VZCZCXRO9506
RR RUEHPOD
DE RUEHTI #0033/01 0151438
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 151438Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8734
INFO RUEHSQ/AMEMBASSY SKOPJE 4567
RUEHBW/AMEMBASSY BELGRADE 0012
RUEHVB/AMEMBASSY ZAGREB 3312
RUEHPOD/AMEMBASSY PODGORICA 0116
RUEHVJ/AMEMBASSY SARAJEVO 0770
RUEHVI/AMEMBASSY VIENNA 3043
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
RHMFISS/CDR USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TIRANA 000033 
 
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 DECEMBER 2009 
 
¶1. (U) BROAD ITEMS OF INTEREST TO ADVISORS AND AGENCY MANAGERS 
 
--None. 
 
¶2. (U) COMPLETED ACTIONS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
See paragraphs 4 and 5 below discussing equipment and training. 
 
¶3. (SBU) MEETINGS DURING REPORTING PERIOD 
 
--December 11: Maritime Advisor (MA) met with the newly appointed 
Durres Customs House Director, Mr. Bujar Vukaj. Vukaj expressed his 
appreciation for EXBS support and training courses provided to date. 
He asked for assistance in determining the most appropriate 
placement of the NucTech scanner as he wants to start screening 
exports, in addition to imports already being screened. Vukaj also 
requested additional training on scanner image analysis and risk 
analysis. MA inquired about establishing a training facility at the 
port, outfitted with equipment provided by EXBS and a designated 
area provided by the Port Authority as Customs does not have 
sufficient space. A Memorandum of Understanding could be developed 
to ensure that all agencies operating in the port have access to the 
training room. Vukaj endorsed the idea and stated he would work on a 
joint agreement with the Port Authority to establish a training 
facility. 
 
--December 15: MA met with the Director of Border and Migration 
Police, Mr. Pellumb Nako. Nako gave a brief overview of his upcoming 
projects related to the Inter-institutional Maritime Operations 
Center (IMOC), including meeting with IT specialists from all IMOC 
institutions to identify equipment needs to support the operations 
center. Nako provided MA with the Border Police's Basic Training 
Program for his officers. Nako has identified two trainers for 
maritime operations and these officers graduated from the Naval 
Academy. However the Training Program does not provide for any 
courses specifically related to maritime issues such as boat 
handling or navigation. Nako has not made any provisions for such 
training and does not understand that such training is essential for 
his officers operating in a maritime environment. Nako asked MA to 
provide input to the Training Program and MA will meet further with 
Nako and his blue border sector chiefs to ensure that appropriate 
maritime training is incorporated. Nako informed MA that a new 
facility to accommodate both Delta Force and Border Police units 
will be built in Radhima, Vlore. This facility will also serve as a 
training venue and maintenance facility for Border Police boats. 
There is no indication yet when the facilities will be operational. 
 
 
--December 15: MA met with Customs Operations Center Director, Mr. 
Aleksander Mucko to discuss the status of equipment donated by EXBS. 
Mucko reported that all equipment donated to date had been 
disbursed. Mucko provided a spreadsheet, compiled jointly with the 
Border Police to include equipment donated to that agency, 
indicating the specific field units that had received the equipment. 
 MA will conduct field visits to verify the accuracy of the 
information provided by Customs. Mucko reported that Border Police 
and Customs are working cooperatively to ensure that all border 
crossing points have a minimum outfit of inspection equipment. 
Customs and Border Police plan to start doing field checks at the 
beginning of 2010 to verify location of equipment, its use and 
working condition. Mucko indicated the most significant hurdle to 
getting Customs officers to use the equipment is not fear of 
breaking it or not knowing how to use it but rather changing their 
habits and having them incorporate use of the equipment into their 
routine. MA witnessed this during visit to the Port of Durres 
container yard on December 11. Mucko also mentioned that his 
officers' mindset is still focused on revenue rather than security. 
Mucko also reported that Customs is currently finishing the 
installation of three additional radiation portal monitors at 
Morina, Kakavija and Vlore. The portal monitor currently at Kakavija 
will be sent to Hani Hoti. Installation should be complete by the 
end of 2009.  Customs plans to buy an additional radiation portal 
monitor, suitable for use at a railway border crossing, for use at 
 
TIRANA 00000033  002 OF 003 
 
 
the Bajza border crossing point. 
 
