ALBANIA: SCENESETTER FOR VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY'S

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000420

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/SCE (MBENEDICT/DSAINZ)
NSC FOR BRAUN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/26/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PINR MARR AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA: SCENESETTER FOR VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY'S
MAY 7 A-3 MEETING IN DUBROVNIK


Classified By: AMBASSADOR MARCIE RIES. REASONS: 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Background/Summary: Albanians describe their
relationship with the U.S. as "strategic" and consider it
their most important bar none. Politically, and militarily
Albania looks to the U.S. first, and is deeply appreciative
of our help. In return, Albanians have worked hard to make
themselves a country upon which the U.S. can rely. With
virtually no hesitation, Albania was among the first to sign
an Article 98 agreement (despite pressure from Europeans),
and send troops to Iraq (now 120 commandos). It also has
troops in Afghanistan and Bosnia. This winter, when we were
having difficulty finding a venue for the Iraq coalition
planning meeting, Albania stepped forward and did a very good
job of hosting Generals Abizaid and Casey and representatives
from the 30 participating states. Albania's moderate voice
in the region has helped keep the lid on extremist groups and
smooth the way for negotiations on Kosovo's final status.
Equally important, Albania has taken a lead role within the
A-3 for improving cooperation among the three countries.
Under Albania's chairmanship of the A-3 and SEEBRIG, both a
medical contingent (A3) and larger joint staff South East
Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) headquarters were established and
deployed in Afghanistan.


2. (C) Integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, beginning
with a NATO invitation in 2008, is the country's highest
international priority, but there is much work to be done.
Albania lags behind Macedonia and Croatia in almost every
measure save one: unlike the other two, Albania harbors
nearly universal support for NATO membership. Getting there
might not be easy, but once there the Alliance will find no
other more enthusiastic member. During your meeting, you may
want to:

-- express appreciation for Albania's contributions in Iraq,
Afghanistan, and Bosnia, and ask that Albania continue to be
a voice of moderation in the region;

-- urge continued reforms, particularly in the area of rule
or law and supporting MOD Mediu's reform program, in order to
meet NATO requirements; and

-- show support for Albania's NATO aspirations and continued
participation within the A-3, but remain noncommittal
concerning the next enlargement round, stressing the need to
meet membership standards. End Background/Summary.

GOOD ALLY GLOBALLY AND REGIONALLY


3. (C) Your meeting with PM Berisha offers an excellent
opportunity to express appreciation to the leader of a
country that has consistently shown itself a friend of the
United States. Over the years Albanian leaders have
consistently looked to us for advice on how to make their
country a better partner internationally and pursue effective
domestic reform. In return, Albania has rarely failed to
answer our call on key issues -- Article 98, Iraq, and
Afghanistan. Albania has also taken a leading role in the
Adriatic Charter and used its chairmanship to negotiate and
secure the deployment of an A-3 medical contingent to
Afghanistan. As chair of the South East Europe Defense
Ministerial (SEEDM),Albania took responsibility for
establishing the South East Europe Brigade (SEEBRIG) joint
staff headquarters in Afghanistan, no small feat for a
country with extremely resources. In the context of the
Kosovo status negotiations, Prime Minister Berisha pledged to
Ambassador Wisner he would press the Kosovars to make
concrete progress on treatment of the Serb minority and would
work hard to dispel the idea that Albanians harbored the
ambition to construct a Greater Albania.

NATO MEMBERSHIP: WORK TO BE DONE


4. (C) Albania has no higher international priority than
Euro-Atlantic integration, beginning with NATO membership.

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Albanian leaders understand that while we share their NATO
aspirations, there is still a lot of work to be done to meet
NATO requirements. In Minister of Defense Mediu, we have a
bright, resourceful, and hardworking interlocutor who is
committed to making the reforms that are necessary. However
Ambassador Nuland told the Prime Minister when she was here
that the NATO Council is likely to look most at progress on
rule of law issues. The Prime Minister will need to lead on
this, budgetary issues and on holding local elections that
meet international standards in 2007 if Albania is to have a
chance of getting an invitation in 2008.

ECONOMIC ISSUES


5. (C) Interest of American business in Albania, up to now
very modest, is increasing. The previous government
finalized a contract with Lockheed Martin to upgrade air
traffic control/communications worth USD 47 million, and the
new government is working on an agreement with Lockheed to
provide a USD 17 million coastal surveillance system. New,
very ambitious projects in the energy sector are under
discussion.

THE PRIME MINISTER


6. (C) Prime Minister Berisha has a troubled history with the
United States, having failed to heed clear warnings that the
pyramid schemes would bring about the collapse of the economy
and ultimately all of the institutions of government, in 1997
when he was President. He is working hard now to demonstrate
that he is the most reliable of partners, especially on
foreign policy issues of critical importance to the United
States. His domestic program, which focus on fighting
organized crime -- where he has had some significant
successes -- and corruption is a worthy one. The MCC has
recognized his commitment to these goals by making Albania a
recipient of an award as a "threshold" country.

MESSAGES


7. (C) You may wish to make the following points with your
Albanian interlocutors:

-- Thank you for supporting U.S. initiatives, both
regionally and globally. I know that your soldiers are
serving with distinction with U.S. forces in Iraq and
Afghanistan, and we are deeply grateful. (Note: PM Berisha
visited his troops in Iraq in December 2005.)

-- We appreciate Albania's moderating role in the Balkans.
Your close ties in the region and support for a peaceful,
internationally brokered resolution of Kosovo status is
crucial. I know you have been active in pressing the Kosovars
to do more for their minorities and I urge you to continue
this helpful role.

-- We fully support Albania's Euro-Atlantic aspirations and
are pleased by the high level of support for NATO membership
among the Albanian people.

-- Albania must work hard if it is to be invited into NATO
in the next enlargement round. Military reform is essential
and good that you have pledged to meet the 2% GNP target but
you will need to show concrete progress, especially on rule
of law issues, to persuade the North Atlantic Council.

-- Congratulations on Albania's recent signing of a
Millennium Challenge Threshold Program agreement. I urge you
to make the best use of these funds to eliminate public
sector (grant focuses on taxation, business licensing and
public procurement) corruption.
RIES