EXBS: CYPRUS EXBS REPORTING CABLE: OCTOBER 2006 - JANUARY

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000145 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE CUSTOMS FOR CBP/INA RWATT, BPICKETT, MCHANDARLIS DTRA FOR RKEIPP DEPT FOR EUR/WE, EUR/NE, ISN/ECC - PVANSON, ACHURCH, JMCCLELLAN, EUR/ACE - DMARTIN USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY DOC FOR PETERSEN-BEARD E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNPP CY SUBJECT: EXBS: CYPRUS EXBS REPORTING CABLE: OCTOBER 2006 - JANUARY 2007 (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (SBU) Summary: During the reporting period DoD's International Counterproliferation Program (ICP) conducted a "WMD Executive Seminar" and a "Training Needs Assessment". DoE began the installation of new Radiation Portal Monitors at the Port of Limassol. Seven Cypriot Customs officials participated in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Targeting and Risk Management training in Malta. Two representatives of the Cypriot Marine and Port Police attended a CBP-provided training on the use of a remote-control underwater video camera, which will be donated later this year to the Cypriot Police. End summary. ¶2. (U) Based on guidelines issued by the Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Office of Export Control Cooperation (ISN/ECC),this report provides a synopsis of activities relating to the Cyprus 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) There were no significant programmatic items that would be of interest to other in-country program Advisors or Washington agency managers. -------------- COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On October 30th, 2006, Nicosia's EXBS Program Coordinator attended the Second Annual Workshop for EXBS LES members at Bratislava, Slovakia. ¶6. (SBU) In November 2006, DOE Technicians, accompanied by the EXBS Coordinator, did maintenance and repair work on the USG donated x-ray van located at the Limassol Seaport and the radiation portal monitors located at the Limassol Seaport and Larnaca Airport. The DOE Technicians also provided training to a technician from the GOC Electrical Mechanical Services so that simple maintenance and minor repairs can be performed locally. ¶7. (SBU) In January 2007, Department of Energy (DOE) contractors began working on the installation of the new Radiation Portal Monitor at Limassol Port. The EXBS office is monitoring the work as the project is due to be completed by mid-March 2007. ¶8. (SBU) DoD's International Counterproliferation Program(ICP) conducted a Training Needs Assessment in Cyprus from January 29-February 2. The ICP delegation met with representatives of various Police offices, including the Chief of Police, the Anti-Terrorist Squad, Fire Department, Bomb Squad, Criminal Investigation Department, prosecutors, the airport police, and the Marine and Port Police. The ICP delegation also met with Customs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),Civil Defense, Medical Services, Ministry of Commerce, Attorney General's Office, Ministry of Labor, Civil Aviation, and the Cyprus Port Authority. The ICP team has reviewed Cyprus's WMD national crisis response system and is currently determining how the International Counterproliferation Program can best assist the Government of Cyprus to improve its ability to detect, deter, and interdict WMD and their components and to investigate and prosecute WMD incidents including WMD trafficking. The assessment will assist in the development of a multi-year workplan for ICP engagement in Cyprus. A consistent theme throughout the week was the GoC's interest in receiving more crisis management training. -------------- TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD -------------- ¶6. (SBU) In October 2006 the Department of Defense's International Counterproliferation Program (ICP) hosted a "WMD Executive Seminar" in Paphos, Cyprus. Forty(40) senior-level Cypriot Officials participated at the Seminar from the Police, Customs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Defense, Cyprus Port Authority, Supreme Court, Attorney General's Office and other relevant agencies. The seminar covered WMD threats and included a crisis management exercise. ¶7. (SBU) In December 2006, 7 Cypriot Customs Officers accompanied by the EXBS Program Coordinator attended the U.S. Customs and Border Protection-sponsored Targeting and Risk Management (TRM) Training in Malta. The training provided effective means of identifying high-risk shipments and provided knowledge and skills necessary to improve targeting capabilities. Equipment will also be donated as part of the training later this year. ¶8. (SBU) In December 2006, U.S. Customs and Border Protection instructors also trained two Cypriot Port and Marine Police officers in Malta on the operation of a remote-control underwater video camera. The camera will be donated to the Port & Marine Police later this year. -------------- EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING REPORTING PERIOD -------------- ¶9. (U) No equipment was delivered during the reporting period. A significant amount of equipment (by Cypriot standards),however, will be handed over to government officials this month as soon we receive the appropriate documentation from the Office of Acquisition Management. -------------- IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE -------------- ¶10. We currently have the following EXBS-related trainings scheduled: -- Port Security Vulnerability by USCG - May 7-11, 2007 -- Maritime Crisis Management Seminar by USCG - Sept. 3-14, 2007 Other pending trainings include: -- Controlled Delivery by ICE - Date TBD -- Undercover Operations Training by ICE - Date TBD -- Commodity Identification Training by DOE - Date TBD -- End User and End Use Analysis by DOE - Date TBD -- In depth technical training for dual use technical export committee by DOE - Date TBD In addition, DoD's ICP program has just engaged in Cyprus and is planning training and equipment donations over the next several years. ICP's next training is planned for late may early June. -------------- SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY -------------- ¶11. (U) There were no significant developments in export controls, nonproliferation, or related border security. -------------- RED FLAG ISSUES -------------- ¶12. (U) There are no red flag issues to report. SCHLICHER