US embassy cable - 05ALMATY1436

C O N F I D E N T I A L ALMATY 001436 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR EUR/CACEN (JMUDGE), EUR/PRA (JCONLON), AND 
NP/PTR (ECAMERON) 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/11/2015 
TAGS: KNNP, KSCA, KZ, PARM, TBIO, Environment, POLITICAL 
SUBJECT: KAZAKHSTAN: REPONSE TO INQUIRY ON BIOKOMBINAT 
 
REF: A. 04 STATE 271994 
 
     B. ALMATY 289 
 
Classified By: CDA Mark Asquino, reasons 1.4 (e) and (h). 
 
1. (C) Summary: The GOK has investigated the USG's concerns 
regarding dangerous pathogens at the Biokombinat facility in 
Almaty and discovered a number of strains which, under 
Kazakhstani law, should be moved to a centralized GOK storage 
facility.  The GOK does not consider the strains to be a 
proliferation threat.  End summary. 
 
2. (C) Post submitted Ref A inquiry regarding the possible 
presence of dangerous pathogens at the Biokombinat facility 
in Almaty via diplomatic note on December 29, 2004.  The 
Ambassador underscored the importance of the issue in his 
introductory call with Minister of Education and Science 
Aitimova on January 19 (Ref B). 
 
3. (SBU) On March 29, post received the GOK's response via 
diplomatic note 10/2-1-733, dated March 19, from the Ministry 
of Foreign Affairs.  The note stated that "A committee 
consisting of representatives from Republic of Kazakhstan 
government agencies has conducted an official inspection of 
Biokom LLP.  During the investigation it was established that 
28 pathogenic trains, which are carriers of 14 diseases, are 
being stored at this company.  These infectious strains do 
not belong to the category of highly dangerous pathogens and 
are not suitable for use as strains of highly dangerous 
infections.  Biokom is capable of using them to produce 
medicines to fight several veterinary diseases.  In 
accordance with Republic of Kazakhstan order no. 850 of July 
30, 2002, on "The Republican Microorganism Collection," and 
Republic of Kazakhstan law no. 339-2 of July 10, 2002, on 
"Veterinary Medicine," strains of microorganisms used in 
veterinary medicine are subject to strict accountability and 
should be transferred for storage to the National Strains and 
Microorganisms Collection Depository." 
 
4. (C) POEC chief met with Ministry of Education and Science 
Chief of Staff Rakhmetkazhi Bersimbayev, Abdikarim Zeyullin 
of the MES Department of Science, and Bakhyt Kutubayev of the 
MES Department of Science on April 6 to follow up on the 
GOK's diplomatic note.  Bersimbayev confirmed that the 
interagency inspection team, established by order of Minister 
Aitimova, had discovered some pathogens that presented a 
public health risk; the GOK did not consider it to be a 
non-proliferation issue.  The Almaty akimat had decided the 
private firm now running the Biokombinat facility, Biokom, 
would not be allowed to continue production within the city 
limits of Almaty.  (Note: The unstated implication was the 
pathogens would be moved. End note.) 
 
5. (C) POEC chief noted that the Embassy had received a 
letter from G. Kashikova, the director of a private firm 
named "Beta Star" (the founder of Biokom), denying that the 
company possessed pathogenic or virulent vaccines.  In the 
letter, Kashikova complained that the Embassy's diplomatic 
note and the resulting investigation would lead to the forced 
seizure of their staple product and possibly to the firm's 
bankruptcy.  Kutubayev characterized the letter as a natural 
negative reaction by the firm to the GOK's assertion of its 
oversight rights regarding dangerous pathogens.  Zeynullin 
stated that the firm would be able to continue its business 
under the new restrictions. 
 ORDWAY 
 
 
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