VZCZCXRO8499
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHTA #0781/01 3410153
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070153Z DEC 06
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7883
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//NNSA//
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC
RUCQAAA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0390
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 7801
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 7753
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0733
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 1956
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 7070

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASTANA 000781 
 
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 
(NOVEMBER 2006) 
 
¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: 
 
       ¶1. Michael Seguin, new Kazakhstan EXBS Advisor, completed 
turnover of the EXBS program office from outgoing Advisor Andrew 
Offenbacher.  A thorough review of program priorities, the 
diplomatic landscape in Kazakhstan and appropriate posture to take 
with government agencies, and initiatives, was discussed in detail 
with Ambassador Ordway and the DCM, Kevin Milas.  Program focus 
discussions on current events as well as budget plans, past, 
present, and future for the EXBS program was also covered.  A number 
of administrative areas such as EXBS property inventory, and Gulnara 
Abildaeva's (EXBS FSN/LES) grade classification was also discussed. 
(Note: Michael Seguin has projected Christmas leave 19-30 December, 
Gulnara Abildaeva will be in charge of the EXBS office until Mike 
Seguin's return on 12/30.) 
 
 ¶2. November 14 - The formal dedication of the Embassy opening was 
completed.  Embassy contacts to include Border Guard and Customs 
officials as well as Kazakhstan's Head of State, President Nursultan 
Nazarbayev were in attendance for the ceremony.  This was the new 
EXBS advisor's first opportunity to meet some of the key Border 
Guard and Customs officials.  Several hundred people attended. 
After the dedication Ambassador Ordway expressed his thanks to the 
Embassy staff for a successful ceremony. 
 
 ¶3. Kazakhstan's Customs Control Committee Chairman Askar Shakirov's 
proposed visit to the United States under the Volunteer Visitor 
Program (VVP) is progressing through the planning stage.  A 
diplomatic note was sent by the EXBS office to the Chairman in 
November stating that a proposed itinerary would be presented to him 
before the first of the year for his, and two additional candidates, 
visit.  Presently, the EXBS office is waiting for word from the VVP 
office in D.C. that the EXBS proposal, with Ambassador Ordway's 
approval, is acceptable before presentation to the Chairman.  It is 
the EXBS Advisor's intent to accompany the Chairman and his 
delegation on this visit together with one EXBS LES. 
 
 ¶4.  EXBS Advisor conducted interviews to fill the new EXBS LES 
position and hired Oxana Limareva.  The EXBS office welcomes the 
needed addition of Oxana, a talented, tried, and experienced U.S. 
Embassy employee who will make a significant contribution to the 
success of the office. 
 
 ¶5.  Other administrative activities accomplished:  Country 
clearances for Erik Deschler (DOE), Elizabeth Smiraldo (DOC/CTP), 
Chris Walker (DOC).  Diplomatic Notes for Chairman Askar Shakirov 
(Customs VVP) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Dates for software 
upgrades). 
 
II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED 
 
 ¶1. No site assessments were conducted during November due to the 
transition of the EXBS office advisor.  However, an annual calendar 
for FY07 was developed for presentation to the Kazakhstani Border 
Guard and Customs agencies indicating one week each month to be 
dedicated to EXBS office site surveys.  The EXBS office is prepared 
to initiate a site survey schedule, beginning in January, that will 
touch all quadrants of Kazakhstan's borders in FY07.  This scheduled 
approach will aid in deconflicting site assessments with other U.S. 
agencies and the Kazakhstani government. 
 
 ¶2. As of the end of November Baku-based EXBS Regional Maritime 
 
ASTANA 00000781  002 OF 004 
 
 
Advisor Mike Taffe reported that planned hull anti-fouling paint for 
the donated SAFE boats (3-each) in Aktau, Kazakhstan did not occur - 
specifics for the delay were not noted.  A new date for the painting 
is yet to be determined. EXBS advisor Mike Seguin is planning a 
visit to Aktau to meet with Border Guard officials to better 
understand the state of the SAFE Boat program.  While in the area 
conducting site surveys and a planned joint Office of Military 
Cooperation / EXBS meeting with MoD and Border Guard officials, 
Specific areas of concern regarding the SAFE boat project, noted in 
the October report, will be addressed. 
 
 ¶3.  EXBS advisor met with DTRA, OMC, and INL to discuss FY07 
engagement plans for FY07 to deconflict proposed activities.  This 
effort was in support of the creation of a proposed FY07 budget and 
activity plan prepared for Jeff Hartshorn's review (Kazakhstan's 
Central Asian EXBS Program Manager). 
 
 ¶4.  November 8 - Laura Smiley, DTRA Program Manager, hosted a DTRA 
/ USCG planning event that included officials from the MoD, Border 
Guard, Customs, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs to discuss the 
planning steps to execute a body of training on Maritime 
interdiction.  The group in attendance identified the timeline and 
activities proposed for the joint WMD-PPI (Prevention Proliferation 
Program). Next steps are for the Kazakhstani agencies in attendance 
to agree on a timeline for scheduling the initial planning stages 
for this multi-part and multi-week event which will focus on 
Maritime Interdiction equipment, training, and doctrine as well as 
train-the-trainer techniques. 
 
