VZCZCXRO3756
PP RUEHDBU RUEHSL
DE RUEHAH #0153/01 0330822
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 020822Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4169
RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RUCNEXC/EXBS COLLECTIVE
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
INFO RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC//OSD//
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RHMCSUU/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL//CCJ4/7/CCJ5/SSO/POLAD//
RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//G-CI//
RHMFIUU/DTRA ALEX WASHINGTON DC//OSAN//
RUEHAST/AMCONSUL ALMATY 5566
RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT
RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU 0385
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 0478
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT 0069
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0042
RUEHSI/AMEMBASSY TBILISI 1119
RUEHYE/AMEMBASSY YEREVAN 0128
RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW 3093

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 ASHGABAT 000153 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR ISN/ECC JHARTSHORN, LSPRINGER, and JFRIEDMAN 
SCA/CEN FOR NBASLEY 
SCA/RA FOR JMCCLELLAN 
DHS/CBP BMCCRAY 
DHS/ICE FOR JOUTLAW 
DOE/NNSA FOR JNOBLE, AND BPENTOLA 
DOC/BIS FOR DCREED 
USCG FOR SHABTEMICHAEL 
AMEMBASSY BERLIN FOR CBP ATTACHE 
AMEMBASSY MOSCOW FOR ICE ATTACHE 
AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD FOR ICE ATTACHE 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP KG
SUBJECT:  EXBS:  TURKMENISTAN EXBS ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE 
JANUARY, 2010 
 
ASHGABAT 00000153  001.2 OF 006 
 
 
¶A. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS:  EXBS 
focus for December was the support of the Department of Energy's 
(DOE) Second Line of Defense (SLD) Portal Monitor Project. Advisor 
continues the process of hiring a second assistant for Turkmenistan. 
Advisor was on leave 1 - 4 January, and in Tashkent as part of his 
regional duties, 13 - 27 January. End Summary. 
 
¶B. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD. 
 
¶1. Site Assessments and Meetings during this Reporting Period. 
 
a. On 7 January, EXBS met with UNODC representatives in Ashgabat. 
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss a joint partnership with 
the UNODC for a three-phase project along the Afghan-Turkmen border. 
Phase one will be executed before June, 2010 and will consist of an 
assessment of the established ports of entry and green borders. 
SpQifically, the team composed of EXBS and UNODC will be 
determining the level of compliance of Turkmen border forces and 
customs officials under UNSCR 1540 with relation to performance, 
equipment and infrastructure. Phase two and three will be provision 
of expert legal and regulatory assistance, equipment and training to 
bring Turkmenistan into full compliance with UNSCR 1540. Advisor has 
received the UNODC proposal and will meet again in February to 
refine it. 
 
(Advisor Note: The UNODC Office in Ashgabat is administered from the 
Regional Office in Tashkent, currently headed by James Callahan. 
Callahan is departing in February and his replacement will be named 
soon. While in Tashkent in January, EXBS Advisor discussed this 
project with the UNODC Office there, and discussed additional joint 
projects in Uzbekistan. A joint site survey to Termez will be 
conducted in early March to determine potential projects. One 
potential project is the UNODC Border Liaison Office Project in 
Termez. End Note.) 
 
b. A 8 January meeting scheduled with the Border Service was 
canceled. No explanation was given. 
 
c. On 8 January EXBS met with the State Customs Service. In 
attendance were Kakabay Goyunliyev, Head of the International 
Relations Department, Akgoyunly Niyazov, Head of the Customs Fees 
Department, and Bayramgeldi Ataguliyev, Head of the Main Customs 
Office. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the new 
Turkmenbashy International Airport and discuss an opportunity for 
the Chairman of Customs and Director of the Customs Training Academy 
to visit the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in New 
Brunswick, Georgia in April. Although the purpose of the meeting was 
clearly stated in the dipnote, the participants had no information 
on the airport, could not tell EXBS if the new terminal was open, 
nor could they share anything else. In fact, in 30 minutes the three 
Turkmen uttered only formal pleasantries and acknowledged the 
Advisor's conversation. Also in attendance was the MFA 
representative, Hemra Amannazarov. 
 
