Macedonia Hosts Secret Conference of Regional Intelligence Agencies

[Marulus]

11/11/2007: Macedonia Hosts Secret Conference of Regional Intelligence Agencies

(Balkanalysis.com Security & Intelligence Brief 23) On October 30, 2007, the Republic of Macedonia hosted a high-level joint conference of intelligence services from eastern and central European countries. There was a virtual media blackout around the event, save for a short report from Macedonia’s Sitel TV, which disclosed that the “regional chiefs” were in town to discuss actions against weapons smuggling and human trafficking, among other things; oddly enough, the station claimed, they considered Macedonia the “safest” place for such a meeting. The conference was overseen as well as by representatives of leading Western European and American agencies.

The conference was held in the Aleksandar Palace Hotel on the outskirts of Skopje. Delegates began arriving late on the evening of the 29th, and the hotel was secured from any visitors, with even passers-by approached by guards to show ID, and photos not allowed. The hotel, one of Skopje’s largest and most expensive, sees frequent famous visitors (such as the former David Beckham-led English football squad) and is owned by Fershped, Macedonia’s largest freight forwarding company.

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