The Minister briefed General  Shirref of the commitment and continuing efforts of Albania to intensify regional cooperation in order to strengthen security and stability in the region. Minister Nishani underlined that through regional cooperation is provided a direct contribution to the security not only for our region,but also for  European space  as well.

Minister Nishani and Gen Shirreff discussed in particular about Albanian police assistance missions for the Afghan police. The yearlong mission of the  first group of trainers ends in June, at which time it will be deployed in Afghanistan’s second mission of 16 Albanian police officers with the mission of training Afghan police.

-We feel proud to be part of the Alliance, but also proud of the fact that we have the chance to give a direct contribution to the NATO mission in Afghanistan, said the Minister of Interior .

Vice. Supreme Commander of NATO for Europe General Sir. Richard Shirref praised the commitment and the results of the Albanian military in Afghanistan, both considered very important missions of police assistance programs.

-Afghanistan can not be a stable and secure country, without first providing a well-trained police force. Albania has made and is making a significant contribution in this direction,-Gen Shirreff said.

Minister Nishani and General Shirreff also discussed at the meeting on the fight against organized crime, illegal migration and trafficking of narcotics.

Medal was awarded with the motivation “For special merits and services in the continuous assistance to the State Police.”

Assessing the work and contribution that Mr. Craig offered while he was head of mission PAMECA III, as well as technical and financial assistance given over the years by the European institutions and taxpayers, Minister Nishani underlined that due to this help and assistance, the State Police is one of the institutions that has undergone a great transformation in service of security and in respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, through the war against crime.

-I am convinced that not only employees of the State Police, who have benefited from this assistance, but also Albanian citizens who have been the best witnesses of all this cooperation in the growth of this standard for the State Police, will be always grateful.

Such missions become even more efficient, even more beneficial, when directed by leaders not only capable, not only friendly, but also talented in leadership and management, and Mr. Craig has been one of them.

I want to assure you that your contribution and all your associates, has been a direct contribution to the Albanian police corps, to increase their level of professionalism and thus to increase the security level and results in the fight against crime by the State Police, – said Minister Nishani.

Head of Delegation of the European Commission in Albania, Mr. Ettore Sequi, emphasized in his speech that the commitment and professionalism in management and implementation of projects by the head staff of PAMECA III has brought tangible results to the Albanian police.

-     The Improvement of the capacities and professionalism of the Albanian police, are tangible thanks to this assistance and you should be proud that you leaded efficiently this mission. Our commitment in this direction will continue,- said Sequi.

-     After receiving the medal, Chief of police assistance mission of the European Union PAMECA III, Mr. Cecil Craig, thanked all the directors of the State Police and the Ministry of Interior for the cooperation provided in the successful implementation of the project.

-     Albanian citizens should be proud of the police force, PAMECA is proud that cooperated with the State Police, although there is always the suspicion that we could have done even more. I wish more success PAMECA VI, – said Mr. Cecil Craig.

-     The ceremony of Mr. Cecil Craig decoration with the Medal of Honor was attended by the highest directors of the State Police.

In the meeting was widely discussed on specific aspects of facilitating the movement of citizens and goods, reduction or simplification of procedures in relation to border or road police authorities, and intensification of the communication and cooperation at expert levels on all matters of mutual interest.

-          For us it is important to find and define the ways of solving any problem even if this problem occurs for a single citizen – said the Minister Nishani at the meeting, assessing that cooperation with Kosovo represents today the best model of regional cooperation.

The Minister Nishani and the Ambassador Selimi shared the same point of view, that in addition to facilities for common citizens, to continue with the same level of cooperation on the fight with zero tolerance against illegal trafficking groups and criminal activities in Albania and Kosovo.

I am pleased to take part in this meeting of the Board of Interest’s Parties, which is the highest authority for ensuring the successful implementation of this important investment of the European Delegation for the Albanian State Police.

In the framework of the implementation of the component’s plan of “PAMECA III”, we are here today to analyze and assess the achievements of this project for the progress made during the last 6-month implementation period, evaluation based on measures implemented and the concrete results achieved. The focus of the project applications in order and public safety, serious crimes and those organized, integrated border management and the High Inspectorate of Declaration and Audit of Assets, are target areas through which we intend to reach the requested standards of the European Union for the State Police.

