VZCZCXRO2099
RR RUEHPOD
DE RUEHTI #0285/01 1321301
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 121301Z MAY 09
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8096
INFO RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 4544
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0029
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 3290
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 0095
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0748
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 2992
RHMFIUU/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHINGTON DC
RUWDQAC/COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/US CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION WASHINGTON DC
RHMFIUU/USCBP WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 TIRANA 000285 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR ISN/ECC - YWONG, ACHURCH, JBALDWIN, LSPRINGER 
STATE FOR EUR/ACE 
USCBP INA FOR BPICKETT, MIRIZARRY 
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 ADRIATIC REGION MARITIME REPORTING CABLE FOR FEBRUARY 
AND MARCH 2009 
 
¶1. (U) BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS 
 
-- Albania and Croatia became members of NATO on 4 April 2009. 
 
¶2. (U) COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
See paragraphs 4 and 5 below discussing equipment and training. 
 
¶3. (SBU) MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD 
 
ALBANIA 
 
--February 4: Maritime Advisor and ICITAP Port Security Advisor met 
with Minister Olldashi at the Ministry of Public Works, Transport 
and Telecommunication to deliver the report of the USCG's 
International Port Security Program.  The report identified areas 
for improvement based on the U.S. Coast Guard's assessment of 
national level implementation of required security measures for 
ships and port facilities and a review of port security measures in 
place at the ports of Durres, Shengjin and Vlora. ICITAP's Port 
Security Advisor pressed the Minister on the need for a Memorandum 
of Understanding to formalize cooperation between Port Security 
Forces, Customs and Border Police officers in the ports and the need 
to address the deficiencies noted in the report prior to the USCG's 
follow-on visit scheduled for July 2009. 
 
--February 6: Maritime Advisor met with ODC, Cubic Defense 
Modernization Team, DAO and Pol/Econ to discuss each sections 
intersecting work in the maritime sector and issues with the GOA 
Inter-institutional Maritime Operations Center (IMOC). GOA agencies' 
interests in the IMOC are varied and competing and as a result, the 
IMOC is in danger of being an unused resource and GOA will still 
have the problem of uncoordinated maritime law enforcement and a 
Coast Guard that is under the Ministry of Defense. Each section 
discussed its particular interests and a common agenda was developed 
to guide future engagement with GOA on these issues. 
 
--February 13: Maritime Advisor participated in ceremony at Customs 
Headquarters to present certificates of completion to participants 
of the EXBS funded training on x-ray image analysis that was 
delivered at Durres in December 2008.  All but one participant in 
the course received a completion certificate and test scores overall 
were high.  Maritime Advisor met with Customs General Director 
Perparim Dervishi before the ceremony and discussed the need for an 
advanced notice of arrival system for inbound ships.  Maritime 
Advisor will send Customs DG information on advance notice of 
arrival systems and the electronic advance notice of arrival system 
used by the US.  Customs DG mentioned that the Chinese government is 
offering them low interest loans to implement various projects, but 
did not provide any specifics. Customs DG is currently serving as 
Chairman of the Joint Cooperation Committee for the Southeast 
European Cooperative Initiative (SECI) Center and invited Maritime 
Advisor to attend the Joint Cooperation Committee's next meeting in 
Vlore at the beginning of June 2009. 
 
-- February 16: Maritime Advisor met with Customs DG Perparim 
Dervishi in conjunction with an EXBS equipment training being 
conducted at Customs HQ. Maritime Advisor discussed training 
schedule with Customs DG. 
 
--February 17: Maritime Advisor contacted the Director of the Durres 
Port Customs House, Arben Ibroja, and learned that he had been 
removed from this position.  He was replaced by Mikel Miloti. 
 
-- February 18: Maritime Advisor met with the Commander of the Naval 
Academy in Vlore, Ferdinant Kreshpani, to discuss training and 
equipment needs of the Academy.  The Academy was separated from the 
Navy several years ago and grouped with the academies of the other 
armed forces of Albania. This resulted in funding shortages and a 
lack of attention overall to the school's needs. There are plans to 
move the school back under the Navy Commander,  but a specific date 
 
TIRANA 00000285  002 OF 006 
 
 
for this is not known. Immediate needs include renewal of the 
school's internet subscription, desktop computers and licensed 
software for each and navigational charts that cover the entire 
coast of Albania. A full list of equipment and training needs will 
be sent sepcor. Maritime Advisor also delivered a donation of 
maritime books to the Academy valued at $5,073USD. 
 
