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DE RUEHTA #2530/01 3571042
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O 221042Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4181
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 0957
RUCNCLS/SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
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RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1065
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
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RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC
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RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0433
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RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHAST/USOFFICE ALMATY 1027

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 002530 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB/ESC, OES/PCI 
ANKARA FOR FAS/BIOTECHNOLOGY 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SENV EIND TBIO KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  FIRST INTERNATIONAL BIOTECH CONFERENCE HELD 
IN ASTANA DECEMBER 12-13 
 
ASTANA 00002530  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  The First International Conference "Astana 
Biotech 2008" took place on December 12-13, at the National Center 
for Biotechnology in Astana, Kazakhstan.  Its stated goal was to 
develop further Kazakhstan's overall scientific potential.  Speakers 
represented a range of laboratories and research institutes, 
including several from the United States.  Among the presenters was 
a representative from Russia's Vector, a state-supported research 
center that the Centers for Disease Control called "one of Russia's 
largest and most sophisticated former bioweapons facilities." 
According to Global Security.org, Vector has been involved in the 
development of virus weapons such as smallpox, bubonic plague, and 
anthrax since the late 1980s.  The adjacent exhibition hall had 
numerous displays from local and international companies.  Research 
laboratories also displayed billboards highlighting their work on 
genetic modification in cotton, wheat, corn, and rice.  The 
genetically modified organism (GMO) situation in Kazakhstan is still 
quite fluid.  Currently there is no ban on GMO food products in 
Kazakhstan, although all GMO goods must be labeled, and all imported 
goods must first be analyzed to certify their safety.  END SUMMARY. 
 
FIRST INTERNATIONAL BIOTECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE IN ASTANA 
 
¶3. (SBU) REO attended the First International Conference "Astana 
Biotech 2008" in Astana, December 12-13, at the National Center for 
Biotechnology.  A biotech exhibition filled with numerous stalls was 
adjacent to the conference hall, and attendees could easily view the 
many diverse products and equipment available, as well as see the 
latest research developments from a wide variety of scientific 
organizations. 
 
¶4. (SBU) National Center for Biotechnology General Director Erlan 
Ramankulov said that the overall goal of the conference was to 
develop further Kazakhstan's overall scientific potential.  It was 
also important to learn more about the diversity of biotechnological 
research that colleagues are conducting, he said.  Indeed, this 
observer was quite impressed with the depth of knowledge and 
experience that the conference brought together, with participants 
representing laboratories and research institutes from Russia, 
Belarus, Kazakhstan, as well as Kazakhstani scientists working 
overseas at the University of California Davis, Rutgers University, 
Auburn University, Texas A&M, Institute Gustave Roussy (France), 
Nagasaki University (Japan), and Hebrew University. 
 
BIOTECH LABORATORY RESEARCH ON VIRUSES 
 
¶5. (SBU) There were many speeches outlining the research and 
development (R&D) progress at the various laboratories and 
institutes in biotechnology, and REO selected two as representative. 
 Belarus Ministry of Health Institute of Epidemiology and 
Microbiology Director of R&D Dr. Leonid Titov outlined some of his 
institute's work, such as research on the formation of resistance to 
antibiotics used to fight human viruses, the development of 
innovative methods and technologies for the manufacture of vaccine 
test systems and reagents (e.g., a chemical substance used to 
produce a chemical reaction to detect, measure, and produce other 
substances), the localization of tuberculosis strains, and research 
on various diphtheria ribotypes that are prevalent in Belarus and 
Russia. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Russian (Novosibirsk) State Research Center of Virology and 
Biotechnology "Vector" Deputy General Director Elena Nechaeva said 
her laboratory was researching countermeasures to global biological 
threats, virus research (including Ebola), and biological security. 
She said Vector had many years of experience working with dangerous 
viruses.  She said Vector is one of Russia's largest R&D 
laboratories and actively collaborates with research centers around 
the world, such as the Centers for Disease Control, National 
Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Energy national 
laboratories, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (NOTE: 
According to Global Security.org, since the late 1980s, Vector has 
 
ASTANA 00002530  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
contributed to the development of virus weapons such as smallpox, 
bubonic plague, and anthrax.  It has a high level of bio-containment 
capacity that enables it to work safely with viral pathogens and 
contains a special Laboratory Animal Farm that raises laboratory 
animals for experiments.  They have had several contracts with The 
International Science and Technology Center, an intergovernmental 
organization that facilitates international science projects and 
assists the global scientific and business community to source and 
engage with Russian and CIS institutes that develop or possess 
scientific know-how, which helps keep Russian Cold War-era 
scientists gainfully employed.  END NOTE.) 
 
