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Guard of Republic over The Years of Pluralist Society
 By Prof. Dr. Col(R) Elmas Leci “Skenderbej” Military University R e c t o r
Guard of Republic over The Years of Pluralist Society
The democratic changes in Albania after the elections of the 22nd of March in 1992, found the Guard of the Republic with old-fashioned structures and low morale. It inherited an entirely formal discipline, a superfluous and rather scattered staff.
In the light of new circumstances, the Guard was to be reformed too. In a small country as ours, having a limited economic and human potential, a large Guard force, beyond parameters and concepts arising from the changes after the Cold War, constituted a real burden on the country, and had a direct impact not only on the standard of living for the people but also for the military themselves. From this point of view, and above all considering the necessity to protect the personalities of the country, it was deemed reasonable to drastically reduce the number of Guards, not only the active forces but also eventually resulting to no reservists. This was achieved by re-conceiving their mission and duties.
The existing structure of the Guard, the conditions it was in on the arrival of democracy, apart from large economic expenses, did not even effectively solved military issues, as it was distributed irrelevantly, what engaged the troops mainly as guards of buildings, keeping them away from their major mission-serving as bodyguards to personalities.
The new conditions created by the arrival of democracy in Albania promptly precipitated reformation of military structures of former Ministry of the Interior. In order to carry out this reformation, the Democratic Government also drew up the program for conceptual and structural reformation of the Guards.
The major objectives of the reform were to raise the standards of the Guard of at the same level as its counterparts in each Euro Atlantic state. The Guards were given a full explanation of the reform, with regard to its essence and time duration.
Guard towards reorganization and a new mission.
The overall democratized processes that swept Albania in the 90’s, naturally included the Ministry of the Interior, that of Defense and the Guards of Republic, too. Thus, all the Armed Forces, and this is the way the latter were conceived then.
First, it was considered reasonable to set another Day of creation, rather than the communist one. This day of creation was certainly to be based on historical documents, in order to show the road they had gone through as well as to do the relevant assessment.
The Guard had to have a law, which would clearly and fully define its mission, as well the way of carrying it out.
It was deemed necessary to restructure, reorganize, and review the duties in order for it to become a Specialized operative Military Unit, dynamic, versatile and ready to fulfill duties with commitment, professionalism and dignity..
Thus, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania, by Decision No. 562, dated 06.12.1993 chose the 24th of June 1928, not 12th of February 1944 – which was kept for nearly fifty years (2)- to be already considered as the date of their creation.
This decision was not simply a formal displacement of dates, but a logical judgment and assessment of the historical evolution of events in our country. However, the new date is closer to the truth and somewhat more distant to political assessments, stands, and decisions. Certain Albanian political segments have disapproved even of this decision, but they mostly give their personal sentimental and nostalgic stand rather than deny the issue .
The New Date is related to the Statute-Law of the Albanian Government at that time when a constitutional act was made for the first time in the History of the National Army and Albanian Gendarmerie, which are organized based on this act. (3)
The Decision of the Albanian Government constitutes an important action, because the purpose is at least to reassess history as realistically as possible, far from futile political interpretations. In this way, the Guard would have a date of creation based on authentic historical facts and documents, going a long way and leaving behind its important role, a considerable and valuable experience, which also comprises national pride values, resulting into positive assessments and reflections. At the same time, this also constitutes a homage and appreciation of the contribution of hundreds of Albanian citizens and military men, who dreamed and worked for the creation and consolidation of the Albanian State, with all the necessary institutions and instruments, including also the special formation, as the Guard. This step constitutes also a reassessment of sacrifices, toil and deprivation of thousand military and cadres, who have served with commitment to carry out their sacred and national mission of an Albanian Guardsman with professionalism, commitment and dignity. In fulfillment to their duty, they have always been guided by the thought to better serve their Country and People. Besides, this was also an considerable appreciation of the recent patriotic work of all those who led to the 28th November of 1912, one of the most significant days in the history of the Albanian State, thus proclaiming the country independent.
