US embassy cable - 04BRATISLAVA467

UNCLAS BRATISLAVA 000467 
 
SIPDIS 
 
 
STATE FOR NP-JOHN COFFEY 
CUSTOMS FOR BOBBY PICKETT 
PRAGUE FOR MARK CANNING 
VIENNA FOR KENNY MACDONALD 
BUDAPEST FOR KEITH MINES 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KNNP, ETTC, PREL, LO 
SUBJECT: EXBS: APRIL 2004 MONTHLY REPORT FOR SLOVAKIA, 
CZECH REPUBLIC AND HUNGARY 
 
 
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SLOVAKIA 
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NEW EXBS ADVISOR TO SLOVAKIA, LARRY ADKINS, ARRIVED AT 
HIS NEW POST IN BRATISLAVA ON THURSDAY, MARCH 25, 2004. 
DUE TO PROBLEMS IN OBTAINING PROPER SECURITY CLEARANCE, 
ADVISOR HAD TO BE ESCORTED WHENEVER HE ENTERED THE 
EMBASSY.  ADVISOR COULD NOT ACCESS AND SET UP NEW 
OFFICE SPACE OR EVEN LOG ON TO COMPUTER SYSTEM UNTIL 
SECURITY CLEARANCE WAS RECEIVED.  ON APRIL 7, 2004, 
EMBASSY RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF INTERIM SECURITY 
CLEARANCE FOR NEW ADVISOR. ADVISOR IS NOW OCCUPYING HIS 
NEW OFFICE SPACE. 
 
JUST PRIOR TO ARRIVAL, EXBS ADVISOR ATTENDED THE EXBS 
CONFERENCE HELD IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA ON MARCH 23 - 24, 
2004.  THE CONFERENCE WAS BOTH INTERESTING AND 
INFORMATIVE. THE CONFERENCE SPEAKERS ANSWERED MANY OF 
THE QUESTIONS I HAD AND MUCH WAS LEARNED THROUGH 
COLLABORATION WITH THE MORE EXPERIENCED ADVISORS THAT 
ATTENDED THE CONFERENCE. 
 
ON APRIL 19, 2004, EXBS ADVISOR MET WITH SLOVAK 
DIRECTORATE OF CUSTOMS DIRECTOR LUTERANOVA.  ADVISOR 
PRESENTED SLOVAK CUSTOMS WITH A CT-30 ENFORCEMENT KIT. 
DISCUSSIONS INCLUDED PROPOSED IBIT/RADACAD TRAINING IN 
JULY 2004, REPAIR OF PALLET X-RAY MACHINE AT THE PORT 
    OF VYSNE NEMECKE, UPGRADE OF PORTAL MONITORS AND A 
SCHEDULED VISIT TO VYSNE NEMECKE ON THE BORDER WITH 
UKRAINE IN MAY. WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE STATUS OF SOME 
EQUIPMENT THAT HAD BEEN ORDERED BY COP KEVIN CUMMINGS. 
 
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CZECH REPUBLIC 
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EXBS ADVISOR CONTACTED MARK CANNING (POL/ECON OFFICER) 
AT THE AMEMBASSY IN PRAGUE TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF 
EXBS PROGRAM IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC.  EXBS ADVISOR WILL 
VISIT PRAGUE IN MAY TO MEET WITH DIRECTORATE OF CUSTOMS 
AND ALIEN AND BORDER POLICE OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE THEM 
WITH AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS OF THE EXBS PROGRAM IN 
THEIR COUNTRY. 
 
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HUNGARY 
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EXBS ADVISOR CONTACTED KEITH MINES (POL/MIL OFFICER) AT 
THE AMEMBASSY IN BUDAPEST TO DISCUSS THE STATUS OF EXBS 
PROGRAM IN THE HUNGARY.  EXBS ADVISOR WILL VISIT 
BUDAPEST IN MAY AND MEET WITH DIRECTORATE OF CUSTOMS 
OFFICIALS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH AN UPDATE ON THE STATUS 
OF THE EXBS PROGRAM IN THEIR COUNTRY. 
 
QUESTIONS REGARDING THIS REPORT CAN BE DIRECTED TO 
LARRY ADKINS, SENIOR ADVISOR, SLOVAKIA EXBS OFFICE AT 
AMEMBASSY BRATISLAVA AT TELEPHONE NO.: 421-2-5922-3375, 
    FAX: 421-2-5922-3044 OR THROUGH EMAIL AT 
ADKINSLH@STATE.GOV. 
 
THAYER 
 
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