- Government of Montenegro
National Security Agency Introductory word
Please note: The page below represents the archived content relating to the previous Government of Montenegro. Some of the information might be inaccurate or outdated.
Archive
Introductory word
Published on: Jan 15, 2014 • 6:00 AM Author: ANB
Welcome to the new Internet presentation of the National Security Agency.
We will try, hereby as well, to bring as closer as possible to our citizens and the interested public a very significant institution of the system in order to create an objective picture of what it essentially means for further democratic development of our country and for each its citizen individually.
ANB is a security-intelligence service which makes an integral part of the security system of Montenegro. Within its competences, it collects, makes records of, analyzes, assesses, uses, shares, keeps and protects data it provides along its work. It duly informs the state decision-makers and other state authorities on the collected information, providing the collected information refers to the activities from their scope of work.
In accordance with the obligation of mutual sharing of available information of security importance, the Agency maintains intensive cooperation with many state authorities, particularly with the Ministry of Interiors and the Police Directorate, the Attorney General, the Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integrations and the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Prevention Department. Moreover, ANB with continuity cooperates with the National Security Authority (Classified Information Security Directorate) for the purpose of implementation of regulations and standards from this field.
REFORMS
The National Security Agency is an institution of crucial importance in the state security system. However, as the security ambiance is a dynamic category, with security challenges, risks and threats being constantly changed, it can be concluded that the reform of security services is a continuous process – an activity which can never be considered completely finished.
From the strategic aspect, it is of essential importance for Montenegro to integrate into the System of Collective Security because thus it would have at its disposal the most powerful security resources to address the contemporary threats which have long crossed the boundaries of a single country.
NATO is a guarantor of secure future and development of Montenegro, thus representing the aim we pursue and seems to be certain and achievable.
Nevertheless, neither the NATO integration nor the relations with the member states is a one-direction process, hence terms such as partners and collective security have been used. Thus, apart from the challenges and threats at national and regional levels, Montenegro shares challenges and threats of the NATO states.
It demands a reformed ANB which will, besides protection of the national security interests being predominantly committed to so far, represent one of the links of the NATO intelligence community, namely the Collective Security System.
ACHIEVEMENTS
In the previous period, a lot has been done within ANB to progress as fast as possible towards the strategic goal.
With regard to the creation of legal prerequisites, during 2012 and 2013, 22 by-laws and general acts and 10 Books of Rules form the field of financial management and control were enacted which made conditions for complete implementation of laws and legality in procedures.
Moreover, the work on amendments to the Law on ANB has been launched, whereas such a need has resulted from its so far implementation and the reform requests. Holding to be very important the role of the parliamentary working body which has the competence of parliamentary oversight over the Agency's activities, ANB invited the Security and Defense Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro to participate directly (by engaging its representative) or in any other appropriate way (by giving proposals, suggestions, etc.) as of the very initial stage of the Law drafting. We would like to additionally strengthen cooperation with the Parliament/ Security and Defense Committee for the purpose of joint work in all stages and at all levels of the reform implementation in ANB.
In the forthcoming period, within the overall reform process, ANB will attribute a special attention to the development of human resources, as a priority part of this process which, as it is proved by experience, is not always the matter of the institution itself although it is conducted within it. We will insist on young and educated staff as well as on full depoliticization.
In 2013, the new Book of Rules on organization and systematization in ANB was enacted. I would emphasize that, during its drafting, we used comparative experiences of partner services of the NATO member countries. That precisely was one of the prerequisites for rapid adjustment to priorities of the Collective Security System.
The new organizational model provides better functionality and efficiency in protection of national security interests, countering transnational challenges, risks and threats, as well as realization of all other legal competences of ANB.
COOPERATION
Although we receive clear, positive signals from the relevant international addresses, it certainly does not mean that our reform assignment is completed, on the contrary – there is a serious and devoted work ahead of us.
During the past two years, ANB bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the USA as its strategic partner and other significant European partners has been continuously developed through all modalities, including Heads of Services meetings, expert meetings and exchange of operational information and analytical materials. During the period, contacts with the most important intelligence addresses in the world were made – in the American and European continents. In order to attain the goal of improving capacities and providing full interoperability with contemporary intelligence and security systems, in cooperation with partners from the services of the NATO member countries, during 2012 and 2013, a large number of educational programs was organized for the ANB staff and it will be continued in the forthcoming period.
It is important to mention that, as of October 2012, ANB has had a representative in the Mission of Montenegro to NATO. The contacts our representative has made with the NATO officers and representatives of partner services accredited in the Alliance contributed to reputation of ANB and its activities regarding implementation of the reforms and countering common security challenges.
Although ANB competences are exclusively related to the threats against national security, we also conducted operational activities of clearing up specific cases of attacks on journalists and media, in cooperation with other competent authorities (the Police Directorate and the Prosecutor's Office).
ANB representatives also actively participate in the Committee for control of the competent authorities' activities in investigations of cases of threats and violence against journalists, murders of journalists and attacks against the property of media, which was established by the Government of Montenegro in late 2013.
Finally, I would like to stress that all the above mentioned is our national necessity and duty, at the first place for the purpose of longstanding protection against all risks that Montenegrin citizens may be exposed to. Therefore, development and modernization of ANB is not a vision but obligation. The Agency has already been, within its largest extent, compatible with contemporary security needs and increasingly keeps the pace with developed security systems.
You can find in the ANB Portal the information which could help you know us better, starting from the background, through the scope of work, oversight, the structure of employees, laws and by-laws which regulate the work of the Agency, non-classified documentation, etc.
Our goal is to continuously develop the citizens' trust. Therefore, we invite you to cooperation – contact us, pose questions, give your suggestions.
We would like, in this way as well, to show our openness and to improve our work for the purpose of preserving the national security and peaceful and safe life of each citizen of Montenegro.