But this is also appreciation, gratitude and respect for those who through their and their friends’ blood remained an example of the aspiration for freedom and Progress, as white Obelisks of the Nation. It is also respect and gratitude to the group of Albanian intellectuals, especially students, who had the civilian courage to conceive and bring forth the December of 1990.
Setting a New date for the Creation of the Guard of Republic, constitutes among others, a symbolic act of moral and citizenship, through which we hold in high esteem all those who really wanted to lay a stone in the edifice of the Albanian Nation, so that history could speak more in “ALBANIAN” . (4)
In this way, the Guard of Republic with all the possible excuses, but at the same time expressed with all the convincing arguments has a foundation date based on authentic historical documents, which gives it the possibility of an assessment as actual as possible of the sacrifices that it has done, as well as of the values serving the Nation and the Homeland.
Law, new mission’s dimension for the Guard
The operability and the activity of the Guard of Republic was judged to be done on the basis of the Constitutional Draft Package, passed in 1991 with effective power until the approval of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, the decision of the minister’s Council and the law acts sent by the ministry of the interior or the Ministry of public order (during the period 1991-1998 and later, almost every time that new governmental cabinets were created, has changed even the name of this ministry) as well as the definitions that are made in the Internal Regulations of the Guard of Republic and the other orders of the Heads of the institutions from which it depends. With the approval of the New Constitution of the Republic of Albania issued on 28 November 1998, the activity of the Guard of Republic would have as its foundations this Principal Law.
The effects of this law were soon heard. Not so much later after the fundamental changes made during the ‘90s the parliament of the republic of Albania with the Decision No.7602 dt.09.09.1992, passed the law on “The Guard of Republic of Albania”, as the President of the Republic decreed this law, so he made it public and obligatory to be implemented, with the Decree No. 322, date. 15.10.1992.
The law defines clearly and without misunderstandings the place that the Guard of Republic takes and the role that it plays in the social system, its mission and the links that it has with the other organs, in the framework of the fulfillment of its missions and the ways of organizing the interaction and the cooperation, the completion criteria with effectives (military, noncommissioned officers, officers and civilian specialists) and the duties that they have, reinforcements that are made in case of declaration of the emergency state or the declaration of war and its relations with them, as well as many other problems.
According to this law The Guard of Republic is named and labeled Specialized Military Unit, which means that according to the resources that it has, from the armament with which it is completed, but mainly because of the duty that it completes, is equal to the Joint Operational Military Units (Divisions), but always and over everything else classified as “Specialized Unit”. The denomination “specialized” derives directly from its mission and duties: “To guard Governmental High Rank Personalities the Seats and Governmental Residencies defined within the law, or that are decided with an order of the Minister of the Interior ( Minister of Public Order) ; an assignment that can naturally be computed by personnel who have the necessary specialization but as well as a high rate of devotion, compared to the other structures of the Interiors Institution ( Public Order Institution) According to the law the Guard of Republic is included within the structures of the Ministry of the Interiors ( the Ministry of Public Order), but in reality its dependence is directly from the head of this institution, without negating the relationship and the cooperation with the other structures of the Ministry.
The legal classification of the special denomination of the Guard, the assignment of such a special mission, the human and the material resources, that are under its jurisdiction, and a few more actually give to the Guard, which serves directly to the state, the attributes of a consolidated and specialized military force in the system of a judicial state. So, the Guard of Republic itself is a unit that has to abide and actually abides the principal values of democracy and the principles of Helsinki Charter, which guarantee the citizens’ basic rights and freedom.
This is the reason why the guard of the Republic has been assigned the duty for the guard and security of the Governmental High Rank Personalities, the Governmental Residencies and the Work Seats of the highest constitutional bodies.
The law charges the guard with specific and national duties. Thus, it takes in custody the three highest personalities of Albania State: the President of the Republic, the head of the parliament’s directorate, and the head of the Council of Ministers, who are the main figures over a period of time. But the guard takes in custody even the Deputy Heads of the Parliament’s Directorate, the members of the government, the Attorney General, the Head of the Constitutional Law Court, the Head of the Supreme Court Chief of the National Intelligence Service (Albanian Intelligence Service) and the Chief of the State Audit Service.
