POPULATION-ITALY: Albanian Crisis Sows Concern

By IPS Correspondents Reprint | | Print |

Jorge Pina

ROME, Sep 14 1998 (IPS) - Italy’s government fears the crisis in Albania will cause a renewed flood of refugees into the country, in a repeat of events only a year past.

Albania lies only 70 nautical miles from Italy – or a four- hour cruise over the Adriatic sea – and the Romano Prodi government fears a mass exodus from Europe’s poorest nation would aim directly for its coastline.

Prodi Monday appealed for an end to the violence prompted by the murder on Saturday of opposition Democratic Party deputy, Azem Hajdari, former president Sali Berisha’s right-hand man.

Italy’s leader called Albanian President Rexhep Mejdani on the prime ministerial hotline pressing for a rapid solution to the crisis.

On the coast of Puglia, southern Italy, frontier patrols were stepped-up, preparing for possible inflow of Albanian refugees coming by sea, but so far no drastic measures have been taken nationwide.

In March last year, the Italian government declared a state of emergency when crisis first rocked Albania, a situation which lasted until June 30, 1997. Some 2,000 people were killed in the violence of that period.

Under Italian law a state of emergency can be declared in “cases of natural calamity, catastrophes or other events which, due to their intensity and extension, must be confronted by extraordinary means and powers.”

At that time, the government agreed to grant 40 million dollars of aid to help Albanian refugees.

Later, as part of negotiations persuading Tirana to accept the return of refugees, the Italian government approved a three-year aid programme worth 12 million dollars on August 29.

These funds were especially aimed at consolidating the democratic institutions and administration, updating the nation’s infrastructure, care for the environment and promotion of the private sector.

Italy has a reputation throughout Italy for being the weak spot in the fortifications of “fortress Europe,” a title it would be only too happy to lose.

According to the Interior Ministry, immigrants from non- European Union countries legally present in Italy number 806,027.

The majority of these are from Morocco, 119,381, followed by 73,126 from the former Yugoslavia, and 70,897 from Albania.

The non-documented immigrants number around 236,656. Some 24,939 from Morocco, 19,380 from Albania, 17,232 from Rumania, 15,980 from Tunisia, 14,762 from the former Yugoslavia, 13,276 from the Phillipines, 13,045 Chinese, 11,232 Polish, 9,298 Peruvians, 7,557 Senegalese, and a further 89,955 from other countries.

The Italian government will report to the Chamber of Deputies on the Albanian crisis Tuesday, announced undersecretary of foreign relations, Rino Serri, in response to petitions from the opposition.

Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini will deal with the problem in the Senate Foreign Relations Commission.

The opposition Forza Italia and Alianza Nacional demanded the government report swiftly to Parliament on “the extremely serious political and social crisis, and total chaos happening in Tirana.”

Meanwhile, the right-wing Alianza Nacional called for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) troops to be deployed in Albania.

Prodi gave the Defence Ministry instructions to prepare for the rapid evacuation of the two to five thousand Italian civilians, and 250 military personnel currently resident in Albania, should this become necessary.

“The international community is opposed to the violent action,” stated the Prime Minister.

Italy’s government reported Albania’s prime minister, Fatos Nanos, had delayed an official visit to Italy Tuesday, when he was slated to meet with Pope John Paul II, and Italy’s government and parliamentary authorities.

The national airline, Alitalia, cancelled daily flights to Tirana Monday due to the virtual civil war, but will review the situation Tuesday.

After speaking with Berisha by telephone, Pierferdinando Casini, leader of the Italian opposition centre-right, echoed his words and said Nano should resign.

“Nano should give up his post and allow the formation of a new national unity government,” said Casini.