--February 20: Maritime Advisor met with representatives from OSCE, 
PAMECA, ICITAP, Cubic and the EU Commission to discuss mutual work 
in the maritime arena.  OSCE, PAMECA and ICITAP are spearheading an 
attempt to present the GOA with draft legislation to resolve issues 
over command and control of the IMOC and a working arrangement to 
ensure that maritime law enforcement is under civilian control.  All 
representatives present provided input. PAMECA and OSCE are taking 
the lead in incorporating changes and suggested language into the 
draft.  Future meetings will follow until a draft is ready to be 
presented to the GOA. 
 
--February 21: Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor met with 
Director of Border and Migration Police, Pellumb Nako, to discuss 
issues with the IMOC, equipment needs in terms of waterborne 
resources and thermal imaging cameras.  MOI believes it should be in 
charge of the IMOC due to its law enforcement authorities but MOI is 
deadlocked with the Navy/MOD on this issue.  Director Nako indicated 
that assistance was not needed with respect to waterborne resources; 
however, based on Maritime Advisor's field visits to the ports, this 
is not the case.  Border Police waterborne resources are limited and 
in poor condition.  Director Nako instead stressed that he was 
interested in intelligence gathering tools and intelligence sharing. 
He was also very interested in getting thermal imaging cameras. 
 
--March 3: Maritime Advisor met with representatives from the 
Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to discuss their plans to 
make Albania one of the countries for a train-the-trainer pilot 
program.  DTRA is interested in having resident WMD courses at the 
State Police Academy. Maritime Advisor suggested that if DTRA 
pursues this program, it consider having resident WMD courses at the 
Naval Academy in Vlore as well to cover maritime issues. 
 
--March 3: Maritime Advisor met with Navy CNT training team from 
EUCOM to discuss planning of a two-week maritime, 
counter-narco-terrorism training course in May 2009, followed by 
another two-week training in June 2009. Maritime Advisor provided 
input on participants for the course, focus areas for the training, 
skill level of participants and available waterborne resources. 
 
--March 4: Maritime Advisor participated in meeting with Navy CNT 
training team and Captain Mecollari at the Navy's Southern Command 
at Pashaliman.  Captain Mecollari provided a briefing on the status 
of the Navy and Coast Guard, mission areas and available resources. 
The Navy CNT training team briefed Captain Mecollari on its concept 
for the training sessions in May and June, which was followed by a 
tour of the Pashaliman base and inspection of waterborne assets that 
would be used for the training. 
 
--March 4: Maritime Advisor arranged and participated in meeting 
with Navy CNT training team and the Commander of the Naval Academy 
in Vlore to discuss the upcoming training and Naval Academy 
involvement.  Arrangements were made to use the Naval Academy for 
the classroom portion of the training and incorporate the Naval 
Academy's training officers in the training. 
 
--March 4: Maritime Advisor arranged and participated in meeting 
with Navy CNT training team and the Head of the Customs Maritime 
Anti-Contraband Unit to discuss the upcoming May and June training 
and Customs involvement. Arrangements were made arrangements to use 
Customs' waterborne assets for the training and incorporate its 
maritime unit members in the training. 
 
--March 9: Maritime Advisor met with ODC, Cubic, DAO and Pol/Econ 
for further discussions and status on IMOC issues. The MOD is 
 
TIRANA 00000285  003 OF 006 
 
 
discussing moving the IMOC so that it is co-located with its joint 
operations center in Tirana. However, this would severely limit any 
other agency's ability to participate in the IMOC if it is located 
on a military installation.  Currently, the radar feeds go directly 
to the IMOC at Durres. A repeater could be installed at a cost of 
approximately 450,000 USD to run the feed to the joint operations 
center in Tirana. NATO also has an interest in gaining access to the 
feed. 
 
