US congratulates Albania: Strengthened Border Security, expelled Iranian Ambassador

The U.S. State Department has published today's report of countries on terrorism, including Albania. In the report, The UN estimates that Albania continued its strong international support.

The UN stresses that the threat of terrorism in Albania comes from returnees from Iraq and Syria.

“Albania continued strong support for international anti-terrorism efforts in 2018 and participation in the global coalition against I SIS” is highlighted in the report, adding that “in December, Albania expelled two Iranian officials, including Iranian Ambassador to Albania, in response to an Iran-funded plot to carry out a terrorist attack on Albania”, the UN report said.

Further in the report is stressed that “Albania is maintaining a port security monitoring system to fully meet the requirements under the International Transport Security Code and Port of the International Marine Organisation. The implementation of Albanian law increased efforts to combat possible terrorist threats. The State Police Antiterrorism Unit (CTU) worked closely with US agencies to adapt the Albanian government's requests for equipment and training with US expertise and resources.

Through participation in the State Department's Antiterrorism Assistance programme, the CTU received further training on investigations from the dark web network to managing the complex issues of terrorism. Despite lack of resources, CTU also participated in some successful interventions of known or suspected terrorists.

The Albanian government, in co-operation with international partners, has developed emergency plans and capabilities to prevent and react to terrorist attacks against easily targeted persons. US-funded efforts continued to provide surveillance, assistance and training for prosecutors, law enforcement officials, financial investigators, intelligence analysts and judges from Albania, Bosnia, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia and Serbia.

Among other things in the report is stressed that the <x0 constitutional and legal reforms for the judiciary are under way, starting with verifying Albania's 800 judges and prosecutors for corruption, their capacity and links to organised crime”.

“Since December 2018, the Veting Commission and the International Monitoring Operation fired 30 judges, confirmed 31 new judges, and marked 16 judicial resignations preceding the Veting process. Moreover, in December, Albania founded the Supreme Council of Prosecutors (KLP) and the High Judicial Council, organs that will serve as pillars of an independent and qualitative judiciary. KLP enables the creation of a Special Anti-Corruption and Organised Crime Struct, the National Bureau of Investigation and the selection of a general prosecutor. Albania is in the process of implementing the database system for border control, P ISCES, which will improve Albanian border management and passenger control, as well as more broadly complement the Total Information Management System to better secure borders from terrorism”, the UN says.

“Law enforcement services co-operate extensively with INTERPOL and other international law enforcement bodies. Albania seeks to implement U n NSCR 2396, in terms of biometric data, a process that is under way and will improve the control of passengers entering the country via air transport”, said the report published by the UN today. /AT S/