EC president cancels visit to Tirana

European Commission (EC) President Jose Manuel Barroso has canceled previously arranged visit to Tirana due to political tensions in the country. The Albanian Central Election Commission ordered a recount of votes in Tirana mayoral election, causing tensions. EC president cancels visit to Tirana This has sparked sharp reactions by Socialist Party of Albania leader Edi Rama, who won the election according to the first vote count. The commission has, however, ordered a recount of a number of votes. The elections were held on May 8. The Socialists’ supporters have been protesting for two days now in front of the Central Election Commission headquarters in Tirana, in which Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s Democratic Party of Albania (PD) has majority. Incidents between the citizens and police were reported today. Political developments in Albania have caused serious concern in the EU. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton last night called on political leaders to allow the election process to finish peacefully and urged them not to jeopardize the citizens’ lives. The two leading parties have been accusing each other for years and political crisis is the main reason why the EC still has not accepted Albania’s EU candidacy bid. Brussels has confirmed that Barroso was supposed to travel from Belgrade to Tirana on Friday, but his visit to Albania was canceled at the last minute, Agence France Presse (AFP) has reported. Clashes in Tirana on Wednesday (Tanjug)

EC president cancels visit to Tirana

This has sparked sharp reactions by Socialist Party of Albania leader Edi Rama, who won the election according to the first vote count.

The commission has, however, ordered a recount of a number of votes. The elections were held on May 8.

The Socialists’ supporters have been protesting for two days now in front of the Central Election Commission headquarters in Tirana, in which Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s Democratic Party of Albania (PD) has majority. Incidents between the citizens and police were reported today.

Political developments in Albania have caused serious concern in the EU. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton last night called on political leaders to allow the election process to finish peacefully and urged them not to jeopardize the citizens’ lives.

The two leading parties have been accusing each other for years and political crisis is the main reason why the EC still has not accepted Albania’s EU candidacy bid.

Brussels has confirmed that Barroso was supposed to travel from Belgrade to Tirana on Friday, but his visit to Albania was canceled at the last minute, Agence France Presse (AFP) has reported.