Ministry of Defence (Albania)

Ministry of Defence
Ministria e Mbrojtjës
	Coat of Arms of the Ministry
Department overview
Formed	4 December 1912; 112 years ago
Jurisdiction	Council of Ministers
Headquarters	Tirana, Albania
Minister responsible	Pirro Vengu;
Website	www.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 (Albania)

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	30 July 2024
36	Pirro Vengu	30 July 2024	Incumbent

Notes

^ 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.
^ 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.

References

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

[fn1-6] 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.

[fn2-7] 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.

[1] Dervishi, Kastriot (2006). Historia e Shtetit Shqiptar 1912–2005. Shtëpia Botuese "55". p. 955. ISBN 99943-799-3-3.

[MoD_-_Subordinate_Structures-2] "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.

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