Scandal at SHISH/ Presidency releases details of National Security Council meeting: Investigations must be independent!

The Presidency has released details of the meeting of the National Security Council, which was convened by the head of state following the arrest of former SHISH director Vlora Hyseni.

According to the statement from the Presidency, discussions focused on the current situation and the measures that should be taken to strengthen interinstitutional cooperation, cooperation with partners and allies, as well as citizens’ trust.

The Council also stressed the importance of the independence of justice investigations and their respect by all institutions, and said that individual cases must not turn into a crisis of confidence in the state.

“Justice investigations must be conducted entirely independently and respected by everyone. Individual cases must not turn into a crisis of confidence in the state and in the security institutions. Institutions must show citizens that the system knows how to correct itself and protect the public interest. Our duty is to strengthen standards, oversight, transparency, accountability and institutional cooperation,” the Presidency said in its release on the meeting.

The Council also stressed that “Albania has institutions, international partners and allies, professionals and capabilities. The institutions of the Republic must work together to strengthen the state, national security and citizens’ trust.”

In addition to the members stipulated by law, representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office and the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) were also invited to the meeting.

Statement:

The President of the Republic, H.E. Mr. Bajram Begaj, today convened a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss current issues and their impact on the activity of the security institutions.

In addition to the members stipulated by law, representatives of the General Prosecutor’s Office and SPAK were also invited to the meeting.

The Council discussed the situation and the measures that institutions should take to strengthen interinstitutional cooperation, cooperation with partners and allies, and public trust.

The meeting concluded that:

Regarding national security, institutions do not compete with one another. They have different responsibilities, but serve the same interest: the security of the Republic of Albania. Any institutional mistrust must be replaced with cooperation, coordination and professional communication.

Justice investigations must be conducted entirely independently and respected by everyone. Individual cases must not turn into a crisis of confidence in the state and in the security institutions.

Institutions must show citizens that the system knows how to correct itself and protect the public interest. Our duty is to strengthen standards, oversight, transparency, accountability and institutional cooperation.

Albania has institutions, international partners and allies, professionals and capabilities. The institutions of the Republic must work together to strengthen the state, national security and citizens’ trust.

The National Security Council does not make decisions. It is an advisory body to the President of the Republic and supports the President in exercising his constitutional and legal powers. Its meetings are held behind closed doors.