EURALIUS / OPDAT - EU Justiz Mission in Albania: “Follow the Money to Solve the Crime”

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EURALIUS 2008

Corruption is Robbing Albania of its Future

By B.Bix Aliu in Tirana

07 November 2008 The struggle will not succeed unless prosecutors are given free rein to investigate offenders; lifting immunity from prosecution for all officials would also help.

The United States places a high priority on combating corruption. We view it as a threat to development and prosperity. Corruption jeopardizes political stability, weakens democracy, and stymies growth and foreign investment. Corruption robs a nation of its future and people of their dreams by misappropriating investment away from areas that need it most, such as the public sector, infrastructure and social development.

Promoting good governance and fighting corruption are important foreign policy priorities for the United States. The US has helped Albania in its efforts to combat corruption and increase transparency, improve good governance, combat money laundering, and prosecute crime by providing technical assistance and training. We’ve also assisted with strengthening criminal justice systems and capacities of law enforcement agencies.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training, OPDAT, has given very concrete assistance to the Prosecutor’s Office and the courts. It has assisted with the fight against corruption, organized crime, narcotics, and human trafficking cases. It helped establish the Joint Investigative Unit, JIU. This unit is now achieving important results in the struggle against corruption and financial crime – achievements that have been recognized by such bodies as Transparency International and Freedom House as real successes in the fight against corruption. We expect the same success will be replicated nationwide with the establishment of JIUs in six additional districts.

We all know the Prosecutor’s Office is investigating some of the most complicated and controversial cases ever in Albania. Although the United States has no interest in who may eventually be found guilty or innocent – that is a job strictly for the prosecutors and judges – justice can never be served unless investigators and prosecutors are allowed to follow the evidence wherever it may lead. There is no arguing that in order to succeed, the Prosecutor’s Office needs full powers to investigate and prosecute offenders free from outside interference. Lifting immunity for all senior officials would make success possible.
The police are another key element in rule-of-law mechanisms. The Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program, ICITAP, has been providing continuous assistance to the police by reforming their training and leadership programs, and updating their skills in crime investigation and prevention, as well as community policing.

Several of the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, integrated rule-of-law and anticorruption programs also are designed to help reduce opportunities and incentives for corruption, and by promoting independent media, civil society, and public education.

Albania has qualified for a second Millennium Challenge Threshold program. This is expected to assist anti-corruption efforts by establishing an administrative court that will improve management of disputes of an administrative character, such as tax and procurement appeals; tax administration reform to increase the efficiency of tax administration in revenue collection; streamlining the licensing system through a one-stop-shop model; the establishment of a National Planning Registry to make construction permits more transparent and efficient; and, last but not least, establishing Joint Investigative Units in six additional districts.

In May, an Institute for Development Research and Alternatives, IDRA, corruption perception survey found that 92 per cent of Albanians believe corruption is widespread among public officials, a decline of eight percentage points from a year ago. The report showed no progress in bribery indicators. Nearly 70 per cent of people surveyed report having paid a bribe for medical treatment. Nearly 60 per cent have little or no trust in the judicial system. There is much more work to do.

There should be significant development of enforceable procedural systems promoting accountability and transparency: standardized and public administrative processes and licenses; public legislative processes that follow standardized rules; public judicial proceedings that follow standardized procedures; public budgeting processes and internal financial controls; a merit-based civil service.

Most importantly, there should be political will to enforce all these rules and laws and complementary efforts from the various law enforcement institutions. There is no doubt that the US will continue to assist Albania, but the real driving force for the overall success of anti-corruption efforts should come from within this country: institutions, civil society, and individuals. No one should be above the law.

B.Bix Aliu is a Public Affairs Officer at the United States Embassy in Tirana. Balkan Insight, BIRN`s online publication, commissioned this comment.

Deputy Chief of Mission Meets New Director of Albanian State Police Academy

On November 4, Deputy Chief of Mission Steve Cristina, ICITAP Program Manager Darrel Hart and ICITAP Academy Advisor Hauer met with the newly appointed Director of the Albanian State Police Academy, Muhamet Rrumbullaku, to express their appreciation for the excellent leadership he has demonstrated since taking over the Academy several weeks ago. The efforts of ICITAP and other international donors to create positive and lasting change within the ASP structures, relies heavily on an effectively administered Academy. For the first time in many years it appears that a true leader is in place and willing to make the changes necessary to accomplish the goals of professionalizing the entire police service. DCM Cristina emphasized that the USG will continue to support the ASP efforts through their ICITAP, OPDAT and ROL programs.

Follow the Money to Solve the Crime

An interview with Cindy Eldridge, Anti-Corruption Resident Legal Advisor at the Embassy’s DOJ OPDAT program, was the cover story of leading weekly MAPO on Nov 1. Following mounting speculations in the Albanian media about her role, Eldridge explained to the weekly that she is embedded with the Joint Investigative Unit of the Tirana Prosecutor’s Office. Eldridge told MAPO she offers technical advice and assistance on a variety of cases that the unit works on. Speaking on her experience as a federal prosecutor in the U.S., Eldridge said, “Following the money is the key to solving the crime.” Albanian prosecutors are involved in investigations of a series of high profile cases that point to the urgent need to fight corruption in Albania.

Balkan justice Show Theater: Insignificant quantities of drugs will be burned with media marketing

Policia gjate nje aksioni per asgjesim kanabisi

 

Operacion asgjësimi në Elbasan, digjet heroinë dhe kanabis sativa

Elbasan- Në bazë të dy vendimeve të formës së prerë nga Gjykata e Krimeve të Rënda dhe dënimit të personave përgjegjës, sot në Elbasan janë asgjësuar, duke u djegur një sasi prej më shumë se 7 kg heroine dhe 17 kilogramë kanabis sativa.