(Advisor Note: On 22 January, EXBS Advisor met with Uzbek Customs to 
discuss the visit to FLETC by their personnel. Uzbek Customs 
officials were very warm to the idea of the visit. EXBS also 
discussed exchanges with the Uzbeks and future training 
opportunities. End Note.) 
 
 
ASHGABAT 00000153  002.2 OF 006 
 
 
d. On 28 January, EXBS was contacted by the MFA and told that a 
follow-up dipnote-requested trip to Turkmenbashy Airport on 2 
February would be replaced with a meeting at the State Customs 
Service to discuss specific needs at the airport, and to schedule a 
site survey of the airport. 
 
e. On 11 January EXBS traveled to Turkmenbashy to conduct a meeting 
with the Maritime Brigade of the State Border Service. The purpose 
of the meting was to tour and assess the operability of the Point 
Jackson Cutter as part of the End-Use Monitoring requirements of 
granted U.S.Gov equipment and by request of the State Border 
Service. 
 
The EXBS Advisor and assistant arrived by air at 0830, and took a 
taxi to the location last given by the MFA representative in 
Ashgabat. Although the Advisor had been told the meeting was 
approved, MFA could not provide EXBS with anything other than the 
name of a POC in Turkmenbashy at the Maritime Border Guard Brigade. 
Arriving at the gate to the dock area of the Brigade, the Advisor 
presented his business card and dipnote to the gate guard and 
requested the POC. At first the guard was reluctant to even speak to 
the Advisor, but finally called over a conscript to carry the 
dipnote to a patrol boat commander. 30 minutes later (the 
temperature at the dock was -3C not including wind chill) the 
conscript returned and told the Advisor andQssistant to go to a 
club and wait. A Maritime Border Guard (MBG) Major exiting the dock 
area told the Advisor that the MBG was utilizing a MBG Club as HQ 
and explained directions. Advisor aQ assistant walked to the Club. 
 
(Advisor Note: The dock area is located at 39 degrees, 59 minutes, 
45.09 seconds North, 52 degrees, 59 minutes, 32.56 seconds East, 
adjacent to the State Fish Ministry. The dock is home to the 
Presidential Yacht, Galkynys (Revival), and approximately a dozen 
small to mid-size patrol craft. No fueling facilities were visible. 
End Note.) 
 
At the MBG Club, Advisor encountered another guard, who refused 
entry to EXBS. Another major passing by went for someone. 15 minutes 
later the POC, Captain Aman Amanov presented himself. He explained 
the MBG Commander was very busy and that they had not received the 
dipnote about the meeting. Advisor presented a copy. POC asked the 
Advisor to wait in a local caf until called. The Advisor and 
assistant found a wedding restaurant blaring bad Russian rap music 
that agreed to serve tea. EXBS waited 90 minutes until called. 
 
(Advisor Note: The MBG Club is located at 40 degrees, 0 minutes, 
0.37 seconds North, 52 degrees, 59 minutes, 28.41 seconds East on 
Lermentov Street. End Note.) 
 
(Advisor Note: Maritime Border Guard uniforms are a distinctive 
sharp-looking black pant, shirt, Russian-style black fur hat and 
black felt overcoat, festooned with typical military rank and unique 
MBG patch, which includes the words: Turkmenistanyn Harby deniz 
gullugy, or MBG. Junior officers and conscripts in dress uniform 
have the initials DG, for deniz gullugy, on their epilates. Enlisted 
wear dark blue cotton-stuffed overlarge jackets, blue imitation fur 
hats and blue work pants. End Note.) 
 
