VZCZCXRO0940
PP RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHTA #0473/01 0710147
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 110147Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1936
RUCNCLS/SCA COLLECTIVE
RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC//US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION/ 1937

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 000473 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR INL (BALABANIAN); SCA/CEN (OMARA), SCA/RA 
 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR KCRM KCOR PREL KZ
 
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: ASSESSMENT TRIP 
 
 
¶1.  Summary:  From February 25 through 27, Post assessed the 
premises of the Border Guard Service in two cities for the 
establishment of a new classroom.  The Border Guard Divisions on the 
Kazakhstani-Russian border discussed additional needs with the 
representatives of the Embassy and the International Organization 
for Migration (IOM).  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  On January 18, Post met with General Major Khussain Berkaliyev, 
First Deputy Director of the Border Guard Service.  He requested the 
opening of additional training classrooms along the border.  As part 
of the INL sponsored IOM "Enhancing Immigration Inspection and 
Border Control on the Border of Kazakhstan with Uzbekistan" project, 
one classroom was renovated and opened in Saryagash 
(South-Kazakhstan oblast) on the Kazakhstani-Uzbek border in 
November 2006.  General Major Berkaliyev has been pleased with the 
use of the classrooms for the professional development of the border 
guards. 
 
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KOSTANAY 
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¶3.  On February 25, the Embassy's International Narcotics and Law 
Enforcement (INL) Section visited the border control division in 
Kostanay (Northern Kazakhstan) with IOM.  The head of the border 
station in Kostanay showed the premises available for training, but 
the rooms were not large enough.  An alternate building shown to the 
assessment group was a good site, however it was being used by 
support personnel and would require some reconstruction to create a 
large-enough training room.  The Border Guard Service has decided to 
separate border control and border patrol personnel and assign them 
to separate buildings. The alternate building would not be available 
until the reorganization process is completed. 
 
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MOBILE GROUP IN KOSTANAY 
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¶4.  Aidar Balgabayev, the Head of the Border Guard Division of 
Kostanaiskaya oblast, requested that Post provide assistance in 
equipping mobile groups during a pilot phase.  The Division covers 
the 1,380 km border along the territory of the Kostanay oblast. 
Twelve checkpoints are located along that portion of the border. 
Passenger flow through the Kairak automobile checkpoint was 70,000 
people and 20,000 vehicles in July 2007.  The border areas between 
the border guard checkpoints are not well guarded.  According to the 
Head of the Division, the green zone is not equipped with sensors. 
Mobile groups would patrol the area between three sectors Uzynkol, 
Karabalyk and Zhetykara and the mobile group may be based in 
Karabalyk. 
 
¶5.  Vehicles with good off-road capabilities are the priority need. 
Traffickers use better vehicles such as Hunters and Urals with good 
off-road capabilities.  Border guards cannot catch traffickers with 
their old UAZ vehicles.  Among necessary equipment requested are 
mobile night vision devices, stationary and mobile means of 
communication, radar guidance systems, vehicle inspection equipment, 
drug detectors, and gear for three different seasons. 
 
¶6.  The border guards would like to staff the mobile groups with 
four people, including one officer and three contractors, one of 
which will drive the vehicle.  If larger vehicles are provided, the 
ideal mobile group would consist of up to seven people, including a 
canine specialist and dog. 
 
¶7.  The Border Guard Service will send INL the proposal for the 
mobile groups pilot project in mid-March.  The Border Guard Service 
also has requested assistance in obtaining the list of standard 
equipment with which the U.S. Border Patrol mobile groups are 
equipped.  They would also like to learn more about the experience 
and functions that U.S. Border Patrol mobile groups perform. If the 
initial mobile groups prove their effectiveness, the Border Guard 
Service will introduce more of them on the most vulnerable sections 
of the border.  According to Berkaliyev, the mobile group project is 
part of a larger effort to strengthen the green zone. 
 
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URALSK 
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¶8.  Together with IOM representative and the Head of the Border 
Guard Military Unit in Uralsk, post has assessed the premises 
proposed for the training classroom.  Three rooms are available for 
training.  It will be necessary to do slight renovations, but 
otherwise the rooms in the administrative building are suitable for 
the establishment of a training classroom.  A bus would be needed to 
transport participants.  The training classroom would be used by 
participants from Aktobe, Atyrau and Aktau (Western Kazakhstan). 
 
ASTANA 00000473  002 OF 002 
 
 
 
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OTHER NEEDS 
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¶9.  New checkpoints Kaztalovka, Saikhin and Dzhanibek opened on the 
Kazakhstani-Russian border six months ago and are in need of 
assistance.  The checkpoints have no infrastructure, water, light or 
communications.  Duman Yelemessov, the Head of the Uralsk Border 
Guard Military Unit, requested modular shelters for the three 
checkpoints.  They also need dogs, though Yerzhan Ospanov, the First 
Deputy Head of added that conditions would need to be improved at 
the checkpoints. 
 
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COMMENTS 
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¶10.  The training classroom will be established in Uralsk. 
Assistance for mobile groups could be provided in Kostanay.  Foreign 
expertise is necessary during the initial stages of creating the 
mobile groups.  The Border Guard Service does not yet have a clear 
picture of how the mobile groups should function. 
 
ORDWAY