VZCZCXRO0248
PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW
RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW RUEHROV
RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #2480/01 3540204
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 190204Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4125
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 0944
RUCNCLS/SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0346
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1051
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2101
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 2433
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
RULSDMK/DEPT OF TRANSPORTATION WASHDC
RUEAHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 0511
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0420
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 1000

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002480 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, INL/AAE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SNAR KCRM KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTANI DELEGATION STUDIES U.S. 911 EMERGENCY SYSTEMS 
 
ASTANA 00002480  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. SUMMARY.  As part of an effort to enhance cooperation between the 
Crime Statistics and Special Records Committee of Kazakhstan's 
Procurator General's Office (PGO) and the U.S. Bureau of Justice 
Statistics (BJS), the Embassy's INL Office organized and co-funded 
the U.S. visit of two PGO representatives in November.  The visit 
was aimed at finalizing a draft cooperation agreement between the 
two organizations and enabling the Kazakhstanis to study the work of 
911 emergency systems in the United States.  END SUMMARY. 
 
BACKGROUND 
 
¶2.  INL began implementing a project to improve the collection of 
crime statistics in Kazakhstan in 2004.  INL provided 212 computers 
and conducted interagency statistics seminars to modernize PGO 
statistics offices throughout the country, improve the collection of 
crime statistics, and institute crime reporting standards.  In 2006, 
INL organized a U.S. study tour for PGO representatives in order to 
initiate international cooperation between the two countries' crime 
statistics agencies -- the PGO's Crime Statistics and Special 
Records Committee and the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). 
This was followed by an April 2008 visit to Kazakhstan of BJS 
representatives for a needs assessment of the Crime Statistics and 
Special Records Committee. 
 
CONTINUED PGO/BJS COOPERATION 
 
¶3.  As a follow up to the April visit of the BJS, two PGO 
representatives visited the United States in November to finalize a 
cooperation agreement with the BJS and study 911 emergency systems. 
During the visit, the PGO and BJS agreed to exchange statistical 
data, reports, and other analytic materials on the extent and nature 
of crime, emerging crime trends, and the operation of the criminal 
justice systems of the two countries.  The parties also agreed to 
exchange information on new methods, research, technologies, and 
tools used in the area of justice statistics as well as collaborate 
in conducting methodological studies and implementing projects of 
mutual interest.  A draft cooperation agreement was discussed; it is 
expected to be signed during the first quarter of 2009.   (COMMENT: 
At a time when INL is closing down its project to improve the 
collection of crime statistics in Kazakhstan due to funding 
limitations, this PGO-BJS cooperation agreement is especially timely 
and important for sustainability and further development of crime 
data collection in Kazakhstan.  The Government of Kazakhstan has 
already allocated funding for the PGO's future cooperation with BJS. 
 END COMMENT.) 
 
911 EMERGENCY SYSTEMS 
 
¶4.  Kazakhstan's existing emergency response system is not unified, 
but rather is operated by four different agencies.  Specifically, 
the "01" fire alarm service and "051" technical breakages and 
emergencies service are operated by the Ministry of Emergency 
Situations; the "02" (landline) and "112" (cellular) police 
emergency service by the Ministry of Internal Affairs; the "03" 
ambulance service by the Ministry of Health; and the "04" gas 
leakage service by the Ministry of Defense.  Such a multitude of 
phone numbers is difficult for people to remember in stressful 
situations.  It is also difficult for the separate government 
institutions to react in a timely and effective fashion because they 
do not have mechanisms for communicating with each other. 
 
¶5.  To improve emergency response in Kazakhstan, the PGO's Crime 
Statistics and Special Records Committee was assigned the task to 
study the U.S. 911 emergency response system.  Though it is not yet 
clear which agency in Kazakhstan will be responsible for 
coordination of a new, unified emergency response service, it is 
most likely that this function will be given to the PGO, which is an 
independent agency that reports directly to the President and 
oversees the activity of other agencies. (NOTE:  The Ministry of 
Emergency Situations also remains under consideration for this 
responsibility.  END NOTE.) 
 
 
ASTANA 00002480  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶6.  During their November U.S. trip, the two PGO representatives met 
with the National Institute of Justice, the Department of 
Transportation, the E-911 Institute, the Federal Communications 
Commission, and the National Emergency Number Association to discuss 
establishment and operations of 911 systems, the next generation 911 
initiative project, and international perspectives on emergency 
response.  The PGO representatives also visited the District of 
Columbia's Unified Communication Center and the 911 Communications 
Center of Alexandria, Virginia's Police Department to see the work 
of operators in the field. 
 
¶7.  U.S. 911 experts told the Kazakhstanis that if a U.S.-style 911 
system is adopted in Kazakhstan, it should be centralized, operated 
and funded from one head office, and take into account the latest 
technological developments.  Even though the current 911 system in 
the United States is able successfully to serve around 240 million 
phone calls a year through 6,100 communication centers, it still 
needs to adapt to new technology, U.S. experts explained. 
Kazakhstan, they added, is in a position to develop a new system 
from scratch that will meet future technological standards. 
 
¶8.  The PGO representatives explained that, while technological 
issues connected to creating a new emergency response system may 
seem to be the most difficult challenge, psychological factors are 
an even greater hurdle to overcome.  There must be a global change 
in mindset, so that the population learns to better trust law 
enforcement, and emergency response professionals learn how to be 
more responsive, understanding, and polite. 
 
HOAGLAND