The challenges that the institution of the State Police is facing today, which are not only our country challenges but as well as the region’s and beyond, our police activities assisted by the European expertise, intend to be implemented as required by the European standards for which we all have our realistic expectations. So today we see that from 2009 to 2011 we mark a change of 20% more and growing of arrests caught in act and given the security measures, 10% more checked, 12% more recorded crimes. The assistance through the offered expertise clearly improves every day the prevention and solving of all kinds of crimes giving the police more empowerment and leadership to manage the flow qualitatively and recording of crime. Today the police mark an average solving for all kinds of crimes at 82% while marks 91% level as for example for the category of crimes against the person.

All investments and achieved transformations belong to a challenge which we cannot face without the participation and commitment of all structures and the institutional actors of the state, European partners and civil society. The war against organized crime and terrorism brings a developed and intensive cooperation for successful implementation of the law. We mention here the strong relations of cooperation in the war against drugs with the regional countries as Italy, Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Montenegro, Kosovo, etc., but also with other countries like Germany, Turkey, Nordic countries, Great Britain, Switzerland etc..
To illustrate the progress made in this regard we can mention the fact that if from 2005 till 2009 (in 5 years) were conducted 53 joint international operations ending with 100 persons arrested, only during the year 2010 were conducted 34 operations ending with 62 persons arrested and during 2011 were conducted 26 international operations ending with 34 persons arrested. The processes were associated with active exchange of information and execution of joint international operations in cooperation with police and judicial authorities of these countries.

The investigation of the High Inspectorate of Declaration and Audit of Assets reflects today improved skills and stronger influence to the interested parties, but in fulfilling its duties, this institution beyond the Memorandum of Understanding and evaluation reports, needs an institutional coordination, where proactive cooperation is an integral part of daily working practices.

The fight against organized crime and corruption is not only based on the classic concept of repressive measures. Actually the highest priorities are the preventive measures. Organized crime is classified as the highest level or form of criminality and therefore the struggle against it must be at the highest levels. These measures, alternating with zero tolerance against forms of crime, have an effectively impact on reducing corruption and organized crime, particularly in society institutions or economy.

European Community assistance in infrastructure and equipment optimizes investment values through further qualitative implementations, such as ensuring the sustainability of interagency cooperation or multidimensional analysis and risk assessments. Today the state police in order to fulfill its duties is led by information and its exchange with all the structures of State Police, especially with general police patrol, the structures of the Border and Migration Police and investigations against serious crimes and organized crime. An effective role in these results has played the good functioning of the Interinstitutional Center Marine Operations, which with its specialized staff and modern equipment pursues and strikes the cases of trafficking through the sea. Thus, for the year 2011 one of the cases ended with the seizure of 1.5 tons of marijuana and the vessel, while the other led to the seizure of 431 kilograms of marijuana and the seizure of the vessel. The processes are associated with active exchanges of information. The Information Technology System known as MEMEX has expanded its scope and continues to provide a data quality program to control / manage the process of gathering and analyzing in time the operative data. Obviously, in a process of rapid development of technology and information, these systems like the one of the Border and Migration Police for administration of Information (TIMS) and MEMEX system will continue their perfection to improve and face the investigations against organized crime and serious crimes.

I recall again in this meeting emphasis for the maximum use of powerful instruments, such as  the law “On preventing and combating organized crime and trafficking through measures against property”, widely known as Antimafia law. This law gives to the law enforcement entities the opportunity to work vigorously toward confiscation and seizure of economic assets placed in the illegal ways by criminal elements involved in drug trafficking, but not only. The data of the last year make us optimistic, because the statistics speak for referrals from the State Police initiative of the Prosecutor for Serious Crimes for 47 cases, of which 20 are registered. There are also investigated 35 property proceedings from the year, 2010. While the value of assets seized and confiscated for 2011 is:

• Seized properties 1,828,365,160 ALL,

• Confiscated properties 733,622,135 ALL.

Following further in this meeting the more detailed analysis of the respective components, expressing my belief that the achievement of the objectives of this project will mark a visible progress in Albania’s path towards European integration, again I will urge the State Police should aim the maximization of the investments made, for the professional development in order to approach Schengen standards and European best practices. The police capacities which guarantee public order and safety, that serve the citizens and protect the community, are an important indicator of state capacity to serve its citizens.

