VZCZCXRO3382
RR RUEHBW RUEHPOD
DE RUEHTI #0318/01 1121251
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211251Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7016
INFO RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 4498
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0004
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 3261
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 0066
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0719
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 2944
RHMFIUU/USCBP WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TIRANA 000318 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR ISN/ECC - YWONG, ACHURCH, JBALDWIN, LSPRINGER 
STATE FOR EUR/ACE 
USCBP INA FOR JGOUGE, PWARKER 
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: ALBANIA MARITIME, ADRIATIC REGION REPORTING CABLE 
FOR MARCH 2008 
 
¶1. (U) BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS 
 
-- 15 March:  Gerdec munitions site detonation:  Significant 
reporting via cable and news media.  Following embassy brief, MA 
called the USCG training team in Vlore regarding initial (and 
subsequent) opinions indicating accidental (vice malicious) causal 
factors while explosions were ongoing.  As a result of political 
pressure resulting from the devastation, the Minister of Defense 
resigned.  The Director of the Civil Emergency Department is 
designated as the clean-up coordinator. 
 
¶2. (U) COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
-- March 07-18:  MA approved absence. 
 
¶3. (SBU) MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD 
 
-- March 20:  EXBS Maritime Office coordinated a meeting with the 
Director of the Radiation Protection Office, Customs Deputy General 
Director and the Director of the Centre of Applied Nuclear Physics 
(a.k.a. Nuclear Physics Institute) at the University of Tirana. 
Discussions focused on coordination, status, location and required 
actions to get any portal monitors currently in Albania to fully 
functional condition.  Customs Directorate provided a list that 
included portal monitors throughout the country, none of which is 
currently operable. 
 
-- The Applied Nuclear Physics Institute (ANPI) leading Professor 
requested EXBS assistance with providing nuclear source materials 
suitable for testing and calibration activities for portal monitors 
(the activities they are responsible to perform).  The sources ANPI 
currently have on hand are substantially stronger (more emissions/ 
more dangerous to handle) than preferred test and calibration 
samples (which are comparatively low emitters).  The requested 
sources serve as effective calibration measurement tools in 
nonproliferation actions.  ANPI requested sample sources of: 
 
[Am-241: (60 Energy/keV) (3-5 Activity, MBq)] 
[Co-57 : (122, 136 Energy/keV) (3-5 Activity/MBq)] 
[Cs-137: (662 Energy/keV) (3-5 Activity/MBq)] 
[Co-60 : (1173, 1333 Energy/keV) ( 3-5 Activity/MBq)] 
[Ba-133: (31,356 Energy/keV) (3-5 Activity/MBq)] 
[Cf-252:  neutron, 0.11 Activity/MBq - corresponding to 12,000 n/s] 
 
The level of mechanical/technical familiarity at ANPI with each make 
and model portal monitor has not been confirmed. 
 
¶4. (U) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
-- March 17-22:  USCG Maritime Law Enforcement 
Instructor Training and Joint Maritime Law Enforcement Boarding 
Course at Naval Department training center in Vlore.  The original 
schedule was adjusted due to the five ship NATO visit in Durres 
01-05 March. 
 
-- March 24-28:  The CBP Cross Border Exercise for Macedonia, 
Albania and Greece will focus on the Kafasan (Macedonia)/Qafe Thana 
(Albania) area BCP's. 
 
¶5. (U) EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
-- USCG Mobile Training Team delivered redundant, entry level 
personal equipment to support basic law enforcement training at the 
Naval Department facility in Vlore. 
 
¶6. (SBU) IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT: 
 
ALBANIA: 
 
-- Operational and communications equipment grant for Customs 
Maritime anti-contraband units; delivery anticipated upon delivery 
 
TIRANA 00000318  002 OF 003 
 
 
of eight additional NVG sets. 
 
-- April 21-25:  DTRA International Counterproliferation Program 
Advanced Training Course, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina - 
invitations include Croatia, Macedonia and Albania. 
 
