Thousands join Albania protests (Albanian on brink of civil war?)

bbc.co.uk ^ | Saturday, 21 February, 2004, 21:58 GMT | BBC

[Destro]

Last Updated: Saturday, 21 February, 2004, 21:58 GMT

Thousands join Albania protests

Up to 20,000 people have taken to the streets of the Albanian capital Tirana to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Fatos Nano.

Protesters tried to storm the government HQ two weeks ago

Opposition leaders accuse Mr Nano of corruption, manipulating election results and failing to tackle the country's acute economic problems.

There was a tense atmosphere, with hundreds of police officers lining the streets outside government buildings.

But the rally - said to be the largest protest for seven years - was peaceful.

A similar march two weeks ago was broken up by police.

A coalition of 10 opposition parties is pressing for Mr Nano to step down and call early elections.

They accuse him of failing to improve living standards in Albania - one of Europe's poorest countries.

'Stifling hope'

A huge crowd gathered in the central square, chanting: "Nano, go!"

There is particular anger at the sharp increases in phone and electricity charges, as well as the high level of unemployment.

"[Fatos Nano] is the enemy of the Albanians, and it is he who is stifling the hope of the Albanians," said Sali Berisha, leader of the opposition Democratic Party and former president.

The prime minister however has refused to step down.

He denies the allegations made against him by the opposition, and he says the aim of the demonstrations is purely to enable Mr Berisha to return to power.

Mr Berisha told the BBC the demonstrations would continue, and become more frequent until they achieve their goal and that he wanted fresh elections before the end of the year.

But he urged those attending the march to demonstrate peacefully, a sentiment underlined by other opposition leaders, who released doves into the air.

[Destro]

Albania - the Haiti of Europe.

Sali Berisha is linked to the KLA/UCK in Kosovo and was PM during NATO's Kosovo war.

[freebacon]

Isn't this from the movie Wag the Dog?

[Destro]

Should read (Albanians on brink of civil war?)

[AuntB]

The words Albania and Civil in one phrase? Hard to imagine. Besides, I didn't think there was anyone left in that country after they all went to Kosovo.

[Truth666]

"Albania - the Haiti of Europe. " - NATO playground

[Incorrigible]

I belive Jomini has been getting up to speed on the situation in Albania since Fusion got the boot. Perhaps he can add his commentary here!

[Buck W.]

There are some good Italian restaurants in my part of Texas that are operated by Albanians, and they are quite conservative in their thinking.

Don't know why they don't open Albanian restaurants...

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

Al Queda, Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, North Korea, Haiti, Kosovo, now Albania. Clinton inept foriegn policy, the gift that keeps giving and giving.

[Gal.5:1]

Albanian snack: plain bread with plain yogurt.

[GeronL]

They ran out of two-headed dragons. After that Albania became a very poor and hungry country.

If Albanians are so conservative... those are the ones who left I guess.

[GeronL]

There are Ethiopian restaurants around here.... I wonder what they sell?? I'm scared to ask.

[hosepipe]

The U.S. is not far away either...

[OneTimeLurker]

"There are Ethiopian restaurants around here.... I wonder what they sell?? I'm scared to ask."

Whatever it is, I am sure it tastes like chicken!

[GeronL]

Maybe a bowl of dry grain.

"I ordered a glass of water not chocolate... oh no..."

[endthematrix]

Albanian boat people float to Italy in droves. They're much happier now Italy is on the Euro. Better welfare benefits.

[GeraldP]

>>>Don't know why they don't open Albanian restaurants...

Albanian cuisine is a mix of Greek&Lebanese and Italian, so if an Albanian is going to get into the restaurant business in the U.S., he/she is likely to pick one or the other.
Besides, except for the small contingent of "I hate anything Albanian" on FR, most people would be hard-pressed to tell you what continent Albania is even in.

[GeraldP]

>>>The words Albania and Civil in one phrase? Hard to imagine. Besides, I didn't think there was anyone left in that country after they all went to Kosovo.

You are entitled to form your own opinion on the events in the Balkans, however the above two-sentence post would seem to imply ignorance (not many Albanians have gone to Kosova, the reverse is more likely) and prejudice (Albanians are no less civil then other Eastern Europian peoples, struggling to stabilise in the post-communism era).

[hosepipe]

[ Besides, except for the small contingent of "I hate anything Albanian" on FR, most people would be hard-pressed to tell you what continent Albania is even in. ]

or even that Albania is the disease Al Gore surely has.. cause hes not "normal" that guy..

[DTA]

>>>>>not many Albanians have gone to Kosova, the reverse is more likely<<<<

There was over 400 000 citizens of Albania who used the chaos in 1999 to illegally settle in Kosovo province, faking they are regugees without documents. They are illegal aliens, and their settlement is war crime according to Geneva convention. Thier presence is easily visible in Kosovo. Their newly built houses do not have heavy fortified look of Kosovo Shqiptar compounds.

Number of Albania citizens who settled illegaly in Kosovo province in 1941-99 is in hundreds of thousands.

How many Kosovo Shqiptars settled in Albania? My guestimate is less than 20000. Do you have other info?

I hope your data is more reliable than your spelling checker (it's Kosovo, not Kosova)

[GeraldP]

>>>There was over 400 000 citizens of Albania who used the chaos in 1999 to illegally settle in Kosovo province

400 000 really?? Wow, this is great stuff! Considering that North Albania is sparsely populated to begin with, this would mean that the north of Albania is virtually a desert. Also the 2000 census counted a population of 3 500 000, in line with the expectations after taking into account emigrants to Greece, Italy etc. Of course, I am not taking into account any "cover-up" by the Albanian gov't here, so feel free to enlighten me if there is any. Also I am not taking into account the fact that Albanians are "breeding like cattle", as you and some others here claim. Let's do the math on that for a second shall we?
Taken from the library of Congress:
Albania had a population of 3,335,000 in July 1991, compared with 2,761,000 in mid-1981 and 1,626,000 in 1960.
So in the 10 year period from 1981 to 1991 the population of Albania increased by under 600 000. However from 1991 to 2000 we have an increase of 200 000, add to that 500 000 emigrants to Greece and Italy, we have 700 000 more people. Where did these other 400 000 Albanians that emigrated to Kosova come from? When you read anti-Albanian propaganda, please try to do a little bit of analysis to make sure it makes some sort of sense


I believe in the right of Kosovars to self-determination, and I choose to represent that by calling the place by the name over 90% of its inhabitants call it, Kosova. You want to call it Kosovo, that is your prerogative.