After 90 minutes, the Advisor and assistant were picked up by the 
POC in a new UAZ Jeep and taken Southeast of town to the Point 
 
ASHGABAT 00000153  003.2 OF 006 
 
 
Jackson. Advisor found a new base under construction with an 
estimated completion date of April, 2010. There were approximately 
10 barracks buildings, and several administrative buildings, as well 
as the obligatory concrete fence/barrier. 
 
(Advisor Note: The new base is located at 40 degrees, 0 minutes, 
17.76 minutes North, 53 degrees, 3 minutes, 26.07 seconds East. End 
Note.) 
 
The former Point Jackson Cutter is located at a rusting dock with 
five other, slightly smaller patrol craft, one much larger ship of 
obvious military design, and a white luxury yacht, or what could be 
considered a very large speed boat, possibly used for undercover 
operations, or possibly a private yacht of some government official 
who has found a safe place to moor it. That information was not 
accessible to the Advisor. The Point Jackson is now called Cutter 
129 by the Turkmen. 
 
Cutter 129 rests against the pilings along the shore, pilings who 
are a significant hazard to anyone with myopia or depth perception 
problems as they consist of 8 x 8 planks haphazardly shoved into the 
bank and tied to worn pillars rising out of the harbor. The harbor 
smells of rotten fish combined with leaking diesel that gives one 
who has no seafaring experience pause to ever consider why one would 
join the Turkmen Maritime Border Brigade. If the balancing act 
required to board Cutter 129 does not give you pause, leaping as it 
were from piling to piling then onto an unstable log and finally on 
board, the smell certainly will. EXBS Advisor and assistant 
requested permission to board (which seemed required and gave the 
advisor time to plan a route across the pilings) and boarded, 
without incident. 
 
(Advisor Note: The dock and moorings need major work. End Note.) 
 
(Advisor Note: Although the base is new and under construction, the 
boats (ships) tied up there, with the exemption of the white yacht, 
seemed to all be out of commission. EXBS Advisor was told that 
Cutter 129 had been out for three months. End Note.) 
 
The Advisor and assistant were given a tour of the small craft by 
the current Captain, a 1LT whose name was not given, and the former 
Captain, Captain Aman Amanov (our POC). No non-MBG personnel 
appeared to be present. Captain Amanov quickly took over. The most 
significant problem with Cutter 129 is that it is wired for 110V. 
The generators are sufficient to deploy 220V, but the wiring 
harnesses were not provided as part of the delivery, nor part of the 
first year warranty package, and hence light bulbs and commodities 
unique to America, once gone are not replaced. Safety lights, 
spotlights, water purification, heating and cooling units are all 
non-operational due to the 110V issue. 
 
Second, one of the generators is down with a fuel filter out, water 
pump non-operational, and two broken lift rods. The boat cannot put 
to sea unless both generators are operational. There is no service 
agreement with Caterpillar and the MBG does not have the funds to 
service Cutter 129. 
 
Third, Advisor was shown a rust hole in the hull, which had been 
welded over. It was explained to the Advisor that the boat needed to 
be put up in dry dock and the hull cleaned, repaired and painted. 
 
ASHGABAT 00000153  004.2 OF 006 
 
 
This has not been done for at least eight years. 
 
In summary, three things are needed for Cutter 129: 1) An annual 
Caterpillar service agreement (there is an office in Ashgabat and 
one in Baku), 2) Parts such as a water pump, heating unit, air 
conditioner, water purifier, light bulbs, spotlight bulbs and a 
depth gauge, and 3) A dry-dock service, hull repair and paint job. 
 
