TIRANA, March 1 (Hina) - A parliamentary crisis, caused by the boycott of the Democratic Party, should be terminated as soon as possible, a Deputy Speaker of the Albanian National Assembly, Namik Dokle, told Croatian MPs who were on a
three-day visit to Tirana. Dokle, who is a member of the ruling Socialists, received a delegation of the Croatian Parliament's foreign policy committee, led by its head, Zarko Domljan, for Monday's talks. Democratic Party members have been boycotting the work of the Albanian parliament since September 1998 when a senior official of that party, Azem Hajdari, was killed. This violent act sparked a wave of protests and caused the resignation of the then Premier Fatos Nano who was replaced by Pandeli Majko. I do not know how long the crisis may last, but it is better both for us and the Democrats to be brought to en end very soon, Dokle admitted during the meeting with Croatian guest
TIRANA, March 1 (Hina) - A parliamentary crisis, caused by the
boycott of the Democratic Party, should be terminated as soon as
possible, a Deputy Speaker of the Albanian National Assembly, Namik
Dokle, told Croatian MPs who were on a three-day visit to Tirana.
Dokle, who is a member of the ruling Socialists, received a
delegation of the Croatian Parliament's foreign policy committee,
led by its head, Zarko Domljan, for Monday's talks.
Democratic Party members have been boycotting the work of the
Albanian parliament since September 1998 when a senior official of
that party, Azem Hajdari, was killed. This violent act sparked a
wave of protests and caused the resignation of the then Premier
Fatos Nano who was replaced by Pandeli Majko.
I do not know how long the crisis may last, but it is better both for
us and the Democrats to be brought to en end very soon, Dokle
admitted during the meeting with Croatian guests.
To boycott the parliament is neither proper nor democratic way for
working in parliament, said the leader of the Croatian delegation,
Zarko Domljan. However, he added that the responsibility also lies
with the ruling party for acting, in a broad-minded manner, toward
weaker parties.
The Albanian Minister for Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation,
Ermelinda Meksi, received the Croatian MPs on Monday as well.
They concluded that the economic cooperation between Croatia and
Albania was very moderate despite good and friendly bilateral
relations.
Of Croatian big companies, only INA (Croatian Oil Industry) is
present in this country.
Miroslav Kis, a member of the Croatian delegation, who is a
representative of the national minorities in Croatian Sabor, said
the Albanian minority in Croatia could be a nice link for the joint
cooperation both in cultuire and economy.
The key problem for improved economic cooperation is a lack of the
capital, the two sides agreed. Furthermore, to reach political
stability in Albania would be also an important condition for
attraction of Croatian businessmen, the Croatians added.
Albanian President Rexhep Meidani will receive the Croatian MPs
this evening.
(hina) ms