VZCZCXRO6530
RR RUEHAST
DE RUEHTA #1440/01 2211139
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 081139Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2950
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0115
RUEKJCS/JCS WASHDC 0053
RUCQAAA/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0479
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 8314
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 8181
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0052
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 2378
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 7341
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 0645

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 001440 
 
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 SBAKER AND BPICKETT 
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 (JULY 
2008) 
 
¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: 
 
¶1. On July 28, 2008, Kazakhstani Minister of Emergency Situations 
Vladimir Bozhko participated in a six day working visit to the 
United States at the invitation of the Arizona National Guard. He is 
studying the U.S. system of emergency response measures and risk 
management techniques. On July 31, 2008, Minister Bozhko held 
meetings with U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central 
Asian Affairs George A. Krol and the U.S. Ambassador-Designate to 
Kazakhstan, Richard E. Hoagland. 
 
¶2. In July 2008, the Chairman of the Customs Control Committee of 
the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kozy-Korpesh 
Karbuzov stated that there have been 50 criminal cases for 
corruption filed against Kazakhstani customs officers in the first 
six months of 2008.  Chairman Karbuzov also stated that 27 customs 
officers had been dismissed and 67 customs officers were disciplined 
for corruption offences. A 2006 Kazakhstani government-funded study 
found that Customs was the most corrupt government agency in the 
Republic of Kazakhstan, with the total value of customs-related 
corruption valued at approximately $141 million U.S. dollars. In an 
effort to fight corruption, Chairman Karbuzov also stated that chief 
executives of the customs offices will be rotated to other posts. 
The Kazakhstan Customs Control Committee has also made a request, 
through a diplomatic note to the U.S. Embassy in Astana, that a 
round table discussion on customs related issues including 
management integrity be held in Astana within the next 2 months 
between members of the Customs Control Committee and experienced 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers. 
 
¶3. An agreement between Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, which is a legal 
basis for the demarcation of the Kazakh-Kyrgyz state border, was 
ratified by both governments and took effect on August 5, 2008.  The 
presidents of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan signed the border treaty on 
December 15, 2001.  Border issues between the two countries have 
long been a major concern.  At a recent Kazakhstani Customs Control 
Committee meeting the head of the Customs Control Department in the 
Zhambyl oblast, Mr. Vladimir Nakisbayev, stated that the "Kordai" 
customs post and the "green border" areas around it are a high risk 
for exploitation by organized smuggling groups.  This revelation 
prompted the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Karim 
Massimov, to declare that the Ministry of Economy and Budget 
Planning should satisfy the Border Guards' three year budget request 
for equipment. 
 
¶4.  During July 2008, the Kazakhstani Border Guard detachment in 
Zharkent took part in a joint international operation with units 
from the People's Liberation Army of China to tighten border 
controls in the Dzhungarian Alatau mountain range region. 
 
¶5.  On July 18, 2008, the Kazakhstani Vice Minister of Industry and 
Trade Zhanar Aitzhanova stated that Kazakhstan is planning on 
bringing its legislation into compliance with the regulations of the 
World Trade Organization in 2008.  Kazakhstan filed a request for 
entry into the World trade Organization in 1996 but to date has 
failed to meet the harmonization requirements that are prerequisite 
for membership.  The USAID Regional Trade Liberalization and 
Investment Project and the EXBS programs support Kazakhstan's 
accession to the WTO by working on reducing trade barriers relating 
to the transport and transit of goods, enhancing enforcement at 
border crossings, and related customs clearances issues. 
 
