EXBS: SERBIA, ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - MAY, 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 BELGRADE 000523 DEPT FOR ISN/ECC - YWONG, ACHURCH, AND RBALDWIN, ISN-EXBS-AMT-DL USDOE/NNSA FOR TPERRY, DPAL CPB/INA FOR SMARSH SIPDIS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP PBTS SNAR KCRM SR BK MW SUBJECT: EXBS: SERBIA, ADVISOR MONTHLY REPORTING CABLE - MAY, 2009 BELGRADE 00000523 001.2 OF 005 ¶1. BROAD AREAS OF INTEREST TO ADVSORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS -- EXBS continued technical correspondence regarding the software integration of the Montenegrin Maritime Surveillance System. This system is comprised of a network of radar and optical (high resolution daylight cameras and night capable systems (IR) that reports to a Central Command Center, providing a "fused" situation display of the entire maritime border. The effort for this reporting period has centered on the development of system functional requirements. Further discussions will be necessary to define the desired operator control schemes for the Central Monitoring Center and the local surveillance stations. The MNE technical lead is Zoran Lasica, MNE BP Police Commissioner for Technologies and Surveillance. Once the above requirements are defined, a follow-on visit to Estonia may be made to finalize the system configuration, with discussions based on actual demonstrated capabilities of the working Estonian Border Guards sstem. This would refine the requirements definition of the exact software system features and capabilities. Discussing an actual operational system would also help identify sustainment and personnel requirements, a serious consideration in developing the operating budget to which the GoMNE must commit. It will also be useful to evaluate the system performance record in the two years the Estonian system has been operational. It is important that the technical questions referenced earlier be answered prior to the trip. ¶2. SITE ASSESSMENTS AND MEETINGS DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD -- On 23 May EXBS met with Serbian Customs Enforcement leadership; they remain interested in developing an interagency curriculum development capability for preparing Customs-specific educational and development programs. Serbian Customs continues to be interested in the possibility of detailing some of Serbian Customs specialists to work on an OJT basis in the US along-side US Customs officers. It is understood that all candidates must possess strong English language skills. Customs would still like EXBS to consider the Targeting and Risk Management (TRM-IVP),affording some middle operational management Serbian Customs officers the opportunity to observe U.S. CBP officers in action, supplementing the many approaches taught by CBP trainers in the Balkan region. This can be a regional program including a total of around ten participants. Serbian Customs inquired about the previously proposed Executive trip for the region's Customs Directors General (possibly in CY-2010). Note: The Indirect Taxation Authority Director General of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) also asked about the status of this visit. End note. ¶3. TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING REPORTING PERIOD -- 05-08 May: Budva, Montenegro; Licensing II; Licensing Authority of Serbia, BiH, Macedonia, and Montenegro; EXBS. The advanced licensing workshop continued the program from the basic level which had been conducted for each of four countries in previous years. The workshop was attended by participants from state institutions involved in the licensing and enforcement of controlled goods from: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and Macedonia. The workshop objective was to enable participants to gain more detailed knowledge regarding procedures and considerations covering the licensing of controlled goods for foreign trade. The workshop stressed the importance of International Control Systems in BELGRADE 00000523 002.2 OF 005 the fight against international terrorism, and the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The workshop presenter was Carol Kalinoski, PhD. The workshop consisted of several modules: ¶1. Elements of export control system efficiency: legal framework, policy, control lists, lists of countries, interagency process, system of licensing, mutual exchange of information, confidentiality, register administration, advisory boards, negotiations, compliance with the regime, comprehensive control, verification, reloading, customs agencies, training and penalties. ¶2. Control lists in the process of consideration of issuing of licenses, including the structure of dual-use goods control lists; the United States Munitions List and the control list of dual purpose goods; EU dual-use goods and Common Military Lists ¶3. Control of repeated exports, transit cargoes and the