VZCZCXRO6179
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK
RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHNP RUEHPOD RUEHPW
RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHTA #0432/01 0700743
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 110743Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4866
INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 1333
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 1415
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0712
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 0399
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 0807
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 0894
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 ASTANA 000432 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR SCA/CEN 
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC: YWONG, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN, SROBINSON 
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC-AMT: LSPRINGER 
DEPT FOR EUR/ACE: DFISCHER 
DEPT FOR SCA/RA: JSPILSBURY 
CBP/INA: SBAKER AND BPICKETT 
USDOE/NNSA: CWALKER, TPERRY, 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: PARM PREL ETTC MNUC KNNP KSTC KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  EXBS ADVISOR'S MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE FOR 
FEBRUARY 2009 
 
¶I.  BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: 
 
¶1. (SBU) During February 2-13, the BN-350 Program team traveled to 
Aktau to conduct a Canister Requalification Meeting and to discuss 
multilateral transport operations for BN-350 spent fuel project. 
 
¶2. (SBU) During February 11-13, the Second Line of Defense Program 
held its quarterly meeting with the Kazakhstan Customs Control 
Committee to discuss Phase II activities. 
 
¶3.  (SBU) During February 24-25, the Preventing Nuclear Smuggling 
Program conducted a table top exercise in Astana in an effort to 
help Kazakhstan evaluate its national nuclear smuggling response 
plan. 
 
¶4.  (SBU) During February 23-25, an AirConOps Project team held 
meetings with the Kazakhstani Customs Control Committee to discuss 
implementation of the Astana Airport pilot. 
 
II.  COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶A.  SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED 
 
¶5.  (SBU) During February 3-5, the EXBS advisor attended the Central 
Asia Border Management/Security Conference in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 
This conference was co-organized by the George C. Marshall Center 
and the Border Service of Kyrgyzstan.  The aim of this conference 
was to discuss the process of reforming the border security sectors 
in the Central Asia countries and the approaches the countries use 
to reform their security sector.  No representatives from 
Turkmenistan or Uzbekistan were present. 
 
¶6. (SBU) On February 3, during the Central Asia Border 
Management/Security Conference, the EXBS advisor participated in a 
panel of EXBS representatives that provided an overview of the EXBS 
program's projects and border security efforts in Kazakhstan, 
Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan.  After these presentations, the panel of 
EXBS advisors answered a variety of questions on border management, 
transnational issues, and common threats. 
 
¶7. (SBU) On February 4, the EXBS advisor traveled to Novopokrovka, 
Kyrgyzstan, and was provided a tour of the Border Service Training 
Center.  The advisor was afforded an opportunity to observe 
differences in the type of border management training provided at 
this facility in comparison with the Military Institute in Almaty. 
These observations highlight the need for improved inter-regional 
border management training regarding transnational issues and common 
threats. 
 
¶8. (SBU) On February 4, the EXBS advisor toured the Ak-Jol Border 
Crossing Point in Kyrgyzstan and the connecting Kordai Border 
Crossing in Kazakhstan. 
 
¶9. (SBU) On February 18, the EXBS advisor and LTC Yentz of the 
Embassy's Office of Military Cooperation met with Fitz Fitzgibbon, 
Defense Attache, and Martin Child, Second Secretary for Regional 
Energy Policy, from the British Embassy in Astana to discuss the 
subject of cooperation with the Kazakhstani Maritime Border Guard 
Service on the Caspian Sea. 
 
¶10.  (SBU) On February 18, the EXBS advisor met with the Embassy's 
 
ASTANA 00000432  002 OF 004 
 
 
Legatt office to discuss the restructuring of the various 
Kazakhstani government agencies that impact passport control and 
immigration issues and the impact such restructuring would have on 
border security. 
 
¶11. (SBU) On February 19, the EXBS advisor participated in the 
Embasssy's Security Assistance Working Group meeting during which he 
presented the EXBS Kazakhstan assistance plan for 2009. 
 
¶12.  (SBU)  On February 23, the EXBS team meet with Kurushbek 
Sauranbayev, Acting Head of the Kordai customs post, and discussed 
inspection procedures and technology utilization at Kordai, which is 
located on the border with Kyrgyzstan. 
 
¶13. (SBU) On February 23, the EXBS team visited the Karasu customs 
post escorted by the deputy head of the Kordai customs post, Marat 
Polatov, where they reviewed and discussed inspection procedures and 
technology utilization with Mombayev Batyrzhan, chief specialist at 
the customs post in Karasu, which is located on the border with 
Kyrgyzstan approximately 16 kilometers east of Kordai. 
 