¶6. From June 26 to July 3, 2008, Congressman Alcee L. Hastings 
(D-FL) and Senator Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD), Co-Chairmen of the 
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki 
Commission) lead a bipartisan Congressional delegation to 
 
ASTANA 00001440  002 OF 003 
 
 
Kazakhstan. The other members of the delegation were U.S. Helsinki 
Commissioners Representatives Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Mike 
McIntyre (D-NC), Robert B. Aderholt(R-AL), Hilda Solis (D-CA) and 
G.K. Butterfield (D-CA)as well as Representatives Zach Wamp(R-TN), 
Loretta Sanchez (D-CA), Diane Watson (D-CA), 
Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Gwen Moore (D-WI).  The delegation 
attended the 17th Annual Session of the Parliamentary Assembly of 
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).  The 
delegation also held meetings with Kazakhstan President Nursultan 
Nazarbayev, Prime Minister Karim Masimov, Foreign Minister Marat 
Tazhin, and Secretary of State Kanat Saudabayev.  Kazakhstan is 
scheduled to be the Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE in 2010. 
 
¶7.  The UN Commission on International Trade Law announced that 
Kazakhstan will become the 34th country to accede to the United 
Nations Convention on the Carriage of Goods by Sea, also known as 
the "Hamburg Rules" on July 1, 2009.  The pact, adopted in 1978 at 
the request of developing countries, sets up a uniform legal regime 
governing the rights and obligations of shippers, carriers and 
consignees under a contract of carriage of goods by sea. 
 
II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED 
 
¶1. On July 22, 2008, the EXBS team attended the Donor Coordination 
Meeting on Border Security Issues at the UNDP conference room in 
Astana, Kazakhstan.  Participants in this meeting included 
representatives from the Border Management and Drug Action Programs 
in Central Asia (BOMCA/CADAP), the International Organization for 
Migration, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe 
(OSCE), the UN High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Office 
on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Border Guard Service, the Customs 
Control Committee, and the British, French and U.S. embassies.  The 
EXBS advisor gave a presentation on EXBS activities during the last 
quarter and on planned activities in Kazakhstan. 
 
¶2. On July 23, 2008, the EXBS staff participated in a town hall 
meeting conducted by the Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and 
Central Asian Affairs George A. Krol at the U.S. Embassy in Astana, 
Kazakhstan. 
¶3.  On July 29, 2008, the EXBS advisor attended a meeting with the 
Deputy Chief of Mission, Kevin Milas, and Lieutenant Colonel Michael 
Chandler, U.S. Army Chief, Office of Military Cooperation, regarding 
the future of the U.S. Government's relationship with the Maritime 
Border Guards.  During this meeting the DCM stated that, because of 
overarching security concerns, it was vital that all interactions 
with the Maritime Border Guard be fully coordinated within the U.S. 
Embassy in Astana. 
¶B. TRAINING DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶1. From July 8-25, 2008, a United States Coast Guard Mobile Training 
Team conducted a SAFE Boat Operations and Maintenance Course for the 
Maritime Border Guards in Bautino, Kazakhstan.  The course was 
designed to develop and provide logistical support to the Kazakhstan 
Maritime Border Guards as well as examine, in-depth, operational 
knowledge regarding the three 42 ft SAFE boats donated by EXBS in 
¶2006. The Deputy Chief of Mission in Kazakhstan, Kevin Milas, 
attended the graduation ceremony on July 25, 2008. 
¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶1.  EXBS delivered approximately $6,000 in spare parts, and $5,000 
worth of fuel to the Maritime Border Guards in Bautino, Kazakhstan 
for the SAFE Boat Operations Course which was conducted in Bautino, 
Kazakhstan, from July 8 to July 25, 2008. 
 
 
ASTANA 00001440  003 OF 003 
 
 
¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE 
 
¶1.  Two Department of State contractors will be in Shymkent, 
Kazakhstan, from August 15-18, 2008, to attempt repairs on two x-ray 
vans donated by EXBS.  The EXBS program assistant from Astana will 
accompany the contractors. 
 
¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR 
RELATED BORDER SECURITY 
 
¶1.  None 
 
¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION 
 
¶1. None 
 
III. RED FLAG ISSUES. 
 
¶1. None 
 
ORDWAY