GITMO DETAINEES IN ALBANIA POSE LIMITED THREAT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000180

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PTER PHUM KAWK KISL KPAO AL
SUBJECT: GITMO DETAINEES IN ALBANIA POSE LIMITED THREAT

TIRANA 00000180 001.2 OF 002


Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Stephen Cristina, for reasons 1.
4 (B) & (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The resettlement of Guantanamo detainees in
Albania has proven to be a success, even though significant
challenges remain. Nearly three years after their arrival in
Albania, seven former detainees remain in Albania, with one
having received asylum in Sweden. Of the seven, all have
learned Albanian and most are currently working. The group
as a whole has faced no overt discrimination, despite the
fact that Albania is an overwhelmingly homogenous society
with no real immigrant or refugee communities. The manner in
which the funds for detainee resettlement were transferred to
the GOA and the GOA inability to program uses for these funds
which meet USG accounting standards were challenges to
effective resettlement. The GOA generally considers the
resettlement a success and does not judge the refugees to be
a security threat. Officials closely tied to the detainees
describe them as healthy, psychologically normal and
continuing to integrate into Albanian society. However,
without considerable USG monetary support and guidance, it is
almost certain that the resettlement of the detainees would
have been much more difficult for both the GOA and the
detainees themselves. The true test of GOA willingness and
ability to continue supporting the detainees' transition will
come in October of 2009, when USG funds provided for
resettlement to the GOA will be exhausted. End summary.

ALBANIA AS A RESETTLEMENT OPTION
--------------

2. (C) While Albania's weak infrastructure and limited
resources made resettlement of detainees a challenge, the
GOA's willingness to take a very hands-on approach toward
resettlement and the very pro-American stance of the populace
aided resettlement substantially. The inability of the GOA to
provide residency permits to detainees, family members, the
lack of cultural connections, the severe resource constraints
impacting the ability of the Albanian security services to
effectively monitor detainees, and the limited economic
prospects in Albania should be considered as US officials
weigh future resettlement options.

GOA EXPERIENCE
--------------

3. (SBU) In March 5 and 6 meeting with poloffs, Albanian
officials reported that it has not faced any problems from
detainee resettlement. The Ministry of Justice has not
received any complaints about detainees breaking the law or
engaging in illegal behavior, and detainees have not sought
damages against the GOA. While detainees have contacted
officials for assistance, with the Minister of Justice even
noting that he had received text messages from one of the
detainees, there have been no formal complaints about the
detainees' treatment in Albania. After the GOA accepted the
detainees the only negative reaction received was through
diplomatic channels from the Ambassador to the Republic of
China, who expressed his country,s disapproval of the GOA,s
agreement to host the detainees.

DETAINEES' LEGAL STATUS
--------------

4. (SBU) Minister of Interior Nishani told poloffs on March
5 that detainees were processed through normal asylum
procedures when they arrived in Tirana. On the day of their
arrival, they filed asylum applications which went to a
five-member committee that made a determination on their
status. Ministry of Justice Officials in a later meeting
explained that the detainees were given the status as
foreigners under Albanian law for legal proceedings. For all
other proceedings they were given refugee status. They enjoy
all rights of Albanian citizens except the right to vote.
They cannot become naturalized citizens unless one of their
parents is Albanian. Furthermore, they were given refugee
documentation and were sent to a refugee center, just outside
the city borders of Tirana.

LIFE AT THE REFUGEE CENTER
--------------

5. (SBU) Director of Citizenship and Refugees Drita Avdyli
escorted poloffs on a March 6 tour of the refugee center
where the detainees resided after they arrived. At the
refugee center, the detainees were given personal rooms,
shared bathrooms, access to the Internet, books, pre-paid
phone cards, and three meals a day at the communal kitchen.

TIRANA 00000180 002.2 OF 002


They received the free services of a psychiatrist, a doctor,
a lawyer, and an Albanian language teacher. The detainees
were active in the community. All the detainees were given
access to the center's psychiatrist, who described the
detainees as normal and in very good mental health. Avdyli,
however, noted that the Uzbekistani detainee suffered from
mental health problems. She described these problems as
minor, adding that he was more difficult and demanding then
other detainees, but she did not have great problems in
dealing with him. At the end of their approximate six-month
stay at the refugee center they were given financial
assistance to pay for an apartment and received 300 USD a
month, equal to a mid-level GOA official's salary. Their
sixmOjTh sti0e.d was extended under Albanian LeGislapion to
twg years, which ends October 2009.

LIFE IN TIRANA ) OUTSIDE THE REFUGEE CENTER
--------------

6. (SBU) The seven detainees have all had training classes
and are moving on with their lives. They speak Albanian,
they are free to practice their choice of religion and live
life among Albanian citizens without discrimination. They
are not heavily monitored by the GOA. Three Chinese Uighur
detainees are currently trying to get funding to open up a
Hallal pizza restaurant. All have had cooking classes and
two are working at restaurants in Tirana. The fourth Uighur
is working on a project to increase the city's green spaces.
The Egyptian has taken classes at a local Madrasa, the
Algerian is working at a medical clinic, and the Uzbek is
taking classes at a local university. The biggest obstacle
to resettlement is family resettlement. The Egyptian,s
girlfriend recently arrived on a tourist visa, and one of the
Uighurs has an Albanian girlfriend, but otherwise the
detainees have been unable to reunite with their families.


7. (C) Comment: Considering its limited resources (Albania
remains the second-poorest country in Europe) and lack of
government experience and capacity with refugee resettlement,
the GOA has done a reasonably good job in managing the
difficult resettlement of the former detainees. However,
without considerable USG monetary support and guidance, it is
almost certain that the resettlement of the detainees would
have been much more difficult for both the GOA and the
detainees themselves. The true test of GOA willingness and
ability to continue supporting the detainees' transition will
come in October of 2009, when USG funds provided to the GOA
for resettlement will be exhausted.
WITHERS