activity report 2011.pdf

products aimed at better responding to the information needs of the decision makers, by adequately reflecting the dynamics of security risks and threats. As reflected in the analysis of the reactions released by the legal beneficiaries, the reports of Service constituted a good basis for the decision making process. The efforts to keep the beneficiaries informed were all the more consistent as the Service acted for:  harmonizing the organizational actions with the priorities on the socio- economic and external affairs agendas;  permanently monitoring the evolution of risks and threats to national security and the opportunities to promote the interests of Romania, which allowed the Service to better prioritize the operational efforts, and thus collect information useful and necessary for supporting the decision-making process. In order to permanently harmonize the information process and the requirements of national security, efforts were made to:  adapt the contents of the information reports – both in terms of contents and presentation – to the requirements of the legal beneficiaries;  consolidate strategic information and the predictive component in the information reports, with the aim to offer the decision makers highly anticipative analytical products;  better reflect in the information reports the direct expertise of the Service in certain areas; 10   consolidate inter and intra-organizational mechanisms in order to ensure rapid response to evolutions with potential implications on national security. We continued the trend of sending to the legal beneficiaries, either on their request or on our initiative, a number of complex evaluative documents, which reflected the evolution of certain security threats, focusing on their causes and on their potential impact at national/regional level. In 2011, despite the fact that there was a decrease in the number of responses from the decision makers regarding the analysis that the SRI offered (11.65% less – from 580 in 2010, to 513 in 2011), the trend from the previous year was consolidated, regarding the increase of the responses mentioning appreciation as to the quality and opportunity of the information reports (96.3% out of the total responses, as opposed to 91.89% in 2010). From a quantitative point of view, the main issues regarding national security were reflected in the information reports as follows:  economic security – 44.42%  defending constitutional values – 21.77%  promoting certain objectives of Romania’s foreign affairs – 25.92%  vulnerabilities/risks of terrorist nature, or associated to organized crime – 7.89%  cross-sector complex analyses on security matters – 6.83%. We have maintained the trend of diminishing the total number of documents sent to the beneficiaries at central level (by 8.38%, as compared to the previous year), and this evolution was mainly due to:  an increase of the complexity and capability to integrate information reports, as direct consequence of the care for focusing on major security issues;  the interest for disseminating information reports that are adapted to the capabilities and the needs of the decision makers. A particular situation in this regard is the focus on harmonizing the reports sent to the local beneficiaries with the evolutions in the process of decentralization, and, implicitly, on a better and more efficient way of solving the issues presented. In 2011, the SRI has sent to the central level legal beneficiaries 2.191 integrated information reports (4.63% less than in 2010), which resulted in 3.476 notifications. In accordance with the responsibilities to manage the priorities of the specific stage that Romania is experiencing, most information reports were sent to the members of the Executive (58%) and the Presidential Administration (24.08%). We maintained the positive trend of the number of information reports sent to beneficiaries from the local public administration. They received 3.075 documents (3.67% more than in 2010), out of which 2.372 were addressed to the prefect, 474 to the president of the Departmental Council, and 229 to both of them. 11 The number of responses received from the beneficiaries in the local public administration, also registered an increase of 132.23% as compared to 2010 (a total of 3.733). The quality of the intelligence reports SRI provided its local customers reflects into their overall feedback of appreciation (around 99,5%) regarding usefulness and timely delivery. SRI intelligence notifications have been followed by specific measures taken by local authorities in 819 cases. II.2.2 Specific preventive measures During 2011, SRI took 5194 measures (compared to 5739 in 2010) meant to prevent or counteract a series of risks under its authority.  According to its legal authority, the measures SRI took were generally followed by: - Actions meant to prevent possible security threats; - Proposals to limit, cease or revoke the right of residence, or proposals to pronounce some persons as unwanted; - Proposals to grant or withdraw security vetting; - Security measures taken to the benefit of those institutions that could be targeted by terrorists; - Specific classified information protection measures; - Individual self-defense training against terrorist threats or counter-intelligence training.  