Once again I want to express the gratitude for the assistance of the European Union, which has assisted and continues to assist Albania not only financially, but also in the projection, monitoring and implementation of a necessary block of deep reforms undertaken by the Albanian Government in the path of transformation toward the EU integration of Albania.

I would like to assure all partners and implementers of this project that the Albanian authorities and the Ministry of Interior will continue to ensure the successful implementation of this investment.

I would to greet and wish good luck to the implementers of this project: Ministry of Interior of the United Kingdom, the Serious Organized Crimes Agency, Agency for the improvement of National Police, Ministry of Interior of Austria, the Austrian Agency for European Integration.

Finally, let me confirm that despite major problems, new challenges often encountered by the State Police, I guarantee that these investments made so far, every euro and every cent offered by European citizens, by European taxpayers, addressed in the right direction by politicians of the European Commission, by the dynamics of the EC delegation in Tirana, have been totally effective and we are very grateful.

Minister Nishani was invited to attend this two day conference, 16 – 17 April 2012, by the Minister of the Interior of Austria, H.E.Mrs. Johana Mikl-Leitner. In addition to countries of Central Asia this activity was attended by high representatives of EU, USA, Japon, Russia and international organizations such as UNODC, UNDP, UNHCR, INTERPOL, FRONTEX, ICMPD, IOM, World Bank, etc.

Minister of the Interior, Mr. Bujar Nishani, presented in the Conference the model and the progress of Albania in the field of inter – border cooperation in the framework of the Integrated Border Management, mainly on the collaboration with the neighboring countries and the influence of this cooperation, not only for the increase and strengthening of border security but also to facilitate the movement of people, means and goods through border crossing points.

Minister Nishani said that safe borders can be assured only due to the collaboration and mutual partnership, and he guaranteed at the same time that all countries will find Albania a safe partner for this purpose.

Minister Nishani had a special meeting with the Minister of Interior of Austria, Mrs. Johana Mikl-Leitner.

The meeting discussed the existing mutual cooperation in the field of public order and safety, the fight against illegal migration, exchange of information with the mutual interest and the progress and results of PAMECA mission, etc.

Minister Nishani thanked Minister Mikl-Leitner for the collaboration and the assistance offered by the Austrian Federal Republic, in the field of public order and safety, in strengthening professional capacities and he guaranteed the full will to deepen the institutional cooperation.

Mrs. Mikl-Leitner said that Albania has made visible progress and expressed evaluations for the role of our country in enhancing safety in the region of West Balkans.

In the end of the meeting Minister of Interior, Mr. Bujar Nishani invited his Austrian counterpart to pay an official visit in Albania. The Federal Minister of Interior of the Republic of Austria, Mrs. Mikl Leitner received the invitation with pleasure.

During the visit in this Center, Minister Nishani said that Albania is among the first countries in the region in terms of equipping citizens with biometric identity documents.

Since 2009, the year when it was produced the first ID and until the present it has not passed a long time and the ambitious project of the Albanian government, the high level and the quality offered by the company Aleat, the cooperation and the interest of the Albanian citizens have made possible to achieve enviable standard in terms of citizens’ identity and assessing different services to use electronic ID cards by Albanian citizens.

Minister Nishani said that although in the beginning of the project there were many people who expressed skepticism about its implementation by the government as well as skepticism about the concessionaire ‘ability it was made possible only today, after three years, to have the three millionth ID for citizens.

Minister Nishani also announced that application offices for electronic ID cards will be soon opened in USA.

“Ministry of the Interior, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have already initiated the procedures for opening an application office for ID cards and biometric passports in the USA, concretely in New York, taking into account the largest number of Albanian in this state, and subject to requests of Albanian citizens we will open such offices in other places as well”.

Considering the numerous possibilities for other benefits and facilities for Albanian citizens who have biometric identity documents, Minister Nishani expressed the will of the Government to offer and to include in these documents other safe and quick services so that what is fundamental and vital for human rights, services for citizens, be as safe, as quick and as close to citizens as possible.

“The conclusion of this moment is very significant, but I believe it is important and simple in reality:, service, service and only quality service for our citizens, “said the Minister of Interior Mr. Bujar Nishani.

