The incident in Rinas, Minister Xhaçka: Military Police and Special Forces Troops at the Airport Security Perimeter

Published: Wednesday, 10 April 2019 17:58

 

The incident that occurred yesterday at Rinas Airport was undoubtedly serious.

I share the same concerns of citizens and colleagues that something like this cannot be happening in an area of particular importance.

What is already known from the analysis and investigation is that security mechanisms at the Airport, which are under the responsibility of the Chinese Concessionaire Company, have failed completely.
The Concessionaire has failed to fulfill its responsibilities to guarantee the physical security parameters and has not implemented the mandatory security standards established by the domestic legislation and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

It is an irresponsible and very serious violation of the Albanian legislation, for which I hope and believe that the criminal responsibilities be concrete.

This situation requires urgent intervention, because we cannot allow the security of citizens nor the image of the country be compromised.

For this reason, under the conditions of repeated irresponsibility on the concessionary’ side to respect its legal obligations to guarantee the Airport security, I have ordered that the Military Police and Special Forces Battalion troops of our Armed Forces be placed on the perimeter of “Mother Teresa” Airport.

It is a practice that is being implemented today in almost every European capital where units of the Armed Forces are placed in support of their Police colleagues, in order to guarantee the security of special importance objects and above all, aiming to guarantee the safety of citizens.

Also, since Air Force Command is located at a very short distance from Rinas Airport, I have therefore ordered that the Military Police be dislocated in this command, thus joining the State Police to support it in ensuring airport security.