transfer of controlled technologies (this part included two exercises using of control lists and countries lists to determine whether an export license is needed). ¶4. Elements of licensing: obligations, preliminary considerations, general prohibitions in US export control of dual purpose goods, control lists and documentation for submission of license requests (product classification, identification and verification),industry participation in licensing, and conditions. ¶5. Compliance and implementation: regulations, penalties based on Export Administration Regulations (EAR),International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR),and in accordance with American trade and economic sanctions - Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The purpose of multilateral systems and agreements: WA, MTCR, AG, NSG, and ZC is to identify goods which might be the subject of export control, to promote transparency, exchange of opinions and information, and promote higher responsibility in the transfer of armaments, military equipment and dual-use goods. The systems assist establishing international standards regulating the export controls of sensitive goods. Representatives of participating countries gave presentations on their countries' export control systems. The presentations included: - Current laws on the control of exports, imports and transit of weapons, military equipment and dual-use goods, as well as control list items (Joint list of military equipment and list of dual purpose goods); proposed new laws, as applicable; - Process of considering licensing requests and the administration of issued licenses; - Tracker Licensing Tool. There was active group discussion based on the various national regulations and procedures taking into account the control lists and lists of countries under sanctions. Through the presentations of the individual countries and the debate generated during the exercises, it was obvious that the legislation and procedures of export control of participating countries were similar, however, differing in many specifics from US export control regulations. The workshop concluded with a round table session discussing possible further steps in export control, and the advantages and disadvantages of various export control systems. The participant feedback considered the seminar successful and it provided an excellent opportunity to acquire new knowledge and exchange experiences. Ms. Kalinoski answered all questions and clarified cases and their attendant decision making processes. -- 11-15 May: Trebinje, BiH; Targeting and Risk Management; Indirect Taxation Authority (ITA); DHS/CBP. EXBS received an excellent review of the CBP TRM training in Trebinje from all principal attendees. The bottom line was that this was the best TRM session presented to date. The instructors (G. Bradley and X. Solis) were excellent in all respects: nature and depth of personal experience, adaptability of scenarios and presentations for greatest regional relevancy, ability to interact BELGRADE 00000523 003.2 OF 005 and exchange information - in style and substance. There was a great deal of open discussion, and the host nation participant perception of the instructors' openness and ability to transfer their experiences in a practical and applications-related manner were very highly appreciated and regarded. One aspect of smuggling and searches that the participants would like to have covered in greater detail (for possible future planning) is that of searching fuel conveyances - both road and rail. Although officers in this region are mostly concerned with truck-type fuel tankers, they would like to get thorough instruction, and technique/experience sharing on all possibilities of smuggling that can take advantage of fuel tanks and tankers. There are no Vacis or other sophisticated scanning devices installed at their POE's, so the interest is more focused on all manner of alternative inspection and detection techniques used by US inspectors. They have encountered a few smuggling attempts using sophisticated "double-compartment" techniques, and are generally concerned about their vulnerability to such methods. Note: The contraband and WMD applications of method are manifold - from drugs in false compartments to the far more dangerous (but rarer) possible transport of HEU and neutron emitters in hydro-carbon containment (one of the best shielding mechanisms for that type of radiation (U235, Pu239). End note. Note: It appears to be clear from recipient feedback that the impact and receptivity of CBP training by the host nation audience has been keyed to the quality of instructors. End note. DG Kemal Causevic and Customs Enforcement Chief Saudin Terzic provided letters of gratitude to EXBS for this TRM course calling it the best course on this subject presented to date. They cited the instructors Gerard Bradley and Xavier Solis for their fine