ITALY: ITALY SAY IT IS READY TO SEND TROOPS TO ALBANIA TO HELP QUELL UNREST BUT NO REQUEST FOR HELP HAS BEEN MADE

Record ID: 566068

  • Title: ITALY: ITALY SAY IT IS READY TO SEND TROOPS TO ALBANIA TO HELP QUELL UNREST BUT NO REQUEST FOR HELP HAS BEEN MADE
  • Date: 5th March 1997
  • Summary: ROME, ITALY (MARCH 5, 1997) (RTV - ACCESS ALL) 1. SLV/SV/CU BUILDING WITH ITALIAN FLAG (3 SHOTS) 0.10 2. SV ITALIAN POLTICIANS IN CORRIDOR, ENTERING ROOM (2 SHOTS) 0.32 3. LV/MCU OF ITALIAN POLITICAL MEETING IN SESSION (3 SHOTS) 0.50 4. MCU ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LAMERTO DINI LEAVING SESSION SAYING I MENTIONED IN THE PARLIAMENT IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST THAT THIS (SENDING TROOPS INTO ALBANIA) IS SOMETHING THE EUROPEAN UNION COULD CONSIDER IF THERE WAS A REQUEST BY THE ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT. THERE IS NO SUCH REQUEST AND THERE IS NO SUCH INTENTION. WE MUST SEARCH TOGETHER A POLITICAL SOLUTION. THERE IS NO ALTERNATIVE. DIALOGUE IS DIFFICULT, THERE IS MISTRUST AND NO MUTUAL RECOGNITION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE OPPOSITION AND THIS HAD MADE THE DIALOGUE DIFFICULT BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. WE ARE PURSUING THAT. THE ENTIRE EUROPEAN UNION IS COMMITTED TO THIS (ENGLISH) 2.25 5. SV DINI RUNNING DOWN CORRIDOR 2.33 Initials S3 P3 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
  • Embargoed: 20th March 1997 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ROME, ITALY
  • City:
  • Country: Italy
  • Reuters ID: LVA739KNW73IP8H4AJ9J0VTSOJCT
  • Story Text: Italy says it is ready to send troops to Albania to help quell the unrest there but no request for help has been made.

    Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini said on Wednesday (March 5) that Italy would be ready to send troops to Albania to help maintain order if such a request were made by Albania, but so far no request had been received.

    Dini was speaking to the foreign affairs committee of the Senate (upper house of parliament) after a telephone call with his Albanian counterpart Tritan Shehu.

    The Italian foreign minister said it was imperative to find a political solution to the problems in Albania. He later told Reuters Television later that the European Union might consider sending troops to Albania but would only do so if requested by Tirana.

    "There is no such request," Dini said. "There is no alternative to a political solution." Fighting was reported near the Adriatic town of Sarande on Wednesday. Army forces secured roads to the flashpoint coastal town of Vlore and the mountainous route between Gjirokaster and Sarande, a government information official said in Tirana.


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