EXBS: CYPRUS EXBS REPORTING CABLE - JANUARY - APRIL

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000699 SIPDIS CUSTOMS FOR CBP/INA PWARKER, MCHANDARLIS, ROME FOR CUSATT DEPT FOR ISN/ECC - PVANSON, ACHURCH, AMAGOULAS DEPT FOR EUR/ACE - DMARTIN AND EUR/SE USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY DOC FOR PETERSEN-BEARD SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNPP CY SUBJECT: EXBS: CYPRUS EXBS REPORTING CABLE - JANUARY - APRIL 2006 (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On March 1, the EXBS Resident Advisor Bob Granico left post and is not being replaced. The EXBS program remains fully operational through FY 07 and is led by the EXBS Program Coordinator under the supervision of the Economic Officer. Twenty-four Cypriot officials attended an Analytical Investigations Methods Training in January and seventeen traveled to Charleston, South Carolina in April for a Seaport Interdiction Training. We are planning a DOE commodities identification training program and an air cargo interdiction training program for June. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has scheduled a policy visit in Cyprus in May. End summary. ¶2. (U) Based on guidelines issued by the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Office of Export Control Cooperation (ISN/ECC),this monthly report provides a synopsis of activities relating to the Mediterranean Regional EXBS Office. The report includes activities relating to training, equipment procurement, meetings, developments affecting the program, and additional programmatic items of interest to other in- country Advisors and Washington agency managers. -------------- -------------- BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS -------------- -------------- ¶3. (U) EXBS Advisor Robert Granico departed Cyprus on March 1, 2006. The EXBS Office remains fully operational through the EXBS Program Coordinator under the guidance of the Embassy Nicosia ECON section. ¶4. (SBU) The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) has scheduled a Policy visit to Cyprus in May with a view to invite Cyprus to join the International Counterproliferation Program (ICP) in the near future. -------------- COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The Economic and Commercial Officer attended the EXBS Advisors Conference in Vienna, March 28-29, 2006. During the Conference the acting Advisor shared and expressed views related to the EXBS Office in Cyprus. ¶6. (SBU) The EXBS Program Coordinator met with the Head of Investigations of the Department of Customs. The primary focus of the meeting was to convince Customs to add another member to the ASET (Anti Smuggling Enforcement Team) in order to strengthen their capabilities. -------------- TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD -------------- ¶7. (SBU) During the week of January 23-27, 2006 the EXBS Office sponsored Analytical Investigations Methods Training. Twenty-four members of the Cyprus Police, Customs and Fire Brigade attended the training. ¶8. (SBU) In April 2006, Seventeen Cypriot Customs Officers, Marine Police and Anti-Terrorism Officers attended the Seaport International Border Interdiction Training (ISIT) in Charleston, S.C. -------------- EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING REPORTING PERIOD -------------- ¶9. (SBU) In February 2006, one Laptop Computer and various training gear (training guns, handcuffs etc) were donated to the Anti-Terrorism Unit. -------------- IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE -------------- ¶10. (SBU) The National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) is planning to hold a four-day WMD Commodity Identification Training (CIT) Course in Cyprus in early June. ¶11. (SBU) The Cyprus EXBS Office is coordinating the local logistics for sending 9 Cypriot Customs and Police Officers to New York in June 2006, for the International Air Cargo Interdiction Training (IACIT). -------------- SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY -------------- ¶12. (U) There were no significant developments in export controls, nonproliferation, or related border security. -------------- RED FLAG ISSUES -------------- ¶13. (U) There are no red flag issues to report. ZIMMERMAN