Based on the national security chart, preventive measures focused on: - counter-espionage, support of foreign policy interests and classified information protection – 54,35%; - defense of constitutional values and rights – 21,66%; - Economic security – 12,88%; - identification and assessment of terrorist threats– 6,86%; - evaluation and management of cross-border threats – 3,54%; - identification and evaluation of IT&C threats – 0,71%. II.2.3. Information reports provided to criminal investigating and prosecution authorities When specific intelligence investigations revealed constitutive elements of serious crimes against the Romanian national security, SRI notified the legal beneficiaries and took preventive and restrictive measures, and also informed the criminal investigating and prosecution authorities. Information reports provided to local and central law enforcement agencies aimed at increasing intelligence products’ intrinsic value and at consolidating SRI’s contribution to countering serious crimes to national security. 12 SRI issued 2689 information reports, that is 45,42% more than the previous year.  The Public Ministry was provided with 1379 information reports, as follows: - PICCJ – 4; - DIICOT, the main authority – 122; - DIICOT, subsidiaries – 333; - DNA, the main authority – 333; - DNA, subsidiaries – 369; - Prosecutor’s offices attached to Courts of Appeal – 41; - Prosecutor’s offices attached to Tribunals; - Prosecutor’s offices attached to Judge’s Offices – 62.  The Ministry of Administration and Interior was provided with 523 information reports, as follows: - General Anticorruption Direction – 79; - General Inspectorate of Police – 25; - County Police Inspectorates – 419. During 2011, in cooperation with the prosecution authorities, SRI continued to fight economic and financial risks. Therefore, the Service issued 787 notifications on tax evasion. II.3. Pre-emptive measures against terrorist risks and threats During 2011, Romania did not face any aspect of local or “import” terrorism, the National System for Terrorist Alert indicating a precautionary level alert. However, risks associated to terrorist and extremist organizations activities had multiplied along with a worse security climate within MENA countries. Romania is still a transit/refuge destination for foreigners coming from terrorism associated states and, as a consequence, migration to EU states has soared due to events in the MENA countries. The number of foreigners coming from active terrorist areas has been continuously growing in our country, and therefore we cannot rule out the risk that some of them support terrorist groups. The main risk sources have been generated by: - An increase in illegal migration from terrorist areas (such as MENA, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Turkey) that could trigger extremist ideology import; - trends of merger of certain communities or groups within the national territory, according to political and security evolvements in their countries (Tunisia, Libya, Syria); - involvement of Romanian institutions in global antiterrorist fight; - Islamic propaganda and proselytism actions taken by different local or abroad entities with a focus on different groups in Romania. 13 During 2011, SRI’s activity resulted in discouraging and alleviating measures against situations that could possibly turn into terrorist threats to national security, as follows: - A foreign resident was sent to trial on suspicion of involvement with terrorist organizations; - A number of entities that were sponsoring a radical type of Islamism that could pose a threat to national security have been dismantled; - A foreign citizen proven to have pro-Taliban views, together with the members of a group specialized in smuggling migrants, were arrested and sent to trial; - A number of promoters of the Wahhabit-type Islamic Radicalism were prevented from expanding their influence on Romania. SRI has taken successful actions to protect Romanian citizens, institutions and interests against terrorist threats, as follows:  SRI took pre-emptive measures. In 2011, the specialized structures within SRI initiated 204 specific measures in order to prevent occurrence of a series of risks to national security, such as: - A foreign citizen who had proven to be interested in financing extremist groups from abroad was proclaimed undesirable; - 34 measures to forbid entrance into Romania of a number of foreign citizens due to the risks their actions may have triggered against national security; - 16 measures to deny or withdraw vetting under special laws, such as: deny Romanian citizenship to 7 foreign citizens; deny visa to 3 citizens originating in states from terrorist activity areas; deny permanent residence permit to 6 foreign citizens; - 33 persons were given warnings under suspicion of their involvement in activities that could constitute risks to security of Romania.  Protection of the diplomatic missions in Romania that are under SRI’s competence. We have to mention that we have received 8 letters from diplomatic representatives to convey SRI their gratitude for some specific measures taken concerning their diplomatic missions;  Antiterrorist/anti-hijacking control and antiterrorist protection on civil airports. Security checks on the two international airports in Bucharest (Henry Coanda and Aurel Vlaicu) were performed under most favorable conditions and potentially dangerous goods found were timely brought to the attention of those responsible to take legal measures. The Antiterrorist Brigade under SRI ran security checks and scans on passengers, luggage and cargo/post, as well as security inspections of airplanes and the vehicles that were allowed in CPSRA – the critical parts of security restricted areas. 