In this way, the Albanian citizens, who have the above mentioned governmental functions benefit different legal protective measures, due to their functions but not as citizens.
The Guard of Republic is charged with the legal duty for the protection and guarantee of the foreign personalities who have the same hierarchic governmental responsibilities as the Albanian officials as long as they exercise their activity in the territory of the Republic of Albania. Other foreign governmental personalities as well as representatives of international organizations of lower hierarchic level are legally protected when it is assessed and decided by the Minister of the Interior (Public Order).
The personnel of the Guard of the Republic has also been charged with the protection of the Residence of the President of the Republic, the Residence of the Albanian Assembly that of the Council of Ministers and other governmental residencies as defined by the Decision of the Council of Ministers. Therefore it is obvious that the mission and duties of the Guard of the Republic are of national character and related to the life of the country as well as the relations with the foreign countries.
The law on “The Guard of Republic” explains and specifies even the way of completion of the mission, the organization planning and the realization of the service for the guarding of the State High Rank Personalities as well as the Seats/Headquarters’ Residencies but also of other personalities. Thus, the President of the Republic is guarded for four years after finishing his duty, while the Head of the Parliament Directorate and the Head of the Minister’s Council are guarded for two years after the dismissing from their functions, but always under a condition, they must have served in their duty for more than half of the established time in the respective mandate.
This measure is related to the important function performed by them, to the contribution they have given on behalf of the national question, but even to the potential possibilities they have to further contribute for the country.
For the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief of the Council of Ministers, and for the Foreign Personalities that come to our country, that have the same position as the personalities mentioned above, the residence or habitation are guarded as well as close physical protection is guaranteed, when they are out of the habitation. Meantime, close physical protection is guaranteed to the other state personalities such as, the vice Speakers of Parliament, the vice Chiefs of the Council of Ministers, to the Minister of the Interior (Order), the Minister of the Foreign Affairs and to the Minister of Defense, when they are out of their habitations.
Their domiciles can be guarded in specific cases, after a decision of the Council of Ministers. This specifics derives from the somehow more particular character of the duties they perform, thus of the department they lead.
Close physical protection is also guaranteed to the vice Speakers of Parliament, the vice Chiefs of the Council of Ministers, to the other members of the Council of Ministers, to the General Prosecutor, to the Chief of the Constitutional Court and of the Supreme Court, the Chief of the NIS (National Intelligence Service) and of the Service of State Audit, when perform activities or happen to be out of the capital.
The law ‘ For the Guard of the Republic’’ specifies and clarifies even the people that are guaranteed protection when they travel abroad. Thus, this right is reserved to the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief of the Council of Ministers, to the other members of the government, to the General Prosecutor, to the Chief of the Constitutional Court and of the Supreme Court, to the Chief of the NIS (National Intelligence Service) and of the Service of State Audit, to the former Speaker of Parliament, the former Chief of the Council of Ministers, who have consumed more than half of their mandate.
The Guard of the Republic is obliged to insist, to rigorously execute the special rules assigned by the Minister of the Interior (Order) in those objects or activities where the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief of the Council of Ministers, Groups of Executives, and others with participants of the homologous foreign delegations. These activities might be meetings, work assemblies, different visits, and others similar to the above mentioned.
The organization and the performance of all of the ceremonial receptions according to the designation that is made in the respective protocols was also a legal obligation. Thus, in the official high –ranking ceremonies the Special Guard of Honor is organized according to a given number of representatives, whereas the uniform is the same in all of the ceremonial levels.
The law determines that, all of the duties and obligations that derive from the execution of the legal mission for the Guard will be planned, organized, performed and controlled though a clearly defined collaboration, with the other services of the Ministry of the Interior (Public Order) with the National Intelligence Service (NIS, NIA), with the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, with the Ministry of Defense, as well as with other central or regional state bodies.
This law specifies even some other moments, which concern not only the truly important mission it performs, but even the fact of being proud, and devoted to the performing of their duty from its personnel. Thus, for the staffing of the Guard with personnel (soldiers, non-commissioned officers, and active officers), the Council of the Minister establishes clear criteria.
