For information on the old secret police, reportedly called the Sigurimi (Reuters 20 Oct. 1993) and on the present secret police, called Shik (AFP 28 Nov. 1992; 17 Sept. 1992), please see the attached articles.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 28 November 1992. "Yugoslavia Trying to Destabilize Albania: Secret Police." (NEXIS)

_____. 17 September 1992. "Albanian Secret Police Embroiled in Political Scandal." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 20 October 1993. "Former Top Security Officials Arrested in Albania." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Presse (AFP). 28 November 1992. "Yugoslavia Trying to Destabilize Albania: Secret Police." (NEXIS)

_____. 17 September 1992. "Albanian Secret Police Embroiled in Political Scandal." (NEXIS)

_____. 3 April 1992. "Albanian Secret Police Scraps Its Compromising Documents." (NEXIS)

The Associated Press (AP). 11 April 1993. AM Cycle. Tony Smith. "Albanians Welcome Law and Order, but Worry about Police." (NEXIS)

Der Standard [Vienna, in German]. 6 July 1990. "Special Secret Police Unit Used on 2 Jul." (FBIS-EEU-90-130 6 July 1990, p. 9)

Le Monde [Paris]. 3 September 1991. "Albanie: Arrestation de deux anciens responsables communistes." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 20 October 1993. "Former Top Security Officials Arrested in Albania." (NEXIS)

_____. 29 February 1992. AM Cycle. Natasha Narayan. "Police Say Albania Is Sliding out of Control." (NEXIS)

_____. 27 January 1992. BC Cycle. "Albania Has No Plans to Open Secret Police Archives." (NEXIS)

_____. 1 September 1991. AM Cycle. "Former Albanian Communist Officials Arrested, Opposition Says." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 28 May 1993. Final Edition. "Ex-secret Police Lose Phones in Albania." (NEXIS)