VZCZCXRO4640
RR RUEHIK RUEHPOD RUEHYG
DE RUEHTI #1064/01 3521552
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 181552Z DEC 07
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6478
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHCHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUCAACC/HQ USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 001064 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE, ISN, PM/WRA 
DOD FOR OSD/AWINTERNITZ 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: MASS MARR PARM PREL NATO AL
SUBJECT: ALBANIA: GROWING DEMILITARIZATION EXPERTISE 
 
REF:  A) TIRANA 446, B) TIRANA 808 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (U) Albania in early December completed the destruction of over 
2,700 metric tons of its largest munitions (over 3,000 sea mines, 
torpedoes and aerial bombs), some of which contained as much as 700 
kg. of TNT.  In July 2007, Albania became the first country to 
destroy its chemical weapons stockpile under the Chemical Weapons 
Convention, and the country is well on the road to eliminating its 
dangerous Cold War legacy of over 100,000 tons of conventional 
ammunition, MANPADS, and SA-2 rockets.  Albania seeks USG assistance 
to finish the destruction of its surplus munitions.  This would 
eliminate not only a significant danger and a proliferation risk, 
but would also sharpen Albania's expertise in weapons 
demilitarization, providing a niche capability to NATO.  Defense 
Minister Mediu has also offered to give usable ammunition to aid 
ISAF/Coalition forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.  END SUMMARY. 
 
¶2. (U) Ministry of Defense (MOD) officials on December 12 celebrated 
the completion of Albania's Heavy Munitions Destruction Project 
(HMD), which destroyed over 2,700 metric tons of Albania's largest 
surplus munitions (over 3,000 sea mines, torpedoes, depth charges 
and aerial bombs).  Ambassador Don Mahley, Acting Deputy Assistant 
Secretary for the Bureau of International Security and 
 
SIPDIS 
Non-Proliferation (ISN), traveled to Tirana for the awards ceremony 
and press conference.  He praised the U.S. contractor SAIC, MOD 
explosive ordnance demolition (EOD) teams, and a group of retired 
Albanian military EOD experts (the National Demilitarization Center 
- NDC) for their close cooperation and adherence to safety 
standards.  A/DAS Mahley noted that the project was completed under 
budget and ahead of schedule while observing strict NATO safety 
standards. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶3. (U) In 2005, the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Fund (NDF) 
funded the USD 2.8 million HMD project.  The obsolete and decaying 
naval munitions were stored in nine poorly-maintained sites along 
the coast, creating a serious safety risk in Albania's prime 
developing tourist areas with encroaching civilian housing and 
establishments.  NDF attempted several tenders, but contractors' 
bids were based on explosive demolition and the MOD was unable to 
find a suitable range to blow up the munitions, some of which 
contained 700 kilograms of TNT.  NDF changed the Statement of Work 
in late 2006 to require non-explosive demolition. 
 
SECOND MILESTONE 
---------------- 
 
¶4. (U) Albania received world-wide attention in July 2007 when it 
became the first country to destroy its chemical weapons under the 
Chemical Weapons Convention, also with USG assistance (reftels). 
Ambassador Mahley, whose office also oversees the U.S. chemical 
weapon destruction program, praised the Albanians for their 
transparency and cooperation in declaring their chemical agents and 
said that Albania's example will be a model for any countries which 
will be making new chemical weapons declarations to the Organization 
for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). 
 
MUCH MORE TO DO 
--------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) As an encore, Albania must choose what to destroy next: 
small-caliber ammunition, artillery and mortar ordnance, MANPADS or 
SA-2 rockets.  With over 100,000 tons of surplus ordnance, 
destruction of these stocks will take time and be expensive. 
Minister Mediu told Ambassador Mahley that he will ask for 
additional USG help, particularly to destroy Albania's stockpile of 
old HM-5 MANPADS and decaying SA-2 missiles.  Mediu also wants to 
give away ammunition useable for combat or training for use in 
Afghanistan and Iraq as an additional measure of Albania's support 
for military efforts in both countries.  He asked for USG assistance 
to transport the ammunition, as well as to inventory and identify 
useable ammunition.  (Note:  Mediu asked Deputy Prime Minister Oketa 
to raise this topic with DOD officials during his recent visit to 
Washington.) 
 
NATO CAPABILITIES 
----------------- 
 
¶6. (U) Responding to Allied suggestions that Albania deliver "niche 
capabilities" for use in NATO operations, the MOD has taken major 
 
TIRANA 00001064  002 OF 002 
 
 
steps to develop a modern, capable EOD organization while 
eliminating a significant danger to its population and reducing a 
proliferation risk.  NDC has become a "reserve" for retired military 
EOD specialists, who, with their active duty counterparts, can offer 
technical services to other countries in the region.  NDC and active 
duty EOD teams have been highly praised by several U.S. contractors 
for their knowledge, expertise, and attention to safety.  In 
addition, Albania's three ammunition factories have been employed to 
disassemble some of the larger munitions and steam out the TNT, 
providing a safe means of demilitarization while employing 
Albanians. 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) Albania has made impressive EOD achievements, but finding 
future funding to build on these efforts will be difficult, now that 
the major WMD and proliferation risks are gone.  Canada led the most 
recent effort through the NATO PfP trust fund, raising 6.2 million 
euros to destroy 11,600 metric tons of ammunition, but that program 
has now come to an end.  NATO HQ Tirana Commander General Rintis has 
frequently urged Allies to support additional trust fund projects, 
so far without success.  Ambassador Mahley suggested that the 
Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction program might be expanded to 
include conventional ammunition, which would provide additional USG 
funding.  Post will continue to engage the Allies and urge them to 
support Albania's EOD efforts.  End comment. 
 
¶8. (U) Ambassador Mahley has cleared this cable. 
 
WITHERS