GOA PLEASED WITH TIER 2 RANKING

C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000411 SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SCE E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/15/2019 TAGS: PHUM KTIP PGOV PREL AL SUBJECT: GOA PLEASED WITH TIER 2 RANKING REF: A) STATE 60435 B) TIRANA 74 Classified By: POLCHIEF PAUL POLETES FOR REASONS 1.4 (b) AND (d). ¶1. (SBU) On June 15, Poloff delivered ref A talking points and information to Ilir Melo, Chief of the Americas Desk at the MFA, who was visibly pleased to learn that Albania had been lifted to Tier 2. He expressed his gratitude for this ranking and, recognizing past mistakes by the GOA in dealing with this issue, said that the GOA will continue to move forward on TIP. He was also quite interested in the fact that Albanian TIP activist Vera Lesko is featured in the report and present in Washington for the June 16 rollout. In a separate meeting with Iva Zajmi, the National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator at the MoI, Zajmi was less enthusiastic with the Tier 2 ranking and asked what steps Albania could take to be listed on Tier 1. Post explained to Zajmi some of the improvements that could be made and she pledged to do everything in her power to ensure that the GOA would take the appropriate steps to move forward. The GOA also touted its improved ranking in the media and in a press confernce with Zajmi and Minister of the Interior Bujar Nishani. ¶2. (C) Comment: Melo's joy at Albania being moved off the Tier 2 Watch List should come as no surprise, since, as noted in ref B, the GOA was clearly embarrassed by its presence on the Watch List. The GOA has rightfully claimed credit for its recent successes, and Zajmi's comments about moving to Tier 1 are very encouraging, especially as she is currently the lead official on this issue in the GOA. Over the past year, the GOA has made several positive strides forward: identification of victims is one area, and it seems to have some momentum now as it moves forward to address other aspects such as prosecutions. Regardless of the outcome of the June 28 elections, we expect that the GOA will continue to make progress in anti-trafficking activities. Post will hold an anti-trafficking working group meeting next week to review the recommendations in the report and plan next steps. WITHERS