Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08TIRANA469
2008-06-20 13:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Tirana
Cable title:  

GOA REACTION TO 2008 TIP REPORT

Tags:  ELAB KCRM KPAO KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG AL 
pdf how-to read a cable
P 201350Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7201
INFO EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000469 

G/TIP FOR AMY ROFMAN, JENNIFER DONNELLEY; EUR/SCE FOR ERIN
KOTHEIMER, DRL FOR JODY BRUCKNEBURG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2018
TAGS: ELAB KCRM KPAO KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG AL
SUBJECT: GOA REACTION TO 2008 TIP REPORT

REF: A. STATE 58457

B. TIRANA 152

Classified By: AMB. JOHN L. WITHERS II FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).

C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000469

G/TIP FOR AMY ROFMAN, JENNIFER DONNELLEY; EUR/SCE FOR ERIN
KOTHEIMER, DRL FOR JODY BRUCKNEBURG

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/18/2018
TAGS: ELAB KCRM KPAO KWMN PGOV PHUM PREL SMIG AL
SUBJECT: GOA REACTION TO 2008 TIP REPORT

REF: A. STATE 58457

B. TIRANA 152

Classified By: AMB. JOHN L. WITHERS II FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) Ambassador Withers demarched Foreign Minister Basha
on the 2008 Trafficking in Persons Report findings (Ref A)
and DCM and Poloff delivered the same to Minister of Interior
Nishani, Deputy Minister Zajmi, and Director of Police Prenci
on June 3. Foreign Minister Basha was the first to receive
news that the USG had downgraded Albania to Tier II Watch
List status; Basha's face went pale when told. Other
officials did not openly display shock, likely because they
had been warned beforehand by Basha. Disappointment was the
initial overall reaction. Since the public announcement of
the TIP Report, there have been no strong public reactions
from the GOA in the form of statements or firings directly
related to the report. Local media reaction was strongly
critical, focusing on Albania's drop in status as a failure
on trafficking issues not seen since 2002 (when it was last
on the Watch List).


2. (C) More than two weeks after the demarches there is
movement to address a few of the key issues raised in the
report, particularly from the Albanian State Police (ASP).
The ASP has, with input from our ICITAP office, drafted a
short-term action plan. The ASP's anti-trafficking section
has told the Embassy that they are motivated to do what they
can to avoid the black mark of being named on the Watch List
again. The ASP has particularly focused on our message for
improved identification of trafficking victims and for
training. The GOA's 2008-2010 National Anti-Traffficking
Strategy was announced and approved days prior to the TIP
announcement. Prime Minister Berisha has made few public
comments on the report, with no statement in the days
following its release and only passing mention of it since
then.


3. (C) COMMENT: The release of the TIP report came in the
wake of a row with the Embassy on several political issues,
which has not abated. As always, implementation will be key
for the GOA to successfully improve its anti-trafficking
programs. We had hoped that Watch List status would spur the
GOA to take stronger action on human trafficking, but it
remains to be seen whether this will occur. Instead, we may
be entering a phase where our criticism on human trafficking,
a lower priority for the Government than many other issues,
is overshadowed by disputes with the USG on other fronts,
including rule of law concerns and the Government's attacks
on independent state institutions. The departure of National
Coordinator for Anti-Trafficking Iva Zajmi for maternity
leave on June 17 will leave a void in the GOA's
anti-trafficking efforts. End Comment.

WITHERS