Dear participants,

The fight against trafficking of heroine remains one of the main priorities of law enforcement agencies in general and of the State Police in particular. As noted in the last report of INTERPOL “……there is a significant decrease of heroine seized in Albania. Whereas, the number of seizures of heroine transited from Albania to its neighboring country and seizures during the recent years were decreased as the result of the successful suppression of trafficking by the use of boats, from Albania to Italy. Suppress of such transportation by the Albanian and Italian authorities have led to removal of Albania as a transit country for large shipments of heroine”.

In relation to the trafficking of cocaine, from the results from our analyses as well as from analyses of international institutions such as SECI, quantities of cocaine being trafficked from Albania to other countries are negligible.

Albania is a country where cannabis is still cultivated and a place where regional criminal groups export cannabis to other countries of the region and beyond. But, as ascertained from reports of international law enforcement agencies, and here allow me to mention again the last report of INTERPOL where it says:  “….cannabis is still produced on a large scale in Albania……..and in 2010 the Albanian authorities considerably increased the level of seizures of cannabis (7,304.805 kg ‘36’), again thanks to the continuous efforts by the authorities to suppress trafficking of cannabis”. During the year 2011 as the result of combination of prevention and suppression measures, the areas cultivated and the production of cannabis have been decreased. Furthermore, during the last two years the best results have been achieved in the fight against this phenomenon for the last 5 years, thus reducing cultivation of plants in about 5 times less than 2007. This intensity continues for 2012 where it should be mentioning that for the period January until the first days of March of this year there have been identified 132 seizures of marijuana related cases where there were seized 2 ton and 182 persons were criminally prosecuted. Also, 6 international operations were conducted where 7 people were arrested charged with trafficking in drug trafficking.

Dear participants,

In dealing with drug trafficking, in addition to internal efforts, a priority remains the cooperation among law enforcement agencies of our countries and international organizations. In recent years, the international cooperation is further developed and intensified. Specifically, we have very good cooperation with the regional countries such as with Italy, Greece, Turkey, Macedonia, Montenegro, Police of Kosovo, etc, as well as with other countries such as Switzerland, Germany, France, etc. Interpol, SECI Center in Bucharest, Rumania and liaison officers who exercise their duty in respective countries have contributed in the exchange of information and realization of joint operations and a considerable number of operations were successfully completed. To illustrate the progress done in this direction we can mention the fact that from 2005 until 2009 (in five years) there were completed 53 international and joint operations and 100 persons were arrested. Only during 2010 there were executed 34 police operations and 62 persons were arrested whereas during 2011 there were executed 26 international operations and 34 persons were arrested.

Besides the intensive attacks of criminal groups involved in trafficking of narcotics an effective role has been played by the Interagency Operational Naval Center which has a very specialized staff and the most advanced equipments, to intercept, detect and attack cases of trafficking by sea. Thus, for 2011 there were 2 such cases. In one case 1.5 ton marijuana and the vessel were seized whereas in another case 431 kg marijuana and the vessel were seized.

Strengthening of the rule of law and national and international cooperation has helped in providing the best of our borders and reducing all types of trafficking. There is a considerable improvement in securing the coastline, air transportation and border in general. Here I take the opportunity again to thank the Delegation of the European Union and the Embassy of the United States for having given a number of funds for the infrastructure and for the increase of the capacities of border management and crime investigation. (10 new buildings for Border Crossing Points and 17 stations for Border and Migration Police were built by the funding of the Delegation of the European Union. The Embassy of USA in Tirana has delivered seven vessels for naval space surveillance and 4 vehicles for the border police, etc).

I take this opportunity to call on the police authorities and not only, to take full advantage of a very powerful instrument, as it is the law “On prevention and fight against organized crime and illegal trafficking, through measures against property” as widely known as Anti – mafia law. This law gives you, law enforcement agencies, the opportunity to strongly work to seize and sequester assets acquired illegally by criminal elements involved in trafficking in drugs but not only. The data of 2011 make us feel optimistic because the statistics say that the State Police, with the initiative in the Serious Crime Prosecution Office has sent 47 such cases, out of which there were registered 20. Also, there were investigated 35 property old proceedings from the previous year, 2000. Whereas the value of assets seized and confiscated for 2011 is as follows:

• Seized assets: 1.828.365.160 leks,
• Confiscated assets 733.622.135 leks.

Compared to 2010 the value of assets seized and confiscated is about one time higher.

