TIRANA, April 6 – Albania’s newly appointed minister of interior affairs, Fatmir Xhafaj, said Wednesday the State Police will guarantee election security and will be completely nonpartisan.
In his address to the new 419 cadets that have joined the police force, Xhafaj guaranteed that State Police will be impartial and that any attempt to politicize the police endangers the role and activity of the institution.
“Seeking political solutions through so-called compromise that politicizes and endanger State Police is a step backwards. We are fully aware of the damages that any ruling majority can cause if it does not guarantee a proper conduct of the police in harmony with the Constitution and the law,” Xhafaj said. “This government has the will to guarantee peaceful, free and fair elections.”
The minister also addressed the issue of cultivation and trafficking of cannabis and assured that the State Police is determined to further the fight against drug trafficking.
“Fight against drugs is our top priority. Our international partners support our mission,” Xhafaj said.
Albania is the largest marijuana producer in Europe and has also become a transit point for narcotics from Middle East and North Africa, according to international reports.
In the past two years Albanian authorities claim to have recorded an impressive string of arrests and seizures against drug production and trafficking networks operating in the country, and Xhafaj pledged a more aggressive stance against drug trafficking.
He warned that authorities will show no tolerance to officers who fail to deliver contribution to the ongoing crackdown operations. Xhafaj reiterated the need to vet all employees in the State Police based on the model that will be applied for the vetting of judges and prosecutors in the framework of justice reform.
The former head of the Ad-Hoc commission on justice reform has been under attack by the opposition over his relative’s drug smuggling conviction in Italy.
Xhafaj was appointed interior minister in March following a major cabinet reshuffle. His appointment was highly criticized by the opposition. Democratic Party supporters have blocked the main boulevard in Tirana for over 48 days demanding a caretaker government to guarantee free and fair elections.
The chairman of Democratic Party has expressed concern over the potential use of State Police to hamper the upcoming elections to be held in June 18.
