MOVES to end the Albanian crisis hit a new obstacle last night. The Socialist Party had decided earlier to take part in the country's general election on June 29th.
The coalition government had asked the international community, notably the EU, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Council of Europe, to take complete control of the electoral process. A reply from the OSCE's special representative, the former Austrian chancellor, Mr Franz Vranitzky, sent to Tirana yesterday appeared at first sight to meet this request.
The Socialist Party of the Prime Minister, Mr Bashkim Fino, then met and, overcoming its suspicion of President Sali Berisha, decided to take part in the election. Campaigning in Elbasan, south of Tirana, Mr Berisha said he believed the basis had now been laid for free and fair elections.
While all this was going on a precise translation of the OSCE offer into Albanian was being drafted and not completed until after the Socialists had taken their vote.
Sources close to the government told The Irish Times last night that the translation showed the OSCE offer fell short of their demands in the area of monitoring the vote and preparation of the ballot papers. The usually reliable source said the difference was slight and could be overcome.
Albania descended into armed chaos in February and March after the collapse of a large number of get-rich-quick investment schemes led to the further impoverishment of Europe's poorest population. The Socialist Party, successor to Europe's most repressive Communist Party, accused President Berisha's Democratic Party of profiting from the pyramid schemes, while the Democratic Party levelled the same accusations at the Socialists.
In the course of a state of emergency in March, Albanians armed themselves by raiding military arsenals and law and order collapsed over large sectors of the country. It is believed up to one million guns are now in the hands of the people, and even last night the silence of the curfew was broken by bursts of gunfire.
After serious disturbances in which up to a thousand people may have died, an international peacekeeping force led by Italy managed to restore order.
But the method of organising new elections, while accepted by Mr Berisha, could not be agreed between the two sides. What appeared to be a breakthrough yesterday could yet be overturned.