It approves the staff and the uniform of the Guard of the Republic. From the technical point of view, in this Special Unit only Albanian Citizens perform the conscription service, who have good moral conduct, that have finished high school and that are over 175 cm tall, they have to be fully able as far as health is concerned. The staffing with soldiers of the obligatory service is made by the Ministry of Defense through the Ministry of the Interior (Public Order).
The dignity of serving in the Guard is increased by the fact that, with juridical norms, the juridical and physical persons are obliged to create facilitating conditions to the services of the Guard, when activities are held in them or near them by the State Personalities, for whom the Guard has as a legal obligation, their protection and physical safety. Simultaneously, the cadres and the employees of the Guard are provided with special documents that are to be presented during the performing of their duties. Measures for the qualification and experience exchange with the respective homologues are also planned and implemented.
Meantime, the Guard cooperates with the other bodies, but it holds a prior position in this collaboration and interaction. When the state of war or the state of emergency is declared, different kinds of army units and installations can pass in operative dependence of the Guard, only with the order of the General Commander of the Armed Forces. But the fact which is highlighted is that, these forces are predicted in the operative-strategic plan of defense, whereas the personnel is appointed ‘’Guardsmen’’ .It must be highlighted even the fact that, the Commander of the Guard is appointed by the President of the Republic, after a proposal of the Chief of the Council of Ministers.
All of these requirements and definitions are conditioned and are related to the specific and special character of the duty of the Guardsmen: the protection and guaranteeing of High State Personalities, of Governmental Residences and of the residencies of work. In this sense, the duty of the Guardsmen is a great mission, a noble human mission, but also a patriotic duty. In centuries, Albanians have related the duty of the protection of leaders, princes, kings, and other leaders as the ones mentioned above, to honor, to the dignity and the national pride, that is why they have performed it with high devotion, motivation and responsibility
The Guardsmen in this period hold the honored and the respected position of the defender of the life of the High State Personalities, who for a given time have the burdensome responsibility of the administration and of the governing of the Albanian Community. So for the Guardsmen personnel it is and remains obligatory to apply the legislation approved by the Albanian Parliament, to apply the decrees of the President of the Republic, who is also General Commander of the Armed Forces, to apply the orders of the commanders and leaders charged with juridical duty, to apply the requirements of the regulations and other sub legal acts.
By performing a juridical and moral duty, the Guardsmen, is in fact faced with a difficult duty, but at the same a respected one. The Country and the People demand from them unlimited sacrifices, while the should be devoted with convictions and dignity.
The Homeland and People asks for endless sacrifices, while they should be devoted with conviction and dignity. In the fulfillment of the duty of the national guard, in every time and situations, must reflect and represent such qualities as: - endless loyalty towards Homeland and the People; - honesty and a pure morale personality; - Bravery, persistence and courage; - humanism and generosity; - culture and contemporary knowledge; - professionalism and complete military skills etc.
The Law “On the National Guard of the Republic of Albania”, aims at being contemporary, but it needs to be complemented with issues of the social and economic character. It should undertake the responsibility of increasing the dignity of the National Guard by means of financial and ethic treatment of dignity, which will give the national guards the possibility to experience the content of being called: “the Armed Forces elite”, “Prestigious unit” among the structures of the Ministry of Public Order as well as other labels of similar nature that show the appreciation of the National Guard, expressed by the high officials of the Albanian State time and again. The law must offer solution to many inherited problems of the past regarding lodging and qualification, exchange and gain of experience etc. Overall, it should it should be more tangible by the personnel of the National Guard, be it even a soldier. The law should provide solution to the concerns about the uniform, in order to reflect dignity, and above all to be ceremonial. These requirements are better implemented by the law approved in May 2003, which will be elaborated below.
Restructuring, increase of responsibility and efficiency.
The mission of the National Guard of the Republic in a Pluralism Society, perceived as a service for all the State Personalities according to the result of the rotation and political contests, made the restructuring indispensable, as well as service planning involving all its elements in order to increase the security measures. The measures in the organization, instructions field, in the work position, preparations etc., should have aimed at making the National Guard a fully professional and totally devoted force to accomplish the legal mission. Integration of the Albanian society in the road of further democratization would create spaces and real opportunities that the National Guard gain those new broad dimensions during the task accomplishment.
