THE FUTURE of the Italian-led international peacekeeping mission to Albania and of the centre left government of the Prime Minister, Mr Romano Prodi, were yesterday jeopardised by political tensions, both within the governing coalition and between government and centre-right opposition.
Tensions old and new emerged on the day when Mr Prodi presented a motion to the Senate calling for a 6,000 strong Italian-led mission, including 2,500 Italian soldiers, to be sent to Albania in what will be called Operation Alba (Sunrise).
The hardline left-wing party, Rifondazione Communista, on which the government depends for a parliamentary majority in the lower house, had made it clear last week that it does not support the military mission to Albania, arguing that such an Italian-led force will at best achieve little and at worst provoke much bloodshed.
Mr Prodi's position was further undermined yesterday, however, by ill-timed remarks by the junior Foreign Minister, Mr Piero Fassino. Speaking at a meeting of the major government party, the Democratic Left (PDS), Mr Fassino sparked off a diplomatic dispute when saying that the Italian government was convinced that embattled Albanian President, Mr Sali Berisha, should leave office: "That Berisha should go is very clear, at least to us and when I say us I'm not just talking about the PDS, I'm also talking about the government."
Mr Fassino's comments prompted an angry response from Tirana, the Albanian capital. The Albanian Foreign Ministry issued a statement, saying: "We energetically protest against this unacceptable interference in (Albanian) internal affairs by ... deputy Foreign Minister Fassino ..." A formal protest note was handed in at the Italian embassy in Tirana.
Mr Fassino's comments also prompted an immediate rebuke from centre-right opposition leader, Mr Silvio Berlusconi, who said that they had complicated matters, adding that the government could no longer rely on the opposition's support to see the motion through both houses. "Fassino's statement today obviously makes things more difficult because in highlighting an Italian government alienation from the Berisha government, it clearly exposes our soldiers in the north of Albania to a negative atmosphere that could have very serious consequences," said Mr Berlusconi.
Speaking in the Senate, Mr Prodi underlined the humanitarian and peackeeping nature of the UN-mandated mission to Albania, adding that he expected it to last up to six months and well after the scheduled June elections.
"We're not going to Albania to interfere or get involved in the complex local situation ... we are going to Albania to offer Albanians the concrete support they need so that they themselves ... can restore conditions for normal life in their country through free elections", he said.
Mr Prodi then appealed for cross-party support on an issue on which, he said, the international community looked to Italy to assume a major responsibility. Last night, however, that appeal appeared to have fallen on deaf ears with the centre-right still threatening to vote against the government.
Such a vote is most unlikely to bring down the government in the Senate, where it has a comfortable majority. But serious problems could arise today when the Albania motion comes before the Chamber of Deputies where the government relies on the support of Rifondazione Communista. A long night of political witch-doctoring is required to ensure both the Italian mission to Albania and the survival of Mr Prodi's government.
Reuter adds: The diplomatic dispute came as Albania, struggling to restore law and order after weeks of armed anarchy, increased security for judges and worked to repair ransacked jails.
More than 200 people have been killed and 700 injured during the armed rampage that has swept Europe's poorest nation in recent weeks.