--December 16: MA met with the Navy Chief of the IMOC, Captain 
Petrit Baduni and LT Elvis Cenko during a training event for IMOC 
agency participants. This was the second day of the training where 
the newly appointed representatives to the IMOC from Border Police 
and Customs Anti-Contraband were introduced to nautical charts and 
the radar system. Representatives from the Fisheries Department to 
be appointed to the IMOC will be identified in the near future. 
Additional training events as well as on-the-job training are 
planned. Training regarding the communication system and standard 
operating procedures was also taking place at Border Police 
headquarters in Tirana.  Captain Baduni expressed the importance of 
all agencies procuring the same type of communication equipment so 
that the entire IMOC system can be standardized. Communications in 
the maritime sector to date have largely been through personal cell 
phones. 
 
--December 18: MA met with the Navy IMOC Chief, Captain Petrit 
Baduni, to further discuss training needs. Baduni expressed the need 
for boarding officer courses and patrol planning courses, stating 
that the other IMOC agencies are lacking in maritime-specific 
training. MA discussed the need for GOA agencies to develop their 
own capacity to train their officers in fundamental maritime skills 
such as navigation, boat handling and boarding officer courses and 
this could be done through train-the-trainer courses. This would 
require a commitment from GOA agencies to ensure that personnel 
trained as trainers remained in positions to conduct training for a 
certain period of time. Baduni supported this plan and MA will 
discuss further with the Navy CNO, Admiral Cela. Baduni also 
informed MA that a decision to return the Naval School to the Navy 
CNO's control was awaiting the President's signature.  The Naval 
School has been under the control of the MOD's TRADOC, which has 
hampered the process for getting students to courses as well as 
limited the number of courses available at the Naval School. 
 
¶4. (U) TRAINING CONDUCTED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
--December 3-4: EXBS funded the delivery of an Investigating and 
Prosecuting Export Control Violations Course by the Stockholm 
International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). Participants from 
Customs, Border Police, Prosecutor General's Office, State Export 
Control Agency and the State Intelligence Service participated in 
the course. 
 
¶5. (U) EQUIPMENT DELIVERED DURING THE REPORTING PERIOD 
 
--December 14: Computer equipment totaling $103,802.00 was delivered 
to the State Export Control Agency. This equipment will allow for 
the installation and establishment of the TRACKER automated 
licensing system for Albania. 
 
--December 15: A shipment of maritime personal protective equipment 
ordered by MA through RPSO was received in Tirana. The shipment is 
comprised of 30 Mustang Survival Bomber Jackets, 12 Mustang 
Anti-Exposure Coveralls, 29 Inflatable Personal Flotation Devices 
with Auto Hydrostatic Activation and 30 Hydrostatic Re-Arm Inflation 
Kits.  The value of the equipment is $16,080.00 and will be 
distributed to Border Police Maritime Units. 
 
¶6. (SBU) IMMINENT TRAINING OR EQUIPMENT STATUS REPORT: 
 
--January 26-29: EXBS is funding System Administrator Training on 
the TRACKER licensing system for the State Export Control Agency. 
This training will be provided by Commonwealth Trading Partners. 
 
!@Q`Qqrx 10-12: EXBS is funding a BaGiOhQhBertoms Enforcement 
(ICE). Q`% #g4r2e whdl hnblude participants from Albania, 
gsgvg and 
Macedmnia. 
 
--February: EXBS is funding a Containerast Guard to Customs officials at the Port of 
 
TIRANA 00000033  003 OF 003 
 
 
Durres. 
 
¶7. (SBU) SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN EXPORT CONTROLS, 
NONPROLIFERATION, OR RELATED BORDER SECURITY 
 
--December 13: GOA has decided to extend the moratorium on 
recreational boating in Albanian waters for three more years. The 
moratorium only applies to Albanians operating pleasure craft in 
Albanian territorial waters. Foreigners are exempt from the 
moratorium. The reason given for extending the moratorium is that it 
has significantly aided in the fight against human trafficking. This 
decision will become law once Parliament votes on it in January 
¶2010. 
 
¶8. (U) PORTAL MONITOR ALERTS 
 
-- None. 
 
¶9. (U) RED FLAG ISSUES 
 
-- None. 
 
¶10.  (U) POC:  LT Cari Bower, email: bowerc@state.gov.