EXBS ADRIATIC REGION MARITIME REPORTING CABLE FOR FEBRUARY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TIRANA 000285

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 FEBRUARY
AND MARCH 2009


1. (U) BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS

-- Albania and Croatia became members of NATO on 4 April 2009.


2. (U) COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD

See paragraphs 4 and 5 below discussing equipment and training.


3. (SBU) MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD

ALBANIA

--February 4: Maritime Advisor and ICITAP Port Security Advisor met
with Minister Olldashi at the Ministry of Public Works, Transport
and Telecommunication to deliver the report of the USCG's
International Port Security Program. The report identified areas
for improvement based on the U.S. Coast Guard's assessment of
national level implementation of required security measures for
ships and port facilities and a review of port security measures in
place at the ports of Durres, Shengjin and Vlora. ICITAP's Port
Security Advisor pressed the Minister on the need for a Memorandum
of Understanding to formalize cooperation between Port Security
Forces, Customs and Border Police officers in the ports and the need
to address the deficiencies noted in the report prior to the USCG's
follow-on visit scheduled for July 2009.

--February 6: Maritime Advisor met with ODC, Cubic Defense
Modernization Team, DAO and Pol/Econ to discuss each sections
intersecting work in the maritime sector and issues with the GOA
Inter-institutional Maritime Operations Center (IMOC). GOA agencies'
interests in the IMOC are varied and competing and as a result, the
IMOC is in danger of being an unused resource and GOA will still
have the problem of uncoordinated maritime law enforcement and a
Coast Guard that is under the Ministry of Defense. Each section
discussed its particular interests and a common agenda was developed
to guide future engagement with GOA on these issues.

--February 13: Maritime Advisor participated in ceremony at Customs
Headquarters to present certificates of completion to participants
of the EXBS funded training on x-ray image analysis that was
delivered at Durres in December 2008. All but one participant in
the course received a completion certificate and test scores overall
were high. Maritime Advisor met with Customs General Director
Perparim Dervishi before the ceremony and discussed the need for an
advanced notice of arrival system for inbound ships. Maritime
Advisor will send Customs DG information on advance notice of
arrival systems and the electronic advance notice of arrival system
used by the US. Customs DG mentioned that the Chinese government is
offering them low interest loans to implement various projects, but
did not provide any specifics. Customs DG is currently serving as
Chairman of the Joint Cooperation Committee for the Southeast
European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) Center and invited Maritime
Advisor to attend the Joint Cooperation Committee's next meeting in
Vlore at the beginning of June 2009.

-- February 16: Maritime Advisor met with Customs DG Perparim
Dervishi in conjunction with an EXBS equipment training being
conducted at Customs HQ. Maritime Advisor discussed training
schedule with Customs DG.

--February 17: Maritime Advisor contacted the Director of the Durres
Port Customs House, Arben Ibroja, and learned that he had been
removed from this position. He was replaced by Mikel Miloti.

-- February 18: Maritime Advisor met with the Commander of the Naval
Academy in Vlore, Ferdinant Kreshpani, to discuss training and
equipment needs of the Academy. The Academy was separated from the
Navy several years ago and grouped with the academies of the other
armed forces of Albania. This resulted in funding shortages and a
lack of attention overall to the school's needs. There are plans to
move the school back under the Navy Commander, but a specific date

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for this is not known. Immediate needs include renewal of the
school's internet subscription, desktop computers and licensed
software for each and navigational charts that cover the entire
coast of Albania. A full list of equipment and training needs will
be sent sepcor. Maritime Advisor also delivered a donation of
maritime books to the Academy valued at $5,073USD.

--February 20: Maritime Advisor met with representatives from OSCE,
PAMECA, ICITAP, Cubic and the EU Commission to discuss mutual work
in the maritime arena. OSCE, PAMECA and ICITAP are spearheading an
attempt to present the GOA with draft legislation to resolve issues
over command and control of the IMOC and a working arrangement to
ensure that maritime law enforcement is under civilian control. All
representatives present provided input. PAMECA and OSCE are taking
the lead in incorporating changes and suggested language into the
draft. Future meetings will follow until a draft is ready to be
presented to the GOA.

--February 21: Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor met with
Director of Border and Migration Police, Pellumb Nako, to discuss
issues with the IMOC, equipment needs in terms of waterborne
resources and thermal imaging cameras. MOI believes it should be in
charge of the IMOC due to its law enforcement authorities but MOI is
deadlocked with the Navy/MOD on this issue. Director Nako indicated
that assistance was not needed with respect to waterborne resources;
however, based on Maritime Advisor's field visits to the ports, this
is not the case. Border Police waterborne resources are limited and
in poor condition. Director Nako instead stressed that he was
interested in intelligence gathering tools and intelligence sharing.
He was also very interested in getting thermal imaging cameras.

