Posted on 05/12/2003 7:52:51 AM PDT by Destro
Drop-In to Albania Stirs Balkan Rivalries
By Al Kamen
Monday, May 12, 2003; Page A17
It seemed like a fine idea, just a little cameo appearance, when Secretary of State Colin L. Powell dropped by Albania the other day en route to Syria. Croatia, Macedonia and Albania had signed on to something called the Adriatic partnership, a sort of minor league training group for entry into NATO.
And the Albanians were key members of the coalition of the willing, sending about 70 troops to guard mosques and such. So everyone was grateful for the stop? Not really. At a news conference in Tirana, all the Croatian and Macedonian reporters wanted to know why Powell had stiffed them and stopped in Albania.
It was even worse for the Albanians. Powell's May 2 visit seems to have destabilized the country. It "has triggered again old rivalry among heads of the Albanian government," according to a column in the Albanian Daily News, our favorite paper there.
Premier Fatos Nano used the visit to "eclipse" President Alfred Moisiu and Foreign Minister Ilir Meta, the paper reported, insisting that he, Nano, and not Meta, will be signing the U.S.-Adriatic Charter.
The quickie visit got virtually no media coverage here, but the Albanians won't soon forget it.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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