Albania contacted the GICHD for support in the development of NMAS in October 2006. The GICHD NMAS specialist spent two weeks in Albania, providing in-service support to both operations and management staff. During this time, a series of workshops was held both nationally and regionally, involving all stakeholders to identify key areas of Albania's Mine Action situation and to analyse the current situation regarding the landmine and ERW contamination as well as the existing and future planned responses.

This analysis then led to a discussion of what topics needed to be covered in the National Mine Action Standards.

Victim Assistance /Battle Area Clearance/ Risk Management

New developments in the AMAS are the decision by the national authority (Albanian Mine Action Executive) to include (not covered in IMAS) chapters on “Risk Management”, “Victim Assistance” and Battle Area Clearance” based specifically on the Albanian experience.

Next steps:

• Three technical working groups (TWG) have been convened covering clearance, mine risk education and victim assistance. These TWG are led by AMAE staff and involve stakeholders at national, regional and community levels. These groups, supported by the GICHD over a three day workshop (Workshop Two) in March 2007, have reviewed the existing draft NMAS. The Albanian NMAS will now be translated to local language and circulated widely for comments prior to preparing Edition One of NMAS, Albania.
• The TWG will be widely extended to various Ministries and agencies to ensure wide involvement at the national, regional and community stakeholder levels.
• Review of existing legislation and/or drafting new legislation to support the NMAS of Albania.
• Review of SOP to ensure ongoing compliance with NMAS.

Following the completion of Workshop Two, all remaining work done on draft standards is completed in the Albanian language only. GICHD remains on call to support as necessary and as requested by AMAE.