SHISH

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The State Intelligence Service, commonly known by its acronym SHISH, is the primary intelligence agency of Albania. Was created in 1992 by the Albanian Parliament as SHIK, acronym of Shërbimi Informativ Kombëtar (National Intelligence Service).

Contents

[edit] History

The National Informative Service (Albanian: Shërbimi Informativ Kombëtar, SHIK) was created by the Albanian parliament in 1992. Most of SHIK's officers came from the same northeastern region of the country as President Sali Berisha. The agency has been used to manage internal dissent and protect the interests of the individual members of the regime.

On April 1, 1997 the prime minister, Bashkim Fino, announced that SHIK activity would be suspended effective from March 31. SHIK Director Bashkim Gazidede and his deputy, Bujar Rama, resigned. On May 30, the President named Arben Karkini as the new head of SHIK. He was succeeded by Fatos Klosi after the Socialists won the July 1997 parliamentary elections. In October 1997, the United States Central Intelligence Agency sent a team of experts to assist the government in restructuring the SHIK.

On the evening of September 22, 1997, the former chairman of SHIK, Shkëlqim Agolli, was found stabbed to death in his home in Athens. It was alleged in Jane's Intelligence Review that this was a killing by professional assassins. According to Albanian newspaper Gazeta Albania, a group called Komiteti Shpëtimit (Commission of Salvation), formed after the 1997 riots in Vlorë, was responsible for his death.

In November 1999, SHIK was renamed SHISH.

[edit] Mission and Function

The State Intelligence Service has the following duties:

  • collect information from abroad for the purposes of national security;
  • undertake intelligence activity for purposes of the protection of integrity, independence and constitutional order;
  • collect information in regard to terrorist activity, production and trafficking of narcotics, in regard to production of weapons of mass destruction as well as crimes against the environment.
  • collect information in regard to organized crime that endangers the national security.

[edit] Relationship with other state entities

Institutional Position of the State Intelligence Service and relationship with other state bodies:

The State Intelligence Service is under the authority of the Prime Minister. Its Head is appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic with the proposal of the Prime Minister.

SHISH is operating within this context and while it has been identified as being "generally under effective civilian control" (U.S. Department of State, 2004) the agency has still been associated with various abuses within the country and continues to play a significant role in domestic politics. While the Albanian government has received support from the U.S. and European countries in working to establish or reform national institutions including it's intelligence and security services.

[edit] External Links