THESSALONIKI: STRENGTHENING BALKAN COOPERATION ON

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 THESSALONIKI 000030

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT. FOR EUR/SE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL ECON ECPS SMIG SNAR SOCI GR TU
RO, AL, MK, BU, YI, MW
SUBJECT: THESSALONIKI: STRENGTHENING BALKAN COOPERATION ON
CYBER-CRIME, OTHER TRANSNATIONAL THREATS

REF: THESSALONIKI 012


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Post's fourth annual regional seminar on
Trans-border Law Enforcement Cooperation, which focused this
year on Cyber crime, confirmed strong regional interest in
tackling Balkan transnational crime. Police and prosecutors
from Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece,
Macedonia and Turkey received training in cyber-forensics from
U.S.-based experts working for the Department of Commerce and
Department of Justice. Coinciding with the announcement of
President Obama's cyber-security initiative, the seminar
underscored the importance the USG attaches to the topic and our
commitment to confronting it through international cooperation.
Such seminars encourage a collective approach to fighting
transnational crime and contribute to regional cooperation and
stability. The seminar also highlighted Greece's potential to
play a leadership role in fighting Balkan transnational crime,
with support from the USG. END SUMMARY
EIGHT BALKAN COUNTRIES AND U.S. COOPERATE ON CYBER-CRIME
-------------- --------------


2. (U) Police and prosecutors from Albania, Bulgaria, Romania,
Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Macedonia and Turkey participated in
ConGen Thessaloniki's fourth annual training seminar on
trans-border cooperation in the northern Greek border town of
Drama June 1-4, 2009, with a special focus on cyber-crime. The
primary aims of the seminar were 1. to build capacity of
participants to investigate and prosecute crime through the use
of cyber forensics and 2. to promote practical cooperation
among police and prosecutors from neighboring southeast European
countries.


3. (U) Experts from the U.S. Department of Justice and
Department of Commerce provided instruction in cyber forensic
investigative skills. This included the use of computers and
information technology to investigate a wide variety of crimes
that at some point in their planning or execution involved the
use of computers or related devices such as smart phones.
(e.g. credit card fraud, bank fraud, identity theft, robbery,
child pornography, rape, kidnapping, murder and terrorism). The
seminar focused on hands-on training on techniques, review of
recent success stories and how cross-border cooperation
contributed to success, best practices in investigation and
prevention. The seminar took place in a classroom-type setting
with audiovisual equipment and a laptop for each participant.
This was the fourth consecutive year Post has organized a
regional seminar on trans-border cooperation, with previous
topics including trafficking in persons, narcotics trafficking,
illegal immigration and weapons smuggling. As in previous
years, the Department of Justice provided funding to cover the
cost of participants' transportation, lodging and per diem
during the seminar.

SEMINAR CONCLUSIONS
--------------


4. (SBU) The quality and engagement of participants indicated a
high level of concern about cyber-crime and an interest in
working regionally to address it. The USG's credibility,
resources and organizational capacity were critical factors in
bringing together police and prosecutors from eight southeast
European countries for joint training. Such regional seminars
encourage a collective approach to fighting transnational crime
and contribute to regional cooperation and stability. Other
Post conclusions from the seminar follow:

-- Fighting cyber-crime is a high priority for SEE countries and
a topic on which the USG can strengthen bilateral relations and
regional cooperation. Participating countries sent experienced
police officials and prosecutors who remained engaged throughout
the seminar and afterwards requested additional USG training on
cyber-crime and cyber-forensics. There appear to be some
differences in the level of cyber-forensics capability between
participating countries, though most have established special
cyber-crime police units and all seem to appreciate the need for
a coordinated law enforcement response to cyber-crime.

-- Training police and prosecutors together in the same seminar

THESSALONI 00000030 002 OF 002


was productive, but judges also need training. Participating
police and prosecutors readily admitted they need more training
and that they need to work more closely together (domestically
and internationally),but insisted that successful prosecution
of cyber-crime depended on training judges too. Participants
said judges need separate, basic training (tailored to judges)
in cyber-crime and cyber-forensics to help them get up to speed.

-- The seminar helped foster regional cooperation at the
operational level. During parts of the seminar that emphasized
cross-border dialogue and cooperation, participants exchanged
information freely and refrained from the political posturing
and bickering (e.g. between Macedonian and Greek officials) that
has flared up occasionally at previous seminars.

-- USG-provided training in trans-border cooperation and
cyber-crime has promoted goodwill towards the USG. National and
local media provided comprehensive and positive coverage of the
opening reception as well as closing press conference. The
seminar generated good public relations for the USG, since most
Greeks recognize cyber-crime as a potential threat to them and
accept the training as "win-win".

-- Greece should be encouraged to play a leadership role in
strengthening regional law enforcement cooperation, including on
cyber-crime. Greece has technical capabilities and experience
to organize future training seminars with U.S. support as
needed. In the past few weeks, the Greek police electronic
crime squad has helped dismantle a Greek-Macedonian-Bulgarian
credit card fraud ring, a Bulgarian-Greek ATM/credit card fraud
ring and an internet child porn ring based in Greece.

SUGGESTED NEXT STEPS
--------------

5. (SBU) Post recommends (if funds are available) co-organizing
a follow-up regional seminar in 2010 on cyber-forensics and
cyber crime (or illegal immigration or another transnational
threat of mutual interest) with the Greek Police at its new
Police Training Academy in the northern Greece border town of
Verria. Athens Legatt, DHS/ICE rep, and CG Thessaloniki
visited the newly completed training facility in February,
during which the chief of northern Greece police, General
Bamiatsis, expressed a strong interest in hosting regional
seminars that would include U.S. instructors. Bamiatsis's
successor, General Apostolides, reiterated the offer to Post on
June 16. Apostolides added that the academy hosted its first
regional training seminar (on the handling of hostage
situations),with the participation of police from Greece,
Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania and Albania. (Note: A U.S.
co-organizing role in future seminars might help secure
participation of Macedonia and other Balkan countries. End
note)


6. (U) Post would like to thank Embassy Athens Office of the
Legal Attache, SECI, the Department of Justice and Department of
Commerece for invaluable support in the organization of the
seminar. Post also thanks Embassies Tirana, Sofia, Ankara,
Podgorica, Belgrade, Skopje and Bucharest for their assistance
in identifying and vetting excellent participants for the
seminar.
YEE