--March 17: Maritime Advisor attended a meeting with the Lockheed 
Martin representatives in charge of the radar system project for 
Albania.  On March 18, complete control of the system will be turned 
over to the GOA. Lockheed Martin discussed the system's current 
capabilities and potential additions such as vessel traffic systems 
for Durres and Vlore, additional sites so that small watercraft can 
be detected and feeding into the NATO system (but at cost). 
Representatives from NATO in Naples will travel to Albania April 
21-22 to discuss accessing the system with the GOA. The Naval bases 
at Shengjin, Durres, Pashaliman and Saranda all have access to the 
feeds from the system and the air picture can be seen at RINAS 
airport in Tirana. Training on the system that came with the 
Lockheed Martin contract has already been delivered in the areas of 
maintenance, microwaves, generators, and radar systems.  The GOA 
would like additional training.  The system came with a one year 
warranty and there is a local representative to provide support. 
 
--March 25: Maritime Advisor met with Wisconsin Project 
representatives in preparation for the start of the two day 
demonstration on the risk report database.  Maritime Advisor 
provided an update on status of export control law and the State 
Export Control Agency. 
 
--March 27: Maritime Advisor met with representatives from OSCE, 
PAMECA, ICITAP, Cubic and the EU Commission for ongoing discussions 
on draft legislation to the GOA on IMOC and maritime interagency 
cooperation. Further comments and suggestions were incorporated, 
with PAMECA and ICITAP taking lead and a final draft will be 
presented to the GOA in mid-April. 
 
MACEDONIA 
 
--February 25-27: Maritime Advisor met with officials from the 
Macedonian Lake Border Police at Lake Ohrid, Prespa and Dorjan Star 
to discuss equipment and training needs. All three units need cold 
weather gear and basic law enforcement gear, a detailed list will be 
provide sepcor. The Lake Border Police requested joint training with 
the Albanians but would like to do so in a sea environment as the 
lake environment is not challenging enough for them. Their skills 
are advanced so any joint training, whether on the lake or at a 
seaport, will have to be tailored to deliver instruction that meets 
their advanced skill level.  A course on diving instruction was also 
requested.  Lake Ohrid is one of the deepest lakes in the world and 
smugglers dump contraband overboard when being pursued by police. 
The police are unable to prosecute smugglers because they cannot 
retrieve the evidence so dive capability is greatly desired. 
 
MONTENEGRO 
 
--March 11: Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor for Serbia, 
Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), and Montenegro met with the Director of 
Customs, Mr. Miodrag Radusinovic, to discuss Customs maritime 
operations, training and equipment needs. Customs does not currently 
have any waterborne assets. They did in the past but those assets 
are no longer in service. Customs would like to have waterborne 
capability so they can work with Border Police. The Port of Bar is 
installing a NucTech X-Ray Scanner that was donated by the Chinese 
government. The scanner will come with some initial training but 
follow-on training such as the image analysis provided by SGS 
Contractors in Albania is recommended four-six months after the 
system is operational in Bar. 
 
 
TIRANA 00000285  004 OF 006 
 
 
--March 11: Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor for Serbia, BiH 
and Montenegro met with the Head of Department for State Border 
Surveillance, Mr. Vukoman Zarkovic, to discuss Border Police's 
maritime operations, training and equipment needs. Border Police 
needs vessels that are capable of handling foul weather and heavier 
seas. They are currently operating two patrol boats donated by the 
Army but these are antiquated and require a crew of 15 people and 2 
hours minimum to get underway. Border Police would also like to have 
joint training with their Albanian counterparts on Lake 
Skadar/Shkoder. Smuggling is very problematic on this lake as well 
as on a shared river and coordination between the two countries has 
not been strong. Equipment needs identified include thermal vision 
cameras, heavy weather clothing and law enforcement gear. 
 
--March 11: Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor for Serbia, BiH 
and Montenegro met with the Deputy Minister for Maritime Affairs, 
Mr. Srdan Vukcevic. The status of the maritime law that EXBS 
provided SME assistance in drafting is currently on hold until 
elections are held on March 29. After the elections, Mr. Vukcevic 
wants to discuss having the USCG SME return to Montenegro to assist 
with the final phases of the draft law. Mr. Vukcevic requested 
training in the areas of search and rescue, environmental pollution, 
flag state control and port state control.  There are three small 
boats used by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and its officers have 
law enforcement authority. 
 
