BELGIUM/ALBANIA: NATO chief calls for peaceful solution in Albanian political dispute
Record ID:
560469
BELGIUM/ALBANIA: NATO chief calls for peaceful solution in Albanian political dispute
- Title: BELGIUM/ALBANIA: NATO chief calls for peaceful solution in Albanian political dispute
- Date: 8th February 2011
- Summary: TIRANA, ALBANIA (FEBRUARY 4, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS WALKING DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING SLOGANS DEMONSTRATORS CARRYING SIGNS READING (Albanian): "BERISHA IS A KILLER" VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATION
- Embargoed: 23rd February 2011 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Albania, Belgium
- City:
- Country: Belgium Albania
- Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA8QERS4TLKXZW17ALPFPGSX3TL
- Story Text: NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said on Monday (February 7) political parties in Albania should look for a peaceful solution to resolve the current political crisis.
Rasmussen said he was concerned by the recent violence in an anti-government protest two weeks ago in Albania.
Dozens were injured and an opposition lawmaker said the death toll rose to four after an Albanian opposition protester shot in the head during the protest died in hospital in Turkey on Saturday.
Rasmussen called for a ''dialogue between the government and the opposition'', adding such dialogue was essential for countries of small size like Albania.
''I deplore the loss of life, I strongly condemned the violence and I urge all parties to seek peaceful solutions to political disputes and I hope that we will see a resumption of normal political activity in Albania. I think a constructive dialogue between the government and opposition is the right way forward,'' Rasmussen told journalists during a regular monthly briefing.
The opposition Socialists have refused to accept the results of a 2009 election which gave Prime Minister Sali Berisha, Albania's dominant post-Communist politician, a second four-year term. They also accuse Berisha's government of corruption and vote fraud.
After the violent protest, Berisha accused the opposition of trying to foment a Tunisia-style uprising.
Opposition rallies and marches on Friday (January 4) were peaceful.
Albania is a member of the military alliance NATO and an applicant to the European Union. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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