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RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHTA #0569/01 3180205
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140205Z NOV 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7666
INFO RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS SERVICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RHEBAAA/USDOE WASHDC//NSAA//
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
RUCQAAA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0387
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 7772
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 7735
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0730
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1937
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 7056

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000569 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC PVANSON, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN 
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC-AMT LSPRINGER 
DEPT FOR EUR/ACE RBUCK 
DEPT FOR SCA/RA JSCHLOSSER 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN MO'MARA 
CBP/INA FOR CDONOFRIO AND RWATT 
USDOE/NNSA CWALKER, TPERRY AND EDESCHLER 
DOC FOR DCREED AND GPETERSEN-BEARD 
USCG FOR BGOLDEN 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN FOR CUSTOMS ATTACHE 
AMEMBASSY TASHKENT, BISHKEK, BAKU, DUSHANBE AND ASHGABAT FOR EXBS 
ADVISORS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP KZ
SUBJECT:  EXBS: KAZAKHSTAN ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE 
(OCTOBER 2006) 
 
¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: 
 
       ¶1. The Kazakhstan EXBS Program office completed its move 
across town from the interim Embassy Branch Office to the New 
Embassy Compound in October and is now fully operational, with 
brand-new computers and a beautiful new office space. 
 
 ¶2. Andrew Offenbacher concluded his tenure with the EXBS Program in 
Kazakhstan on November 3.  New EXBS Program Advisor Michael Seguin 
arrived at post October 26 and has assumed charge of the office. 
 
 ¶3. In a letter sent to the embassy in October, Kazakhstan's Customs 
Control Committee Chairman Askar Shakirov confirmed his interest in 
visiting the United States to learn about, among other things, U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection's automated systems that help 
facilitate the flow of passengers and commercial goods.  Chairman 
Shakirov proposed that the visit take place during the first half of 
¶2007.  The trip is anticipated to be arranged within the framework 
of the State Department's Voluntary Visitor Program. 
 
II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED 
 
 ¶1. October 3-5 - EXBS Program advisor conducted meetings with 
Kazakhstani officials from the Atomic Energy Committee and the 
Ministry of Industry and Trade on the margins of an export control 
workshop in Almaty. 
 
 ¶2. October 10 - Baku-based EXBS Regional Maritime Advisor Mike 
Taffe joined EXBS Program Coordinator Gulnara Abildaeva and EXBS TDY 
Advisor Jim Kelly for meetings with representatives of Kazakhstan's 
Maritime Border Guard Division in the Caspian coastal cities of 
Aktau and Bautino.  In Bautino, Mike Taffe installed navigation 
software for the three fast response boats that were provided to 
Kazakhstan by the EXBS Program earlier this year.  A possible future 
boat ramp site was also identified, and a date was set for the 
painting of the three boats' hulls with anti-fouling paint.  Jim 
Kelly (EXBS TDY Advisor) and Gulnara Abildaeva (EXBS LES) met 
briefly with Major General Berkaliyev (First Deputy of the Border 
Service responsible for maritime and land border matters in 
Kazakhstan) at the Airport in Atyrau. The Major General advised us 
that President Nazarbayev had expressed his satisfaction with the 
SAFE boats donated by the U.S. He also advised us that the BG could 
use 3 additional SAFE boats, as well as a large vessel (with 
armaments and the capability of carrying 30 sailors) to patrol the 
Caspian near Atyrau; modular shelters for piers/border check points; 
large trucks; and tool kits. He also said that he will upon request 
provide EXBS with statistics demonstrating the effectiveness of the 
BG's patrolling activities. 
 
¶B.  TRAINING DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
 ¶1. October 3-5 - The Department of Energy/National Nuclear 
Administration's (DOE/NNSA) International Nonproliferation Export 
Control Program (INECP) held a workshop in Almaty on export controls 
for biological research institutes.  The workshop achieved its goal 
of providing the bio institutes with information on Kazakhstan's 
national export control system, and was rather innovative in that it 
accomplished this by providing a forum for Kazakhstani nuclear firms 
such as Kazatomprom to share their extensive experience in 
establishing internal compliance programs.  The Almaty-based Nuclear 
Technology Safety Center (NSTC) NGO did an excellent job of 
organizing the event, upon conclusion of which all participants were 
 
ASTANA 00000569  002 OF 003 
 
 
provided with a copy of their recently-published "Model Internal 
Compliance Program Guide." 
 
