EXBS ALBANIA REPORTING CABLE FOR JUNE AND JULY 2009

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TIRANA 000594

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR ISN/ECC - JFRIEDMAN, ACHURCH, JBALDWIN, LSPRINGER
STATE FOR EUR/ACE
USCBP INA FOR BSUBER
SECDEF FOR DTRA MMYERS
VIENNA PLEASE PASS TO ICE ATTACHE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETTC MNUC PARM PREL KSTC KNNP AL
SUBJECT: EXBS ALBANIA REPORTING CABLE FOR JUNE AND JULY 2009


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

--June 18: An inauguration event for the Joint Border Crossing Point
(JBCP) of Muriqan/Sukobine at the Albania/Montenegro border was
held. This is the first joint border crossing point in the Balkans.
The inauguration event was attended by the Prime Ministers of
Albania and Montenegro, the Ministers of Interior for both countries
and the Ambassador to the EU Delegation in Albania. The JBCP
started operations on June 30, 2009.

--June 18: An inauguration event for the nationwide operation of the
internet-based Integrated Customs Information System-ASYCUDA WORLD
was held. The ASYCUDA World software was donated by UNCTAD in Geneva
with technical assistance funded by GOA. The Prime Minister and the
Deputy Secretary General of UNCTAD attended the inaugural event.

--June 24: A new border crossing point with Kosovo was inaugurated
in the village of Borje, Shishtavec municipality in Kukes. The
inauguration ceremony was attended by senior-level representatives
from Kukes Regional Border Police and State Police as well as their
counterparts from Prizren Municipality in Kosovo.

--June 24: The President of Albania hosted a meeting with the
Presidents of Macedonia, Montenegro and Kosovo in Vlore. The four
Presidents called the meeting important and meaningful for the
collaboration between their countries. Topics of discussion included
bilateral relations and other regional issues.

--June 28: Albania held its Parliamentary Elections and preliminary
results show the Democratic Party in the lead with the Socialist
Party trailing by very small margin indicating that the winning
party will not have a majority vote. The official results were
released after the reporting period.


2. (U) COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD

See paragraphs 4 and 5 below discussing equipment and training.


3. (SBU) MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD

--June 11: Maritime Advisor (MA) met with representatives from the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Radiation
Protection Office (RPO) to discuss preparations for a training event
to be delivered by IAEA and funded by EXBS in November. Additional
training needs identified during the meeting include radiation
awareness for line officers to help them overcome their fear of
dealing with potentially radioactive sources, maintenance of
radiation detection equipment, procedures for handling radiation
alarms and clarification of RPO and Customs' roles and
responsibilities. MA accompanied IAEA and Customs on a field visit
to the Ports of Durres and Vlore, to include a check of equipment
previously donated by IAEA. The portal monitor in Durres is now
functioning for the first time since delivery due to recurring
maintenance problems; however, the installation location of the
monitor renders it somewhat ineffective in terms of stopping a
vehicle that triggers an alarm.

--June 19: MA attended an International Consortium Integrated Border
Management Working Group meeting. Customs, Border Police, Navy/Coast
Guard, PAMECA, ICITAP and other international organizations attended
the meeting. Issues discussed include the draft Council of Ministers
Decision for the Interagency Maritime Operations Center (IMOC),
which is currently with the Minister of Defense. The Director
General of Border Police announced he had established a risk
analysis office and that, in May, Customs and Border Police held
their first joint meeting with risk analysis a focal point. The
Border Police DG also raised concerns about the construction issues
at the JBCP with Montenegro and stated that both governments agreed
to match personnel staffing and that an operations procedures
protocol was signed on June 18.

--June 24: MA visited the JBCP at Muriqan/Sukobine and the Shkoder
Border Police Station. Delivery of necessary equipment such as
computers and furniture at the JBCP was still pending and there was

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a high degree of confusion as to how a joint BCP should function. MA
suggested a best practice exchange with Customs and Border Police
officers from the EU that have experience working JBCPs, which was
positively received by both Albanian and Montenegrin officials at
the JBCP. MA met with the Shkoder Border Police Station Commander
and conducted an assessment of equipment and training needs for Lake
Shkoder Border Police noting that radar and personal protective
equipment are needed. The Lake Border Police have been conducting
joint lake patrols with the Montenegrins since January 2009.

--June 25: MA met with visiting officials from SOCEUR to discuss
their projects and programs for Albania in terms of training and
equipment needs.

--July 9: MA attended a regional meeting of Border Police officials
organized under the Geneva Center for Democratic Control of Armed
Forces (DCAF). The meeting was held in Podgorica and Border Police
officers from Kosovo, Albania and Macedonia participated. Each
country provided an update on projects they are working and results
from their collaborative operations. Some lessons learned include
language barriers during joint patrols and flexibility to add joint
patrols not previously scheduled. Future meetings have been
scheduled to take place throughout the region and Albania will host
the next DCAF ministerial meeting.

