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.

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BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS
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3. (U) There were no significant programmatic items that would be of
interest to other in-country program Advisors or Washington agency
managers.

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COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD
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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.

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TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD
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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.

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EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING REPORTING PERIOD
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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.

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IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE
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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.

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SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS,
NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY
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11. (U) There were no significant developments in export
controls, nonproliferation, or related border security.

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RED FLAG ISSUES
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12. (U) There are no red flag issues to report.

SCHLICHER