government still makes the work of the SIU easier,
but it is less pivotal with each passing year.

Vehicles to Customs -- The seven vehicles remaining with
the State Customs Committee are of limited utility since
spare parts are unavailable. Several in Tashkent region
are still actively used by Customs, while others in the
provinces are inoperable. However, they are securely
stored and officers were able to explain how they use the
vehicles to support their operations.

Vehicles to SIU -- INL Tashkent conducted a thorough
check in early 2008 and found all 28 vehicles are
actively used by police officers of the current unit. A

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visiting DEA Agent also inspected the vehicles and was
positively impressed that not only are the vehicles being
actively utilized, but much of the other support
equipment that should be utilized in the field is indeed
with cops on the street.

Laboratory Equipment The INL-funded project to upgrade
the capabilities at the Main Forensic Laboratory of the
Ministry of Health is still active, and numerous embassy
officers -- including the Ambassador, Deputy Chief of
Mission, and Political Chief on separate visits -- were
warmly welcomed for tours and demonstrations of the
equipment during 2008. The laboratory staff is extremely
grateful for U.S. assistance and participated in
professional development and training events abroad to
enhance the benefit of our equipment donation. The
Embassy included a press release of the Ambassador's
April 2008 participation in a signing ceremony and tour
at the laboratory on its website.

Miscellaneous Equipment to Border Guards -- We did not
specifically inspect this equipment during this reporting
cycle, but poloffs noted the equipment was utilized at
the recently constructed modern border checkpoint on the
Afghan border at Termez as well as at other vehicle
crossing points in the Ferghana Valley and north of
Tashkent.

Miscellaneous Equipment to SIU Inspections by poloffs
and visiting DEA Agent confirmed the equipment is being
properly utilized by officers with counternarcotics
responsibilities. The creative unit has its own audio-
visual technician who improvised modifications to use
local handbags that make hidden cameras more discreet.

Furniture for Border Checkpoints -- We visited each of
the four rural border checkpoints this year and found the
furniture to still be in use.


D. Condition

Computers to SIU -- Poloff and visiting DEA Agent
determined on separate visits that the equipment is still
in good condition. Extra equipment is carefully packaged
and stored on the premises for end use monitoring
inventory purposes. The computers are no longer state-
of-the-art after several years of use.

Communications Equipment to SIU -- An Uzbek police
officer has been designated as responsible for
maintaining and tracking the inventory, and all equipment
is accounted for and in excellent condition given the
time elapsed. The cell phones are now obsolete but some
are still in use; in other cases officers have returned
the phones for inventory purposes but prefer to use their
personal phones with modern features. The satellite
phones are not in use due to the high cost of the
service, which the SIU could no longer afford when the
Government of Uzbekistan suspended cooperation with the
DEA in early 2007. Much of the equipment is no longer
state-of-the-art, and the SIU will need updated equipment
in order to keep pace with modern police entities.

Vehicles to Customs -- The condition of the Jeeps is
generally poor. Customs officers have clearly done the
best they can to maintain the Jeep Cherokees, although
the government has not provided resources to make
repairs. Jeeps are not common in Uzbekistan and spare
parts must be imported from abroad; mechanics also are
unfamiliar with the vehicles and have difficulty fixing
them. The vehicles in Buhkara, Navoiy, and Nukus are
inoperable and awaiting repairs. However, they are
securely stored in garages. The two vehicles
commandeered by other Uzbek government agencies are in
the best condition.

Vehicles to SIU -- INL Tashkent conducted a thorough

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check in early 2008 and found almost all vehicles in good
condition despite intensive use. A visiting DEA Agent
conducted a follow up visit and confirmed our earlier
findings. The fleet is intentionally mixed, including
several local models, to allow undercover units to blend
in with their surroundings. The local models are much
easier for the SIU to maintain since there is ready
availability of spare parts and mechanical expertise.
Two Opel Astras still require approximately USD 2,000 of
repairs that the SIU has no funds to complete; however,
the vehicles are kept in a secure garage and otherwise
appear to be in good condition. The vehicles are
approaching the end of their useful expected lifespan.