--March 11: Maritime Advisor and Regional Advisor for Serbia, BiH 
and Montenegro met with the Embassy Podgorica team and covered each 
item in the EXBS Program Plan for Montenegro.  The DCM is very 
interested in blue border capability and border surveillance, as 
well as the areas in which EXBS can provide support. 
 
--March 12-13: Maritime Advisor attended the USCG training course in 
Herceg Novi for Engineering, Administration and Logistics. Border 
Police and Customs officers from BiH, Serbia and Montenegro 
participated in the course. Overall feedback from participants was 
positive but they requested more hands-on, practical training. Two 
participants brought up issues they are having with Mercury engines 
on boats donated through the Montenegro Border Security Program. 
They believe these engines are defective as they have never worked 
properly and the boats are currently dry-docked as a result. The 
Mercury representative they have been dealing with has not been 
responsive and they requested Embassy support in resolving the 
matter. Maritime Advisor raised issue with Embassy Podgorica and 
will take for action. 
 
--March 13: Maritime Advisor met with Border Police unit at Herceg 
Novi to discuss training and equipment needs. Border Police 
requested training on Evinrude outboard engines, heavy weather 
operations, navigation and radio comunications. Equipment needs 
identified include heavy weather clothing, GPS units with chart 
images, drug testing kits, probes and other detection/search 
devices. Based on meetings with Montenegrin Customs, Border Police 
and Maritime Affairs, joint training should be held for these 
agencies so they can improve their working relationships.  Incident 
Command System (ICS) training is also recommended for senior level 
representatives in Podgorica and for the Ports of Bar and Kotor. 
 
--March 21-22: Maritime Advisor attended International Seaport 
Interdiction Training (ISIT) delivered in Bar by Customs and Border 
Protection (CBP) officers and met with the Bar Harbor Master, Mr. 
Goran Jurisic. Based on feedback during the ISIT course, there is a 
need for confined space entry training and safety equipment for 
confined space entry such as oxygen meters and radiation detection 
pagers. The Bar Harbor Master requested national level port security 
training and was very receptive to Incident Command System training. 
 
 
OTHER 
 
--March 5-7: Maritime Advisor attended the Geneva Center for the 
 
TIRANA 00000285  005 OF 006 
 
 
Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) 6th Ministerial Conference 
on Border Security in Belgrade.  Maritime Advisor met Customs and 
Border Police representatives from Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro and 
Albania, discussed maritime issues in brief and exchanged contact 
information to conduct meetings in the future. 
 
¶4. (U) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
-- February 2-3: Commonwealth Trading Partners provided an 
introduction of the Tracker Export Control Licensing System to the 
Albanian State Export Control Agency, covering customization for GOA 
needs and steps for implementing the system. The State Export 
Control Agency determined that Tracker will meet its needs and 
approved moving forward with installation. ISN/ECC will fully fund 
Tracker installation. Representatives from Customs, Ministry of 
Economy, Trade and Energy and Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also 
in attendance for a total of fifteen participants. 
 
-- February 16-21: Equipment training was provided by TDY EXBS 
Advisor to Customs and Border Police officers in Tirana, Durres, 
Vlore, and the Muriqan and Hani Hoti BCPs in Shkoder.  Training was 
delivered on the use of CT-30 Kits, fiberscopes, busters, radiation 
detection pagers and distance meters. Training consisted of 
classroom instruction and practical exercises. A total of 69 
officers received this training and provided very positive feedback 
on the utility of instruction.  The training will also increase the 
distribution and use of previously donated equipment that was not 
disbursed or not in use because officers had little to no previous 
knowledge on the use of this equipment. 
 