performance and ability to convey information and experiences openly and professionally. They also cite that "Our previous experiences achieved through participation in your regional trainings in the previous several years are more than positive, and they contributed to establishment of the kind of contact network, both formal and informal, which largely improves our work and increases efficiency." DG Causevic, Deputy Director Saudin Terzic and EXBS had a very good conversation centered on the emphasis on regional events and cooperation. DG Causevic asked about the status of the regional DG's Executive visit - we believe that it is still being considered for CY-2010. -- 27-28 May: "Tracker" Licensing Software Tool User Seminar (14 countries) was conducted in Warsaw, Poland. Invitations emphasized Licensing Authority officers (Ministries of Economy) (two participants per country),including Macedonia, Montenegro, BiH, and Serbia; EXBS. There has been insufficient time for meaningful feedback at the time of this reporting; more detail will be provided in the June monthly report. ¶4. EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING REPORTING PERIOD -- The following equipment items were turned over the Border Police of BiH in May: Eight (8) Thermal Eye Infrared Imagers. Thirty five coxswains' work uniforms were turned over to the riverine Border Police of BiH. -- The following equipment items were turned over the Indirect BELGRADE 00000523 004.2 OF 005 Taxation Authority (ITA) of BiH in May: Ten (10) sets of binoculars. Ten fully outfitted (police equipment, lights, etc.) Lada Niva Patrol Vehicles. On 26 May, an official turn-over ceremony for donated equipment, including the patrol vehicles, was held in Banja Luka (ITA HQ). The event went very well; there was event press coverage, with statements by ITA Director General Kemal Causevic, the US Embassy Banja Luka Head of Office, Heidi-Hakone L. Jovanovic, and the EXBS Advisor. The vehicles were distributed to using units immediately and deployed to their respective POE's. ¶5. IMMINENT TRAINING or EQUIPMENT STATUS UPDATE -- 08-12 June: Podgorica Airport, Montenegro; IBIT (International Passenger Interdiction Training) Regional, Customs and Border Police from Serbia, BiH, and Montenegro; DHS/CBP/EXBS. -- 15-18 June: Belgrade, Serbia; Equipment Applications and Instructor Training; Serbian Customs and Border Police; EXBS. Initially instructors will be trained, then they will, in turn, instruct personnel at various actual use locations. Equipment to be trained includes radiation devices, density deviation search devices and standard search tools and kits. -- 25-27 June: Istanbul, Turkey; Tenth International Export Control Conference (40 countries); Ministries of Foreign Affairs (Policy), Licensing Authority officers (Ministries of Economy),and Customs (Enforcement). Croatia and Serbia have been asked to provide presentations regarding their recently concluded cross-border cooperative Border Police exercise (Serbian Border Police Chief of Section for International Cooperation, Dragan S. Petrovic is projected to be the Serbian speaker. EXBS. -- 13-24 July: Zvornik, BiH; Advanced Small Boats Training; Regional, Border Police Riverine Units and Customs from Serbia, BiH and Montenegro. The Advanced Small Boats Operations Course has been scheduled for July 2009, as a Regional course on the Serbian - BiH border (Zvornik Reservoir). Since the Basic Course is stipulated as a prerequisite for the Advanced, those who attended the Basic Course at Zvornik in 2008 as well as the recent 2009 Serbian Velike Gradiste (Danube) training will be suggested attendees. Based on the results of the "Basic" course some possibility of slightly "tailoring" the course to reflect regional requirements is being discussed with USCG. Some of the tailoring may include a very short maintenance review, and other issues where previous MTT's have recommended additional possible training (e.g. including navigation, maritime border patrolling legal issues). Sequences of related (logically or operationally) courses can be valuable, allowing USCG MTT's to gauge the results of previous instruction, the pace and quality of local maritime force development, and assess their mission performing capability. At the same time, it is very important to assess the ability and capability (personnel, logistically and financially) of all Maritime units to perform cost-effective maintenance, given the size of their force, their assets and resources. EXBS hopes to be able to engage the US Embassies of all three participating nations in the exercise opening ceremony. -- The following equipment items are expected to be turned over the Indirect Taxation Authority of BiH in June: vehicle tracking devices (GPS/cell phone technology). ¶6. SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY BELGRADE 00000523 005.2 OF 005 -- None during this reporting period. MUNTER