ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - The issuing of 13 government decrees on the operation of secret services enables the Croatian public for the first time to gain insight into some authorities, models of operation and organisation of the
country's three intelligence services.
ZAGREB, May 22 (Hina) - The issuing of 13 government decrees on the
operation of secret services enables the Croatian public for the
first time to gain insight into some authorities, models of
operation and organisation of the country's three intelligence
services. #L#
Based on the Law on Security Services and with the approval of the
President of the Republic, the government last week adopted 27
decrees of which 13 were made public in the National Gazette.
A special decree defines the area of secret supervision of
telecommunications, i.e. phone tapping and the control of the
Internet and other electronic systems.
Wiretapping and surveillance is conducted by the Counter-
Intelligence Agency (POA). All telecommunications and network
operators as well as providers of such services, i.e. all
telecommunications concessionaries in Croatia are obliged to
cooperate with the POA.
The cost of surveillance services and the maintenance of
surveillance equipment shall be covered by concessionaries, which
are bound to keep data on persons under surveillance as a state
secret.
Also regulated are the activities of counter-intelligence
protection and security of persons, buildings and space.
Protected persons are the presidents of the Republic, Government,
Parliament, Constitutional and Supreme Courts, as well as members
of their families, if considered necessary.
Under protection are also the presidents of foreign countries,
governments and parliaments visiting Croatia, as well as other
countries' foreign ministers and the heads of international
organisations and institutions.
Special protection can be organised for presidential candidates
from the announcement of their candidacy to elections.
The decree also determines duties, i.e. activities which are of
special importance for national security. Persons in charge of
carrying out those duties undergo partial or full security checks
by the POA.
Data regarding security checks is considered a state secret and
must be deleted after five years.
(hina) sp rml sb