BIOTECH EXHIBITS ARE VARIED, MODERN, AND COMMERCIAL 
 
¶7. (SBU) Several companies and institutes had displays in the 
adjacent exhibition hall, and the exhibits showed the depth and 
variety of biotech products available in Kazakhstan today.  Some 
were local Kazakhstani companies, such as Medilend, displaying 
testing equipment for clinical immunology, biochemistry, and 
microbiology; Vel'd, selling laboratory and medical equipment to 
various labs in Central Asia; and Yumgiskor Holding, a laboratory 
equipment distributor for Radiometer Copenhagen, Sysmex (Japan), and 
Nihon Kohden (Japan).  Others were international, such as Olympus 
(Russia), producing diagnostic laboratory equipment; Sartorius 
(Germany), with control systems for sterilization of pharmaceutical 
preparations and centrifuges for their preparation; Techniplast 
(Italy), specializing in laboratory cages for mice and other lab 
animals; and Bio-Rad (U.S.), displaying computer systems for 
bio-molecular analysis and testing, and an automated electrophoresis 
system (e.g., movement of charged particles in a colloid or 
suspension when an electric field is applied). 
 
GMO RESEARCH IS ACTIVE IN KAZAKHSTAN 
 
¶8. (SBU) Various research institutes also had billboard displays 
explaining their latest research developments and achievements.  REO 
noticed that several were doing considerable work in genetic 
modification of cotton, wheat, rice, and corn, the core agricultural 
products here in Central Asia, either to make them more resistant to 
pests and diseases and more adaptable to arid climates, or to 
increase their yield per hectare.  (COMMENT:  In September, Dr. L. 
Giddings, President of PrometheusAB, Inc, a biotechnology company, 
visited Astana to meet with counterparts in agricultural 
biotechnology.  He characterized the Kazakhstani scientists as open 
and adaptable, "not hostile or prejudiced."  Giddings said the 
Ministry of Environment "seemed eager to cooperate" and the National 
Biotechnology Center was interested in pursuing collaborative 
projects.  According to Giddings, "the most formidable potential 
allies are in the Academy of Nutrition, who have a strong focus on 
science as the basis for decision-making and firmly believe that the 
use of biotechnology in agriculture is a solution, not a problem." 
END COMMENT).  The Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, a 
subsidiary of the National Center for Biotechnology (hosting this 
conference), does research in cell engineering and genetic 
engineering -- e.g., they conduct research in genetic modified 
organisms (GMO). 
 
¶9. (SBU) The GMO situation in Kazakhstan is still quite fluid. 
There is a Law on Food Safety (2007) and related Rules on 
Distribution of GMO in Kazakshtan that stipulate that genetically 
modified food must first be analyzed in laboratories to certify its 
safety before it is imported to Kazakhstan.  Currently, the Kazakh 
Academy of Nutrition in Almaty has the only laboratory in Kazakhstan 
that can do GMO tests. 
 
¶10. (SBU) According to Lyutsia Kalamkarova, head of this Quality 
Control and Food Safety Laboratory, currently there is no ban on GMO 
food products in Kazakhstan.  All GMO products and food containing 
GMO ingredients must be labeled accordingly.  The Ministry of Health 
is developing technical regulations and rules that will tighten 
control over food for children.  Kalamkarova said the weak point in 
quality and safety control for children's food is that agencies that 
 
ASTANA 00002530  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
have no capacity for detailed analysis of children's food are 
nevertheless issuing food safety certificates. 
 
HOAGLAND