-- March 2-5: DTRA provided a WMD Crisis Incident Management Course 
in Tirana to 31 participants with the assistance of EXBS. 
Participants included Customs, Border Police, Radiation Protection 
Office, Center for Applied Nuclear Physics and the Intelligence 
Service. The course focused on the principles of crisis management 
and how they applied in managing a major WMD incident; interagency 
coordination; information management; conducting related criminal 
investigations and consequence management activities. The course 
also used interactive discussions and practical exercises to 
emphasize these principles. The training was delivered by USG 
representatives from DOD, FBI, DHS and contracted experts from 
private practice. 
 
-- March 16-20: EXBS program funded an International Seaport 
Interdiction Training delivered by two CBP officers. Representatives 
from Albanian Border Police, Customs, Harbor Master, Navy and Port 
Security Forces comprised the 26 participants in the course. The 
course consisted of four days of classroom instruction and one day 
of practical exercises that took place in the Port of Durres. Topics 
covered included seaport operations and processes including inbound 
and outbound operations, incident command structure in a maritime 
environment, hazardous materials, export controls, weapons of mass 
destruction, antiterrorism, passenger and commercial ship 
concealment methods, contraband seizure, document analysis, 
inspection techniques and officer safety. 
 
--March 26-27: EXBS funded a Wisconsin Project Risk Report 
demonstration in Tirana provided by two representatives from 
Wisconsin Project. Officials from the Albanian Export Control 
Agency, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy, Radiation Protection 
Office and Customs attended the event and Wisconsin Project provided 
the 25 participants with usernames and passwords to access the 
online database. The Wisconsin Project representatives noticed a 
significant change in the receptiveness and initiative of the 
Albanians in comparison to their initial visit to Albania in 2006. 
The accounts that had been set up for GOA users during the 2006 
visit were never used and interest was faint. During this visit, 
there was much greater receptivity to the Risks Report and the 
participants indicated they felt this would be a useful tool in 
their daily work. 
 
 
TIRANA 00000285  006 OF 006 
 
 
¶5. (U) EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
--February 17: Maritime Advisor delivered one transistorized 
megaphone to the Port Security Forces of Durres. 
 
--February 18: Maritime Advisor delivered one transistorized 
megaphone to the Port Security Forces of Vlore. 
 
--February 18: Maritime Advisor delivered five Chapman's Piloting 
and Seamanship, five Dutton's Navigation and Piloting, five Watch 
Officer's Guide and five Jane's Fighting Ships books to the Naval 
Academy in Vlora.  The total cost of this donation was $5,073.05. 
 
¶6. (SBU) IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT: 
 
ALBANIA: 
 
-- April 21-24: An Export Control Regulatory Foundation Workshop 
will take place in Tirana with twenty-five participants from the 
State Export Control Agency, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy, 
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Trade Room. The course 
will be delivered by contractors from Commonwealth Trading Partners. 
 
 
--April 25: A representative from Commonwealth Trading Partners will 
meet with the Chairman of the State Export Control Agency to discuss 
the next steps in Tracker installation. 
 
-- May 4-8: International Border Interdiction Training will be 
conducted at the southern land border crossing of Kakavija.  The 
training will be provided to officers from Customs and Border 
Police. 
 
--May 27-28: A senior licensing officer and systems administrator 
from the State Export Control Agency will be funded by EXBS to 
attend the Tracker Best Practice Conference in Warsaw, Poland. 
 
-- As part of LATA Task Order 112, 12 Gator Hawk Body Armor Vests 
and 28 Handcuffs arrived in Albania on February 20, 2009. The 
equipment is worth $15,087 and will be donated to Border Police 
officials in May 2009. 
 
-- As part of LATA Task Order 113, 10 Campbell Security Model 
CT-30-10-2.0 Contraband Kits and 40 radiation detection pagers 
arrived in Tirana on February 27, 2009. This equipment will be 
donated to Border Police and Customs officials in May 2009. 
 
--One laptop and one projector will be donated to the Port Security 
Forces at the Port of Saranda in April/May 2009 for use in 
conducting their training program. 
 
¶7. (SBU) SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, 
NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY 
 
-- None known. 
 
¶8. (U) PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS 
-- None. 
 
¶9. (U) RED FLAG ISSUES 
-- None. 
 
¶10.  (U) POC:  LT Cari Bower, email: bowerc@state.gov. 
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