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If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol).Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09ASTANA1809.
| Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 09ASTANA1809 | 2009-10-07 00:54 | 2011-08-30 01:44 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Astana |
VZCZCXRO3773 RR RUEHIK DE RUEHTA #1809/01 2800054 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 070054Z OCT 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6563 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE 2018 RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO 2086 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 1387 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL 1033 RUEAORC/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHINGTON DC RULSJGA/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC 1448 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC 1574 RHEFAAA/DIA WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RHMFIUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASTANA 001809 SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/CEN DEPT FOR ISN/ECC: JFRIEDMAN, ACHURCH, JHARTSHORN, SROBINSON DEPT FOR ISN/ECC-AMT: LSPRINGER, DLYONS DEPT FOR EUR/ACE: DFISCHER DEPT FOR SCA/RA: JSPILSBURY CBP/INA: KCHAISSON AND BPICKETT USDOE/NNSA: CWALKER, TPERRY, EDESCHLER DOC FOR DCREED 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 REPORTING CABLE (SEPTEMBER 2009) ASTANA 00001809 001.2 OF 003 ¶I. BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS: EXBS Advisor Robert Colbert departed Astana on September 12 for his home in Texas. We thank Bob for his two years service in Kazakhstan and wish him well in his future endeavors. II. COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD: ¶A. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS CONDUCTED ¶1. September 1-10, EXBS Advisor Paul Shott processed into Embassy Astana and conducted office turnover with departing EXBS Advisor Robert Colbert. ¶2. September 15, EXBS Advisor and administrative assistant met with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Customs Control Committee. The Chairman welcomed the new advisor to Kazakhstan and gave a brief overview of customs operations and goals for the future. He touched on Kazakhstan's upcoming OSCE Chairmanship and the need for stronger transportation security. He hinted that he would prefer to organize operations more in line with U.S. DHS/CBP operations versus EU procedures, referring directly to the Customs Operational Management Center designed after the CBP National Targeting Center. He talked about Kazakhstani government support of customs operations and a loan of $62 million from the World Bank over the next two years targeted for customs improvements. He also mentioned the opening of a World Customs Organization Regional Training Center in Astana scheduled for December 2009. The regional center will be used to train customs officers throughout Central Asia on all aspects of customs, from legal and legislative to enforcement and investigations. The chairman asked EXBS for financial support for the regional center, stating that this project lacks donor support. He mentioned that if we couldn't support the project he would ask the Chinese for support although he stated openly that asking the Chinese for support was not his preferred direction. ¶3. September 16, EXBS Advisor and administrative assistant met with the Deputy Chairman of the Customs Control Committee to visit the Operational Management Center and to discuss proposal for funding the World Customs Organization Regional Training Center. The Operational Management Center was very impressive, with representation from Customs, Agriculture, Internal Affairs, Transportation and Communications, Health and National Security. The center currently monitors 12 of the 166 international border crossings, with provisions to expand operations to cover all 166 crossings in the future. Although impressive, it is not without its drawbacks. All agencies represented are currently on their organizations' databases, as well as the customs database, which hampers effectiveness of information flow both internally and externally. Efforts are underway to resolve this problem; however "ownership issues" are a concern. After the tour, the Deputy Chairman pitched his request for funding for the WCO Regional Training Center. His request was for $320,000 for computer and audio-visual equipment as well as furniture. EXBS has allocated $250,000 for training center upgrades. However, customs indicated they need the money by the end of September, which is impossible to achieve. Advisor explained that we are interested in supporting training centers and will have money in the future, but not by September 30. Advisor also explained that, although there are some exceptions, EXBS funds are programmed years in advance, not weeks. ¶4. September 18, EXBS Advisor accompanied POL/ECON and DTRO officers ASTANA 00001809 002.2 OF 003 to a meeting with Mr. Kevin Farmer, ISN/CB. Mr. Farmer gave us a read out of the Central Asian Biological Weapons Conference he attended in Astana. The conference was designed to raise awareness of the Biological Weapons Convention, advise and assist in regulatory guidance, and bring the Central Asian countries into the fold by offering mutual support in the region. Mr. Farmer briefed that all NDF funds are currently on hold pending project reviews but 
 ;hopes that the VERTEX project funds would be released by November. ¶5. September 30-October 1, Advisor attended the Central Asia Border Security Initiative conference, hosted by the European Union Border Management Central Asia (EU/BOMCA) held in Tashkent. The conference was attended by representatives from UN, USA, OSCE, IOM, Russian Federation, Austria, and Japan in addition to representatives from all five Central Asian countries. Integrated border management was the theme of the conference, highlighting the fact that without strong border security, regional stability in Central Asia is at risk. The EU claimed that the BOMCA program is the most productive border management program in Central Asia, although other programs have been effective. BOMCA pushed for more ownership from the Central Asian countries, noting that "donors will not be there forever." We received briefings from representatives of each Central Asian country on their progress in the areas of regional border security and counternarcotics. The underlying theme of all the country briefings was that drug reduction was the first priority, with organized crime and corruption control running a close second and third. The OSCE gave a briefing on the newly established Border Management Staff College in Dushanbe, Tajikistan which will run their first classes in October. The college in not just regional, it is open to all 56 participating OSCE states and strives to enhance the knowledge of present and future senior leaders. The course focuses on international "best practices" in the fields of border management, information sharing, and cross-border cooperation. The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime gave a briefing on Automated Donor Assistance Mechanism (ADAM), a web based program where donors can input data on projects they are doing in the region. Donors are encouraged to use the program to de-conflict projects within the donor community to ensure efforts are not duplicated. The system requires registration, user name and password, and displays all donor information within the region a donor in planning to operate. The ADAM system has received funding from the U.S. government. ¶B. TRAINING COURSES CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD None ¶C. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD September 17 - 85 laptops and nine power point projectors with screens valued at $75,000 for the Kazakhstani Border Guard Service's Training Centers was delivered to EXBS. ¶D. IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE TRAINING: International Rail Interdiction Training for eight Border Guards and eight Customs Officers is scheduled for November 16 - 20, in El Paso Texas. ASTANA 00001809 003.2 OF 003 EQUIPMENT: ¶1. The Regional Procurement Support Office/Frankfurt (RPSO) executed a contract for the procurement of five portable modular shelter complexes valued at $1,178,330. These shelters are part of the Kazakhstan Green Border Project and will be purchased using EXBS and NSOI provided funding. Delivery of the first shelter is scheduled for October 13. ¶2. The Regional Procurement Support Office/Frankfurt (RPSO) is executed a contract for the procurement of five X-ray baggage screening systems valued at $620,565 for the Kazakhstan Customs Control Committee. Delivery date pending. ¶E. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY None ¶F. CASPIAN SECURITY INFORMATION None III. RED FLAG ISSUES: None HOAGLAND
Wikileaks
Wikileaks: Kazakhstan 