VZCZCXRO5214
PP RUEHIK
DE RUEHTA #2146/01 3480930
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 140930Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUCNFB/DIRECTOR FBI PRIORITY
INFO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6985
RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 2242
RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1605
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2306
RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1240
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1800
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1650
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHAST/AMCONSUL ALMATY 2089
RUEAWJL/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC
RUEABND/DEA HQS WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WASHINGTON DC 0058

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASTANA 002146 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINS SOCI KZ
SUBJECT:  KAZAKHSTAN:  VISIT OF FBI DIRECTOR 
 
ASTANA 00002146  001.3 OF 002 
 
 
REFTEL:  ASTANA 2083 
 
¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified.  Not for public Internet. 
 
¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Robert Mueller, III, Director of the Federal 
Bureau of Investigation, visited Kazakhstan November 17-18 and met 
with the Committee on National Security, Prosecutor General, 
Minister of Internal Affairs, and Chief of the Financial Police.  In 
the cordial and productive encounters, the director stressed the 
need to build partnerships to fight terrorism, improve intelligence 
gathering and solve transnational crimes.  He signed a memorandum of 
understanding on general cooperation with the Prosecutor General 
(reftel).  In internal embassy meetings, he asked for assistance in 
overcoming what the FBI sees as obstacles on human rights when the 
Bureau proposes to repatriate criminals.  The embassy recommended 
consultation with Washington specific cases.  END SUMMARY. 
 
PROSECUTOR GENERAL 
 
¶3. (SBU) FBI Director Robert Mueller, III discussed cooperation with 
the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan, Karat Mami, on November 17. 
Mami offered a brief description of his office and focused on his 
broad role as a prosecutor, defender of the public, and 
representative of the government's crime-fighting goals.  Finding 
common ground, Mueller said he felt at home as a former prosecutor 
saying that deeper partnerships are the key to making progress on 
all of the FBI's goals.  As Mami closed the meeting, his deputy 
indicated that the Government of Kazakhstan seeks U.S. help to find 
information about people who may have left the country after having 
embezzled substantial sums.  Mueller only offered general agreement 
to be helpful.  The two then signed a memorandum of agreement 
(reftel). 
 
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS 
 
¶4. (SBU) Director Mueller met with Minister of Interior (MVD) Serik 
Baimaganbetov on November 17.  Baimaganbetov opened the meeting by 
drawing parallels between the FBI's roles and responsibilities of 
the MVD.  Baimaganbetov noted, as the chief law enforcement agencies 
of their respective countries, that cooperation between the two 
entities will only enhance their ability to protect their citizens 
against harm.  The FBI Director, after thanking Baimaganbetov for 
the opportunity to meet, concurred on cooperation and expressed hope 
for it to continue.  The FBI Director stressed the need for further 
joint training programs and investigative work.  The FBI Director 
discussed the Biometrics initiative with Baimaganbetov, because 
Kazakhstan has not expressed an interest in it.  Director Mueller 
continued the theme of cooperation and added that the sharing of 
Biometric data will expand both countries' resources and ability to 
thwart crime.  He concluded by urging Baimaganbetov to consider 
sending more candidates to the FBI's National Academy located in 
Quantico, Virginia to train side-by-side with U.S. law enforcement 
officers. 
 
FINANCIAL POLICE 
 
¶5. (SBU) Director Mueller met with Deputy Chairman Rustam A. 
Ibraimov of the Agency on Combating Economic and Corruption Crimes 
(Financial Police) on November 18.  Ibraimov expressed his thanks 
for the Director's visit and his regret that the Chairman of the 
Financial Police could not attend due to a meeting with the 
Kazakhstani President.  Ibraimov briefed the FBI Director on the 
history and authority of the Financial Police.  He explained that 
their responsibilities include economic crimes and corruption 
crimes.  Upon request, Ibraimov's deputy further explained the 
Financial Police's impact in Kazakhstan, citing a recent 
Transparency International study in which Kazakhstan advanced from 
the 145th to 120th position in its corruption index.  The FBI 
Director expressed his appreciation for the Financial Police's 
accommodation of his visit and cited the current global economic 
climate as common ground for both agencies to collaborate on issues 
of economic and corruption crimes.  The Director discussed the 
 
ASTANA 00002146  002.3 OF 002 
 
 
October INL-funded training session in Astana provided by FBI 
instructors for the Financial Police.  In response to his inquiry 
about its value, the Deputy Chairman and his staff praised the 
program.  The Director's closed by identifying further areas of 
cooperation and training and again advocated for sending officers to 
the FBI's National Academy. 
 
¶6. (SBU) COMMENT:  The FBI Director's visit was remarkable on three 
fronts.  First, the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with 
the Prosecutor General's Office strengthens an already good 
relationship.  Second, the FBI Director advocated further 
cooperation and extended his agency's hand in pursuing joint 
ventures.  Third, he asked Kazakhstan to consider the 
Biometrics-sharing initiative throughout Central Asia.  Kazakhstan 
is the only Central Asian countries that has not either signed a 
letter of cooperation with the FBI or expressed an interest in the 
program.  The FBI is preparing to forward a proposed letter of 
cooperation to the Kazakhstani government for its consideration. 
Post is hopeful that the Director's visit has advanced this 
important project.  END COMMENT. 
 
¶7. (U) FBI Director Mueller has cleared on this cable. 
 
SPRATLEN