-A boat carrying more than 100 Albanians who had departed from Vlora sinks 50 missing, most of them children and women -Investigations into the causes of the tragedy have begun

The Security Council decision - a guarantee for restoring order and peace in Albania The Security Council decision - a guarantee for restoring order and peace in Albania The Albanian Democratic Party is convinced that the UN Security Council decision on the issue of Albania, adopted in the late hours of Saturday, will serve to restore order and peace in Albania and to resume the functioning of institutions. This act of the Security Council gave the deserved answer to the conglomerate of non-political and anti-national forces, communist, ultranationalist. In the circumstances in which the PD structures throughout the country are bravely facing the difficult situation and are sacrificing to restore citizens’ lives as soon as possible and to save them from catastrophe, this international act is even more highly valued. This shows us clearly that the activity and efforts of right-wing forces are finding ever greater support from the entire democratic world. The inclusion within the approved deadline by all Albanian politics,

The resolution was adopted with 14 votes, while China abstained - Troops move to land in Albania The Security Council authorizes the force for Albania The resolution was adopted with 14 votes, while China abstained - Troops move to a land in Albania The Security Council authorized late Friday a force led by Italy to keep the peace and restore order and calm in Albania after violent anti-communist unrest that has plunged the country into chaos. The 15 members of the Security Council, with the exception of China, supported it. Officials said the resolution passed with 14 votes and no votes against, but China abstained. Officials said China explained its abstention with its concerns about the conceptual aspects of the issue. The resolution gives the green light to multinational military actions led by Italy to help create a secure environment for the delivery of humanitarian aid in Albania. Speaking to journalists immediately after the vote, Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi called it a “sign of good faith” for the Italy-led mission. “It is a clear signal of the support that the international community gives to the proposed force to intervene in Albania,” he said. The resolution approved a mission expected to be deployed next week, under the command of an Italian general. The document had been the subject of intensive negotiations between Britain, France and the United States. Italian leaders and other state officials have repeatedly said that the mission will last no more than three months and will not be involved in disarming the civilian population and restoring the Albanian state. The mission is designed to create the conditions for the distribution of aid and the organization of elections. The United States, France and Italy have said that their troops will act only in self-defense. After the Council vote, Italian officials focused their efforts on deploying the mission, so that it would be ready to set off a day or two later. While Italian warships were moving toward Albanian shores, a French military transport aircraft was to be stationed on Saturday at Rinas airport to help with the deployment of foreign personnel. The first staff contingent consists of 60 to 80 officers. A force made up of around 1,000 Italian soldiers with armored vehicles was preparing to move from Brindisi to Albania. The Italian navy has sent five ships, while a Greek warship was moving toward the area. Prime Minister Romano Prodi announced that Italy had rejected offers from Turkey, Slovenia, Austria and Portugal to send troops, arguing that the force should consist of countries close to Albania. Romano Prodi said that the joint French, Spanish, Austrian, Turkish and Romanian contingent would arrive in Albania between 7 and 15 April. A senior Italian official said that approximately 6,000 soldiers could be deployed in Albania at a cost of 12 million dollars per month. The first deployment site of the force will be Durrës.

Statement by the Albanian Government The Albanian government, which with deep sorrow is following with anxiety the tragedy in the Otranto Sea in the Strait of Otranto, offers its sincerest condolences to the families of the victims. The Albanian government, deeply feeling the pain of such a national tragedy, expresses its full readiness to come to the aid of the families of the victims. All its resources have immediately been put at the service of dealing with this serious tragedy. It expresses a firm conviction that, with the help of the Italian authorities in our country, the consequences of this tragedy will be overcome as soon as possible. The Albanian government calls on all citizens and all state structures to help without restraint in facing this tragedy. The Albanian government decided to send a state delegation to Italy. The Albanian prime minister also traveled with the delegation. We wish to thank the Italian government and all structures of the Italian state for the immediate help provided to deal with this tragedy, as well as for their readiness to take care of the injured and their families. The state delegation will assess the situation created and, upon its return, will report to the Albanian government, which will take the appropriate decisions for its further handling.

Interview with the commander of the Naval Defense Forces, Vladimir Beja - Mr. Beja, how many people have lost their lives in this tragedy? - There are still no official figures, but it is thought that the number of the drowned is around 70, although there are people who have still not been found. Two motorboats and two ships are under our control. Some people have been rescued and transported to hospitals. We have set up rescue teams and are continuing the search. - From where did you set out to check? - Last night from 7 o’clock, from Vlora, with two guard ships and our motorboats. We also had other means available. The weather was severe and this made the operation difficult. - Was there a collision? - As far as we know, the Albanian ship collided with a Italian military ship. The investigations are continuing and we cannot give more details at the moment. - What is the situation like? - It is a serious situation. Work is being carried out without interruption to find as many people as possible and to save anyone who is alive.

Cooperation with “rebel committees” runs counter to the 9 March agreement The inclusion of all Albanian parties in the Government of National Reconciliation expresses commitment to solving problems through dialogue and not violence The Democratic Party expresses through this statement its own concern regarding the various suggestions made public by the Albanian political sphere to make contacts and cooperate with extremist and criminal groups so-called “rescue committees”, groups which, from the first day of their creation, have been created as instruments for destabilizing the country. As has become clear to everyone, especially from the latest decision of the Security Council of the United Nations, the solution to the Albanian crisis must come only through a Government of National Reconciliation and free and democratic elections. Any political orientation to take part in or to legitimize these groups indirectly runs counter to the 9 March agreement signed in Tirana between the Albanian political forces. The Democratic Party calls on all Albanian political forces to contribute wholeheartedly to solving the crisis through democratic means and not to get involved in political adventures of the left, anarchist, extremist or ultranationalist kind, which would further complicate the Albanian crisis.

Vranicki will lead the OSCE mission in Albania VIENNA, 29 March/AFP/ - The former Austrian chancellor Franz Vranicki, appointed the day after his resignation, has agreed to lead the OSCE mission in Albania. According to Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel, he “is quite satisfied and will carry out the role of mediator in the Albanian crisis” and “is consulting on the composition of his team”. Vienna and not to delegate one to the OSCE, which he takes over today, “will give him a task in terms of preparation. He was chancellor of Austria from 1986 to 1997. According to Wolfgang Schüssel, the former head of the Austrian government “is the right man and will successfully help Albania in difficult moments”

PD sends Easter greetings to all believers

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The Italian government promised condolences and intervention[?] ...

Vrancki will lead the OSCE mission in Albania

This agreement fully violates the National Reconciliation Platform This agreement fully violates the National Reconciliation Platform