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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHKB #0704/01 2461135
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 031135Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAKU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1686
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHC
RHEBAAA/USDOE WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//DCO-I//
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0080
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0679

UNCLAS BAKU 000704 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC - JFRIEDMAN, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN 
DEPT FOR EUR/ACE - KBILGE 
CBP/INA FOR CSTALLWORTH, RWATT, KCHAISSON, CDONOFRIO 
USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY, RTALLEY 
DOC FOR PETERSEN-BEARD 
COAST GUARD FOR SHABTEMICHAEL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP AJ
SUBJECT: EXBS: AZERBAIJAN ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - August 
2009 
 
¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: 
 
¶A. The unwillingness or inability of the Foreign Ministry to respond 
to diplomatic correspondence resulted in the cancellation of an 
International Border Interdiction Course scheduled for September 
21-25 in McAllen, Texas for officers of the State Border Service and 
State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan. 
 
¶B.  Given that the State Border Service (SBS) is not currently 
participating in EXBS funded training, no further equipment 
purchases will be made for the SBS until they resume participation 
in EXBS training courses. 
 
¶C. The EXBS Advisor continues to push the Foreign Ministry for a 
written response to the Nuclear Smuggling Outreach Initiative 
proposal, but no response has yet been provided.  The most recent 
embassy action was to send an official letter to Deputy Foreign 
Minister Araz Azimov from Acting Assistant Secretary Vann Van 
Diepen.  The letter was sent to the Ministry via diplomatic note on 
21 July but no response has been received. 
 
II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD: 
 
The Advisor continues to work with Mr. Fuad Mikailoglu of the NGO 
Baku Center for Foreign Trade Security regarding the proposal for 
EXBS to fund a government-to-industry outreach website containing 
information regarding export control in Azerbaijan. ISN/ECC 
management has approved this project and the EXBS Advisor is 
currently working with the Grants Officer at Post to issue a grant. 
 
10 August - The Advisor met with the Deputy Commander of the State 
Border Service Major General Farhad Taghizada at his request. 
General Taghizada wanted to know the status of the equipment 
upgrades he requested in December of 2008.  The Advisor explained 
that as the SBS is not participating in any EXBS funded training 
courses, it will be difficult if not impossible for EXBS to provide 
further equipment upgrades to the SBS.  The General expressed dismay 
at the current situation and stated that it may harm SBS bilateral 
working relationships with EXBS, the Embassy, and U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection.  He further stated that the Leahy vetting row 
seems artificial and that the SBS has no control over the Foreign 
Ministry who is pushing the row.  The Advisor explained that 
participation in the September IBIT Course in Texas would be a 
perfect opportunity for SBS participation and the General stated 
that he would push for SBS participation but in the end was unable 
to do so.  The General stated that our cooperation should not be 
hampered by politics to which the Advisor explained that Leahy 
vetting is not optional but required by law and that there is 
therefore no way around vetting. 
 
12 August - The Advisor chaired a meeting of the Peace and Security 
Working Group.  In attendance were Mr. David Froman of the Office of 
Assistance for Europe and Eurasia and Mr. Bruce Pentola of the NNSA 
Second Line of Defense Program.  The purpose of the meeting was to 
introduce the group members to Mr. Froman and Mr. Pentola and brief 
them on the various work performed by the group to include ODC, DAO, 
SLD, RSO, POL/ECON, and POL/MIL. 
 
14 August - The EXBS Advisor accompanied Security and Law 
Enforcement Officer of the Office of Assistance for Europe and 
Eurasia Mr. David Froman on a trip to the Astara Port of Entry (POE) 
on the Iranian Border. The site has been under total reconstruction 
for nearly two years and there seems to be no end in sight. The 
reconstruction has slipped several times indicating that it is a low 
priority for the Government of Azerbaijan.  We were met by officers 
of both the State border Service and the State Customs Committee who 
seemed to have a good working and personal relationship. EXBS 
provided equipment was in use during the visit and it was obvious 
that the equipment is in constant use. 
 
 
¶B. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD: 
 
Ten officers from the State Customs Committee attended the 
 
International X-Ray Interdict in Course (IXIT) in Laredo, Texas, 
from 24 to 28 August. 
 
 
¶C. ITEMS DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD: 
 
Description              US $ Value 
 
¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE: 
 
TRAINING: 
 
U.S. Coast Guard sustainment assessment visit to Azerbaijan Coast 
Guard scheduled for 2 September -9 October. 
 
 
EQUIPMENT - Procurement in process: 
 
Description                   US $ Value 
Hand-held Trace Detectors/Analyzers           Out for bid 
Baggage X-ray System 
Gamma spectrometers 
Gamma-Neutron Survey Meters 
Neutron Detectors 
X-ray Florescence Metal Analyzers 
Portal Type Metal Detectors 
Radioisotope Identifiers 
Density Meter Kits 
Fiberscope Kits 
 
 
¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR 
RELATED BORDER SECURITY: 
 
NONE 
 
POC for this report is David Hall, EXBS Advisor. 
 
LU