The juridical space becomes more suitable to accomplish the tasks on legal bases, which enhanced the security and dignity of the personnel during task accomplishment: the National Guard and his activity are under the protection of the law.
Co-existence in the conditions of the fullest legal protection, would directly influence on the increase of the level of commitment, but of also the in the accomplishment of the task and of being a National Guard. The compiled law “On the Guard of the Republic of Albania”, cooperation with the western counterparts, qualification and gain of the experience of the western counterparts, will naturally develop the personality and dignity of the personnel of the National Guard.
But integration in the moral-psychological field, although partial, which approximated it with its the western counterparts, made indispensable the structural re-organization, the defining of the duties and organization of the services so that, the National guard would become more skillful, operable and efficient in the accomplishment of the duties. On the eve of re-organization the National Guard of the Republic had this organic structure: Command, Staff, three battalions, Training Center, autonomous subunits in the center, but also in Durrës, Vlorë, Pogradec e Lezhë. Its existed also the Second Directory, which protected the High Officials and Institutions of the Albanian State. In 1992, one of the essential advantages to make the service concrete and productive was concluded to be the implementation of some organizational changes. First of all, it was necessary to realize the unique direction and commandment, which meant that, the Guard Commander and its directing staff, would have under full administration and possession, but also in a more efficient usage, all the human resources and the technical and material potential, that this special unit had.
The Unit Command would be realized by the commander and his deputy; while for the issues of the readiness and preparation in general, the Guard Chief of Staff was responsible, which was subordinated to the Guard Command. At that time “the Second Directorate”, which was subordinated to the Ministry of Interior, must be integrated to the National Guard, to be part of its organic structure, to take over tasks by the Guard Commander and to realize them through partnership cooperation with other personnel for the Guard. It should even report on regular basis on the implementation of its tasks. Based on the new organization, this Directorate would be entitled “Branch of the Protection of the State High Officials”, would operate as part of National Guard, used to be assigned tasks by his Commander, undergo the professional preparation according to the program together with the other elements of the Guard, accomplished the tasks in cooperation with the other Branches or Sections or Sectors, but anyhow as structures of a single military body.
This concept and practice, concentrated the duties in the hands of the commander, unified action and position of all the structures in service of the mission and tasks of the National Guard, penalized all structures almost to the same extent, increasing the responsibility of everyone according to the tasks they accomplished.
In the National Guard of the Republic the following structures will take action: Branch of Protection of Special Importance Objects, Economic Branch, and Technical Branch. Each of them had the Chief of Branch; they accomplished the main tasks which will be listed below:
- they protected and defended the High Officials, in accordance with the law;
- they effectuated the regulations for going inside and outside the Special Importance Objects, according to pertinence and definition of the inner regulations of the institutions compiled by their administration. These objects included the premises of Presidency, Prime Minister, the Assembly (Albanian Parliament), the Assembly Directorate, different Ministries (excluding Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Defence that are protected by their own personnel.
-a very important task is the material-technical protection of activity of personnel aiming at: improving living conditions and regeneration of mental and physical skills, provision of equipment for the services under every situation etc. (This is under responsibility of the Technical branch of the Guard)
In Each Branch, the work was organized in sessions or services, which held autonomy and sufficient space of action.
As an equivalent structure with the above Branches, even the Guard Staff worked with sections, divisions and chiefs of weapon and services, such as:
- The Readiness and Information Section (service personnel to receive and work out the information from the other units and structures of Ministry of the Interior (of Public Order).
- The Section of Moral-Physical Preparation, which organizes, plans and practiced the political and judicial, moral and psychological, patriotic, and ethical and civil preparation.
-The Interconnection Section (of Communication), with its duty to insure a continuous communication with the Command, branches, sections and units.
- Chief of Intelligence and physical training; chef of armament and munitions; engineering chief; chemistry chief; training chief, which were based by the chief of Guard Staff and practiced duties according to the corresponding and as Staff Officers.
