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Tuesday, 19 November 2024
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USIA - Text: State Dept. Spokesman Burns Statement On Albania, 97-04-07United States Information Agency: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at <gopher://gopher.usia.gov>TEXT: STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN BURNS 4/7 STATEMENT ON ALBANIA(U.S. concerned about unrest, political polarization) (450)Washington -- The United States is concerned about "the continued unrest and political polarization in Albania" and disturbed by attempts to block Prime Minister Fino's movements, State Department spokesman Nicholas Burns said April 7.In the release issued by the State Department, Burns also said the United States welcomes "the creation of the Multinational Force to facilitate humanitarian and political assistance efforts." Following is the text of Burns' statement: (Begin text)The United States is greatly concerned about the continued unrest and political polarization in Albania. Our Embassy in Tirana is in close contact with all parties, and we continue to work with our partners in the OSCE (Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe) to fashion a coordinated international response.We are deeply disturbed by the actions on Saturday by armed men to block Prime Minister Fino's movements within his own country. We call on all individuals and groups in Albania not to interfere in the process of reintegration and stabilization and to pursue their concerns through dialogue. It is the responsibility of all Albanians to ensure the success of the Government of National Reconciliation, which was formed with the agreement of all major Albanian parties following OSCE mediation. This government enjoys broad international support that will not be affected by threats or unilateral withdrawal by any individual party. The United States is committed to working through the Government of National Reconciliation to address Albania's crisis. The OSCE and other international agencies are moving forward toward a strengthened international presence in Albania. The OSCE already has an advance mission on the ground and we understand that Chancellor Vranitsky will travel to Tirana in the near future to finalize plans for establishment of a more permanent OSCE presence. Chancellor Vranitsky will play a decisive role in coordinating international efforts to restore normal government to all parts of Albania. We also welcome the creation of the Multinational Force to facilitate humanitarian and political assistance efforts, which we supported in the United Nations Security Council. We are closely following the discussions on its formation. We commend the government of Italy for leading the process of developing the Multinational Force. This is an encouraging example of how an important European partner can assume responsibility for responding to a crisis in cooperation with other international efforts. The international community can assist in stabilizing the situation in Albania but the primary responsibility lies with Albanians to restore order, establish conditions for free and fair elections and to promote economic recovery. The vehicle for achieving this is the Government of National Reconciliation led by Prime Minister Fino. (End text)From the United States Information Agency (USIA) Gopher at gopher://gopher.usia.govUnited States Information Agency: Selected Articles Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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