VZCZCXRO2589
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHTA #0284/01 0390231
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 080231Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1741
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS SERVICE WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0086
RUETIAA/NSA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC 0013
RUCQAAA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0464
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 8234
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 8116
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0037
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2324
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 7290
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 0215

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 000284 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC YWONG, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN, SROBINSON 
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC-AMT LSPRINGER 
DEPT FOR EUR/ACE DFISCHER 
DEPT FOR SCA/RA JSPILSBURY 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN MO'MARA 
CBP/INA FOR KCHAISSON AND RWATT 
USDOE/NNSA CWALKER, TPERRY AND EDESCHLER 
DOC FOR DCREED 
USCG FOR SHABETIMICHAEL 
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 (JANUARY 
2008) 
 
 
¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: 
 
¶1. Indiana Senator Richard Lugar, Republican leader of the Foreign 
Relations Committee, visited Kazakhstan on January 10-11, 2008, to 
discuss energy cooperation, as well as Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat 
Reduction Program implementation.  Subsequent to this trip, Senator 
Lugar introduced legislation to repeal Jackson-Vanik restrictions on 
trade with Kazakhstan and establish permanent normal trade 
relations. 
 
¶2. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mitchell Shivers signed a 
five-year cooperation plan with Kazakhstan envisaging fresh U.S. 
assistance in matters ranging from military reform and equipment 
acquisition to education and training. 
 
II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED 
 
¶1. On January 15, 2008, the EXBS team had a very successful meeting 
with high ranking representatives of Border Guard Services of the 
National Security Committee and the Customs Control Committee of the 
Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan.  The meeting 
focused on discussions on EXBS donated equipment and future 
implementation, training, and delivery issues. Also discussed was 
the assessment of excessive storage fees on EXBS donated equipment 
caused by delays in customs clearance and two controversial 
newspaper articles. One article was on a rail car alleged to have 
highly radioactive material that was turn back from Uzbekistan, 
through Kazakhstan, to Kyrgyzstan. Another article concerned an 
alleged Kazakhstani policy change in relation to border controls and 
the closing or consolidation of border stations on the Russian 
Border.  Both of these news articles were refuted by the 
representatives present at the meeting. The Customs Control 
Committee was represented by Ermek Kozhabergenov, Acting Head of the 
Department of International Relations; Ermek Smagulov, Deputy Head 
of the Customs Control Organization Department; Alexandra Vozhakova, 
Head of Radioactive Materials and Technical Means Department, Ajdyn 
Turashev, Chief Specialist of the Customs Control Organization 
Department; Botagoz Abilova, Chief Specialist of International 
Relations Department.  The Border Guard Service was represented by 
Abilay Nurakhmetov, Head of Border Cooperation Division; Lt. Colonel 
Talgat Kerikbayev, Deputy Head of Engineering Department. The 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs was presented by Kanat Shekaliyev from 
the International Security Department. 
 
¶2.  On January 23, 2008, the EXBS team attended a Border Security 
Donor Coordination meeting at the United Nations Development 
Programme (UNDP)in Astana, Kazakhstan.  Represented at the meeting 
were the Kazakhstan Border Guard Services of the National Security 
Committee, the Kazakhstan Customs Coordination Committee of the 
Ministry of Finance, the Border Management and Drug Action 
Programmes in Central Asia (BOMCA/CADAP), the British Embassy, the 
International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Organization for 
Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the United Nations High 
Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), the United Nations Office on Drug 
Controls (UNODC), the International Criminal Police Organization 
(OIPC-Interpol),and the U.S. Embassy (EXBS, DTRO, OMC, INL).  Each 
agency made a presentation on their accomplishments in Kazakhstan 
during the last six months and on their future plans for the coming 
year. 
 
¶3. On January 29, 2008, a special country team meeting was held for 
 
ASTANA 00000284  002 OF 003 
 
 
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Mitchell Shivers and Rear 
Admiral Miller (CENTCOM).  During this meeting the EXBS Advisor 
presented an overview of EXBS activities in Kazakhstan and a summary 
of the Second Line of Defense efforts in the installation of 
Radiation Portal Monitors. 
 
¶4. On January 29, 2008, a meeting was held with Glen Spindel, Deputy 
ICE Attache-Frankfurt.  The Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
office in Frankfurt has area responsibilities which include 
Kazakhstan.  The Deputy ICE Attache was in country as part of the 
WMD International Investigations course team.  Discussions during 
this meeting covered EXBS activities to date in Kazakhstan and 
Second Line of Defense efforts in installing Radiation Portal 
Monitors. 
 
 
 
 
¶B.  TRAINING DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶1.  An International Counterproliferation Program (ICP) course, "WMD 
International Investigations", was taught in Astana, Kazakhstan, 
from January 28 - February 1, 2008.  This course was attended by 
twenty-eight persons from four 
agencies.  There were eight representatives from the Ministry of 
Emergency Situations (MCHS), fifteen representatives from the 
Ministry of Internal Affairs (MVD), four representatives from the 
Customs Services, and one representative from the Financial Police. 
This course is designed for criminal investigators to enhance 
specialized investigative skills in transnational investigations of 
Weapons of Mass Destruction incidents. 
 
¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶1. On December 15, 2008, three CT-30 Contraband Inspection Kits were 
delivered to the Border Guard Services of the National Security 
Committee and accepted by Major General Berkaliyev, Deputy Director 
of the Border Guard Service. 
 
¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE 
 
¶1. The Department of Energy Second Line of Defense 
Program is continuing its project to install portal monitors at 
border sites.  The EXBS team accompanied Ms. Laurel Cotton, the 
Project Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Energy's Second Line 
of Defense (SLD) Program, to a meeting in Astana with Kazakhstani 
Customs Control Committee officials on February 4, 2008, to discuss 
a broad range of matters concerning the SLD program, including 
training and equipment delivery issues. The SLD equipment for Phase 
One installation is scheduled to arrive in Kazakhstan from Russia in 
four rail shipments between February 4th and 20th, 2008. EXBS will 
assist in obtaining customs release for SLD equipment in Almaty. 
EXBS will also send a Diplomatic Note to the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs requesting access to the requested sites for U.S. technical 
specialists so that they can begin the installation of the portal 
monitors and related equipment during March 2008. 
 
¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR 
RELATED BORDER SECURITY 
 
 ¶1. None. 
 
¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION 
 
ASTANA 00000284  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
¶1. A Diplomatic Note is being drafted concerning a proposal 
by Michael Fisher, EXBS Caspian Region Maritime Advisor, to have the 
U.S. Coast Guard conduct a Basic Small Boat Operation Course for 
Kazakhstani Marine Border Guards (MBG) in Bautino, Kazakhstan from 
June 2 to June 27, 2008.  The purpose of the training is to provide 
hands-on instruction to further enhance the MBG's capabilities in 
the operation of the three EXBS donated SAFE boats.  The course will 
include classroom training and at sea exercises. 
 
III. RED FLAG ISSUES. 
 
¶1. None 
 
 
 
ORDWAY