(Advisor Note: As we were preparing to depart, Captain Amanov came 
to us excitedly explaining that in the dipnote it said Maritime 
Brigade Commander and the he was the Commander. Since the Advisor 
saw several majors and the POC was a Captain, the Advisor was 
hesitant to believe it, but later confirmed it through several 
sources including the MFA. Rank is often low and not indicative of 
position in Turkmen military organizations. End Note.) 
 
f. On 11 January EXBS attempted to visit the new International 
Airport in Turkmenbashy after the MBG visit. Requests had been 
submitted, however after arriving at the airport the EXBS Advisor 
was told no one was available to meet. Advisor did note the 
following: 1) There is a second parallel runway under construction 
to the west of the current runway, and equal in length, 2) There is 
a new cargo terminal under construction to the north of the old 
terminal and between it and the new terminal, 3) EXBS was told by a 
local construction company driver that the target date for opening 
is April, 4) Advisor seriously estimates much later. 
 
g. On 29 January, EXBS Advisor and assistant met with the board of 
Turkmen Standards, the agency responsible for the regulations 
concerning importing radioactive sources. The purpose of the meeting 
was to determine if the U.S. would be allowed to import the specific 
test sources required for testing, acceptance and calibration of the 
radiation portal monitors (RPM) installed by DOE/SLD, or to 
determine a way forward. 
 
Present were Ovezmuhammet Ataev, Deputy Administrator of Turkmen 
Standards, Suhan Mametkuliev, Head of Certification and Standards 
Department, Anna Orazova, Head of the Meteorology Department, 
Baltabay Lukmanov, Director of the Regional Center, Vladimir 
Muradow, Head of the Radiation Dosimetry Department, and Berdiev 
Ovezmurat, of the Labor Safety Department. 
 
Also in attendance was the MFA representative, Hemra Amannazarov. 
 
EXBS explained the installation of the RPM and the need for testing 
and calibration. We presented four options to the panel: 1) Grant 
the U.S. a license to import, transport and utilize the sources, 2) 
Grant the DOE subcontractor responsible for maintenance, Turkmen 
Company Advis a license, 3) Work with the Institute for Nuclear 
Physics (INP)in Uzbekistan and their sources to grant a license, or 
4) Pick the Turkmen Agency we should work with. 
 
(Advisor Note: Advisor met with the INP in Tashkent in January and 
presented the need to them. INP agreed to cooperate and suggested 
several ways to obtain Turkmen Government approval, such a joint 
Customs exchange. INP possesses the sources, but the technical 
specifications would have to be verified by DOE. End Note.) 
 
Turkmen Standards officials agreed unanimously that the U.S would 
not be granted a license to import the sources, nor would Advis. 
 
ASHGABAT 00000153  005.2 OF 006 
 
 
While interested in INP, the officials stated that we should import 
the sources through a Turkmen agency of the Oil and Gas Industry. It 
was agreed, granting the sources would be best. 
 
EXBS Advisor asked for the name of the appropriate agency, but was 
told he could not be given that at this time. The MFA representative 
stated that he would attempt to obtain that by a separate meeting on 
2 February. 
 
Turkmen Standards officials stated that once the agency was 
determined, we should submit a request through the Cabinet of 
Ministers to import and grant the sources to that agency, along with 
a Memorandum of Agreement on their use. Exact technical 
specifications of the sources should be contained in the request. 
They suspected that following that approval, a formal contract would 
be initiated. This information was transmitted to DOE. 
 
¶2. Training Conducted During Reporting Period. NONE. 
 
¶3. Equipment Delivered During Reporting Period. NONE. 
 
¶C. PENDING AND PLANNED TRAINING. 
 
a. EXBS has requested two English-speaking Senior Export Control 
Officials from Turkmenistan attend the University of Georgia's 
Center For International Trade and Security (CITS), sponsored by the 
United States Department of State's Office for International 
Security and Nonproliferation/Export Controls Cooperation (ISN/ECC) 
scheduled for March 15 - 27, 2010. 
 
b. The Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection 
(DHS/CBP) Air Cargo Interdiction Training (IACIT) is scheduled for 
29 Mar - 2 Apr, 2010 in Ashgabat. EXBS has been informed by the MFA 
that the request to conduct the practical exercise at the 
international airport in Ashgabat as part of the training was 
denied. EXBS is seeking alternatives. 
 
