BOMCA in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan has borders with China, the Russian Federation, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Delimitation treaties between Kazakhstan and China, Turkmenistan and Russia respectively have been signed. Five controlling bodies are involved in border management in the Republic of Kazakhstan: the Customs Control Committee, National Security Committee, Ministry of Transport and Communication, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Agriculture. Within their relevant responsibilities,the listed authorities are responsible for close cooperation and interaction in customs control, border control, transport control, sanitary and epidemiological control and veterinary and phyto-sanitary control.

The Committee of National Security is directly accountable and subordinate to the President, and according to the legislation, the Committee is headed by a Chairman who is appointed by the President with approval of the Senate (Higher Chamber). The Committee on National Security co-ordinates all authorities involved in the protection of the state border.

It is the duty of the Border Service, which employs more than 20,000 servicemen, to apply the Law on the State Border and manage the 12,000km long border of the republic.

Customs services of Kazakhstan carry out control of persons, vehicles, goods, freight crossing the state border in accordance with the international law and national legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Customs are working on the simplification and improvement of Customs procedures. The exchange of information on the international level works well because existing agreements with foreign countries provide sufficient legal basis for cooperation. It is a priority of Kazakhstan to have good and equal relations with all countries. The technical equipment at the disposal of customs services is close to European standards.

Kazakhstan is a member of several international organizations, which also deal with issues related to border management. In this respect Kazakhstan participates in regular meetings of the Council of Heads of Border Guards of the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC). In this framework member states of both organizations cooperate on the protection of external border and the management of internal borders within the regions.

Kazakhstan has been implementing the concept of interaction and cooperation at the border in the spirit of the so-called “Single Window concept”, also referred to as United Border Crossing Point (UBCP). Under the existing Joint Order, all five involved agencies of Kazakhstan closely interact at UBCPs. The plan on UBCPs has been implemented at the Kazakh-Russian border, where currently 18 UBCPs exist. The number of BCPs at this border is anticipated to increase to a total of 180 BCPs. Kazakhstan is negotiating similar border management arrangements with China and is piloting a joint Border control experiment with Kyrgyzstan at two border crossing points on its southern border.

Kazakhstan is interested to learn more about the European concept of Integrated Border Management and its best practices. Should IBM be implemented in Kazakhstan, it is necessary to do this in line with the existing legal basis. There are many inter-agency working groups, which could be

utilized to facilitate the IBM process. Cooperation with the EU and BOMCA is a priority of Kazakhstan. The Military Institute in Almaty, under the supervision of the National Security Committee, as a main policy maker for training in the border service, is cooperating with BOMCA by providing regional training in the field of Dog Training and Training of Border guard officers.

BOMCA activities in Kazakhstan have included:

• Several Regional and National “Training of trainers” courses with participation from different Border agencies from Kazakhstan and the other central Asian have been conducted on the basis of the Border Controllers’ Training Center under Border Service NSC RK in Almaty with a strong focus on modern training methodologies and Integrated Border Management
• Jointly organized Skills Training courses with IOM / OSCE / UNHCR and the US Embassy have been conducted including the participation of the Border guards and Customs Service
• In cooperation with the Military Institute in Almaty, intensive English language courses were conducted. The courses were taught by British Council trainers. British council also has assisted in equipping a self training English language center in the Institute.
• Construction works were completed at “Merke” Railroad Crossing BCP, including re-roofing and refurbishment of all offices, purchase of IT/office equipment, and a skills training for border guards as a joint training from BOMCA / IOM/ UNHCR and OSCE was conducted.
• Drug Detectors have been successfully procured and delivered to BCP “Kordai” (Kazakh – Kyrgyz border), IT Equipment for Ministry of Agriculture and Procurement of special
• Equipment for the Phyto-sanitary Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture was delivered for use at the borders.
• Study tours to Hungary and Austria for representatives from various agencies have been organized.
• Participation of representatives from different border agencies in workshops and conferences on IBM have been organized by BOMCA
• A cross-border workshop on IBM at the Kazakh – Kyrgyz border was conducted.

Future activities will include:

• Regular border management donor conferences to be hosted by the Government to share updated border management strategies with international donors.
• Continued discussions with Kazakh authorities and for revision of the existing border management strategy.
• Cross-border workshops for improved regional Cooperation.
• Finalization of the IBM Handbook for Central Asia, for European Commission endorsement
• A Study Tour to FRONTEX in Poland for Senior Border Agency staff (Commanders or deputy Commanders) and participation of Border Guard Commanders in the annual International Border Police Conferences in Hungary
• Regional conferences in CA on IBM for national Governments under the CABSI umbrella
• Training-of-trainers courses for CA training centre staff at the regional Training Centre in Almaty
• Two three-month dog training courses for 25 participants each (five from each CA country) at Tashkent and the Almaty Training Centers
• BOMCA will organize and implement 5 training events for Border Agency staff at BCPs