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 TIRANA 00000285 002 OF 006 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 TIRANA 00000285 003 OF 006 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. TIRANA 00000285 004 OF 006 --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 TIRANA 00000285 005 OF 006 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. TIRANA 00000285 006 OF 006 ¶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. 1