Albanian alumni recently took the opportunity to organize a roundtable discussion on counterterrorism in conjunction with the Partnership for Peace Consortium Counterterrorism Working Group meeting held March 5-6 in Tirana. Forty-five participants attended the event, including 28 Albanian graduates and other alumni attending the working group meeting. Security officials from the Ministries of Defense, Foreign Affairs and Interior as well as parliamentarians participated in the roundtable. The U.S. Ambassador John L. Withers II opened the event, followed by the Albanian Deputy Minister of Interior Iva Zajmi.

Marshall Center professor Dr. Jay LeBeau gave a presentation entitled “Terror’s Gate – Examining Islamist Recruitment Methods” and Mr. Fiqiri Meta (PTSS 2006-2), a counterterrorism expert in the Albanian State Intelligence Service, spoke on recruitment methods and mechanisms of radicalization in the region. Ms. Valbona Zeneli (LC 2003-2) moderated the event.

Click to enlarge Ms. Valbona Zeneli (right) opens the roundtable as distinguised guests look on.	Click to enlarge Amb. Winters (right) gives opening remarks.	Click to enlarge Deputy Minister Zajmi (second from right) addresses the audience.
Click to enlarge Among the guests were representatives from the U.S. and German Embassies: (left to right) Mr. Elez Shiqerukaj (EP 1995-1), International Training Program Manager, U.S. Embassy; MAJ Larry Harrison, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperation, U.S. Embassy and LTC Hans-Ulrich Täubert, Defense Attaché, German Embassy.	Click to enlarge Dr. Jay LeBeau talks about how terrorist recruitment is accomplished.	Click to enlarge The audience of security professionals listen to Dr. LeBeau’s lecture.
Click to enlarge Mr. Fiqiri Meta discusses regional counterterrorism issues.	Click to enlarge Deputy Minister of Defense Ms. Zana Xhuka (EP 2001-1, SES 2006-3) asks a question following the presentations.	Click to enlarge Alumni participants from the PfP-C working group stay on for the roundtable: (left to right) Mr. Jahangir Arasli (EP 1998-1), Azerbaijan; LTC (ret.) Tatiana Busuncian (LC 2001-3), Moldova; Mr. Bogdan Udriste (PTSS 2005-7), Romania and Dr. Nika Chitadze (LC 1999-2), Georgia.
Click to enlarge Mr. Bardhyl Cobaj (LPASS 2006-1) adds some information to the Albanian graduate book.	Click to enlarge Deputy Minister Xhuka (right) and Ms. Migena Pengili (LPASS 2007-1) pause for a photo after the roundtable.	Click to enlarge Colleagues from PASS 2007-4 caught on camera (l to r) are LTC Haziz Alia (EPASS) and LT Sabri Gjinollari (LPASS).
Click to enlarge Pausing for a photo are (l to r) Mr. Bajram Ibraj (SES 2001-5) and COL (ret.) Arjan Rugji (EP 2000-1, SES 2004-3).	Click to enlarge Carrying on the discussions during refreshments are Albanian graduates from PASS 2006-7 (left to right) Mr. Rezar Velmishi (LPASS), Belinda Shtylla (LPASS) and COL Maksim Malaj (EPASS), along with their Kosovar classmate, Mr. Ekrem Hajdari (LPASS). COL Dhori Spirollari attended EPASS 2006-4.	Click to enlarge Stopping for a photo before departing are LPASS 2007-7 colleagues Mr. Plarent Ruka (left), Ms. Jonida Hoxha (second from left) and Mr. Gjergj Sejdiaj (right), along with Mr. Adhurim Hasanaj (LPASS 2005-4) and Ms. Migena Pengili.