--March 3: Maritime Advisor met with representatives from the
Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to discuss their plans to
make Albania one of the countries for a train-the-trainer pilot
program. DTRA is interested in having resident WMD courses at the
State Police Academy. Maritime Advisor suggested that if DTRA
pursues this program, it consider having resident WMD courses at the
Naval Academy in Vlore as well to cover maritime issues.

--March 3: Maritime Advisor met with Navy CNT training team from
EUCOM to discuss planning of a two-week maritime,
counter-narco-terrorism training course in May 2009, followed by
another two-week training in June 2009. Maritime Advisor provided
input on participants for the course, focus areas for the training,
skill level of participants and available waterborne resources.

--March 4: Maritime Advisor participated in meeting with Navy CNT
training team and Captain Mecollari at the Navy's Southern Command
at Pashaliman. Captain Mecollari provided a briefing on the status
of the Navy and Coast Guard, mission areas and available resources.
The Navy CNT training team briefed Captain Mecollari on its concept
for the training sessions in May and June, which was followed by a
tour of the Pashaliman base and inspection of waterborne assets that
would be used for the training.

--March 4: Maritime Advisor arranged and participated in meeting
with Navy CNT training team and the Commander of the Naval Academy
in Vlore to discuss the upcoming training and Naval Academy
involvement. Arrangements were made to use the Naval Academy for
the classroom portion of the training and incorporate the Naval
Academy's training officers in the training.

--March 4: Maritime Advisor arranged and participated in meeting
with Navy CNT training team and the Head of the Customs Maritime
Anti-Contraband Unit to discuss the upcoming May and June training
and Customs involvement. Arrangements were made arrangements to use
Customs' waterborne assets for the training and incorporate its
maritime unit members in the training.

--March 9: Maritime Advisor met with ODC, Cubic, DAO and Pol/Econ
for further discussions and status on IMOC issues. The MOD is

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discussing moving the IMOC so that it is co-located with its joint
operations center in Tirana. However, this would severely limit any
other agency's ability to participate in the IMOC if it is located
on a military installation. Currently, the radar feeds go directly
to the IMOC at Durres. A repeater could be installed at a cost of
approximately 450,000 USD to run the feed to the joint operations
center in Tirana. NATO also has an interest in gaining access to the
feed.

--March 17: Maritime Advisor attended a meeting with the Lockheed
Martin representatives in charge of the radar system project for
Albania. On March 18, complete control of the system will be turned
over to the GOA. Lockheed Martin discussed the system's current
capabilities and potential additions such as vessel traffic systems
for Durres and Vlore, additional sites so that small watercraft can
be detected and feeding into the NATO system (but at cost).
Representatives from NATO in Naples will travel to Albania April
21-22 to discuss accessing the system with the GOA. The Naval bases
at Shengjin, Durres, Pashaliman and Saranda all have access to the
feeds from the system and the air picture can be seen at RINAS
airport in Tirana. Training on the system that came with the
Lockheed Martin contract has already been delivered in the areas of
maintenance, microwaves, generators, and radar systems. The GOA
would like additional training. The system came with a one year
warranty and there is a local representative to provide support.

--March 25: Maritime Advisor met with Wisconsin Project
representatives in preparation for the start of the two day
demonstration on the risk report database. Maritime Advisor
provided an update on status of export control law and the State
Export Control Agency.

--March 27: Maritime Advisor met with representatives from OSCE,
PAMECA, ICITAP, Cubic and the EU Commission for ongoing discussions
on draft legislation to the GOA on IMOC and maritime interagency
cooperation. Further comments and suggestions were incorporated,
with PAMECA and ICITAP taking lead and a final draft will be
presented to the GOA in mid-April.

MACEDONIA

--February 25-27: Maritime Advisor met with officials from the
Macedonian Lake Border Police at Lake Ohrid, Prespa and Dorjan Star
to discuss equipment and training needs. All three units need cold
weather gear and basic law enforcement gear, a detailed list will be
provide sepcor. The Lake Border Police requested joint training with
the Albanians but would like to do so in a sea environment as the
lake environment is not challenging enough for them. Their skills
are advanced so any joint training, whether on the lake or at a
seaport, will have to be tailored to deliver instruction that meets
their advanced skill level. A course on diving instruction was also
requested. Lake Ohrid is one of the deepest lakes in the world and
smugglers dump contraband overboard when being pursued by police.
The police are unable to prosecute smugglers because they cannot
retrieve the evidence so dive capability is greatly desired.

