Skopje, 11 December 2024 (MIA) - A discussion on reforms in the security system took place in the Skopje-based Faculty of Security, focusing on the plans to produce new staff at the MoI training center, the need for completion of the legal framework in the national security system, state of play and staffing of the National Security Agency and its possible integration with the Intelligence Agency while observing the principles of professionalism and non-partisan affiliation.

Minister of Interior Panche Toshkovski said a lot of work lies ahead when it comes to the security sector reforms.

"I believe that reinstating of the secondary police school should be one of the fundamental reforms. We are working intensively on having young people spend the third and fourth year of secondary school in the training center, not having six-month, nine-month courses. We should embed the love for the homeland and professionalism in the hearts of the young people, as part of their future in the Ministry of Interior," said Minister Toshkovski.

The expressed hope that the center will turn into a regional hub for continuous training of not only domestic police officers but from across the Balkans and Europe as well.

"We have the capacities, we will upgrade them and I hope we can respond to this challenge," noted Toshkovski.

NSA director Bojan Hristovski said the agency is in a worse state from a technical standpoint than five years ago, whereas the staff "is cut in half both in terms of numbers and quality".

Marjan Gjurovski from the Security Institute within the Skopje-based Faculty of Philosophy said there is a need for completion of the legal framework in the national security system.

"The NSA and the Intelligence Agency need to be integrated while observing the principles of professionalism, non-partisan affiliation, strengthened civil control, subordination and coordination, as well as consistent implementation of the Priebe recommendations. This should be a process involving the academia, experts, opposition, whereas the director could be elected in Parliament," said Gjurovski.

Photo: MIA