Few highlights from the presentation “International assistance in vetting procedures” presented on the Conference on Personnel and Industrial Security – Antwerp 8

Few highlights from the presentation “International assistance in vetting procedures” presented on the Conference on Personnel and Industrial Security – Antwerp 8. – 10.11.2010
Implementation of the Classified Information Act and regulations based thereon, and international agreements concluded by the Republic of Slovenia, is monitored and coordinated by the National Security Authority. The tasks of the National Security Authority relating to the protection of classified information are performed by the Government Office for the Protection of Classified Information.
In the international environment, the main task is the implementation of international agreements and international obligations concluded or assumed by the Republic of Slovenia with regard to the handling and protection of classified information and co-operation in this field with the corresponding agencies of foreign countries and international organisations, unless otherwise specified by an international treaty. Our focal goal is the protection of national classified information (CI) abroad and foreign CI in the territory of the Republic of Slovenia.
In order to implement the powers and tasks pursuant to the CI Act, other laws and binding international treaties, the Slovenian NSA:

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  keeps and processes records of national and other clearances
  
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  on the basis of a national PSC or FSC, issues (international) security-clearance certificates
  
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  issues instructions for handling CI of a foreign country or international organisation
  
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  monitors the implementation of physical, organisational and technical measures for the protection of CI of a foreign country or international organisation
  
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  requests that the competent inspectorate inspects an agency or organisation. As is clear, the NSA is not the authority that carries out the inspection but we have an obligation to request such an inspection at any time.
  
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  exchanges information with foreign national security authorities and international organisations.
  

The NSA is thus in charge of all aspects of bilateral and multilateral agreements and is also the point of contact for questions and assistance concerning the exchange and protection of both national and foreign CI.

How do we work to achieve our main goals? The Slovenian NSA interacts in the national milieu with all competent governmental bodies in different commissions that are composed for each field of work. Two commissions - for information assurance and for the prevailing public interest for disclosure of CI - are established on the basis of government decision but the other three – commission for personnel security, for documentation security and the commission for industrial security are established on the basis of decision of the NSA director. The heads of all commissions are NSA experts.
Concerning NSA’s international activities, we represent Slovenia in all so-called security boards and commissions of international organizations. We are also in charge of all activities regarding bilateral agreements – from negotiations to implementation.