But on the dependency of the Guard Commander worked even: Operative Section, Section of Personnel and Organization, Financial Section, Section of the Permanent Readiness Objects (national self-commanding and self-government), as well as the General Sector.
In the structures of the Republic Guard took part 5 battalions, one of which was named “Specialist Battalion”, whereas the others with ordinal numbers (b1, b2, b3, b4, specialist battalion)
So, from the Guard Commander were depended even some autonomy subunits. They were: Operative Company (with a selected effective force and immediate intervention of about 60-70 persons), and the Autonomy companies situated in Durres, Vlore, Dajt, Mullet and Pogradec.
Each of this structures had clear duties appointed: one as main duty had to guard the Presidential Residency, another to guard the Objects of Special Importance, the Premiership Residential, of Convention, Parliament, Ministries (except that of Defense and of Interior); the other assured the objects, located on the centre region (Governmental Residence, Residence of the Republic President Affair, and other objects, as well as to be involved in the insurance of the thoroughfares, where the High State Personalities held their activities; another one ensures and guards some special objects such as: The Governmental Residency in Dajt, the Leading place in Dajt, Kerrabe as well as other objects situated on the unit region, meanwhile another structure guards some other objects of a special unimportance, assured the annunciation system, held in its structure effectives socialized for engineer, chemistry, communication, tanks etc. It took part on the duties of the permanent placement out of the capital city. A special subunit, with special groups was used for the security of the High State Personalities events out of the work and living residences, was taken also a part of them as forces and rapid intervention during any special situation.
The autonomy subunits, situated in Durres, Dajt, Vlore and Pogradec with a part-time effective, were guarding Presidential and Governmental residences, which served as resting place for the High State Personalities.
The Structural changes and the completion and re-completion of the organic functions, would also idealized and practiced in function of the quality improvement of the duties accomplishment by Republic Guard effective.
Conceptual reorganization and practical complementation
The 1999 year will be considered as a volte-face year on the accomplishment of the Guard mission. After the reorganization, would be done with the same responsibility the completion with officers, non-commissioned officers and militaries. With the military effectives the goal would be, the re-establishment of military order and discipline after that stagnancy by the end of 1990-1991. Psychological, judicial and patriotic education, aimed to establish the thought that, the guard effective performs with a special responsibility the national duties because they are the most chosen, etc., etc.
It remained a fact that in continuance the discipline and responsibility to perfume the duties is to increase.
The changes in organization would be associated with sufficient care and necessary for the completion with technique, equipments and other logistic tools supplies sufficient to create normal conditions for living, service and rehabilitation.
The end of 1993 and the beginning of 1994 year would coincide with the re-evaluation of assignment ranks and different duties even on the Republic Guard.
The function of the Guard Commander is qualified with the rank “General Brigade”. With “Colonel” would be qualified the assignments: Guard Deputy-Commander, Guard General Chief, the Branches Chairmen, and Chief of Operative Section. With “lieutenant-colonel” rank would be promoted officers serving on the duties as the Deputy Chairmen of Branches and battalion commanders. For all the sections chiefs and those of the armament and services on Guard Staff and in other branches was accorded the “Major” rank, a massive one as assignments and officers number.
To increase the quality level of trainings, duties, readiness, of living reorganization and the most qualified activity, as basic problem was pointed the situational duty of officers, the compilation of duty instructions, the design of the activities schedule according to the concrete conditions, the composition of Guard Regulation for services, the determination of duties according to organic functions, the composition of the accessory theoretical materials for the cadre of law commander and operation level. Was estimated also the improvement of working methods of the officers, the work incitement based on the presumptive pointed lessons, the improvement of the outside territory, the resolution of the problems, clamors of the officers, non-commissioned officers and effectives with great responsibility.
With great care was performed even the simulation of the materials as well as organizing and developing many activities more festive such as: the ceremonies of the inauguration of the training process, the military oath, of the establishing day of Guard, of the day of the Declaration of Independence and liberation of our country from the fascist and Nazi invaders, the military and sportive performance, cultural and sportive events, etc. the Effectives of Republic Guard have appeared several times on the military press organs and on the other written sources of the press, even up to the television programs.