-- May 8-18:  USCG Incident Command System training for 
Inter-Ministerial Maritime Operations Center members, Durres. 
 
-- May 14-16:  Capstone in Albania.  MA engaged DAO regarding 
possible site visit to ICS training. 
 
-- May 10-18:  International Visitor Leadership Program - 
participants scheduled travel.  Cities include Washington DC, 
Hampton Roads, New York, Seattle, Jacksonville and Charleston. 
Participants represent Ministry of Defense/ Naval forces, Ministry 
of Public Works Telecommunication and Transportation/Maritime Policy 
Department, Ministry of Interior/Maritime Border Police and Albanian 
State Police. 
The trip focuses on diverse port operations and interagency 
cooperation through observation, demonstration and briefings.  The 
IVLP is fully funded by the State Department and provided at no cost 
to participants or host government. 
 
-- May 15-16:  Trans-border Law Enforcement Cooperation Against 
Weapons Smuggling in Florina, Greece.  Representatives from Albania, 
Macedonia and Greece are expected to participate.  The U.S. 
Consulate General in Thessaloniki, the U.S. Federal Bureau of 
Investigation and the Southeast Europe Cooperation Initiative (SECI) 
are organizing this seminar with the support of the South Eastern 
Europe Clearinghouse for the Control of Small Arms & Light Weapons 
(SEESAC), the European Union Border Monitoring Assistance Mission 
(EUBAM) and the City of Florina.  EXBS Maritime office coordinated 
Albanian response and participation for Embassy Tirana with RSO, 
OPDAT, and ICITAP nominees. 
 
-- May 19-23:  DOE CIT and End Use-End User Training, Tirana 
 
-- May 30:  Maritime Advisor tour complete. 
 
-- June 2-6:  CBP Targeting and Risk Management Training, Tirana and 
BCP's TBD. 
 
-- July 14-18:  DTRA Targeting and Risk Management Training, Tirana 
 
-- Summer 2008:  Anticipated delivery of the first DAMEN 42-meter 
patrol boat to Albanian Naval Forces. 
 
-- September 8-19:  CBP Inspection/Detection Equipment Training, 
BCP's TBD 
 
-- September 11-28:  USCG Seaport Security and Anti-terrorism course 
focused on newly hired Albanian Port Security Forces personnel in 
Durres. 
 
-- October 20-24:  CBP International Border Interdiction II, Tirana 
and BCP's TBD 
 
-- November TBD:  CBP International Seaport Interdiction 
Training, Durres, focused on Customs, Border police/MoI, Naval 
Forces and IMOC participant agencies.  Schedule shifted to 
accommodate USCG MTT in September. 
 
-- FY 2009 TBD:  USCG Coastal Search and Rescue, Advanced Boarding 
Officer Course (coordinated using Albanian Naval officer 
instructors), Patrol Boat Engineering, Damage Control and 
Maintenance (tailored to 42 meter vessels). 
 
-- January 2009:  CBP Undercover Ops, Controlled Delivery Training 
 
SERBIA: 
 
TIRANA 00000318  003 OF 003 
 
 
-- July 10-27:  USCG Basic Small Boat Operations Course 
 
MONTENEGREO: 
-- EXBS Maritime Office currently facilitating TDY legal advisor for 
maritime Safety and security regulation development and 
consultation. 
 
-- September 4-13:  USCG Maritime Law Enforcement Boarding Officer 
Course 
 
BOSNIA: 
-- June TBD:  Undercover Operations, Controlled Delivery Training 
 
¶7. (SBU) SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, 
NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY 
 
-- The Albanian moratorium on speedboats along the coastline is 
expected to expire in December 2008.  Prudent action to anticipate 
dramatic increase in recreational boating would improve and develop 
small boat coastal response capacities. 
 
¶8. (U) PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS 
 
-- None. 
 
¶9. (U) RED FLAG ISSUES 
-- None. 
 
¶10.  (U) POC:  LCDR Timothy Conroy, email: conroyTC@state.gov, and 
Xhoana Kovaci, email: kovaciX@state.gov. 
 
CRISTINA