LONG ELECTORAL PROCESS SLOWING DOWN ANTI-TIP

C O N F I D E N T I A L TIRANA 000723

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/05/2019
TAGS: PGOV KWMN KTIP SMIG SOCI AL
SUBJECT: LONG ELECTORAL PROCESS SLOWING DOWN ANTI-TIP
PROGRESS

Classified By: DCM Deborah A. Jones, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) SUMMARY: Despite an unprecedented flurry of
anti-trafficking
activity in 2008, in 2009 the GOA's anti-trafficking
efforts appear to have come to a standstill, a victim of the
entire GOA's preoccupation since April of this year with the
June parliamentary elections and subsequent government
reshuffle. In recent
meetings with GOA officials, it appears that the GOA has
taken only limited concrete steps in its anti-human
trafficking
efforts since early 2009. GOA officials have told us that
the
Ministry of Interior (MOI),and nearly all other ministries,
for that matter, have largely been paralyzed since the
elections.
A good example is the information for the anti-trafficking
database, which was a key step forward last year. The
database, which
requires input from the MOI, the Ministry of Labor (MOL),
and others, has had very little data entered into it this
year, and the office that oversees the process remains
without a director.
END SUMMARY.


2. (C) Contributing to the problem is the lack of
leadership in the Office of the National Anti Trafficking
Coordinator (ONAC) at the MOI, the lead office in the GOA
for TIP. The Deputy Minister overseeing this office, Iva
Zajmi, has taken a two month maternity leave which started
in early September. (Note: On October 18, Zajmi did make
two cameo appearances at two events marking EU
Anti-Trafficking Day. End note.) No mechanisms have been put
in
place to allow for an interim director, in contrast to
Zajmi's previous maternity leave when her deputy was
formally assigned responsibility to act as director of
ONAC. During Zajmi's first leave, her deputy, Irena Taga,
was able to make decisions, commit resources, and call on
other Ministries. This time, however, Taga has been given
no such authority. Recently, however, Minister Basha spoke
publicly about combating the scourge of human
trafficking. NGOs have also lamented the lack of movement;
however, they have stated that working level cooperation
continues.


3. (C) Comment: The inaction on TIP is disappointing, but
all too predictable given the parliamentary elections in
June. The most recent EU Progress Report on Albania said
that because of the elections and subsequent GOA reshuffle,
little real progress has been made in 2009 on EU integration
efforts. Nearly all Ministries have been almost
non-functional since April, first as the GOA mobilized for
the election campaign, and then as ministers were reshuffled
in the wake of the election. In total, six months of the
year were lost due to the elections and formation of the new
government. In recent weeks, however, government activity
has increased. The GOA retains the political will at the
highest levels for anti-trafficking efforts and at the
working level, but due to the lack of mid-level leadership
many actions and initiatives appear to have stalled. The GOA
will likely get its act together soon and spend some late
nights entering data into the database, but it has lost
considerable momentum from last year. The GOA's commitment
appears genuine, but its actions, or lack thereof, remain of
concern, , despite the considerable progress made last year.
This week both EmbOffs and the Ambassador have spoken with
Minister Basha about the lack of progress. Next week Post
will meet with the Minister to discuss specific details
regarding Albania's TIP action plans.

WITHERS