 ¶5.  November 15-16 - Erik Deschler, DOE, hosted an event in Astana 
with Kazakhstan Customs, Contractors, and the EXBS office to discuss 
the status of the Second Line of Defense Program (SLD).  After four 
years of planning, the SLD program is in the final contracting 
stages to begin installation of 31 Portal Monitors at 9 Kazakhstan 
Border Sites.  This "Phase I" part of the SLD Program is a 
multimillion dollar (DOE funded - not EXBS funded) program which is 
projected to be completed by the end of August 2007.  EXBS plays a 
central role in supporting the project to assist in project 
communication and to help deconflict other border initiatives. 
 
¶B.  TRAINING DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
 ¶1. November 1 - EXBS Program Coordinator Gulnara Abildaeva 
completed the second annual EXBS Program Workshop for Locally 
Employed Staff in Bratislava, Slovkia. 
 
 ¶2. November 23-24 - The Department of Commerce/Commonwealth Trading 
Partners (CTP) conducted an extremely well done Internal Control 
Program (ITP) workshop geared toward orienting various Kazakhstani 
agencies - most notably the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoI&T) - 
with customized Kazakhstani software for use in commodity 
identification.  This software will be used to support Kazakhstan's 
industry outreach efforts and standardize the method used for 
Nuclear Commodity Identification.  This event was extremely 
beneficial for the new EXBS advisor as Elizabeth Smiraldo (CTP) was 
prepared with a complete engagement history on DOC's engagement and 
efforts in supporting Licensing, control lists, and legislation 
since the early 1990's.  After the event, Mike Seguin (EXBS) 
received positive feedback on the event from Dina Akpanbayeva (Head 
of Licensing, MoI&T) who indicated the value of this effort to her 
agency as well as a desire for continued support for this workshop 
throughout Kazakhstan.  Ms. Akpanbayeva also indicated a need for 
other related support in both hardware / software including focus on 
Biological and Chemical commodities in the future.  Also discussed 
 
ASTANA 00000781  003 OF 004 
 
 
was the "Tracker" program.  Ms. Akpanbayeva (MoI&T) indicated that 
Tracker was no longer an area of engagement Kazakhstan was 
interested in as they have developed their own software and moved 
beyond what Tracker can offer.  EXBS Advisor asked for a formal 
diplomatic note to document this. 
 
¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
       ¶1. No equipment delivered during this reporting period. 
 
¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE 
 
 ¶1. Diplomatic note sent to the MFA for dates for DOE to conduct 
installation and necessary software upgrades to 3-each portable 
X-ray Florescence (XRF) metal analyzers used at various border 
locations.  As of the end of November, still waiting for a response. 
INECP will send a representative of the NSTC to the three concerned 
border posts near China to update the software and operating system 
used to power the three x-ray analyzers that were provided to 
Kazakhstan Customs earlier in June of 2006.  The NTSC representative 
will also review how the units are being used at the ports of 
entry. 
 
 ¶2. EXBS office is in preliminary planning stages for USCBP 
sponsored 5-day ISIT training event to be held February 12-16 in 
Charleston, S.C. for 18 mid-level and senior Border Guard officers. 
Purpose is to conduct training (Train-the-Trainer) in "Hands-On" 
Interdiction techniques and practices. 
 
 ¶3. December 4-8 - EXBS office will attend planned DOE sponsored 
Commodity Identification Training Seminar in Almaty.  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. 
 
 ¶4. December 7-8 - EXBS Advisor will present EXBS program 
orientation overview to USAID seminar on Customs control in Almaty. 
 
 ¶5. December 14-15 - DOC/CTP workshop on Internal Control Program 
(ICP) for Industry will be held in Almaty.  EXBS Office will attend 
this event which is the mirror image of the November 23-24 ICP held 
in Astana.  However this workshop will be attended by Industry 
administrators verse government administrators.  This Ministry of 
Industry and Trade (MoI&T) oriented event focuses on licensing and 
Nuclear Commodities Identification and associated software designed 
for the MoI&T by the DOC. 
 
 ¶8. The EXBS Program's chosen contractor is currently working on 
Task Order 79, which includes the procurement of four modular 
shelters and high-clearance Ural trucks for transfer to Kazakhstan's 
Border Service.  Dates of distribution TBD. 
 
¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR 
RELATED BORDER SECURITY 
 
       ¶1. Several mid-level Kazakhstan Customs officials were 
detained the week of November 20 in Almaty when Kazakhstani 
authorities discovered 12.5 kilos of cocaine on board the Lufthansa 
flight to Frankfurt the officials had boraded.  Investigation is on 
going and it is not clear whether the Customs officials were 
directly involved with the smuggling.  However, at least one 
mid-level Customs official dismissed. 
 
       ¶2. October's EXBS report made reference to a BBC news release 
 
ASTANA 00000781  004 OF 004 
 
 
regarding a $160 mn Russian appropriation that is allocated in 2007 
for improved border control infrastructure for the Kazakh / Russian 
border.  The EXBS office, in dialogue with Kazakhstani Border Guard 
General Officers, was unable to confirm the accuracy of this 
appropriation and plan.  Follow-up will continue to determine the 
substance behind this report along with the SKRIN Newswire report 
(October 24) that Vladimir Putin and President of Kazakhstan 
Nursultan Nazarbayev signed "six documents" on October 3, agreeing 
to terms associated with joint participation in the establishment of 
an international nuclear center in Russian territory. 
 
¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION 
 
       ¶1. Please see paragraph II, item A and paragraph 2, above. 
 
III. RED FLAG ISSUES. 
 
       ¶1. None. 
 
ORDWAY