ALBANIA: ITALIAN FERRY ALLOWED TO DOCK AT DURRES AS THOUSANDS WAIT OUTSIDE PORT HOPING TO LEAVE COUNTRY AS ECONOMY DECLINES
Record ID:
566030
ALBANIA: ITALIAN FERRY ALLOWED TO DOCK AT DURRES AS THOUSANDS WAIT OUTSIDE PORT HOPING TO LEAVE COUNTRY AS ECONOMY DECLINES
- Title: ALBANIA: ITALIAN FERRY ALLOWED TO DOCK AT DURRES AS THOUSANDS WAIT OUTSIDE PORT HOPING TO LEAVE COUNTRY AS ECONOMY DECLINES
- Date: 2nd March 1992
- Summary: DURRES AND TIRANA, ALBANIA (MARCH 2, 1992) DURRES 1. GVS/SV ALBANIANS IN STREET OUTSIDE PORT BEHIND BARRIERS, POLICE LOOK ON (3 SHOTS) 0.18 2. GV PAN PEOPLE BOARDING FERRY 0.28 3. SVS/CUS SOLDIERS AND POLICE CHECKING VISAS (4 SHOTS) 0.48 4. SV PAN MAN CARRYING BASKETS BOADING FERRY 0.57 5. GV PAN/CU FERRY IN PORT 1.05 6. GV PEOPLE BOARDING FERRY 1.11 7. CU THANASI SPEAKING AS NOTED BELOW (ENGLISH) 1.20 8. GV MAN BEING TURNED AWAY FROM THE PALLADIO 1.31 TIRANA 9. GV EXTERIOR EMPTY SHOPS 1.35 10. SV PAN EMPTY SHELVES IN STATE-RUN SHOP 1.42 11. GV SOLDIERS WALKING IN STREET 1.49 12. GVS PEOPLE PURCHASING GOODS ON BLACK MARKET (2 SHOTS) 1.58 TRANSCRIPT OF SEQUENCE 7, THANASI: "WE CAN NEVER TELL, IT CAN BE VIOLENCE, LOOTING EVERYTHING CAN BREAK ANY MOMENT. NOT ONLY HERE IN DURRES BUT IN EVERY PART OF ALBANIA." Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 17th March 1992 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: DURRES AND TIRANA, ALBANIA
- Reuters ID: LVAE5DNK38I30PNNLYDO4U4SKFVQ
- Story Text: Albanian officials allowed an Italian passenger ferry to dock in the port of Durres on Monday (March 2) for the first time since vessels were ordered to stay off-shore following mass attempts to flee the country last year.
The Venice registered "Palladio" was allowed to take on board cargo trucks and several hundred Albanians with visas to visit Italy.
Hundreds of Albanians stood outside locked gates to the port where armed police and soldiers stood guard. The main port was closed on Friday after thousands of would-be refugees arrived in the hope of fleeing a country racked by poverty, looting and violence.
Customs officer George Thanasi said the situation at the port had calmed down but violence could return at any moment. He said many Albanians now understood that they could not just flee to neighbouring Western countries.
Albania's economy continues to fall into decline and there appears little its fledgling government or three million inhabitants can do to halt the process.
Food is scarce and what little is available can only be purchased at greatly inflated prices on the black market. In the state shops most of the shelves are empty. Power and fuel are in short supply and Tirana is often without electricity.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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