Laboratory Equipment Several new sophisticated
instruments were donated to the forensic laboratory in
2008 and U.S. experts conducted associated visits and to
describe international accreditation standards.
Equipment from previous years is also in excellent
condition and is carefully cared for by qualified
scientific staff. The Uzbek Government, in response to
the INL efforts to upgrade the laboratory, is building a
modern new building that will soon house the equipment.

Miscellaneous Equipment to Border Guards -- It is
difficult to arrange access to border checkpoints and the
Border Guards have been absorbed into the National
Security Service. The equipment has been utilized for a
reasonable time period and we will no longer specifically
monitor its disposition; however, we will note when it is
observed during routine entry or exit formalities.

Miscellaneous Equipment to MVD As with other equipment
provided to the SIU, poloff and a visiting DEA Agent
found the camera and video equipment to be maintained in
excellent condition. However, cameras are no longer
state-of-the-art, especially as newer-generation digital
technology makes cameras from a half-decade ago seem
clunky and obsolete. One police official in Ferghana
Province said some of the tv, vcr, and camera equipment
provided had since been lost or damaged; however, he said
the responsible officers had to purchase replacements
themselves, which he provided for inspection.

Furniture for Border Checkpoints -- Visits to each of the
four remote border checkpoints during this reporting
period confirmed that the furniture (including
refrigerator, oven, bookshelves, lockers, beds, and
desks) is being maintained in good condition.


E. Unmonitored Commodities

We conducted extensive checks during this reporting
period, but there were still several provincial police
stations which we did not visit to check small quantities
of digital cameras, televisions, and VCRs.

--------------
STATUS -- INVENTORIES
--------------

There are no INL-funded vessels, aircrafts, weapons, or
canine programs to monitor in Uzbekistan. Numerous
vehicles donated in previous years are tracked in the
status-commodities section above. A summary table below
itemizes the INL-furnished vehicles in Uzbekistan:

STATE CUSTOMS COMMITTEE, COUNTER SMUGGLING UNITS (Donated
in 2000):

Vehicle Inventory

Jeep Cherokee Sport 2.5TD 7* (two other Jeeps were
requisitioned by the National Security Service and the
Office of the General Prosecutor)

SPECIAL INVESTIGATIVE UNIT (Donated in 2003):

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Vehicle Inventory

Opel Astra Sedan 3
Opel Vectra Elegance 1
Toyota Land Cruiser 100GX 2
Toyota Land Cruiser 100STD 1
Toyota Corolla 1
Daewoo Nexia GLE 11
Daewoo Matiz DLX 2
Daewoo Damas 2
VAZ NIVA 21310 2
VAZ LADA 21099 3

--------------
STATUS -- SERVICES
--------------


A. There were no construction projects administered by
INL in this reporting period.


B. There were no drug demand reduction projects funded by
INL in this reporting period. An INL-funded DDR project
was completed in late 2007 by the United Nations Office
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). There is INL funding from FY
2008 that will be used for a follow up DDR project
building that is expected to kick off in 2009.

A successful INL-funded anti-trafficking in persons
program continued during 2008. A total of 14 training
events were held around the country reaching more than
500 law enforcement officers and other stakeholders; the
host government credited the multi-year project with
improving sensitivity to victims among law enforcement
officers and it helped key anti-TIP NGOs build lasting
connections with local police. Uzbekistan was promoted
from Tier 3 to the Tier 2 watchlist on the 2008 edition
of the report, and post reported more substantial
progress on the 2009 submission. This anti-TIP project
work will conclude during 2009.


C. There were no other professional services funded by
INL during this reporting period.

--------------
PROGRAM IMPACT
--------------

The INL program budget dropped considerably in recent
years as the result of the strained bilateral
relationship. Our end use monitoring is in many ways a
vestige of a prior era, and the program impact of some
major investments diminishes with each passing year.
Since the second half of 2007, the Government of
Uzbekistan has consistently expressed more willingness to
engage with the United States on issues such as
counternarcotics, trafficking in persons, and border
security. There is now once again an increased demand
for INL programs, and we will need budgetary allocations
to reflect the heightened cooperation with the host
government as well as the strategic importance of
Uzbekistan in our broader goals in stemming the tide of
narcotics from Afghanistan.

