B4-0189, 0208, 0234, 0238 and 0245/97

Resolution on the situation in Albania

The European Parliament,

- having regard to its previous resolutions on the situation in Albania,

A. Recalling the very difficult situation in the country following the collapse of the communist regime and the complete lack of democratic traditions; whereas this crisis underlines the difficulties involved in effecting a sudden switch from a collectivist to a free market economy,

B. Whereas Albania risks slipping into a civil war, as anarchy reigns in the southern part of the country, where arms stores have been plundered and violent armed clashes have taken place between police /security forces and protesters,

C. Whereas the government has responded to the unrest and rioting by establishing a state of emergency and strict press controls, and by declaring that "armed rebels¨ will be shot dead without warning if they fail to surrender arms promptly,

D. Noting with concern that during this period of increasing violence President Sali Berisha was reconfirmed in his functions as Head of State;

E. Whereas the President-in-Office of the Council made a visit to Tirana on 7 March 1997 to explore the possibilities of finding a political solution to the current crisis,

F. Emphasizing that a first agreement was reached between President Berisha and the leaders of the opposition to bring about a solution to the fundamental, democratic and economic problems which are at the heart of the civil unrest in the country;

G. Extremely worried by the attacks on the independent press, including the arson attack on the offices of the most important opposition newspaper "Koha Jone¨, and the harassment of foreign journalists who have been hindered from working;

H. Stressing the urgency of consolidating the Albanian democratic institutions and preventing the further destabilization of the situation and the spread of tensions to bordering countries;

1. Strongly condemns all acts of violence which contribute to a further escalation of the crisis in Albania and which may even lead to the outbreak of a civil war in this European country, and calls on all rebel groups in southern Albania to surrender their arms and thus contribute to a peaceful solution of the conflict in Albania; calls at the same time on President Berisha to guarantee the amnesty he promised in return;

2. Supports the agreement signed in Tirana on 9 March 1997 between President Berisha and ten opposition parties which makes provision, among other things, for the proclamation of a general amnesty, the formation of a government of national reconciliation with representatives of the political forces party to the agreement, the surrender of weapons and the holding of parliamentary elections in June 1997 at the latest, and stresses the importance of all parties concerned committing themselves to an early implementation of this agreement;

3. Calls on the Albanian authorities to ensure that both police and security forces are instructed to observe international standards for law enforcement and to take all necessary measures for the protection of religious and ethnic minorities; urges protesters to restrict themselves to peaceful protests and calls on them to be constructive in finding a political solution to the crisis and refrain from seeking a military one;

4. Calls on the Albanian authorities to release all political prisoners, to give full information on the whereabouts and fate of Mr Fatos Nano and to provide guarantees as to his well-being;

5. Urgently appeals to Albania's neighbours, especially Italy and Greece, to continue their neighbourly efforts in order to stabilize the situation in Albania and to prevent the unrest from spreading to neighbouring regions;

6. Asks the Commission and the Council, in cooperation with Italy and Greece in particular, to seek all possible ways out of this difficult situation;

7. Believes, in this respect, that it is necessary to make the EU presence in south-east Europe more visible through the appointment of a special envoy of the Council;

8. Urges all political forces in Albania to contribute to a peaceful and democratic solution to the present situation;

9. Calls on the Commission, the Council and the international financial institutions to make an active contribution to solving the economic crisis in Albania, and to make this assistance conditional on democratization and enhanced freedom of the media;

10. Reiterates its demand that the European Union and its Member States offer technical assistance to Albania with a view to preventing the recurrence of fraudulent financial schemes, which may well affect neighbouring regions as well, and to support fully the investigations into the pyramid investment schemes;

11. Calls on its Presidency to consider as a matter of urgency the sending of a fact-finding delegation to observe the situation in the country;

12. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Commission, the Council, the OSCE and the Parliament, the Government and the President of Albania.