TIRANA, March 23 – The mediation of the international community appears to have borne fruit as the majority and opposition were able to reach a compromise on key issues during this week’s meeting of the ad hoc committee on justice reform.
The two sides initially agreed on the establishment of the National Bureau of Investigation, locally known as BKH, a structure tasked with fighting corruption at high levels modeled after the American FBI, which will no longer be placed under the authority of the Interior Ministry as initially proposed by the government draft, but will be placed under the jurisdiction of the Special Prosecution office instead, also to be set up as part of the pending justice reform.
The majority and opposition found consensus regarding the Nomination Council, a structure responsible for the selection and nomination of top officials of institutions created under the justice reform. The composition of this institution will be determined by foreign experts of OPDAT and EURALIUS missions.
U.S. ambassador to Albania Donald Lu called on political leaders to stop using the debate over BKH for political reasons and approve it without delay simultaneously with the justice reform.
“I ask those on the right and on the left to agree that the BKH is vital for anti-corruption in Albania. I ask them to agree on the model for anti-corruption that I have discussed today – an institution supported by the American FBI, independent, and accountable to the Albanian people,” Lu said during an open government event.
The United States, which has been heavily involved in the process by offering both technical expertise and financial assistance, will help guarantee the integrity of the institution, he said.
“The United States has set aside millions of dollars to pay for the equipment and training for these policemen. Their training will be at the FBI Academy in the United States. An FBI agent will be assigned to Tirana to support the creation of the organization,” Lu added.
According to the U.S. ambassador, all BKH policemen will undergo lie-detector tests and have their bank accounts monitored to ensure that they are not taking bribes or working for the organized crime.
The top U.S. diplomat also cast light regarding the bureau’s structure, which will be independent from both Prosecutor General and the State Police.
“The investigators of the BKH will be composed of judicial police. Its director for anti-corruption will be a judicial police officer who reports to an independent, special prosecutor. That prosecutor will be accountable to the Albanian people.”
Later on Wednesday evening, the political parties reportedly agreed on 4 other issues including the Disciplinary Tribunal of Justice and the High Administrative Court.
The proceedings of the ad hoc committee on justice reform resumed this week after the mediation of foreign diplomats, who once again have helped overcome differences between political camps in Albania.
The work of the committee had been brought to a standstill with the opposition demanding political talks on the reform and the majority insisting on a process directed by experts.
The impasse was reportedly overcome after three-hour talks held last Friday between the head of the ad hoc committee on justice reform Socialist MP Fatmir Xhafaj and the committee’s deputy chairman Democrat Eduard Halimi in the presence of U.S. ambassador Donald Lu and EU ambassador Romana Vlahutin.
The adoption of justice reform is considered as crucial to Albania’s EU integration efforts and its importance has been highlighted repeatedly by foreign diplomats.
U.S. ambassador Donald Lu has described the justice reform as “the most important reform since the fall of communism.”
