Tirana –The Director of the Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism, Mr. Denion Meidani, accompanied by the Regional Counter-Terrorism Advisor for Albania, Kosovo, North Macedonia and Southeast Europe at the US Embassy in Tirana Mr. Joseph R. Baldwin, OPDAT Legal Advisor at the US Embassy in Tirana, Mr. Bledar Bashanovic held a meeting with the Director General of the State Police, Mr. Muhamet Rrumbullaku, the Director of the Counter-Terrorism Directorate of the State Police Mr. Alban Dauti and the Director of the Cabinet of the Albanian State Police (ASP).

The purpose of the meeting was the presentation of Mr. Baldwin as the new Advisor for Counterterrorism for Southeastern Europe at the US Embassy in Tirana as well as OPDAT’s engagement in the joint fight against terrorism and violent extremism, repatriation and support for the repatriation and rehabilitation processes of Albanian citizens returned from Syria and Iraq.

Director Rrumbullaku, after thanking Baldwin for the current and ongoing support of OPDAT, ICITAP and the US Embassy in Tirana for the Albanian State Police, expressed with conviction that this institution considers the fight against terrorism and extremism as a priority, for which specialized structures will be dedicated to the successful fulfillment of obligations and responsibilities derived from the National Strategy and Action Plans in this regard. Also, Rrumbullaku confirmed that the cooperation with the CVE Center will increase since the two institutions represent 1 entity with united forces in this joint fight.

On the other hand, Mr. Meidani, Director of the Coordination Center for Countering Violent Extremism, expressed his appreciation for the commitment and meticulous coordination of the State Police, especially through the Counter-Terrorism Directorate in all phases of return, rehabilitation, monitoring, re-integration of Albanian citizens returned from areas of the conflict. The cooperation with the CVE Center has been uninterrupted from the first 24-hour phase in the post-repatriation protocol to the eve of the re-socialization phases.

Regarding the cross-sectoral cooperation and strategy chosen and implemented by Albania, the new Legal Adviser for Counter-Terrorism at OPDAT has emphasized that the US support, beyond the operational phases, also aims to strengthen institutional capacities, reference mechanisms and information exchange without leaving aside the support for strengthening civil society in interventions with a wide impact on the community.

Also, Mr. Baldwin assured the Director General of the State Police that OPDAT through the US Embassy in Tirana will continue to support the State Police and the CVE Center in the joint fight against Terrorism and Extremism.