VZCZCXYZ0005
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHTI #0085 0411511
ZNR UUUUU ZZH (CCY AD2089F2 MSI7318-695)
P 101511Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY TIRANA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8815

UNCLAS TIRANA 000085 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
C O R R E C T E D COPY CAPTION 
DEPT FOR EUR/SCE; DRL; G/TIP 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM KTIP KWMN KDRM PGOV PREL AL
SUBJECT: GOA APPROVES BENEFITS FOR TIP VICTIMS; PLEDGES MORE 
ASSISTANCE 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE TREAT ACCORDINGLY 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Over the past three months, the GOA has launched 
several new initiatives in anti-TIP to accelerate the momentum it 
lost in the latter half of 2009 during the electoral campaign. 
Foremost among these initiatives are the GOA's decision that victims 
of trafficking are now eligible for social services and that 
shelters will receive state assistance in 2010.  The MFA will also 
host a regional TIP conference in April, and the Prosecutor 
General's Office endorsed stronger cooperation.  The developments 
are significant and provide much needed assistance to the shelters 
and the victims.  Adding to the progress was the MFA's effort last 
week to heighten the visibility of trafficking by naming TIP 
activist Vera Lesko as Albania's TIP Ambassador at Large.  Lesko, in 
her acceptance remarks, praised the GOA for the reduction in 
trafficking.  End summary. 
¶2. (SBU) In the past few weeks, the GOA has announced two major 
initiatives aimed at assisting victims of trafficking.  First, 
National Anti-Trafficking Coordinator and Deputy Minister of 
Interior Iva Zajmi announced that victims of trafficking will soon 
be eligible to receive state social services for, among other 
things, medical care.  This is significant because in the past 
victims of trafficking have been unable to receive free medical care 
from the state after their experiences.  In addition, Minister of 
Interior Lulzim Basha met with the leaders of the five shelters (one 
government run and four NGO run) two weeks ago, and pledged that the 
NGO shelters would receive GOA financial assistance in 2010. 
Harkening back to PM Sali Berisha's pledge to assist the shelters 
financially, Basha said that the shelters need only to present 
proposals to his Ministry for funding and then financing could be 
provided.  In separate conversations with NGO representatives 
present at the meeting, they characterized the meeting with Basha as 
"positive" and seemed perplexed that he was actually "listening" to 
them and discussing how to move forward.  NGO representatives added 
that they have funding proposals ready so the ball will quickly 
return to the GOA's court. 
¶3. (SBU) In a separate meeting, Prosecutor General Ina Rama told the 
Deputy Chief of Mission she would review Post's suggestion that Rama 
appoint an advocate for victims in her office in order to protect 
victims' rights and assist them through the prosecution process. 
Recognizing that prosecutors view trafficking cases differently from 
social workers, Rama said that such an advocate could play a key 
role in improving cases and therefore convictions.  Post also raised 
cases in which convicted traffickers had been freed by the Supreme 
Court on what some legal scholars say were dubious legal grounds. 
Rama said she is well aware of this phenomenon and has raised it 
personally with the Prime Minister. 
¶4. (SBU) The MFA also wants to get in on the action and honored Vera 
Lesko, the founder of the Vatra shelter in Vlore and a 2009 TIP 
Hero, as a TIP Honorary Ambassador on February 4.  FM Ilir Meta 
hailed Lesko's work at the well-attended event and announced that 
the GOA will host a regional conference on combating TIP in April. 
When Lesko spoke, she said that trafficking in persons has declined 
considerably over previous years and cited the government's role in 
combating trafficking, as a key factor.  She also urged all parties 
to remain vigilant, saying that while the NGO community has come a 
long way in past years, the struggle is not over.  Foreign Minister 
Ilir Meta told poloff after the event that funding for the shelters 
is forthcoming. 
¶5. (SBU) Comment:  The announcements that TIP victims would receive 
free social services and that the GOA will provide financial 
assistance to the shelters are important measures and highly 
significant, once enacted.  However, two local leaders of the NGO 
community have both said that they feel this time these pledges will 
be honored, a noteworthy sentiment given their usual pessimistic 
nature regarding the GOA.  There is no question that the GOA is 
talking more about both of these issues and increasing its direct 
engagement, both of which are positive.  As for the Supreme Court 
and prosecutions, PG Rama seemed quite open to moving forward but 
did acknowledge the difficulty not only in prosecuting TIP cases, 
but also the general corruption in the judicial system.  In Post's 
view, the reversals of TIP convictions reflect widespread corruption 
in the judiciary rather than any ill intentions by the GOA, as many 
cases are overturned on numerous issues.  The MFA's splash onto the 
scene is also welcome, although some feathers have already been 
ruffled by FM Meta's "intrusion" into anti-TIP activities. 
Regardless, it is heartening to hear GOA officials complain about 
other officials doing TIP work; these spats are more welcome than no 
one talking about TIP at all. 
WITHERS