Minister of Defense of Albania

Ministry of Defence
Ministria e Mbrojtjës
Coat of Arms of the Ministry
Department overview
Formed4 December 1912; 111 years ago (1912-12-04)
JurisdictionCouncil of Ministers
HeadquartersTirana, Albania
Minister responsible
Websitewww.mod.gov.al

The Ministry of Defence (Albanian: Ministria e Mbrojtjes) is a department of the Albanian Government, in charge of the formation and implementation of national security and ordering, coordinating and carrying out the general guidelines of the Cabinet about the defence policy, and is the headquarters of the Military of Albania. It is Albania's ministry of defence.[1]

The Defence Minister of Albania is the nominal head of all the military, serving under the President of Albania, who is the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Albania. The defence minister exercises the administrative and operational authority over the military. The armed forces under the Ministry of Defence are primarily responsible for ensuring the territorial integrity of the nation.

Structure

The Ministry of Defence includes numerous smaller agencies aside from the three main branches of the military. These include the Authority of the State Export Control, the Military Export Import Company, the Center of Culture, Media, and Defence Publications, the Inter-Institutional Maritime Operation Center, and the Defence Intelligence Security Agency. These agencies, centers, and offices report to the Minister of Defence.[2]

Authority of the State Export Control

The Authority of the State Export Control (AKSHE) (Albanian: Autoriteti i Kontrollit Shtetëror të Eksporteve) is the agency tasked with controlling the export, import, and transportation of military goods.[2]

Center of Culture, Media, and Defence Publications

The Center of Culture, Media, and Defence Publications (QKMBM) (Albanian: Qendra e Kulturës, Medias, Botimeve të Mbrojtjes, Muzeut dhe Shtëpive të Pushimit) is an organization involved in public relations and general communications for the Ministry of Defence. It is itself composed of the Directorate of Public Relations and Communications, the Directorate of Publications, the Directorate of the Community Relations Activities, and the Directorate of Sports Activities.[3]

Inter-Institutional Maritime Operation Center

The Inter-Institutional Maritime Operation Center (IMOC) (Albanian: Qendra Ndërinstitucionale Operacionale Detare) is an inter-ministry agency tasked with managing Albania's maritime territory. It is a collaboration between the Ministries of Defence, Internal Affairs, Finance, Environment, Transportation, Agriculture, and Tourism.[4]

Defence Intelligence Security Agency

The Defence Intelligence Security Agency (DISA) (Albanian: Agjencia e Inteligjencës dhe Sigurisë së Mbrojtjes (AISM)) is a military intelligence agency within the Ministry of Defence, which provides intelligence to the Ministry as well as the Albanian Armed Forces. It is governed by Law No. 65/2014.[5]

Reorganization

Since the establishment of the institution, the Ministry of Defence has undergone several administrative changes to its organizational structure. When a new department was formed, it often merged with the ministry thus expanding its role, subsequently leading to the name of the ministry being changed. If that department later broke off as a separate ministry or was dissolved, the ministry reverted to its original name.[a][b]

  • Ministry of War (1912–1939)
  • Ministry of War and Defence Command (1944–1946)
  • Ministry of National Defence (1946–1950)
  • Ministry of People's Defence (1950–1991)
  • Ministry of Defence (1991–present)

Subordinate institutions

  • Armed Forces Academy
  • Export Control State Authority (AKSHE)
  • Center of Culture, Media and Defence Publications (QKMBM)
  • Inter-Institutional Marine Operation Center (QNOD)

Officeholders (1912–present)

No. Name
Term in office
1 Mehmet Deralla 4 December 1912 24 January 1914
2 Esad Toptani 14 March 1914 20 May 1914
3 Kara Seit Pasha August 1914 3 September 1914
4 Isuf Dibra 5 October 1914 27 January 1916
5 Ali Riza Kolonja 30 January 1920 4 November 1920
6 Selahudin Shkoza 15 November 1920 16 October 1921
7 Isuf Gjinali 16 October 1921 6 December 1921
8 Zija Dibra 6 December 1921 12 December 1921
9 Shefki Kosturi 12 December 1921 24 December 1921
10 Ismail Haki Tatzati 24 December 1921 19 August 1923
11 Mustafa Aranitasi 19 August 1923 25 February 1924
– Mustafa Aranitasi 30 May 1924 10 June 1924
12 Kasem Qafzezi 16 June 1924 24 December 1924
13 Enver Hoxha 23 October 1944 31 July 1953
14 Beqir Balluku 1 August 1953 28 October 1974
15 Mehmet Shehu 28 October 1974 18 December 1981
16 Kadri Hazbiu 15 January 1982 10 October 1982
17 Prokop Murra 10 October 1982 7 July 1990
18 Kiço Mustaqi 8 July 1990 10 May 1991
19 Ndriçim Karakaçi 11 May 1991 4 June 1991
20 Perikli Teta 11 June 1991 6 December 1991
21 Alfred Moisiu 18 December 1991 13 April 1992
22 Safet Zhulali 13 April 1992 1 March 1997
23 Shaqir Vukaj 11 March 1997 24 July 1997
24 Sabit Brokaj 25 July 1997 23 April 1998
25 Luan Hajdaraga 24 April 1998 8 July 2000
26 Ilir Gjoni 8 July 2000 9 November 2000
27 Ismail Lleshi 9 November 2000 6 September 2001
28 Pandeli Majko 6 September 2001 29 January 2002
29 Luan Rama 22 February 2002 25 July 2002
– Pandeli Majko 29 July 2002 10 September 2005
30 Fatmir Mediu 11 September 2005 21 March 2008
31 Gazmend Oketa 28 March 2008 17 September 2009
32 Arben Imami 17 September 2009 15 September 2013
33 Mimi Kodheli 15 September 2013 13 September 2017
34 Olta Xhaçka 13 September 2017 31 December 2020
35 Niko Peleshi 4 January 2021 Incumbent

Notes

  1. ^ The title "Substitutive" (gheg albanian: Zavëndësisht), often using the acronym "Zav.", references to the temporary exercise of duty by an official who was not formally appointed by the prime minister but occupied the interim role of the vacant minister. These officials are labeled in the list with an asterisk.
  2. ^ The start date of a minister's term and subsequently their relief from duty are made official in a decision signed by the assembly speaker that approves the president's decree, with such decision being published in Fletorja Zyrtare.

See also

References

  1. ^ Dervishi, Kastriot (2006). Historia e Shtetit Shqiptar 1912–2005. Shtëpia Botuese "55". p. 955. ISBN 99943-799-3-3.
  2. ^ a b "Subordinate Structures". Albanian Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  3. ^ "CCMDP". Albanian Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  4. ^ "Interinstitutional Maritime Operational Centre". Albanian Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 11 July 2016.
  5. ^ "Defence Intelligence Security Agency (DISA)". Albanian Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 11 July 2016.