Dear representatives of central law enforcement agencies,

Dear representatives of the central and local government,

The action plan that the Director General of Police will present today is based on two pillars: the preparatory and the operational phase. I would like to put emphasis on the great importance of the preparatory phase in facing successfully this challenge. All together we should concentrate our attention to the work and taking preventive measures and the development of awareness campaigns in problematic areas. Also, the establishment and functioning of structures in charge, as provided for in this action plan, is very important for law enforcement agencies.

Dear ladies and gentlemen of State Police,

In parallel with the preparatory phase you should maximally concentrate your efforts to strongly attack the phase of narcotics cultivation. You can achieve this in close cooperation with the bodies of the local government, as this is our common challenge and bears common obligations. It is the legal obligation of the local government bodies not only to ensure that the territories where they are working to be clean of narcotic plants but also to provide the reporting of information and making denouncements for every case where information is given to the local police. Once again I would like to emphasize that it is very important to seize and sequester assets whenever it is suspected that these assets were achieved illegally, not only by those who deal directly with drug trafficking but from everybody who collaborates and facilitates this category.

At the end of my speech I would like to assure that the Ministry of the Interior has the readiness to forcefully fight organized crime with all means and in all its forms. Expressing once again the willingness of the Ministry of the Interior, of the State Police to contribute in this regard, allow me to assure for our partnership in this process.

Thank you for the attention.

Together with the wishes for successes in her duty Minister Nishani expressed to the Ambassador Tomashova the full readiness of the Ministry of the Interior to further strengthen the cooperation with the Embassy and Czech republic.

Minister Nishani expressed the fact that Czech has given strong support in the framework of the Albanian European integration and in this context the Ministry of the Interior and its agencies are ready to closely cooperate to achieve one of its main priorities in the European path, the fight against organized crime.

“Exchange of information, mutual training and operations are these the fields where we are engaged to cooperate with our Czech counterparts,“ said Minister Nishani.

Minister Nishani and the Ambassador Tomashova discussed widely about the state of order and safety in Albania and during their meeting it was mentioned the fact that only during last year a number of 4 million tourists visited Albania, a huge number of them were Czech and there was no case when their safety was threatened.

Minister Nishani said to the Ambassador Tomashova that Albania has guaranteed high standards in the border control thus not allowing citizens of third countries to use our country as a transit to go to EU.

Minister Nishani and the Ambassador Tomashova agreed to prepare the modalities to sign in a very near time the agreement of readmission between the two respective countries, Agreement of which is already signed by Albania with most of the countries of the European Union.

Minister Nishani wished Mr. Cannon successes on his duty and he expressed his full confidence to further strengthen cooperation with the Home Affairs Office, with the British Embassy and British authorities.

Minister Nishani and Ambassador Cannon discussed on the cooperation achieved so far under the project PAMECA III, which is funded by the Government of the United Kingdom, a project for which Ambassador Cannon expressed the readiness of the British government to continue to support it in its next phase.

The meeting focused specifically on the standards achieved by our country in the field of border control and cooperation in this field with the British authorities. Minister Nishani said that only last year the Albanian border authorities identified about 600 persons from third countries who tried to use Albanian territory to cross into the territory of EU countries, while not a single case was reported by these states to show that any person had arrived from third countries via Albania.

Minister of Interior expressed at the meeting that the efforts and achievements of the State Police in the fight against criminality and illegal trafficking, are in itself a contribution to strengthen security in the region and beyond and to guarantee further performance in the road towards the European integration.

I also would like to express appreciation and thanks to organize crime investigation structures in the Directorate General of the State Police who provided professional investigation in support of operational structures of Tirana and Vlora and they provided al the necessary infrastructure to collect, arrange and present the necessary evidence needed for both these serial offenders.

I wish to express appreciation and thanks to the Crime Laboratory, whose employees provide professional work and in record time, that made possible to identify, examine and present all the necessary evidence for operational structures which later made possible to detain these persons.

I also would like to express thanks to hundreds of citizens who offered their readiness and their cooperation to the State Police structures in realizing these operations successfully for attacking these authors.

I take this opportunity to guarantee the Albanian citizens that the more crime is sophisticated the activity of criminal groups and individuals becomes more organized, and the engagement and intervention of State Police structures will become stronger and more determined to guarantee order and safety and to ensure that any author, despite his criminal involvement, will be brought to justice.

I would like to thank you, media representatives, for your presence and demonstration that you have done to all activities of the Police, not only in this case but in all Police’s operations.

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