EXBS ADRIATIC REGION MARITIME REPORTING CABLE FOR DECEMBER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000023 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE FOR ISN/ECC - YWONG, ACHURCH, JBALDWIN, LSPRINGER STATE FOR EUR/ACE USCBP INA FOR BPICKETT, MIRIZARRY SECDEF FOR DTRA CDRAKE USDOE FOR TMUSTIN, EMELAMED, KGARNER VIENNA PLEASE PASS TO ICE ATTACHE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP AL SUBJECT: EXBS ADRIATIC REGION MARITIME REPORTING CABLE FOR DECEMBER 2008 ¶1. (U) BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS -- None known. ¶2. (U) COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD See paragraphs 4 and 5 below discussing equipment and training. ¶3. (SBU) MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD -- December 1: Maritime Advisor met with SGS instructor, Mr. Fisnik Rizvanolli, and conducted opening for the EXBS-funded NucTech X-Ray scanner training at the Port of Durres. -- December 3: Maritime Advisor attended meeting with Deputy Chief of Mission, Political/Economic Chief and Chief of DOJ's ICITAP Program and the General Director of Customs, Mr. Perparim Devishi. Also in attendance from Customs were Mr. Bujar Vukaj, Deputy Director General and Head of Investigating and Operating Department; Mr. Aleksander Mugko, Head of Operating Center; Ms. Gladiola Hysi, Head of Legal Division for EU Legislation Approximation; Ms. Jonka Ceka, Head of Foreign Relations Directory; and Ms. Matilda Duri, Head of Media and Press Relations Division. Maritime Advisor discussed the scanner training currently taking place and future training activities, including an upcoming Strategic Investigations Course and plans for equipment training and a senior level visit to the U.S. to meet with Customs and Border Protection. -- December 8: Maritime Advisor attended second week opening for the EXBS funded NucTech X-Ray scanner training at the Port of Durres. --December 11-13: EXBS Regional Program Manager, Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor met with the following Albanian officials during the course of a three day field visit by the EXBS Regional Program Manager: Mr. Nikolla Civici, Head of the Center for Applied Nuclear Physics; Mr. Erald Dervishi, State Export Control Agency; Mr. Rustem Paci, Radiation Protection Office; Mr. Arben Ibroja, Port of Durres Customs Director; Captain Kristaq Gerveni, CNO of the Navy; Mr. Pellumb Nako, Border Police Director, Mr. Perparim Dervishi, Customs Director; and Customs and Border Officers at Muriquan, Northern Railroad Crossing and Hani i Hoti. EXBS Regional Program Manager discussed program goals and upcoming training opportunities and was briefed on current status of each agency's capabilities and training needs. ¶4. (U) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD -- December 1-12: Two one-week sessions of the NucTech X-Ray Scanner Training were conducted at the Port of Durres. The Du2res Customs Director and Customs officers from Durres and Tirana attended the training. -- December 15: Equipment demonstration for Customs Maritime Anti-Contraband Unit conducted by contractor for equipment procured by EXBS. -- December 16-18: Representatives from Albania's State Export Control Agency (AKSHE) attended an EXBS-funded Best Practice Exchange with the Romanian Export Control Agency (ANCEX) in Bucharest, Romania. ¶5. (U) EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD -- None. ¶6. (SBU) IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT: ALBANIA: -- January 19-23: Strategic Export Investigations Course conducted by DHS/ICE. TIRANA 00000023 002 OF 002 --January 27-29: Best Practice Exchange on use of NucTech Scanner between Customs Officers from Kosovo and Customs Officers in the Port of Durres. --February 2: Tracker Assessment for State Export Control Agency. -- February 16-20: Equipment Training conducted by Larry Adkins at three locations in Albania. -- March 2-6: WMD Crisis Incident Management Course by Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). --March 16-20: International Seaport Interdiction Training-II by DHS/CBP. ¶7. (SBU) SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY -- None known. ¶8. (U) PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS -- None. ¶9. (U) RED FLAG ISSUES -- None. ¶10. (U) POC: LT Cari Bower, email: bowerc@state.gov.