VZCZCXRO5556
RR RUEHIK
DE RUEHTI #0728/01 3160549
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 120549Z NOV 09
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8584
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TIRANA 000728 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR PM/WRA:DAVE DIAZ and EUR/SCE:JISMAIL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV MASS PREL AL
SUBJECT: NEW GOVERNMENT INCREASES FOCUS ON DEMIL 
 
TIRANA 00000728  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary.  During his November 11-14 trip to Washington, 
Defense Minister Imami will share his government's recent impressive 
accomplishments in demilitarization.  Prime Minister Berisha has 
accelerated the completion date for demilitarization from 2015 to 
¶2013. Although likely unachievable, the target has served as a 
catalyst for momentum in the MoD's demilitarization efforts.  Last 
week, the Government of Albania appointed two deputy ministers of 
defense, one of whom will chair a demilitarization executive 
committee.  Progress at industrial demilitarization facilities 
continues at a steady pace and a third site is likely to open at 
Gramsh within the month.  Open detonation will also proceed 
throughout the fall. In meetings with Imami, U.S. interlocutors 
should praise the GOA's increased, concerted and successful efforts 
in demilitarization and underscore U.S. support for an upcoming 
NAMSA assistance project.  Increased U.S. financial support is a 
reflection of Albania's effective policy and tangible success in 
demilitazation.  We should urge Imami to give his deputy minister 
real authority to coordinate Albania's demil efforts. End Summary. 
 
A SUCCESSFUL TRACK RECORD 
------------------------- 
 
¶2. (U) Berisha's increased attention has increased the momentum of 
demil efforts.  To date this year, of the approximately 100,000 
excess tons of munitions, the MoD has demilitarized approximately 
4,538 tons.  Of that, the Mjekes industrial line has dismantled 
1,672 tons of 160mm mortars, the Polican industrial line has 
dismantled 858 tons of 82mm mortars, and AAF EOD teams have 
destroyed 2,008 tons of various munitions by open detonation.  Both 
Mjekes and Polican are reviewing options for adding additional lines 
and shifts.  In early December, the OSCE will deliver six additional 
band-saws for the two facilities, which will help increase 
production.  Additionally the MOD has prepared a third industrial 
facility in Gramsh (south-central Albania) to handle 37mm mortars. 
Test runs have been successful and the line is expected to begin 
work next week.  Test runs have also been successfully completed on 
a U.S. funded incinerator to destroy light ammunition and the 
incinerator should begin work in the coming weeks.  The Ambassador 
and Defense Minister intend to visit the demilitarization sites and 
hold a ceremony for the incinerator in November. 
 
NEW DEPUTY MINISTERS 
------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) On November 5, Prime Minister Berisha appointed two new 
Deputy Ministers of Defense - Arian Starova and Ekrem Spahiu. (Note: 
Deputy Minister Zana Zhuka will also remain in her position, 
bringing the total deputy ministers to three. End Note.)   Spahiu 
explained to Poloff that the Minister has given him two concrete 
responsibilities: to chair the committee on demilitarization, and to 
chair a new committee on the elimination of excess military 
equipment.  According to Spahiu, Starova, a previous Foreign 
Minister and founder of the NATO Association of Albania, will manage 
NATO issues and the foreign relations aspects of MoD's work. 
 
MOVING UP THE TIMETABLE 
----------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU) Several MoD sources have stated that PM Berisha has given 
strict orders that the demilitarization schedule must be expedited 
by two years, with final completion in 2013.  It should be noted 
that the next national elections will be held in 2013.  The new 
deadline is similar to the one for opening of the Durres-Kukes road, 
which was moved up to before the 2009 elections, in spite of 
professional advice that this deadline was unachievable.  (Note: It 
is worth noting that shortly after the 2009 elections, the 
Durres-Kukes road closed again to allow for completion of work and 
will not open until at least May 2010).  U.S. experts involved in 
demil have noted that if all goes well, and planned additional 
efforts are actually realized, the GOA could come close to meeting 
the 2013 deadline, but will still fall short.  NAMSA advisors have 
expressed concern that the accelerated pace may have on security but 
are still supportive of Albanian efforts. 
 
U.S. MESSAGE TO IMAMI ON DEMIL 
------------------------------ 
 
¶5. (SBU) In meetings with Imami in Washington next week, U.S. 
interlocutors will want to recognize Albania's successes and express 
continued support for Albania's efforts in demil.  The momentum is 
consistent and often exceeds targets.  (Note: The Ambassador also 
relayed this message in a reception last week hosted by the Defense 
Attache and attended by Americans and Albanians involved in demil). 
We will also want to stress our support for a future NAMSA project 
to assist Albania's efforts.  While MoD support for such a project 
was lukewarm this summer, Defense Minister Imami has expressed 
support for NAMSA's assistance in several recent public statements. 
 
TIRANA 00000728  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
We will want to bolster him in this support.  We should also note 
our intention to increase assistance at Polican to include upgrades 
and a potential second and third line.  Imami will also be happy to 
hear of our work to take over operations at one of the open pit 
ranges (Bize).   Lastly, we should stress that with Deputy Minister 
Spahiu chairing the demil committee, Imami should entrust him with 
real authority to represent Imami and make decisions, an authority 
that to date has been lacking in all other MOD demil coordinators.