Cablegate: Japan and Uk to Provide Funding for Physical

VZCZCXYZ4555
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTA #0433 0661106
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061106Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY ASTANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1888
INFO RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC

UNCLAS ASTANA 000433

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

SCA/CEN FOR M. O'MARA
DOE FOR C. KENNEDY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KNNP KGIC MCAP KZ
SUBJECT: JAPAN AND UK TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR PHYSICAL
PROTECTION UPGRADES AT ALATAU AND ULBA

1. (SBU) On March 5, PolOff met with embassy representatives
from Japan and the United Kingdom to discuss the projects of
their countries at the Institute for Nuclear Physics (INP) in
Alatau and at the Ulba Metallurgical Plant. Both the U.K.
and Japan are focusing on physical protection projects.

2. (SBU) Martin Child, Political Officer at the British
Embassy, told Poloff that the United Kingdom intends to
provide over $550,000 to INP for security upgrades. The
funding will pay for a closed circuit television system and
an alarm system. Child said that $1.5 million is needed to
fully complete the security upgrade at Alatau.

3. (SBU) Shion Kawai of the Japanese Embassy reported that
Japan is providing funding to both Alatau and Ulba. Japan
intends to spend $3,225,000 at Ulba. The money will be used
to renovate a fence, install closed circuit television, and
improve the security of the entrance gate. Japan has
allocated $800,000 for Alatau, which will be spent primarily
on construction and renovation of the main fence at INP.

4. (SBU) Child reported that the U.K. has become frustrated
with a lack of progress at Alatau. He read aloud an e-mail
from Simon Evans, Deputy Director of the Global Threat
Reduction Office, who said that there are "problems across
the board." Shion complained of a lack of coordination among
the relevant Kazakhstani ministries and agencies. Child said
that he sensed the Kazakhstanis may try to play donors off of
each other. When Child told the Kazakhstanis that he planned
to coordinate with the Japanese, the Kazakhstanis discouraged
the idea.

5. (SBU) Nevertheless, both countries are moving ahead with
their projects. A delegation from Japan will travel to
Kazakhstan in April to inspect Ulba and Alatau in order to
further develop Japan's program plan. The U.K. is hoping
that a representative from its Global Threat Reduction Office
can join the Japanese delegation. Child and Kawai said that
their countries are interested in further coordination with
the United States.

ORDWAY

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