Intelligence draft law criticized by Washington

TIRANA, March 15 – The national security parliamentary committee last week approved a series of amendments on a draft law for the State Security Service (SHISH).
Based on that the existing head of the service Bahri Shaqiri could be moved from the post and also the premier will increase his impact on its independent functioning, according to the opposition.
The proposed bill imposes a term limit of five years for the director’s post. It is up to the premier to nominate a new head of the service in the next two months, if the bill is passed by parliament.
Shaqiri was appointed by former Socialist Prime Minister Fatos Nano five years ago. He can apply for a second and last term as SHISH director. But it has been obvious since the beginning of the center-right governing in 2005 that relations between them have always been strained.
After returning to power in 2005 after eight years in opposition, Berisha made several attempts to bring SHISH under the umbrella of the Ministry of Interior, but was forced to retreat under pressure from the opposition.
The Socialist opposition has contested the new bill, accusing Berisha of a conspiracy to put the secret service under his personal control.
The move also found direct opposition from Washington with a statement from the US Ambassador John L. Withers.
“It is vitally important for Albania’s intelligence service to remain professional, independent, and free from all political interference. We are concerned that the draft legislation undermines these principles.
In addition, this draft assigns troubling new domestic responsibilities to the intelligence service. Albania has worked hard to improve its international image. We fear that this draft law in its current form is damaging to that image. We take this matter very seriously.
We strongly urge that international legal experts be allowed to conduct a full scale review of the draft legislation before parliament takes any further action.
It is imperative that any such legislation meet international standards consistent with Albania’s Euro-Atlantic obligations,” said Withers.
He added that, “Any intelligence service must remain professional. It must not be politicized. It must retain its independence as an institution. We have looked at the draft, at the revised draft of this law. We still find it unacceptable in the terms that I have just laid out.
I do not want to get down into too many specific details here. I think that we have made our position clear and I think you understand what that position is.”
He also said that as a new NATO member and with aspirations for full Euro-Atlantic integration Albania should take this very seriously. “We feel that this law is taking Albania in the wrong direction. As friends, as close friends of Albania, we want to provide our advice and counsel to make sure that our friend Albania does not proceed in that wrong direction.”
Withers also said that draft law was, “not simply an internal political debate. Under NATO, and under bilateral arrangements, this is a matter with international implications. And as a result, whatever the internal discussion might be, it is very, very important that international legal experts be able to review this draft law at length and in detail to make sure that it meets the international component of its obligations. We are indeed following closely the internal debate over this draft law and all legislators across the political spectrum we ask to evaluate the consequences of this draft for Albania’s long-term national and international interests.”
The ambassador added that “this is a time when stability in the Albanian intelligence service is particularly important. This draft law raises questions exactly in that area.”
Since the end of the Stalinist regime of former dictator Enver Hoxha in 1991, the security services in Albania have undergone major transformations. SHISH is considered generally to be under civilian control and professional, and leads important counter terrorism operations in partnership with ally agencies like the CIA.