Until the end of October, the “deaf room” is expected to function in the Assembly of North Macedonia – Telegrafi

The protected room, namely the so-called “deaf room” in the Assembly is almost finished and all the equipment has been placed in it. The official opening of the Protected Chamber is expected to take place at the end of October this year, the Assembly informs MIA.

Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi said in the first briefing with journalists on Tuesday that the “deaf room” has been completely completed and that 99 percent of the work has been completed.

I think that the administrative part, technical acceptance-handover should be completed and put into operation. I expect that during September or October the “deaf room” will be fully in use”, said Gashi.

The construction of the Protected Chamber, as emphasized by the Assembly, is also a requirement of NATO and will be particularly important and necessary during the opening of chapters 23 and 24 in the accession negotiations with the EU for membership in the Union. The construction of the chamber should create conditions for effective parliamentary oversight of the security services.

“The protected room and workspace were meticulously designed to meet and exceed the strict security requirements set by NATO and the European Union. This included the integration of advanced technological measures, while the physical space is constructed with materials that prevent unauthorized monitoring and eavesdropping, ensuring that communications remain confidential and protected from external threats. The project incorporated best practices in security sector management, emphasizing resilience to traditional and emerging security challenges. This comprehensive approach ensures not only a secure solution, but also adaptability to future advances in security and intelligence surveillance, the Assembly informed the MIA.

The authorized authority for the accreditation of the protected room is the Directorate for the Security of Classified Information. The necessary documents for the accreditation of the protected room are: Security risk assessment for the communication and IT system in the protected room and the protected work space, Statement of security needs for the communication information system in the protected room and the space protected work and operational safety procedures for the use of the protected room and the protected work space. The Assembly notes that all documents are in the final stage and after signing, they must be sent to the Directorate for the Security of Classified Information. Based on the supervision of the documents and files as well as the field control in the room protected by DSIK, the accreditation for use is obtained.

The project for the “deaf room” according to NATO standards

There were six calls for the realization of the so-called “deaf room” in the Assembly. Most of them were not successful due to, as explained by the former speaker of the Assembly, Talat Xhaferi, inappropriate offers.

The last public call was successful and the protected room began construction, according to information from DCAF, in July 2023.

Based on the Public Procurement Agreement dated 28.04.2023, in the last call for construction works, the Karposh Factory was chosen, while the contract stipulates that the construction works will cost about 40.000.000 denars. At the moment, there is no information from the Assembly about the total cost of construction, equipment and realization of the protected room.

From there they emphasize that the tender documentation and the project are according to NATO standards. The room is of the highest protection, the so-called first level of documents with the highest classification, meets all standards of audio and anti-radiation protection, is equipped with suitable shielded equipment to guarantee the protection of classified information, emphasized by the Assembly. The equipment in the room meets the highest TEMPEST radiation protection standards.

The space is expected to be used mainly by the Assembly and Commissions working with classified information, but at the same time it will be available for use by other state authorities if they need it and of course with the approval of the Assembly.

The establishment of the protected room and protected workspace in the Assembly marks an important historical moment in the commitment to strengthen parliamentary oversight of the security and intelligence sector. This initiative is the fruit of a strategic partnership between the Geneva Center for Security Sector Management, DCAF and the Assembly translated into a Memorandum of Cooperation, which emphasizes joint efforts to strengthen democratic governance and ensure strong accountability mechanisms within the framework of the security of the country.

The Republic of North Macedonia, in an effort to integrate more closely with Western institutions such as NATO and the European Union, as stated in the information of the Assembly on the MIA, has identified the strengthening of parliamentary supervision as a cornerstone for the fulfillment of strict governance standards. that these organizations require. In 2018, recognizing the evolving security threat landscape and the critical need for transparent oversight, DCAF and the Assembly launched a joint mission to strengthen the legislative branch’s capacity to effectively monitor and evaluate the activities of security and intelligence agencies. . This period was marked by growing global concern about surveillance practices, intelligence operations and the imperative to balance national security with the protection of civil liberties and rights.

The main goal of this collaboration, as noted, was to create a secure environment where classified information with higher sensitivity could be handled with the highest confidentiality and integrity.

“By forming a separate protected space and workspace, the Assembly intended to facilitate secure hearings with classified information, allowing lawmakers to examine, discuss and debate critical security and intelligence issues without the risk of information leakage or unauthorized access. This infrastructure is designed to support informed decision-making processes, ensuring that oversight functions are performed with the necessary discretion and security,” the Assembly’s information on MIA states.