 

 

Bardha Nergjoni

Shtune, 15 Nentor 2008 14:21:00

 

EC urges Albania to fight corruption, improve judicial system

13/11/2008

Last week’s progress report on Albania by the European Commission said the country must intensify its fight against corruption, money laundering, drug trafficking and organised crime.

By Jonilda Koci for Southeast European Times in Tirana – 13/11/08

Corruption remains one of Albania’s biggest problems. [File]

The European Commission (EC) progress report on Albania, released on November 5th, said corruption, judicial deficiencies, politicisation of the civil service and organised crime remain the biggest hurdles for the country.

“Corruption remains widespread,” the report says. It cited the blast at the Gerdec ammunition dump that killed 17 people in March as an example still requiring an investigation. “To ensure credibility in the fight against corruption, the allegations around this case need to be tackled with resolve,” the report notes.

It also singled out the judiciary. “Judicial procedures have remained slow and lack transparency,” the EC said, urging greater judicial accountability.

Money laundering, drug trafficking and organised crime remain serious concerns. “Limited progress can be reported in the fight against organised crime, which is a key European Partnership priority,” the report said.

The document criticised public procurement laws and their implementation for failing to comply with the relevant provisions of the EC. Overall, reconciling Albanian law with the acquis has been overly slow, according to the report, which also faulted Albania for poor enforcement of its laws.

The EC then addressed political appointments to the civil service, describing them as a handicap to accountability and to the civil service’s independence. “Appointments have continued along political party lines in contravention of the Civil Service Law,” the EC said.

It furthermore accused Albania of a lack of transparency and insufficient dialogue among its political parties.

However, not all of the EC’s findings were negative. The commission noted Albania has made progress in democracy and the rule of law, management of federal police and financial and taxation policies.

The government played up the comments acknowledging Albania’s progress. “The … report is a confirmation of Albania’s achievements towards Euro-Atlantic integration, driving the government to work harder to fulfil the standards,” Prime Minister Sali Berisha said.

“We … are implementing the law on conflicts of interest, putting anti-corruption issues at the top of our agenda,” Integration Minister Majlinda Bregu told parliament last week.

The opposition says, however, the government has not taken responsibility for the key issues the country needs to confront. Conflicting interpretations of the report became the centre of a heated debate in parliament, prompting EU officials to issue a statement.

“Corruption is described as a particularly serious problem for Albania,” the EU envoys said in a statement issued by the French Embassy.

“We encourage Albania to strengthen even further its reform efforts, in particular in the fields where only limited and small progress was found by the Commission’s Progress Report,” they said.

This content was commissioned for SETimes.com

Corruption is Robbing Albania of its Future

By B.Bix Aliu in Tirana

07 November 2008 The struggle will not succeed unless prosecutors are given free rein to investigate offenders; lifting immunity from prosecution for all officials would also help. The United States places a high priority on combating corruption. We view it as a threat to development and prosperity.  Corruption jeopardizes political stability, weakens democracy, and stymies growth and foreign investment.  Corruption robs a nation of its future and people of their dreams by misappropriating investment away from areas that need it most, such as the public sector, infrastructure and social development.

Promoting good governance and fighting corruption are important foreign policy priorities for the United States. The US has helped Albania in its efforts to combat corruption and increase transparency, improve good governance, combat money laundering, and prosecute crime by providing technical assistance and training.  We’ve also assisted with strengthening criminal justice systems and capacities of law enforcement agencies.

The Department of Justice’s Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance and Training, OPDAT, has given very concrete assistance to the Prosecutor’s Office and the courts.  It has assisted with the fight against corruption, organized crime, narcotics, and human trafficking cases.  It helped establish the Joint Investigative Unit, JIU. This unit is now achieving important results in the struggle against corruption and financial crime – achievements that have been recognized by such bodies as Transparency International and Freedom House as real successes in the fight against corruption.  We expect the same success will be replicated nationwide with the establishment of JIUs in six additional districts.

We all know the Prosecutor’s Office is investigating some of the most complicated and controversial cases ever in Albania.  Although the United States has no interest in who may eventually be found guilty or innocent – that is a job strictly for the prosecutors and judges – justice can never be served unless investigators and prosecutors are allowed to follow the evidence wherever it may lead.  There is no arguing that in order to succeed, the Prosecutor’s Office needs full powers to investigate and prosecute offenders free from outside interference.  Lifting immunity for all senior officials would make success possible.
The police are another key element in rule-of-law mechanisms.  The Department of Justice’s International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program, ICITAP, has been providing continuous assistance to the police by reforming their training and leadership programs, and updating their skills in crime investigation and prevention, as well as community policing.

Several of the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, integrated rule-of-law and anticorruption programs also are designed to help reduce opportunities and incentives for corruption, and by promoting independent media, civil society, and public education.

Albania has qualified for a second Millennium Challenge Threshold program. This is expected to assist anti-corruption efforts by establishing an administrative court that will improve management of disputes of an administrative character, such as tax and procurement appeals; tax administration reform to increase the efficiency of tax administration in revenue collection; streamlining the licensing system through a one-stop-shop model; the establishment of a National Planning Registry to make construction permits more transparent and efficient; and, last but not least, establishing Joint Investigative Units in six additional districts.

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http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/comment/14649/ 

 

 

 

 

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