The ongoing anti-TIP program administered by an
International Organization for Migration (IOM)-affiliated
NGO has had a big impact in this reporting period. In
2008 there were 14 events that provided training
opportunities to more than 500 people, mostly in remote
areas where awareness about the serious TIP problem was
low. The Uzbek government openly credits the work of INL
and the implementing partner in raising awareness and
sensitivity among law enforcement officers, and TIP is
undoubtedly the most successful engagement we have seen
on the human rights front in the country.

The forensic science program also stands out in its

TASHKENT 00000220 009.2 OF 010



impact this year, as we have provided equipment and
training opportunities to a previously forgotten cadre of
scientists who play a central role in ensuring the
integrity of evidence and investigations in the criminal
justice system. Scientists better understand their role
in not only prosecuting the guilty but also in
exonerating the innocent. The investments have also
contributed to more effective homicide investigations by
establishing causes of death more reliably and quickly,
and the skills and equipment has even been used to
provide treatment to patients suffering from mysterious
poisonings.

The most enduring legacy from numerous equipment
donations in previous years is the goodwill among rank-
and-file law enforcement officers toward the United
States. They appreciate the equipment, even though it is
now often dated, and express a hope that U.S. trainers
and equipment will once again reach them on the front
lines.

--------------
PROBLEMS AND CORRECTIVE ACTION PLAN
--------------


A. Unmonitored Resources -- Many of the laptop computers
delivered to the Border Guards are now broken after years
of extensive use. The products have now exceeded their
useful expected life span. It is also difficult to
arrange access to border posts, especially now that the
Border Guards have been incorporated into the National
Security Service. No corrective action is required since
we will discontinue monitoring this equipment.


B. Repair and Maintenance of Commodities -- A substantial
amount of INL-donated equipment is ageing after intensive
use. The GOU typically does not provide adequate
resources to local branches of law enforcement agencies
for repairs and maintenance. This was made difficult by
the provision of foreign brands of vehicles and equipment
for which it is difficult to find spare parts or
expertise to complete repairs. Due to the low quality of
the fuel in the Uzbekistan retail market, the majority of
vehicles also require replacement of the fuel systems.
As a result, for example, numerous Jeep Cherokees are
broken down in Customs garages in remote corners of the
country. They were used intensively for a reasonable
timeframe, but the modest provision of spare parts would
allow resourceful local commanders to continue to put the
equipment to good use.

The Nicolet IR spectrometer and portable Sabre-2000
explosive detector have long since broken and require
replacement. Poloff noted the staff at the lab are very
professional and have taken excellent care of all
equipment, but their effectiveness would be enhanced by
the repair of these instruments.


C. Lack of Use and Misuse of Commodities -- Emboffs and
visiting DEA Agent were consistently impressed by the
professionalism of Uzbek law enforcement agencies and how
much they appreciated U.S. assistance in a resource-poor
government. There is no problem with misuse of
commodities other than the previously documented incident
in which the National Security Service and Office of the
General Prosecutor took two of the nine Jeep Cherokees
intended for the State Customs Committee.


D. Disposal of Commodities -- Many items in our inventory
of previously donated INL equipment have reached the end
of their useful life. During 2009 we will stop
monitoring some stockpiles of equipment. If appropriate,
we will contact the recipient agency to discuss
disposition assistance. However, the equipment may be
utilized and cared for over a longer period if we do not
announce our intention to stop monitoring certain
equipment from our inventory (such as vehicle search

TASHKENT 00000220 010.2 OF 010



mirrors and laptops). We will attempt to identify funds
to repair big-ticket items such as vehicles which,
although ageing, are still capable of contributing to the
effectiveness of law enforcement operations.
NORLAND

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