Different analysis, critical attitudes towards absences, and especially the active engagement of the officers, would make it possible that the degree of dedication, professionalism, investment at work of the officers and the entire personnel, should be increased gradually and systematically as well as constantly. As a consequence, the Guard of the Republic has successfully accomplished the duty services to high standards, for the accompaniment of the VIP, at home as well as abroad, carrying them out correctly, with quality, dignity, obedience, dignity, and of course with professionalism. Its continuous work is estimated by the chiefs of the Ministry and others, or even by the deputies of the People’s Assembly that are in charge of the Defence and Order concerns.
Positive estimations are also made obvious by the State Highest Personalities and the Albanian Government, whose presence is obvious in different ceremonies and anniversaries through out the whole year. On some occasions the President of the Republic, the Chief of the Council of Ministers, the Chairman of the Albanian Assembly, the Officials of the Ministry of the Public Order, Military Attaches, have been actually present, moreover those of other foreign countries such as USA, Russia, England, Italy etc; representatives of different political forces and those of Military Press Information as well.
Reorganization of the work, the framing of the instructions and the Internal Guard Regulations, the effective readiness of the highly qualified forces, the stimulation and encouragement of the work of the effective personnel, the presence of the State Officials of the Albanian Government and other ones, would make it possible that the personnel of the Republican Guard be continuously successful in the future, in order to “accumulate” its experience as the bases for future beginnings.
The growth of the interest of the Central institutions for the Guardian personnel would mean more hope and faith, because it is and will actually be a reliable instrument to accomplish its lawful mission. As follows, High State and Government Personalities will be present at the Guard of the Republic. They will take advantage of any occasion and possibility that was at hand, the compiling of the work analyses, celebration of anniversaries and the execution of different ceremonies, inspections and contributions, different inspections etc.
The anniversary of the establishment of the Republican Guard, was first celebrated, on the 24 June 1994; for the first time, according to the new established date appointed by the Council of Ministers (24 June 1928). Getting a new date, 66-anniversary would be organized doing serious preparations. At least, the time April- June was overloaded by the idea of the preparations, waiting for a special day. A lot of measures were taken to improve the living conditions, to organize the military and cultural activities, to organize and plan the materials that reveal the way described by the Guard of the Republic. participated The President of the Republic, the deputy chief of the Council of Minister, the Ministers of the Public Order, Defence, Transportation; the chairman of the Parliamentary Commission of the Defece, Order, NIS, as well as representatives of the local authority. For the first time , the presence of the military attaches is documented in the History of the Republican Guard such as USA, England, Italy, etc At the same time the ambassadors of the USA, Russia, Rumania, Germany were participating. The participation in this ceremony of the representatives of some political parties was particularly evaluated. The activities were broadly transmitted on TV programs (news, rubrics etc), in the military press too.
But it couldn’t happen similarly later on. On the contrary, the year 1997 began completely wrong in our country. As a matter of course it would be like that in political, economic and social plans as well as for the Armed Forces in general, but partly for the Republican Guard. Anyway, at every moment it protected the unit of the readiness and organization in order to act on behalf of the interests of the accomplishment of the juridical, moral e patriotic mission.
The new statute, a neccessity for the future operation.
During the post communist period, the Republican Guard is equipped twice with a specific law that outlines its mission, organization and statute. The first belongs to the year 1992, we already mentioned, whereas the second refers to no. 8869 date. 22.05.2003. In both cases it is designated as “Law for the Guard of the Albanian Republics ”, but it should be emphasized that there are differences not only on the numbers of the articles (the first on 16,the second on 44), but especially on the content of the problem of the mission, that way it is accomplished, etc. As a consequence, the first doesn’t affect on the improvement issue of the “Pscychologic Health”, the second underlines it paying a lot of emphases. The law of 2003, that is being implemented hand in hand, expresses the accurate evaluation concerning this structure. It is clearly expressed and without equivoque :the position and the role that the Guard performs in the Albanian society; mission, organization and its statute; composition, structure, the duty that fulfills the lawful validity; its bonds and connections with State Police structures, cooperation with state and private subjects, as well as other organs in the framework of task accomplishment; the authority of the commandant, ranks hierarchy; ways and means of equipping with personnel, the application of the rules and work standards, dismissal, disqualification from the duty and juridical responsibility; uniform and distinct signs; juridical security, work time management and the financial treatment; housing, qualifications, etc., etc.
