VZCZCXRO6951
RR RUEHPOD
DE RUEHTI #0594/01 2451331
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 021331Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8434
INFO RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 4557
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0004
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 3304
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 0108
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0762
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 3019
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 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 
 
TIRANA 00000594  002 OF 003 
 
 
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 
 
TIRANA 00000594  003 OF 003 
 
 
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.