Sincerely,
The National Security Agency Director
Boro Vučinić
We will try, hereby as well, to bring as closer as possible to our citizens and the interested public a very significant institution of the system in order to create an objective picture of what it essentially means for further democratic development of our country and for each its citizen individually.
ANB is a security-intelligence service which makes an integral part of the security system of Montenegro. Within its competences, it collects, makes records of, analyzes, assesses, uses, shares, keeps and protects data it provides along its work. It duly informs the state decision-makers and other state authorities on the collected information, providing the collected information refers to the activities from their scope of work.
In accordance with the obligation of mutual sharing of available information of security importance, the Agency maintains intensive cooperation with many state authorities, particularly with the Ministry of Interiors and the Police Directorate, the Attorney General, the Special Prosecutor for Organized Crime, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Integrations and the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism Prevention Department. Moreover, ANB with continuity cooperates with the National Security Authority (Classified Information Security Directorate) for the purpose of implementation of regulations and standards from this field.
REFORMS
The National Security Agency is an institution of crucial importance in the state security system. However, as the security ambiance is a dynamic category, with security challenges, risks and threats being constantly changed, it can be concluded that the reform of security services is a continuous process – an activity which can never be considered completely finished.
From the strategic aspect, it is of essential importance for Montenegro to integrate into the System of Collective Security because thus it would have at its disposal the most powerful security resources to address the contemporary threats which have long crossed the boundaries of a single country.
NATO is a guarantor of secure future and development of Montenegro, thus representing the aim we pursue and seems to be certain and achievable.
Nevertheless, neither the NATO integration nor the relations with the member states is a one-direction process, hence terms such as partners and collective security have been used. Thus, apart from the challenges and threats at national and regional levels, Montenegro shares challenges and threats of the NATO states.
It demands a reformed ANB which will, besides protection of the national security interests being predominantly committed to so far, represent one of the links of the NATO intelligence community, namely the Collective Security System.
ACHIEVEMENTS
In the previous period, a lot has been done within ANB to progress as fast as possible towards the strategic goal.
With regard to the creation of legal prerequisites, during 2012 and 2013, 22 by-laws and general acts and 10 Books of Rules form the field of financial management and control were enacted which made conditions for complete implementation of laws and legality in procedures.
Moreover, the work on amendments to the Law on ANB has been launched, whereas such a need has resulted from its so far implementation and the reform requests. Holding to be very important the role of the parliamentary working body which has the competence of parliamentary oversight over the Agency's activities, ANB invited the Security and Defense Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro to participate directly (by engaging its representative) or in any other appropriate way (by giving proposals, suggestions, etc.) as of the very initial stage of the Law drafting. We would like to additionally strengthen cooperation with the Parliament/ Security and Defense Committee for the purpose of joint work in all stages and at all levels of the reform implementation in ANB.
In the forthcoming period, within the overall reform process, ANB will attribute a special attention to the development of human resources, as a priority part of this process which, as it is proved by experience, is not always the matter of the institution itself although it is conducted within it. We will insist on young and educated staff as well as on full depoliticization.
In 2013, the new Book of Rules on organization and systematization in ANB was enacted. I would emphasize that, during its drafting, we used comparative experiences of partner services of the NATO member countries. That precisely was one of the prerequisites for rapid adjustment to priorities of the Collective Security System.
The new organizational model provides better functionality and efficiency in protection of national security interests, countering transnational challenges, risks and threats, as well as realization of all other legal competences of ANB.
COOPERATION
Although we receive clear, positive signals from the relevant international addresses, it certainly does not mean that our reform assignment is completed, on the contrary – there is a serious and devoted work ahead of us.
During the past two years, ANB bilateral and multilateral cooperation with the USA as its strategic partner and other significant European partners has been continuously developed through all modalities, including Heads of Services meetings, expert meetings and exchange of operational information and analytical materials. During the period, contacts with the most important intelligence addresses in the world were made – in the American and European continents. In order to attain the goal of improving capacities and providing full interoperability with contemporary intelligence and security systems, in cooperation with partners from the services of the NATO member countries, during 2012 and 2013, a large number of educational programs was organized for the ANB staff and it will be continued in the forthcoming period.
It is important to mention that, as of October 2012, ANB has had a representative in the Mission of Montenegro to NATO. The contacts our representative has made with the NATO officers and representatives of partner services accredited in the Alliance contributed to reputation of ANB and its activities regarding implementation of the reforms and countering common security challenges.
Although ANB competences are exclusively related to the threats against national security, we also conducted operational activities of clearing up specific cases of attacks on journalists and media, in cooperation with other competent authorities (the Police Directorate and the Prosecutor's Office).
ANB representatives also actively participate in the Committee for control of the competent authorities' activities in investigations of cases of threats and violence against journalists, murders of journalists and attacks against the property of media, which was established by the Government of Montenegro in late 2013.
Finally, I would like to stress that all the above mentioned is our national necessity and duty, at the first place for the purpose of longstanding protection against all risks that Montenegrin citizens may be exposed to. Therefore, development and modernization of ANB is not a vision but obligation. The Agency has already been, within its largest extent, compatible with contemporary security needs and increasingly keeps the pace with developed security systems.
You can find in the ANB Portal the information which could help you know us better, starting from the background, through the scope of work, oversight, the structure of employees, laws and by-laws which regulate the work of the Agency, non-classified documentation, etc.
Our goal is to continuously develop the citizens' trust. Therefore, we invite you to cooperation – contact us, pose questions, give your suggestions.
We would like, in this way as well, to show our openness and to improve our work for the purpose of preserving the national security and peaceful and safe life of each citizen of Montenegro.
Sincerely,
The National Security Agency Director
Boro Vučinić
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