It is clear that the law at hand fits better to the axiom that, it is necessity the formation, progress, consolidation and protection, as much as possible of the personality and dignity of the military. This because the military is a juridical person, who belongs to people, country and state in a very special manner, as well as his dignity and personality have clear and neat national character, that’s why the military should a juridical person with values and specific attributes, known and accepted even by the community. But he becomes as such when he is clearly and concretely treated juridical, morally, financially, so when he is widely supported by the law and when he is taken under a special and real law protection. This law by means of some articles aims at fulfilling for the Guardian personnel, side by side with the clear cut mission, structure, obligation, privations and to some restrictions of being “guardian”, even some more components that have to do with a very clear law defence, with the enhancement and financial, and economic, ,treatment, with the increase of the competences and the rights because of the duty, but also with some their elements, that make the authority, personality and the entire figure of the guardian displayed in its appearance and content with more dignity, more responsible, and more affected by the opinion, broader than the Albanian one.
Law “On Guard of the Republic” of 2003 guarantees to the guard employee the adequate jurisdictional defense and supports of the prestige, at the extension that he feels comfortable to fulfill his assignment. This because through this law he is not biased for what he does and his family and himself is really and sufficiently protected for all his actions and inactions
The highest level cadres are assigned jurisdictional responsibilities for the preparation and readiness of the personnel that has fewer responsibilities in the mission accomplishment. The jurisdictional support of the Guard employee, his family and property in form and content by this law seems sufficient when we consider the fact that the guard employee is seen as a
“ jurisdictional person” on duty or related to it, or when “authorized” by the law to use physical strength or other adequate technical means in order to neutralize or avoid the ones that do not obey to his requirements while on duty derived from his jurisdictional mission
Through five articles the Guard employee is treated directly with priority in relations with other state institutions and businesses. Even other structures such as the State Police and Intelligence Services are assigned legal obligations to give data about problems related to Guard service.
Even the protocol offices and cabinets of high officials are obliged to inform the Guard about the activities of local and Foreign High Officials, due to the specific missions and special importance
The law improves “Psychological Condition” of Guard employees when it guarantees the equipment with armament and technical devices, uniforms and insignia as well as considerable financial and social treatment, which leads to the creation of the indispensable financial and material conditions necessary for task accomplishment. At the same time law assumes to arrange the working hours foreseeing payment for working extra hours, on holidays or national holidays.
In more than four articles mitigating conditions and attractive financial treatment are directly offered to the guard employees creating possibilities for more qualitative offers for manning resources as well as recruiting appropriate contingents for purpose of task accomplishment.
The Guard employee is entitled to priority in payment because of the responsibility, difficulty and high level risk on duty, applying a range of supporting and direct measures for extra benefits, for rewards and financial aids, for comfortable lodging etc .
As it can be considered the latest law “On Guard of the Republic” is jurisdictionally, financially and morally accessible by the Guard employees. This remains as an extra opportunity for the positive motivation and encouragement with respect to the task accomplishment with commitment, and devotion. This law not only binds but also motivates tasks accomplishment ; not only sets tasks but also seeks for progress and it is also social, human, noble, serving as a powerful tool for the “preparation”, consolidation and protection of the “Psychological Condition”.
Bibliography
1.- Georges Castellani , “History of the Balkans”, Tirana, 1996, pg. 459.
2.- Council of Ministers of Republic of Albania, Decree No. 562, date, 06.12.1993 .
3.- Album “10 year of Kingdom“, Tirana, 1938, pg. 79-80
4. Newspaper “Military and Time”, date 24.06.1992.
5.- Parliament of the Republic of Albania, Law No. 7602, date 09.09.1992.
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