FORMER SENATOR DECONCINI SHINES LIGHT ON ISSUE OF

UNCLAS TIRANA 000597 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR EUR/SCE (SAINZ/BENEDICT) AND H NSC FOR BRAUN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PHUM PINR AL SUBJECT: FORMER SENATOR DECONCINI SHINES LIGHT ON ISSUE OF MISSING CHILDREN IN ALBANIA ¶1. (U) Former U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini, who visited Tirana May 22-24 as a guest of Albanian Ombudsman Dobjani, focused on the plight of missing and trafficked children. DeConcini held meetings with PM Berisha and other Cabinet members, saw the heads of several NGOs that focus on TIP, and was briefed by Country Team members on efforts to combat trafficking in Albania. ¶2. (U) During a private meeting with Ambassador Ries, former Senator DeConcini, a member of the board of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in the U.S., expressed his desire to expand the scope of the organization internationally. He said that in many underdeveloped countries police tend not to recognize missing children as an issue that pertains to them and/or have not received adequate training on how to take reports of missing children and to conduct proper investigations. During a lunch hosted by Ambassador Ries in his honor, Senator DeConcini discussed with parliamentary leaders, journalists, and members of NGOs the role of political party structures in the legislative process, and the importance of democracy within political parties themselves. ¶3. (U) Dobjani told Emboffs that DeConcini's visit was well received and helped shed greater light on the issue of missing and exploited children. Dobjani said that during his visit to the Ministry of Justice, DeConcini was briefed on an on-going training program for police and judicial officials for handling cases of missing and exploited children. This program is being funded by UNICEF and the EU. Dobjani said that the Minister and DeConcini discussed the U.S. Amber Alert system. Nothing comparable to this exists in Albania and this was cited as a pressing need. In follow up to this visit, a team from the Albanian Ministry of Justice may travel to the U.S. to learn more about the organization and functioning of the Amber Alert program. RIES