R 110409Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0120
INFO AMEMBASSY ASTANA 
AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 
AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 
AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 
DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000922 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INL/AAE (BUHLER) AND EUR/ACE 
DEPT OF JUSTICE FOR ICITAP MARK MOGLE 
ASTANA FOR INL ANTHONY BEAVER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SNAR ASEC PREL KCOR KCRM UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN FORENSIC LAB EXPERTS VISIT USA 
 
¶1. (U) SUMMARY:  The Bureau of International Narcotics and 
Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), with the support of the 
Department of Justice Criminal Investigative Training 
Assistance Program (ICITAP), arranged for the participation 
of Uzbek forensic experts in the 18th International 
Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS) Triennial Meeting 
in New Orleans, Louisiana.  They then visited the Harris 
County Forensic Laboratory in Houston, Texas, where they 
observed quality assurance techniques at a modern American 
facility.  This training opportunity complements ongoing 
INL-funded equipment upgrades at the laboratory in Tashkent 
and will significantly assist its efforts to gain 
international accreditation and enhance the professional 
development of Uzbek laboratory staff.  End summary. 
 
INL Forensic Laboratory Project 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) The Main Forensic Laboratory of the Ministry of 
Health is an important resource supporting criminal 
investigations in Uzbekistan.  INL is in the midst of a 
multi-year laboratory improvement project administered by 
the U.S. DOJ ICITAP.  As part of the laboratory improvement 
project, Embassy Tashkent and ICITAP arranged participation 
of Uzbek forensic experts in the 18th International 
Association of Forensic Sciences (IAFS) Triennial Meeting 
held in New Orleans, Louisiana on July 21-25.  It was the 
first time forensics officials from Uzbekistan participated 
in a professional forum of such importance.  During the 
world triennial meeting Uzbek officials met not only with 
colleagues from the United States, but also from 
Kazakhstan, Columbia, Russia, Turkey, Portugal, and the 
United Arab Emirates. 
 
¶3. (U) The workshops on the first day covered International 
Accreditation Standards, giving Uzbek officials a better 
appreciation of ISO accreditation process, something they 
had no exposure to in the past despite setting it as a 
long-term goal. 
 
¶4. (U) Workshops on the subsequent days covered Forensic 
Laboratory planning and design.  This lecture was 
reinforced by a side meeting with a laboratory design firm 
later in the week.  Both the workshop and the private 
meeting gave the Uzbek group significant insights into 
areas they had not been previously trained in.  This was 
particularly useful since Uzbekistan is in the process of 
designing and constructing a new laboratory building, and a 
DOJ official at the conference stressed the importance that 
the Uzbeks get the design right at the outset. 
 
¶5. (U) Significantly, the Uzbek participants heard several 
lectures on human rights, torture, and genocide, which 
helped reinforce the important role the forensic experts 
play in the criminal justice system.  A presenter from the 
University of Istanbul even touched on Abu Ghraib, which 
surprised the Uzbek attendees.  Speakers also discussed 
detailed investigations of mass disaster cases, death in 
custody cases, and sensitive investigations involving 
government and paramilitary groups.  Uzbek officials were 
introduced to the field of forensic nursing as well. 
 
¶6. (U) At the conclusion of the conference, the forensic 
experts flew to Houston to visit the Harris County Forensic 
Laboratory.  Deputy Chief of the Forensic Laboratory Dr. 
Ashraf Mozayani personally demonstrated existing forensic 
laboratory and quality assurance programs.  Mozayani was 
able to easily relate to the Uzbek guests because she had 
personally conducted INL-sponsored training in Uzbekistan 
on multiple occasions. 
 
¶7. (U) During a busy two-day schedule in Houston, the Uzbek 
forensic experts visited many different departments, 
including DNA and Serology, Biology, Toxicology, 
Anthropology, Morgue, Controlled Substance, Trace Evidence 
and Investigation.  They also participated in discussions 
about management, budgeting, and justification of 
equipment, labor, and other resources. 
 
¶8. (U) The Uzbek experts noted that their Harris County 
Forensic Laboratory visit gave them a superb practical view 
of the material covered in the IAFS lectures from the week 
before.  Embassy Tashkent has already been invited to watch 
a presentation by the chief of the Uzbek Forensic Bureau 
that sums up the results of the trip for those laboratory 
personnel who could not visit the United States. 
 
RESULTS: 
-------- 
 
¶9. (U) Uzbek officials recommended that forensic experts 
throughout the region should participate in similar 
planning, design, and accreditation presentations.  Some of 
the lessons they took away from their visit included the 
following: 
 
a. The need in larger laboratories to establish a Director 
of Operations position.  Such a professional would manage 
administrative, financial, business and operations 
activities, allowing the scientific experts to focus on 
what they do best. 
 
b. The importance for forensic laboratories in the former 
Soviet Union to learn about the possible addition of 
disciplines that cover Forensic Nursing and Forensic 
Investigation. 
 
c. The critical need for full-time Quality Manager 
positions in laboratories to coordinate efforts to meet 
international standards. 
 
d. The usefulness of exchange programs between U.S. and 
Uzbek experts from similar forensic facilities.  The 
practical view of day-to-day forensic operations proved to 
be a huge benefit for the Uzbek experts, and they believe 
that a continuation of these programs will only make them 
more successful. 
 
COMMENT: 
-------- 
 
¶10. (U) We hope that exchange programs such as these will 
contribute to the Uzbekistan Main Forensic LaboratoryQs 
long-term goal of obtaining international accreditation. 
The visit already paid dividends in enhancing the 
professional skills of the laboratory staff, which adds 
value to the donations of sophisticated equipment made 
under the auspices of the ongoing INL project.  A modern, 
accredited forensic laboratory facility in Uzbekistan will 
greatly enhance the validity of evidence analysis in 
criminal investigation and further the cause of judicial 
reform in the country. 
 
BUTCHER