14 Following security checks: - 127 weapons and 1670 ammunition items that were illegally detained were found: - As well as around 47000 forbidden items or partially dangerous objects to flight safety, materials and/or substances that are allowed under special conditions. Moreover, during 2011, SRI began to run the “Armed Flight Attendants on Board” Program, according to the provisions of the Supreme Council of National Defense Decision (SCND) on this matter. It is worth mentioning the fact that last year, on those two airports, we had: - 148 fire intervention missions; - Specific actions taken upon leave/arrival of high state dignitaries; - Technical maintenance activities for the normal functioning under secure radiological conditions of all specific airport equipment;  Antiterrorist protection/guard, as well as pyrotechnical antiterrorist/counter-terrorist intervention. II.4. Protection of classified information SRI has fulfilled its obligations as designated security authority responsible for national, NATO and EU classified information protection on two main courses:  Overall activity coordination and control of classified information protection measures, consisting in: - Expert assistance upon the request of natural or legal persons entitled to detain classified information; - Oversight activities meant to verify how persons detaining classified information apply legal provisions in this field, and to detect risks and vulnerabilities and therefore, to take the necessary legal measures;  Specific security vetting needed for: - approval of classified information leak prevention programs. They are issued (and also updated, amended or modified) by the entities under SRI’s competence that detain such data; - issue of national and NATO/EU security clearance for certain natural persons; - authorization with a view to the issue of industrial security clearance and special permits to take air photography, film, laser scanning or cartography of top secret areas and buildings found on national territory. In cooperation with the designated security authorities, ORNISS and other institutions responsible for national security, SRI ran classified information protection activities, such as: 15  - 1900 responses to requests (mostly by MAI, SIE and STS) regarding natural and legal persons who had been vetted in order to be granted security clearance for access to secret information; - Around 400 specific information exchanges with SIE, MAI, MApN and STS. SRI also participated or contributed to official assignments regarding classified information protection or other fields. According to its competence as national authority in the field, SRI ensured collection, transport, distribution and protection of national and NATO/EU classified correspondence on the national territory in adequate conditions. In 2011 correspondence increased in volume (2671671 envelopes, parcels etc.) with 0,64% as compared to last year, and also the number of customers (with 2.85%). There were also 40% more requests for urgent correspondence transportation sent to beneficiaries who are usually subject to non-specific regulations. As some authorities and public institutions reorganized and changed headquarters, while a high number of companies detaining classified information have been included in the classified correspondence collection, transport, distribution and protection system, there was a significant need for change and adjustment to the customers’ routes and distribution programs without impacting on the functioning of their activities. 16 CHAPTER III LOCAL AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION III.1. Cooperation between institutions During 2011, SRI focused on cooperation with other institutions within the national security system, thus providing decision-makers with substantiated information reports. SRI had a pro-active cooperation with other institutions, especially in fields within its legal competence as national authority or designated security authority. Therefore, the main SRI priorities were: an efficient functioning of the National System for the Prevention and Fight against Terrorism, classified information protection, an optimal use of open source analysis capabilities, as well as development of national CYBERINT capabilities. SRI aimed at improving cooperation mechanisms with other institutions within the national security system and law enforcement agencies, while increasing quality standards, timely delivery of information exchanges and developing technical coordination in a joint effort of all parties. In 2011 SRI was even more involved in cooperation activities with other institutions and therefore, quality indices improved and the number of exchanged data and information was higher. Due to a focus on an expert level approach within cooperation, quality and timely delivery of intelligence products significantly improved, along with cooperation on technical aspects and the high number of joint missions. In 2011, following the General Cooperation Protocol, data and information exchanged were 8,53% more than in 2010 (meaning 19.381 informational units). Maincooperation activities involved the Public Ministry, MAI, MApN, SIE, MAE and SPP. The main topics of cooperation between institutions were: - Tax evasion; - Organized crime; - Cross-border threats; - Illegal tracking in ammunition, explosives, nuclear or radioactive materials, toxic and biological agents, as well as other products, technologies and services whose final destination is strictly regulated or forbidden by international treaties and convent