¶14.  (SBU)  On February 24, the Astana EXBS team met with the EXBS 
team in Bishkek and was given a tour of the Kyrgyzstan Customs 
Academy by Durlat Osmanaliev, Senior Inspector, Department of 
International Cooperation.  The team was also introduced during this 
trip to First Deputy Chairman Kubanychbek Kulmatov of the Kyrgyzstan 
customs service.  The Statement of Work for this facility will be 
provided to the Kazakhstan Customs Control Committee for their 
consideration in the construction of Kazakhstan's new Customs 
Academy. 
 
¶15. (SBU)  On February 25, the EXBS team visited the International 
Airport in Almaty and meet with Abeuova Aktolkyn, Head of the 
International Relations Division of the Customs Control Department 
in Almaty.  The team was then provided a tour of the airport 
facilities and discussed inspection procedures and technology 
utilization with Anuar Chuzhegulov, head of the Zhetysu customs 
post, and Yerzhan Bottayev, deputy head of the Zhetysu customs post. 
 
 
¶16. (SBU)  On February 26, the EXBS team meet with Mindulla 
Merkaliyev, head of the Kalzhat customs post, which is located on 
the border with China, approximately 360 kilometers northeast of 
Almaty.  The team was then provided a tour of the facilities and 
discussed inspection procedures and technology utilization with 
Nurlan Syikynov, Chief Specialist of Radiological Control at the 
post. 
 
¶17. (SBU)  On February 26, the EXBS team met with Talgat Nogayev, 
head of the Korgas customs post, which is located on the border with 
China,  northeast of Almaty.  Nogayev provided the team with an 
operational overview of the post's operations, including a detailed 
description of inspection procedures and technology employed at the 
port. 
 
¶18. (SBU) On February 27, the EXBS Team was provided a tour by 
Rashid Nazyrov, deputy head of the Korgas customs post. The team 
reviewed and discussed inspection procedures and technology 
utilization with a Mr. Ashimbayev, the head of the delivery section 
at the post. 
 
 
ASTANA 00000432  003 OF 004 
 
 
¶B. TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶19.  (SBU) On February 3-5, representatives from the Kazakhstan 
Customs Control Committee and the Border Guard Service attended the 
Central Asia Border Management Security Conference in Bishkek, 
Kyrgyzstan.  This conference was co-organized by the George C. 
Marshall Center and the Border Service of Kyrgyzstan.  The aim of 
this conference was to discuss the process of reforming the border 
security sectors in the Central Asia countries and the approaches 
the countries use to reform their security sector. 
 
¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶20. (SBU) On January 23-27, miscellaneous articles of equipment, 
including inspection gloves, socket sets, wrenches, flashlights, 
hammers, and other inspection equipment, were delivered to Customs 
representatives at the posts of Karasu, Zhetysu, Kalzhat, and 
Korgas. 
 
¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE 
 
¶21. (SBU) During March 18-19, two representatives from Kazakhstan 
will participate in the Export Controls for Biological Materials 
International Workshop in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.  This is a joint 
Canadian and Kyrgyz sponsored event with U.S. and British 
participation. 
 
¶22. (SBU) During May 18-22, a WMD Basic Investigative Analysis 
Course is scheduled in Astana.  This International 
Counterproliferation (ICP) course is designed for up to 20 
police/customs investigators, prosecutors, intelligence analysts, 
and other officials responsible for developing actionable 
intelligence used in combating the illicit trade or smuggling of 
WMD-related materials and technologies. 
 
¶23. (SBU) During April 13-24, the EXBS program manager and two 
representatives from Kazakhstan will attend the University of 
Georgia's Center for International Trade and Security Export Control 
Academy in Athens, Georgia.  The participants from Kazakhstan are 
Azat Makhmudov, from the International Security Division of the 
Department of Multilateral Collaboration in the Ministry of Foreign 
Affairs, and Nurlan Zhussupbekov, from the Export Control Department 
of The Ministry of Industry and Trade. 
 
¶24. (SBU) The EXBS team is planning a turnover ceremony during April 
for three portable shelters that will be donated to the Border Guard 
Service for use in the Green Border project. 
 
¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR 
RELATED BORDER SECURITY 
 
¶25.  (SBU) None 
 
¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION 
 
¶26. (SBU) On February 20, a DOD Caspian Security Cooperation Action 
Officer Working Group meeting was held in Stuttgart, Germany, to 
discuss the coordination of security cooperation activities to 
enhance regional security in the Caspian Basin. 
 
¶27.  (SBU) Country Clearance has been granted for Lt. Michael 
 
ASTANA 00000432  004 OF 004 
 
 
Fisher, EXBS advisor Baku, to visit Astana from March 15-18.  A 
meeting has been scheduled for March 16 with the Deputy Chief of 
Mission to discuss the future of U.S. assistance to the Maritime 
Border Guard Service. 
 
III. RED FLAG ISSUES. 
 
¶28.  (U) None. 
 
HOAGLAND