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Brussels (AFP) Feb 7, 2011 NATO's chief called on Albania on Monday to uphold the alliance's democratic values, urging a peaceful resolution to a political crisis that has left four protesters dead. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen called on the government and opposition to hold a "constructive dialogue" in order to resume "normal political activity" in Albania. "I am concerned about the situation in Albania," he said at his monthly news conference. "I deplore the loss of life, I strongly condemn violence and I urge all parties to seek peaceful solutions to political disputes." Albania has been mired in political crisis since disputed elections in June 2009. The opposition has never recognised the victory of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, accusing him of committing fraud. Berisha has accused opposition leader and mayor of Tirana Edi Rama of having tried to use a January 21 rally to launch a coup, a charge Rama dismissed. Three people were shot dead during the opposition protest. A fourth person who was shot during the demonstration, a 35-year-old father of two, died of his wounds on Saturday. Both sides blame each other for the killings. The 28-nation alliance expects all of its members to live up to NATO's basic founding principles of individual liberty, respect for human rights and the rule of law, Rasmussen said. "I think all governments are well aware of that, and I would also expect that to be the case in Albania," said the former Danish prime minister, although he insisted NATO would not interfere in Albanian politics. Asked how he would have reacted to this type of situation while he was head of government in Denmark, Rasmussen said: "I can tell you that would not be the case in Denmark. The Danish people are a bit more calm than further south." A former communist nation, Albania joined the western alliance in 2009 and aspires to one day become a member of the European Union. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele have both offered to mediate in the opposition's dispute with the government.
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France wants 'more active role' for Mideast QuartetParis (AFP) Feb 7, 2011 France said Monday the Middle East diplomatic Quartet, which seeks rapid resumption of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks, should take a more active role in the bid for peace in the troubled region. "We believe that the Quartet should assume a more active role notably in establishing the parameters under which negotiations should be held," French foreign ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said. ... read more |
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