INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTER (ISTC)
The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) is an intergovernmental organization established in 1992 by an agreement between the European Union, Japan, the Russian Federation, and United States.  Initial funding for ISTC came from the US State Department under the CTR Program.  Please see the ISTC file in the Russia:  Foreign Assistance:  Other US Assistance section of the NIS Profiles Database for information on ISTC's history or the Kazakhstan:  CTR entry for regional developments.  From its headquarters in Moscow, ISTC provides weapons scientists from NIS countries with opportunities for redirecting their scientific talents to peaceful applications.  Since 1992, other nations, including Kazakhstan, have joined the ISTC. For detailed information on ISTC activities in Kazakhstan see the ISTC database at http://www.istc.ru/. {Entered 7/27/2000, KB}
 
ISTC BRANCH OFFICE
LOCATION:  Almaty
Telephone:  7(3272) 62-02-72
Fax:  7 (3272) 69-62-10
Email:  tomarovskaya@istc.ru
ADMINISTRATION:
Head of ISTC Branch Office:  Natalya Tomarovskaya 
[NISNP correspondence with ISTC Almaty, 20 July 2000.]{Entered 7/25/2000, KB}

11/1/2001: ISTC TO FINANCE KAZAKHSTANI PROJECTS WORTH $1.2 MILLION
The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) has approved financing of Kazakhstani projects worth $1.2 million. The projects include a study of health issues related to the Aral Sea and the former Semipalatinsk test site, and a project testing the use of lithium as a blanketing material in thermonuclear reactors.
["Kazakh Scientists to get 1.2m Dollars from International Body," BBC Monitoring Service, 1 November  2002; in RANSAC Nuclear News, 6 November 2001.]{Entered 4/12/2002 YP}
 
7/5/2000: ISTC AWARDS KAZAKHSTAN GRANTS FOR BN-350, NUCLEAR CLEANUP
The International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) awarded Kazakhstan $2.5 million to fund eight projects, including $1 million to decommission the BN-350 reactor at the Mangyshlak Atomic Energy Combine (MAEK) and $350,000 to decontaminate areas at the Semipalatinsk Test Site.  Since 1995, the ISTC has granted Kazakhstan about $16 million for various research projects. (Please see http://www.istc.ru/istc/db/projects.nsf/prjs/K-513 for information on the MAEK decommissioning plan.)
[Kazakhstan Gets Grants from the International Science and Technology Center," Interfax, No. 1, 5 July 2000.] {Entered 7/18/2000, KB}
 
OTHER US ASSISTANCE DEVELOPMENTS:  
1/95: TWO FIRMS DONATE MILLIONS FOR CONVERSION
Robert O. Draggon, Vice President of Finance at the Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC), announced that of the $2.5 billion his agency has available for the FSU this year, $500 million is targeted for defense conversion. Liesel Duhon, Acting Director of the Commerce Department's Special American Business International Training (SABIT) Program, announced a new $1 million defense conversion initiative that will bring 100 scientists and managers from defense institutes and plants from the former Soviet Union in groups of ten for two month stays in the United States
["A Good US Business Target: Kazakhstan Defence Conversion," Post-Soviet Nuclear & Defense Monitor, 31 January 1995,  p. 9.]