 ¶2. October 9-10 - The Monterey Institute's Center for 
Nonproliferation Studies hosted a two-day workshop in Almaty 
dedicated to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 
1540 in Central Asia and the Caucasus.  Embassy Astana Political 
Officer John Cooney attended the event. 
 
 ¶3. October 31-November 1 - EXBS Program Coordinator Gulnara 
Abildaeva attended the second annual EXBS Program Workshop for 
Locally Employed Staff in Bratislava, Slovakia. 
 
¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
       ¶1. A replacement air conditioning control card and a 
voltmeter were transferred to the Border Guard's Maritime Division 
during the October 10 meeting. 
 
 ¶2. As mentioned above, three navigation software packages were 
installed on the Maritime Border Guard Division's three 
EXBS-provided boats. 
 
¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE 
 
 ¶1. The NNSA INECP's Regional Internal Compliance Program workshop, 
originally scheduled for October 31-November 2 in Almaty, has been 
postponed and is now expected to be held in early 2007. 
 
 ¶2. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Weapons of Mass 
Destruction / Proliferation Prevention Initiative (DTRA WMD-PPI) 
"Combating WMD Proliferation at Maritime Ports" training referred to 
in the September report has also been postponed from its original 
October 31-November 2 dates. 
 
 ¶3. Representatives of the NNSA's Second Line of Defense Program 
will meet with Kazakhstani Customs and other agencies in Astana on 
November 15 and 16 to discuss the program's implementation schedule, 
roles and responsibilities, and other issues. 
 
 ¶4. Department of Commerce contractor Commonwealth Trading Partners 
will send a representative to conduct an Internal Control Program 
follow-up Product Classification Workshop in Astana on November 23 
and 24. 
 
 ¶5. The NNSA's INECP will hold a Commodity Identification Training 
in Almaty from December 4-8.  For the first time, the course will 
cover materials and equipment related to the production of not only 
nuclear weapons, but also chemical and biological, as well as 
missile technology. 
 
 ¶6. In the month of November or December, INECP will send a 
representative of the NSTC to three posts on Kazakhstan's border 
with China to Russify the software and operating system used to 
power the three x-ray fluorescence metal analyzers that were 
provided to Kazakhstani Customs earlier this year.  The NTSC 
representative will also review how the units are being used at the 
ports of entry. 
 
 ¶7. U.S. Customs and Border Protection has scheduled an 
International Seaport Interdiction Training for Kazakhstan from 
February 12-16 in Charleston, North Carolina. 
 
 ¶8. The EXBS Program's chosen contractor is currently working on 
 
ASTANA 00000569  003 OF 003 
 
 
Task Order 79, which includes the procurement of four modular 
shelters and high-clearance Ural trucks for transfer to Kazakhstan's 
Border Service. 
 
¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR 
RELATED BORDER SECURITY 
 
       ¶1. BBC reports October 5: First Deputy Director of the 
Federal Security Service (Russia) and head of the Border Guard 
Service, Army General Vladimir Pronichev announced plans to allocate 
$160 million in 2007 for improved border control infrastructure. 
Gen. Pronichev indicated the $160 million is roughly the same amount 
allocated for Kazakhstani-Russian border enhancement for 2006 
(totaling roughly $320 million).  Funds are specifically intended 
for 20 facilities including administrative buildings and service 
housing.  EXBS Advisor will attempt to confirm these initiatives in 
upcoming Kazakh Border Guard meetings. 
 
       ¶2. SKRIN Newswire reports October 24: President Putin of 
Russia and President Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan signed six documents 
on October 3 regarding the establishment of an international nuclear 
center on Russian territory.  An agreement on joint construction of 
additional car check-points at borders, as well as the 
simplification of border crossings for residents was also signed. 
EXBS Advisor will attempt to confirm these initiatives as they 
relate to enhanced border crossing infrastructure in upcoming Kazakh 
Border Guard meetings. 
 
¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION 
 
       ¶1. Please see paragraph A, item 2 and paragraph C, item 1 and 
2 above. 
 
III. RED FLAG ISSUES. 
 
       ¶1. None. 
 
ORDWAY