ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 25, 1997 TAG: 9703250094
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: TIRANA, ALBANIA
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The EU decided to send two dozen civilian and military advisers and $2.3 million in immediate food and medical aid.
Albanian officials appealed Monday for army deserters to return to their barracks and help restore order, while Europe looked for ways to aid the Balkan nation without being drawn into its chaos.
Premier Bashkim Fino flew to Italy on Monday seeking European Union assistance to end the violence, which began as anger over failed investment schemes and turned into armed insurrection this month.
Fleeing the anarchy, nearly 12,000 Albanians have clambered aboard unseaworthy vessels and sought refuge in Italy. On Monday, however, Italy decided to bar Albanian boats from its ports.
Shots were fired Monday from an Albanian fishing vessel filled with refugees while it was being towed back to Albania by an Italian coast guard cutter. No one was hurt in the incident off Brindisi, and the Albanian vessel's captain was arrested. But the Italian coast guard let the boat reach port after some of the 100 refugees on board threatened to jump ship..
The Defense Ministry, in a sign that it would forgive deserters, called on soldiers who had ``left temporarily'' to return to their barracks and ``protect freedom, independence and territorial integrity.''
It's not clear how many of Albania's 45,000 soldiers have deserted. However, with the exception of the capital and a few areas in the north loyal to President Sali Berisha, few police and army officers remain under government command.
Before leaving for Italy, Fino said his caretaker government's first priority was to get help reorganizing Albania's police and army. He also will ask for humanitarian aid.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels decided to send a team of two dozen civilian and military experts to Albania to advise on rebuilding the country's disintegrating infrastructure. They also agreed to send $2.3 million in immediate food and medical aid.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Nearly 12,000 Albanians have fled on unseaworthy vesselsby CNBfor Italy, which closed its ports Monday. The coast guard said shots
were fired at members when they tried to tow back to Albania this
fishing boat carrying 100 refugees. Officials let the the boat reach
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