--July 10: Met with the Harbor Master, Port Security Forces and
Border Police in Vlore as part of a Naval Criminal Investigative
Service (NCIS) visit to discuss port security issues in preparation
for possible US Navy ship visits. Conducted a joint meeting with
Deputy Chief of Port Security Forces and Border Police and discussed
manning, standard operating procedures and coordination overall.

--July 13-16: MA met with the Commonwealth Trading Partners
(CTP)instructors for the National Control List Workshop and
discussed identifying potential train-the-trainer candidates during
the workshop, conducting an industry outreach course by the end of
2009 and involving a representative from the prosecutor's office in
future trainings to pave the way for prosecution of export control
offenders.

--July 16: MA met with the CTP instructors and the Chairman of the
State Export Control Agency to discuss progress with Tracker
implementation and next steps, and collaboration with Customs,
especially for data entry in ASYCUDA to control automated system
alerts on cargo shipments.

--July 16: MA met with the Commander of the Naval School in Vlore
along with representatives from EUCOM to discuss a proposal
submitted by MA to EUCOM for refurbishing the school and assisting
with curriculum development and modernization. EUCOM funding is
still pending and proposal will require further justification to
secure the funding.

--July 23: MA attended a joint Border Police and Customs meeting at
Albanian State Police Headquarters. This is the second joint meeting
to take place between Border Police and Customs and the first
meeting where internationals were invited. The meeting was also
attended by ICITAP and PAMECA. Topics included the Integrated Border
Management strategy and its action plan, strengthening each agency's
capacities, adaptation of BCP infrastructure to implement the "one
stop control principle" being implemented at the JBCP at
Muriqan/Sukobine, measures to better manage increased traffic during
the summer months and tracking all equipment in use at each BCP to
ensure it is in working condition and determine what more is needed.
Customs expressed its appreciation to EXBS for the significant
contribution of equipment and training that EXBS has been providing
to Customs.

--July 29: MA met with the Border Police's blue border team to
discuss future plans, equipment and training needs. Of key
importance is their need for boats. The current fleet is almost
completely out of commission and while there are plans for the EU to
assist with providing new boats, funding has not yet been finalized
and delivery will take a fair amount of time. There are plans to

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build classrooms in Durres and Vlore and appoint two training
officers so that Border Police can train its own officers in lieu of
Italy's Guardia di Finanza. These two officers will be responsible
for training and maintenance of the boats. The DG of Border Police
asked EXBS for assistance with Lake Kukes as there have been
problems with smuggling on this lake between Kosovo and Albania.
Border Police has sent one boat there to conduct patrols but they
foresee an increase in smuggling activities in the near future.

--July 31: MA met with the Customs Director of Operations, who
discussed the need for training on portal monitors, specifically in
recognizing alarms and actions his officers should take when an
alarm sounds. The problematic areas are containers coming from
Greece and Macedonia.


4. (U) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

--June 25-26: 10th International Export Control Conference took
place in Istanbul, Turkey. Two Albanian officials from the State
Export Control Agency and one official from the General Directorate
of Customs attended the conference.

--July 14-16: Commonwealth Trading Partners provided a National
Control List Workshop to twenty representatives from the Albanian
State Export Control Agency, Customs and Ministry of Economy, Trade
and Energy.



5. (U) EQUIPMENT DELVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD

--July 16: MAdelivered five desk-top computers to the Naval Schol
in Vlore. Value of donated equipment is $3,800


6. (SBU) IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUSREPORT:

--August 24-28: Best Practice Exchange t the Mur"iqan/Sukobine JBCP.
This training is benng conducted in collaboration with the Police
Assistance Mission of the European Community to Albani (PAMECA).
Two Austrian Customs Officers and twoAAustrian Border Police
Officers will share best r"actices and lessons learned with the
Albanian and Montenegrin Customs and Border Police Officers at the
JBCP.

-- August 31-December 4: Two Navy/Coast Guard officers will attend
the U.S. Coast Guard International Maritime Officers Course in
Yorktown, Virginia.

--September 14-18: U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will
provide International Border Interdiction Training at the Qafe Thane
border crossing point.

--Maritime equipment procured through the U.S. Coast Guard arrived
in Tirana in July for donation to GOA Navy/Coast Guard, Border
Police Maritime Units and Customs Maritime Anti-Contraband Units.


7. SBU) SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS,
NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY

--None.


8. U) PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS

-- None.


9. () RED FLAG ISSUES

-- None.


10. (U) POC: LT Cari Bower, email: bowerc@state.gov.