MONTENEGRO

--March 11: Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor for Serbia,
Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH),and Montenegro met with the Director of
Customs, Mr. Miodrag Radusinovic, to discuss Customs maritime
operations, training and equipment needs. Customs does not currently
have any waterborne assets. They did in the past but those assets
are no longer in service. Customs would like to have waterborne
capability so they can work with Border Police. The Port of Bar is
installing a NucTech X-Ray Scanner that was donated by the Chinese
government. The scanner will come with some initial training but
follow-on training such as the image analysis provided by SGS
Contractors in Albania is recommended four-six months after the
system is operational in Bar.


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--March 11: Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor for Serbia, BiH
and Montenegro met with the Head of Department for State Border
Surveillance, Mr. Vukoman Zarkovic, to discuss Border Police's
maritime operations, training and equipment needs. Border Police
needs vessels that are capable of handling foul weather and heavier
seas. They are currently operating two patrol boats donated by the
Army but these are antiquated and require a crew of 15 people and 2
hours minimum to get underway. Border Police would also like to have
joint training with their Albanian counterparts on Lake
Skadar/Shkoder. Smuggling is very problematic on this lake as well
as on a shared river and coordination between the two countries has
not been strong. Equipment needs identified include thermal vision
cameras, heavy weather clothing and law enforcement gear.

--March 11: Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor for Serbia, BiH
and Montenegro met with the Deputy Minister for Maritime Affairs,
Mr. Srdan Vukcevic. The status of the maritime law that EXBS
provided SME assistance in drafting is currently on hold until
elections are held on March 29. After the elections, Mr. Vukcevic
wants to discuss having the USCG SME return to Montenegro to assist
with the final phases of the draft law. Mr. Vukcevic requested
training in the areas of search and rescue, environmental pollution,
flag state control and port state control. There are three small
boats used by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and its officers have
law enforcement authority.

--March 11: Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor for Serbia, BiH
and Montenegro met with the Embassy Podgorica team and covered each
item in the EXBS Program Plan for Montenegro. The DCM is very
interested in blue border capability and border surveillance, as
well as the areas in which EXBS can provide support.

--March 12-13: Maritime Advisor attended the USCG training course in
Herceg Novi for Engineering, Administration and Logistics. Border
Police and Customs officers from BiH, Serbia and Montenegro
participated in the course. Overall feedback from participants was
positive but they requested more hands-on, practical training. Two
participants brought up issues they are having with Mercury engines
on boats donated through the Montenegro Border Security Program.
They believe these engines are defective as they have never worked
properly and the boats are currently dry-docked as a result. The
Mercury representative they have been dealing with has not been
responsive and they requested Embassy support in resolving the
matter. Maritime Advisor raised issue with Embassy Podgorica and
will take for action.

--March 13: Maritime Advisor met with Border Police unit at Herceg
Novi to discuss training and equipment needs. Border Police
requested training on Evinrude outboard engines, heavy weather
operations, navigation and radio comunications. Equipment needs
identified include heavy weather clothing, GPS units with chart
images, drug testing kits, probes and other detection/search
devices. Based on meetings with Montenegrin Customs, Border Police
and Maritime Affairs, joint training should be held for these
agencies so they can improve their working relationships. Incident
Command System (ICS) training is also recommended for senior level
representatives in Podgorica and for the Ports of Bar and Kotor.

--March 21-22: Maritime Advisor attended International Seaport
Interdiction Training (ISIT) delivered in Bar by Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) officers and met with the Bar Harbor Master, Mr.
Goran Jurisic. Based on feedback during the ISIT course, there is a
need for confined space entry training and safety equipment for
confined space entry such as oxygen meters and radiation detection
pagers. The Bar Harbor Master requested national level port security
training and was very receptive to Incident Command System training.


OTHER

--March 5-7: Maritime Advisor attended the Geneva Center for the

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Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) 6th Ministerial Conference
on Border Security in Belgrade. Maritime Advisor met Customs and
Border Police representatives from Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro and
Albania, discussed maritime issues in brief and exchanged contact
information to conduct meetings in the future.


4. (U) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

-- February 2-3: Commonwealth Trading Partners provided an
introduction of the Tracker Export Control Licensing System to the
Albanian State Export Control Agency, covering customization for GOA
needs and steps for implementing the system. The State Export
Control Agency determined that Tracker will meet its needs and
approved moving forward with installation. ISN/ECC will fully fund
Tracker installation. Representatives from Customs, Ministry of
Economy, Trade and Energy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also
in attendance for a total of fifteen participants.

