EXBS: APRIL 2004 MONTHLY REPORT FOR SLOVAKIA,

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000467 SIPDIS STATE FOR NP-JOHN COFFEY CUSTOMS FOR BOBBY PICKETT PRAGUE FOR MARK CANNING VIENNA FOR KENNY MACDONALD BUDAPEST FOR KEITH MINES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KNNP ETTC PREL LO SUBJECT: EXBS: APRIL 2004 MONTHLY REPORT FOR SLOVAKIA, CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY -------------- SLOVAKIA -------------- NEW EXBS ADVISOR TO SLOVAKIA, LARRY ADKINS, ARRIVED AT HIS NEW POST IN BRATISLAVA ON THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2004. DUE TO PROBLEMS IN OBTAINING PROPER SECURITY CLEARANCE, ADVISOR HAD TO BE ESCORTED WHENEVER HE ENTERED THE EMBASSY. ADVISOR COULD NOT ACCESS AND SET UP NEW OFFICE SPACE OR EVEN LOG ON TO COMPUTER SYSTEM UNTIL SECURITY CLEARANCE WAS RECEIVED. ON APRIL 7, 2004, EMBASSY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF INTERIM SECURITY CLEARANCE FOR NEW ADVISOR. ADVISOR IS NOW OCCUPYING HIS NEW OFFICE SPACE. JUST PRIOR TO ARRIVAL, EXBS ADVISOR ATTENDED THE EXBS CONFERENCE HELD IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA ON MARCH 23 - 24, ¶2004. THE CONFERENCE WAS BOTH INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE. THE CONFERENCE SPEAKERS ANSWERED MANY OF THE QUESTIONS I HAD AND MUCH WAS LEARNED THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH THE MORE EXPERIENCED ADVISORS THAT ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE. ON APRIL 19, 2004, EXBS ADVISOR MET WITH SLOVAK DIRECTORATE OF CUSTOMS DIRECTOR LUTERANOVA. ADVISOR PRESENTED SLOVAK CUSTOMS WITH A CT-30 ENFORCEMENT KIT. DISCUSSIONS INCLUDED PROPOSED IBIT/RADACAD TRAINING IN JULY 2004, REPAIR OF PALLET X-RAY MACHINE AT THE PORT OF VYSNE NEMECKE, UPGRADE OF PORTAL MONITORS AND A SCHEDULED VISIT TO VYSNE NEMECKE ON THE BORDER WITH UKRAINE IN MAY. WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE STATUS OF SOME EQUIPMENT THAT HAD BEEN ORDERED BY COP KEVIN CUMMINGS. -------------- CZECH REPUBLIC -------------- EXBS ADVISOR CONTACTED MARK CANNING (POL/ECON OFFICER) AT THE AMEMBASSY IN PRAGUE TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF EXBS PROGRAM IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC. EXBS ADVISOR WILL VISIT PRAGUE IN MAY TO MEET WITH DIRECTORATE OF CUSTOMS AND ALIEN AND BORDER POLICE OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE EXBS PROGRAM IN THEIR COUNTRY. -------------- HUNGARY -------------- EXBS ADVISOR CONTACTED KEITH MINES (POL/MIL OFFICER) AT THE AMEMBASSY IN BUDAPEST TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF EXBS PROGRAM IN THE HUNGARY. EXBS ADVISOR WILL VISIT BUDAPEST IN MAY AND MEET WITH DIRECTORATE OF CUSTOMS OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE EXBS PROGRAM IN THEIR COUNTRY. QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS REPORT CAN BE DIRECTED TO LARRY ADKINS, SENIOR ADVISOR, SLOVAKIA EXBS OFFICE AT AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA AT TELEPHONE NO.: 421-2-5922-3375, FAX: 421-2-5922-3044 OR THROUGH EMAIL AT ADKINSLH@STATE.GOV. THAYER NNNN