TIRANA, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of the Albanian State Police and Tirana International Airport (TIA) signed a cooperation agreement here on Wednesday on the safe operation of the country's only international airport, the Directorate General of the State Police said in a press release.
According to the press release, the agreement was signed by the Director General of Albanian State Police, Ardi Veliu and TIA Chief Executive Officer Constantin von Alvensleben.
Following the signing ceremony, Veliu told reporters that the agreement consists in increasing the security and liability parameters in TIA, such as the deployment of high quality security cameras and 24-hour service, which will monitored by the State Police as well.
The agreement, Veliu added, also includes a set of regulations in regard to the entry and exit protocol which will affect the enhancement of security parameters and at the same time strengthen cooperation between the two institutions.
Veliu said that the signing of this agreement was delayed for three years due to the fact that TIA did not fulfill the requirements set by the State Police which are based on the law that regulates TIA's work.
The agreement also stipulates the reconstruction of the Border Police Station which operates near TIA and at the same time the implementation of some new systems to facilitate both the control of citizens and work of the border police.
In the past few years TIA has faced challenges for its security by armed robberies.
On April 10, Albanian Defense Minister Olta Xhacka announced that the Albanian armed forces will take over the security of TIA after several armed men stole a large amount of money at the airport.
In February 2017, thieves managed to steal 3.2 million euros in a similar robbery, and in June 2016, 995,000 euros were stolen. (1 euro = 1.11 U.S. dollars)
