TIRANA – Long before the official pick up by the Selection Committee the candidacy of Ms. Aida Hajna, current deputy Director General of the State Police, has been highlighted as the favorite among four candidates to head the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Albania.
Local media mentioned her name as the favorite in face of Artur Beu, Ervin Hodaj and Idajet Faska who had been selected among 40 candidates who had presented their candidacies for the post of what is called the Albanian FBI.
Her candidature will be considered by the High Prosecution Council (HPC), which will make a decision on Tuesday, local media said on Monday.
It was quickly the reaction of the US Ambassador, Yuri Kim who applauded the move in a note on Twitter on Monday.
“Another step forward on the road to justice reform as the NBI Director Selection Committee sends the name of Aida Hajnaj to the HPC for approval. Next stop: FBI training with the best of American law enforcement. Gur mbi gur bëhet mur! (Stone by stone makes a wall!),” was Kim’s full comment.
Earlier on July 24 the US top envoy to Tirana said that it looks like some are dreaming that the NBI will never be established, they hope justice will never come. “Sorry to wake you from your slumber, but your dream will not come true. Justice reform will not be easy, quick, or perfect, but it is necessary and we must move forward,” said Ms. Kim.
However, opposition has expressed suspicions on the candidacy of Hajna saying that it is a political candidature through whom the government aims at capturing NBI. The deputy chairman of the Democratic Party, Edi Paloka foresaw on July 24 that Hajna would be selected for the NBI chair. In addition he said that the number two of State Police is under investigation for ‘scandals’ during her career.
“Government’s Hajna should be disqualified like the others and the race for the NBI chairmanship should be reopened to include honest police officers with integrity,” said Paloka. /argumentum.al