c. EXBS has offered to host the Chairman or First Deputy of the 
State Customs Service and the Director of the Customs Academy at the 
Federal Law Enforcement Academy (FLETC) 5 - 6 April, 2010. Expert 
Trainers will follow-up with a visit to the Turkmen Customs Academy 
later in 2010. The purpose of this exchange is the 
institutionalization of training methods at the Turkmen Customs 
Academy. EXBS Advisor will also be escorting a similar delegation 
from Uzbek Customs on 7 - 8 April. 
 
d. EXBS is coordinating with DHS/CBP for the conduct of an 
International Border Interdiction Training (IBIT) Course in the U.S. 
17 - 21 May, 2010. 
 
e. EXBS is working with Department of Energy (DOE) International 
Nonproliferation Export Control Program (INECP) to conduct a 
Commodity Identification Training (CIT) Course in Turkmenistan 19 - 
21 May, 2010. EXBS is hosting similar training in Uzbekistan 26 - 28 
April, 2010. 
 
f. Interdict/RADACAD (Interdiction of Materials and Radiation 
Academy) will be held 28 June - 2 July, 2010 at the DOE/PNNL HAMMER 
facility in Richland, Washington for 20-24 Turkmen from Customs and 
the Border Service. RADACAD trains and equips international border 
 
ASHGABAT 00000153  006.2 OF 006 
 
 
enforcement officers to detect, identify, interdict and investigate 
all aspects of smuggling related to the proliferation and diversion 
of material, commodities and components associated with the 
development and deployment of Weapons of Mass Destruction. 
 
g. EXBS will conduct training for local Customs officials on 
Radiation Isotope Identification Devices (RIIDS) and the 
VaporTracer2 to include the donation of 15 detectors at the 
completion of training. The RIIDs require calibration, which will 
require the importation of small dose radioactive sources. EXBS is 
in the process of importing radioactive sources in support of the 
SLD Program and will build on the success of that importation in 
order to obtain the calibration sources for the RIIDs. 
 
¶D. EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE. 
 
¶1. End-Use Monitoring Status. Initial inventories were delivered to 
ISN-ECC on 9 December, 2009. 
 
¶2. Pending Equipment Deliveries. 
 
a. EXBS has 15 rad-ID Systems (Radiation Isotope Identification 
Devices)(RIIDs) and 2 VaporTracer2 in our warehouse awaiting a 
system for importing the radiation test and calibration sources 
traps for calibration of the VaporTracer2. 
 
b. Three X-Ray Fluorescent Technology scanners are enroute back to 
Turkmenistan. Training was previously conducted on the equipment. 
When they arrive they will be donated to the GoTX. 
 
c. EXBS has received delivery of four CT-30 Kits from WASHDC. 
 
d. EXBS will be working with the Turkmen State Border Service (SBS) 
to identify specific numbers and models of Motorola Radios to order 
in 2010. $100,000 has been earmarked in the 2010 Program Plan for 
radios for the SBS. 
 
e. EXBS will be working with the State Customs Service (SCS) to 
identify the specifics of $120,000 in airport interdiction equipment 
to be earmarked for the new international airport in Turkmenbashy. 
 
¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR 
RELATED BORDER SECURITY. The Chairman of Customs was recently 
replaced by First Deputy Meretgeldi Berdiyev. 
 
¶F. RED FLAG ISSUES. NONE. 
 
¶G. CONTACT INFORMATION. Barry A. Johnson is the Regional EXBS 
Advisor for Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan and can be reached at 
johnsonba8@state.gov, or +993-66-30-85-84. EXBS Assistant for 
Turkmenistan is Gulshat Jumayeva at jumayevaga@state.gov, and for 
Uzbekistan is Irina Kochetkova at kochetkovai@state.gov. EXBS 
Advisor will be in Almaty at the George C. Marshall Center Regional 
Border Management/Security Conference from 8 - 12 February, 2010, 
and in Tashkent as part of his regional duties from 12 - 24 
February. 
 
CURRAN