Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SKOPJE579
2007-07-18 11:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Skopje
Cable title:  

MACEDONIA: MIXED PROGRESS ON THE ANTI-TIP FRONT

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM MK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5879
RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA
RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHSQ #0579/01 1991146
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181146Z JUL 07
FM AMEMBASSY SKOPJE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6297
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO 3694
RUESEN/SKOPJE BETA
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SKOPJE 000579 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR G/TIP (SALLY NEUMANN),DOJ (JOE JONES),DOJ/OPDAT (CARL
ALEXANDRE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: MIXED PROGRESS ON THE ANTI-TIP FRONT

REF: SKOPJE 365

Summary
---------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 SKOPJE 000579

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

FOR G/TIP (SALLY NEUMANN),DOJ (JOE JONES),DOJ/OPDAT (CARL
ALEXANDRE)

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM MK
SUBJECT: MACEDONIA: MIXED PROGRESS ON THE ANTI-TIP FRONT

REF: SKOPJE 365

Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) Recent anti-TIP raids, TIP convictions, and the
arrest of a fugitive convicted of trafficking indicate the
Macedonian government is sustaining its anti-TIP efforts,
which intensified in the first quarter of 2007 (reftel).
Despite that progress, the police need to redouble and
refocus efforts to properly identify potential TIP victims
during raids, and the judiciary remains the weak link in
the government's anti-TIP efforts. End summary.

Anti-TIP Raids - Difficulties Identifying TIP Victims
-------------- --------------


2. (SBU) On June 20, local police conducted two anti-TIP
raids on nightclubs in western Macedonia. During the
operation, police discovered 10 foreign and four Macedonian
females, all "employees" of the clubs. Following initial
interviews, the police from the Sector on Combating TIP
determined that there "were no elements of trafficking"
involved in the employment of most of the women, and
deported seven of the foreigners who were working
illegally. Four Macedonian females were released without
further action; three of the foreigners remained in the
Skopje Transit Center for additional interviews to
determine whether they were TIP victims. The owners of the
nightclubs, Nafi Mustafi and Miniri Rami, were charged with
violating employment regulations and are expected to face
trial. (Note: Miniri Rami has been convicted on TIP
charges in the past. If convicted on the violation of
employment regulation charges, Mustafi and Rami could be
sentenced to up to a year in prison. End Note.)


3. (SBU) On the evenings of July 6 and July 9 in the
western Macedonian cities of Gostivar and Tetovo
respectively, local police conducted raids on four
nightclubs suspected of involvement in TIP activities.
During the raid on the "Oriental Ace" club -- the third
raid there since late April (reftel) -- the police found 11
foreign females and one Macedonian female working at the
establishment. At the "Nota" club, police discovered 11
foreign and two Macedonian potential TIP victims. All of
the female foreigners were taken to the MOI's Transit
Center for further processing, while the Macedonian females
were released. Eight Macedonian women found working in the
Tetovo clubs "Las Vegas" and "Rica Donna" also were
released without further action. The Public Revenue Office
later closed down the "Oriental Ace" for violating
financial regulations.


TIP Conviction and Arrest - Imperfect Outcome, But Better
Than Before
-------------- --------------
--------------



4. (SBU) On July 6, the Tetovo Basic Court handed down a
six-year prison sentence in absentia to Rexep Fejzulai and
a four-year prison sentence to Rexep Karimani, both for
trafficking-related offenses. The two were tried under
Article 418-a(5),for "trafficking in persons under
aggravated circumstances," on charges deriving from the
"Redgo" case, which began in late April of this year
(reftel). Petar Anevski, the Organized Crimes Deputy
Prosecutor who prosecuted the case, complained that the
presiding judge showed bias in favor of the defendants by
failing to comply with minimum standard sentencing
guidelines established under Article 418-a(5). Despite his
complaints, however, Anevski said he was pleased that the
case had been tried quickly and had ended in convictions.
Nevertheless, he told us that he planned to appeal what he
considered the "overly lenient" sentences.

Catching an Escaped Trafficking Fugitive
--------------


5. (SBU) On June 20, Macedonian police arrested Mahir
Kadrija, a convicted human trafficker who had been on the
run since 2004. Originally sentenced to four years in
prison based on the testimony of a Romanian TIP victim,
Kadrija now has been transferred to the Idrizovo

SKOPJE 00000579 002 OF 002


correctional facility near Skopje, where he will serve the
remainder of his sentence.


Comment
--------------



6. (SBU) The recent anti-TIP raids, TIP convictions, and
the arrest of the fugitive trafficker demonstrate some
progress in the GOM's efforts to sustain the fight against
TIP. Post's DOJ Police Advisor will continue to work with
the police to assist them in quickly and properly
identifying TIP victims, instead of deporting foreign
victims based on violations of Macedonian employment laws.
The quick conviction in the "Redgo" trial is a positive
sign of progress in the courts' handling of TIP cases,
despite the lenient sentences handed down. As we have
reported in the past, the courts remain the weak link in
Macedonia's efforts to combat TIP; Post's DOJ Legal Advisor
will continue to urge our judicial contacts to hand down
sentences commensurate with the gravity of the TIP crimes
for which such convictions are obtained.

MILOVANOVIC