Structure of the Albania Mines Clearance Organisation

The responsibility for the clearance of mines and UXOs from the northern borders rests with the Government of Albania (GOA). An organisation has been structured to formulate, control and execute policy and the Mines Action Plan (MAP). There exists two primary levels of management within this structure which are the Albania Mines Action Committee (AMAC) and the Albania Mines Action Executive (AMAE).

AMAC

1. The AMAC is the executive level formation which is chaired by the Deputy Ministry of Defence.

2. The Albanian Mines Action Committee (AMAC) was formed with the authority of the GOA on 11th October 1999. The AMAC consists of the following representatives of the and invited international organisations:

• The Deputy Minister of Defence. (Chairperson)
• The Minister for Local Government (Member)
• The Minister for the Emergency Management Group (Member)
• The UN Resident Representative to Albania (Member)
• UNICEF Albania (Associate Member)
• The Chief of EOD, the Albanian Armed Forces (AAF) (Secretary)

3. The Committee may appoint additional members as appropriate.

4. The terms of reference for the AMAC are as follows:

• To seek direct demining support in terms of funding or direct assistance to the demining programme.
• The prioritising of demining efforts in Albania.
• To act as the government focus for donor nations and organisations participating in demining activities in Albania and to approve participation in the MAP.
• To form an Albania Mines Action Executive (AMAE) to exercise routine coordination and technical control over demining and related activities in line with the priorities set by the AMAC.
• To sensitise, through direct contact, foreign governments and the international community to the mines threat in Albania.
• Liaison and co-ordination of activities with the lead Mine Awareness Group.
• Pursuance of the ratification of the Ottawa treaty in relation to destruction of the AAF stockpile of anti-personnel mines. (Albania subsequently ratified the Ottawa Treaty on 29th February 2000)
• The AMAC shall meet at frequencies determined by the Chairperson.
• The secretary will record minutes of each meeting and disseminate to all members and other personnel as directed by the Chairperson.

AMAE

Responsible Body and Location

1. The AMAE shall be headed by an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) officer appointed from within the Albanian Armed Forces. The AMAE shall be collocated with the Humanitarian Information Centre (HIC) which is currently the Non-Government Organisation (NGO) focal point within Albania.

Functions

2. The government approved functions of the AMAE are identified in three main areas:

Mine Intelligence Focal Point Collecting, collating and mapping of data concerning mine contamination in Albania. The maintenance of a database of intelligence regarding mine contamination, incidents and casualties in Albania. The monitoring and reporting of demining progress. The routine dissemination of mine threat intelligence. The maintenance and routine dissemination of statistics. The maintenance of a high profile website.

Operational Control

• The survey and marking of mine contaminated areas and the maintenance and monitoring of minefield markings. The co-ordination of minefield rescue teams and where appropriate, the training of indigenous persons in minefield rescue activities.
• The production and maintenance of Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs) for demining activity. (These SOPs are to meet the minimum standards laid down by the UN in all areas and are to include survey, minefield marking and demining functions.)
• The production and maintenance of the Mine Action Programme (MAP).
• The co-ordination of security for all survey, minefield marking and maintenance and demining activities.
• The co-ordination of demining efforts by all agencies including AAF, Non Government Organisations (NGOs) and commercial organisations in line with priorities set by AMAC.
• The approval of all demining activities and the quality audit of all operations.
• The investigation and reporting of accidents involving demining activity.
• Liaison with UNMAS Kosovo to ensure coordination of demining activities.

Validation

• Approval of SOPs used by all demining organisations.
• The development and facilitation of a Quality Assurance System to monitor and enforce quality standards for all demining activities.

Funding

3. Resources for the AMAE will initially be sought as donations in manpower, equipment and services. The AMAE should aspire to be self-sustaining within 1 year of commencement of demining operations.

Structure

4. A staff of national and international assistants will support the Director AMAE, which will be subject to the approval of the AMAC. This structure will be subject to regular review to ensure it fully meets the requirements of the MAP. The structure is to be kept broadly in line with that recommended by the UN.

5. The structure of the AMAE at inauguration shall be:

Director AMAE

• The Director of AMAE will be directly responsible to the AMAC for the implementation of their policy by controlling all functions of the AMAE including the execution of the MAP.
• He shall be an AAF EOD officer appointed by the Chief of EOD.

Quality Assurance / Minefield Monitoring and Maintenance Teams (QAMMMT) will be responsible to the Director AMAE for:

• The maintenance of minefield marking to reduce the chance of incident or accident amongst personnel living or working near contaminated areas.
• The quality audit of all demining activities including proposed and ongoing work and demining declared as completed. Their responsibilities will include the investigation and reporting of all minefield and demining related accidents resulting in casualties.
• The QAMMMT shall consist of 2 consultants with internationally recognised experience in demining. They will be augmented by a local interpreter/drivers with detailed local knowledge of the Albania/Kosovo border areas.

Admin Assistant/Interpreter

• The Admin Assistant/Interpreter shall perform the role of interpreter for the AMAE staff and also carry out routine administrative functions as instructed by the Director AMAE.
• The Admin Assistant/Interpreter shall be a locally employed civilian.