The council, chaired by President Bajram Begaj, took place at the Palace of Brigades in Tirana.

Vlora Hyseni, the former head of SHISH, is suspected of passing classified information to Ergys Agasi while he was on the run, according to the proceedings.

The meeting focused on national security matters and the protection of classified information.

The council comprises the heads of 13 institutions and is chaired by the president. Prime Minister Edi Rama also attended.

PM Rama said in a press statement a day ago that Hyseni would face justice on an individual basis, while describing the measure taken against her as extreme. He said a criminal investigation involving the head of the country’s intelligence service had implications for national security and the interests of the state.

The government head has said the council should discuss safeguards needed to protect security institutions and classified information when their heads become subject to criminal investigations.

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The President’s press office said in a release that the meeting took stock of the current cybersecurity, challenges and threats facing the in this field, as well as the measures to strengthen Albania’s cyberdefence.

In his opening remarks, the President of the Republic recalled the fact that the country faced serious, complex and sophisticated cyberattacks last year in a bid to destroy digital infrastructure of Albania, paralyze public services and hack data and electronic communications from the government systems..

“These cyberattacks aimed at destroying digital infrastructure in order to incite instability. Our institutions succeeded in preventing perpetrators from achieving their goal,” the head of state said.

“The new law on cybersecurity and the national cybersecurity strategy will best help efforts to build modern and technologically advanced capacities in order to strengthen cyberdefense,” he said.

According to the press release by the President’s office, the meeting was attended by Parliament Speaker Lindita Nikolla, Prime Minister Edi Rama, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka, Minister of Justice Ulsi Manja, Minister of Interior Bledi Çuçi, and the Minister of Finance and Economy, Delina Ibrahimaj.

The chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Security, Nasip Naço, Chief of General Staff of the Albanian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Arben Kingji, State Police Director Muhamet Rrumbullaku, and the Director of the State Intelligence Service, Vlora Hyseni, also attended the meeting.

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