VZCZCXRO4167
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHTA #1285 1340916
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140916Z MAY 07
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9438
INFO RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA 0053
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC//SCA COLLECTIVE/ 9439
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ5//
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC//DHO-2//
RHMFISS/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ5//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP EURASIA//
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//USDP-SOLIC-CN//
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY

UNCLAS ASTANA 001285 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL/AAE (ALTON), SCA/CEN (OMARA), SCA/RA (CUMMINGS), ISN 
(HARTSHORNE) 
OSD FOR HOWELL 
CENTCOM FOR MALCOM AND ROESNER 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR KCRM PREL KZ
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: OSCE BORDER ASSESSMENT 
 
REF: USMISSION OSCE 154 
 
¶1.  Summary: Post looks for the upcoming OSCE assessment to provide 
the basis for more cross-border security programs and to enhance 
interagency regional liaison.  In-country cooperation on border 
security is working well.  The Mission's Security Assistance Working 
Group coordinates individual office programs.  A common database of 
office border security training and assistance provided to GOK 
entities is under development by INL, OMC, and DAO.  End summary. 
 
¶2.  Post looks forward to the comprehensive survey of borders in 
Central Asia that the assessment described in reftel will provide. 
The field visits and meetings of border security and management 
agencies particularly look to be sources of valuable insights for 
new cooperation, particularly in establishing the operational basis 
for cross-border programs to train and equip border guards and other 
border security personnel. In addition to bilateral cross-border 
programs, Post looks forward to the results of the assessment 
regarding region-wide border security programs such as a common 
communication platform, or establishment of a regional border forum 
where approaches to issues like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome 
(SARS) can be formulated. 
 
¶3. In Kazakhstan, the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement 
Office (INL), Office of Export Control and Border Security (EXBS), 
Office of Military Cooperation (OMC), and the Defense Threat 
Reduction Office (DTRO-A) all implement programs to strengthen 
Kazakhstan's borders.   The Kazakhstan Mission Security Assistance 
Working Group, comprised of these and other members, under the 
guidance of the DCM has worked diligently to coordinate border 
security programs.  SAWG members have agreed that INL and OMC will 
sponsor creation of a mission-wide database of all border security 
training and equipment provided to Kazakhstani border security 
services. 
 
¶4.  Post views inter-regional and cross-border programs as an area 
where further improvement could be realized.  It is anticipated that 
the OSCE Border Assessment could provide solid data to construct and 
implement joint programs.  Especially regarding narcotics 
interdiction, Post assesses that most governments in the region 
focus almost exclusively on southern borders, the direction from 
which the narcotics are entering.  As a quick glance at any map will 
show, one country's southern border is another country's northern so 
cross-border cooperation could achieve efficient use of scarce 
assistance funds. 
 
¶5.  Post point of contact for the OSCE Border Security assessment is 
INL Officer Jeffrey Scott Waldo.  Mr. Waldo can be contacted at 
(tel) +7-3172-70-22-96; (cell) +7-777-232-99-41; (unclassified 
email) waldojs@state.gov. 
 
ORDWAY