-- February 16-21: Equipment training was provided by TDY EXBS
Advisor to Customs and Border Police officers in Tirana, Durres,
Vlore, and the Muriqan and Hani Hoti BCPs in Shkoder. Training was
delivered on the use of CT-30 Kits, fiberscopes, busters, radiation
detection pagers and distance meters. Training consisted of
classroom instruction and practical exercises. A total of 69
officers received this training and provided very positive feedback
on the utility of instruction. The training will also increase the
distribution and use of previously donated equipment that was not
disbursed or not in use because officers had little to no previous
knowledge on the use of this equipment.

-- March 2-5: DTRA provided a WMD Crisis Incident Management Course
in Tirana to 31 participants with the assistance of EXBS.
Participants included Customs, Border Police, Radiation Protection
Office, Center for Applied Nuclear Physics and the Intelligence
Service. The course focused on the principles of crisis management
and how they applied in managing a major WMD incident; interagency
coordination; information management; conducting related criminal
investigations and consequence management activities. The course
also used interactive discussions and practical exercises to
emphasize these principles. The training was delivered by USG
representatives from DOD, FBI, DHS and contracted experts from
private practice.

-- March 16-20: EXBS program funded an International Seaport
Interdiction Training delivered by two CBP officers. Representatives
from Albanian Border Police, Customs, Harbor Master, Navy and Port
Security Forces comprised the 26 participants in the course. The
course consisted of four days of classroom instruction and one day
of practical exercises that took place in the Port of Durres. Topics
covered included seaport operations and processes including inbound
and outbound operations, incident command structure in a maritime
environment, hazardous materials, export controls, weapons of mass
destruction, antiterrorism, passenger and commercial ship
concealment methods, contraband seizure, document analysis,
inspection techniques and officer safety.

--March 26-27: EXBS funded a Wisconsin Project Risk Report
demonstration in Tirana provided by two representatives from
Wisconsin Project. Officials from the Albanian Export Control
Agency, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy, Radiation Protection
Office and Customs attended the event and Wisconsin Project provided
the 25 participants with usernames and passwords to access the
online database. The Wisconsin Project representatives noticed a
significant change in the receptiveness and initiative of the
Albanians in comparison to their initial visit to Albania in 2006.
The accounts that had been set up for GOA users during the 2006
visit were never used and interest was faint. During this visit,
there was much greater receptivity to the Risks Report and the
participants indicated they felt this would be a useful tool in
their daily work.


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5. (U) EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

--February 17: Maritime Advisor delivered one transistorized
megaphone to the Port Security Forces of Durres.

--February 18: Maritime Advisor delivered one transistorized
megaphone to the Port Security Forces of Vlore.

--February 18: Maritime Advisor delivered five Chapman's Piloting
and Seamanship, five Dutton's Navigation and Piloting, five Watch
Officer's Guide and five Jane's Fighting Ships books to the Naval
Academy in Vlora. The total cost of this donation was $5,073.05.


6. (SBU) IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT:

ALBANIA:

-- April 21-24: An Export Control Regulatory Foundation Workshop
will take place in Tirana with twenty-five participants from the
State Export Control Agency, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy,
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Trade Room. The course
will be delivered by contractors from Commonwealth Trading Partners.


--April 25: A representative from Commonwealth Trading Partners will
meet with the Chairman of the State Export Control Agency to discuss
the next steps in Tracker installation.

-- May 4-8: International Border Interdiction Training will be
conducted at the southern land border crossing of Kakavija. The
training will be provided to officers from Customs and Border
Police.

--May 27-28: A senior licensing officer and systems administrator
from the State Export Control Agency will be funded by EXBS to
attend the Tracker Best Practice Conference in Warsaw, Poland.

-- As part of LATA Task Order 112, 12 Gator Hawk Body Armor Vests
and 28 Handcuffs arrived in Albania on February 20, 2009. The
equipment is worth $15,087 and will be donated to Border Police
officials in May 2009.

-- As part of LATA Task Order 113, 10 Campbell Security Model
CT-30-10-2.0 Contraband Kits and 40 radiation detection pagers
arrived in Tirana on February 27, 2009. This equipment will be
donated to Border Police and Customs officials in May 2009.

--One laptop and one projector will be donated to the Port Security
Forces at the Port of Saranda in April/May 2009 for use in
conducting their training program.


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.
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