VZCZCXRO8708
PP RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUEHNT #0988 2391034
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 261034Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0212
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 4310
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0524
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 4927
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO 0783
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0550
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0806
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD 4511
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL 2803
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU 0822
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 7564
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 1461
RUEHUM/AMEMBASSY ULAANBAATAR 0196
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHINGTON DC 0363
RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 2765
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC 0214
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 0350
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2024
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1432
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL 0001

UNCLAS TASHKENT 000988 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/CEN, EXBS FOR JEFF HARTSHORN, ASTANA FOR 
NAS ANTHONY BEAVER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PBTS ASEC PGOV KZ UZ
SUBJECT: UZBEKISTAN: U.S.-FUNDED X-RAY VAN REPAIR IMPROVES 
CUSTOMS' SCREENING CAPABILITIES 
 
REF: TASHKENT 518 
 
¶1. (SBU) On August 20, Poloff and Embassy LES visited 
Tashkent International Airport, where representatives of the 
U.S.-based Allied Technical Services had completed repairs of 
an X-ray van for Uzbekistan's State Customs Committee (SCC) 
under the auspices of the Export Control and Related Border 
Security Program (EXBS).  (Note: A previous attempt to repair 
the van in May had been unsuccessful due to problems with 
certain parts, reftel.  End note.)  The Allied Technical 
Services representatives had transported additional 
parts--including a motor, control panels, and monitors--to 
Tashkent from an EXBS-provided van in Kordai, Kazakhstan that 
the Government of Kazakhstan no longer wished to use. 
 
Improved Detection Capabilities 
------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) Lt. Col. Andrey Kravchin thanked the U.S. for its 
assistance with the X-ray repair van, noting that the van 
would be transported to Alisher Navoiy Park to assist Customs 
in screening some 5,000 participants during Uzbekistan's 
Independence Day celebrations.  (Comment: The timing of this 
repair, just days before Uzbekistan's September 1 
festivities, is fortuitous and will greatly enhance Customs' 
ability to detect items of concern, such as weapons and 
contraband.  End comment.)  Kravchin also stated that the 
repaired van can be driven onto the apron when necessary, 
thus improving Customs' ability to screen items from parked 
aircraft. 
 
Praise for U.S. Assistance, Request for More 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Kravchin highly praised U.S.-provided training in 
1998-1999 on how to maintain these vans, and asked whether it 
would be possible for the U.S. to provide similar assistance 
in the future.  Kravchin explained that Customs would like to 
develop its own capability to maintain the X-ray van, and 
lamented that Customs officials who had been trained in the 
1990s have since moved on.  Customs is now afraid of 
tinkering with the equipment, given their lack of training 
and their need to have the van constantly operational for 
emergencies.  Kravchin also asked for assistance in upgrading 
the van's computer system, which would allow it to conduct 
self-tests to identify malfunctions, and for an additional 
700-amp rechargeable battery because the current one in the 
X-ray van has exceeded its service life. 
BUTCHER