Voice of America, 98-09-19

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From: The Voice of America <gopher://gopher.voa.gov>

CONTENTS

[01] ALBANIA / DIPLOMACY (S ONLY) BY DOUG ROBERTS (TIRANA)

[01] ALBANIA / DIPLOMACY (S ONLY) BY DOUG ROBERTS (TIRANA)

INTRO: A TEAM OF SENIOR EUROPEAN DIPLOMATS HAS HELD A DAY OF TALKS WITH GOVERNMENT AND OPPOSITION LEADERS IN ALBANIA'S CAPITAL, TIRANA, SEEKING WAYS TO RESOLVE THE COUNTRY'S LATEST POLITICAL CRISIS. VOA'S DOUG ROBERTS REPORTS FROM TIRANA THAT THE TEAM URGED BOTH SIDES TO EXERCISE RESTRAINT IN THE WAKE OF THE VIOLENT UNREST THAT ROCKED THE CITY EARLIER THIS WEEK.

TEXT: THE MISSION WAS LED BY POLAND'S FOREIGN MINISTER, BRONISLAW GEREMEK, WHOSE COUNTRY CURRENTLY HOLDS THE PRESIDENCY OF THE ORGANIZATION FOR SECURITY AND COOPERATION IN EUROPE. THE DIPLOMATS MET WITH THE TWO MAIN PROTAGANISTS IN THE CRISIS HERE, PRIME MINISTER FATOS NANO AND OPPOSITION LEADER SALI BERISHA.

THERE WAS NO WORD ON WHETHER ANY SPECIFIC PROPOSALS WERE DISCUSSED, BUT O-S-C-E OFFICIALS SAY BOTH SIDES WERE URGED TO AVOID ANY MOVES THAT COULD ESCALATE THE TENSIONS HERE.

THE GOVERNMENT ACCUSES MR. BERISHA OF ATTEMPTING A COUP D'ETAT WHEN ARMED OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS STORMED AND TEMPORARILY SEIZED SEVERAL GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS LAST MONDAY. MR. BERISHA CHARGES THAT GOVERNMENT AGENTS WERE BEHIND THE MURDER LAST WEEKEND OF A PROMINENT OPPOSITION OFFICIAL. (SIGNED)
NEB/DR/KL
19-Sep-98 1:11 PM EDT (1711 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America

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