(9 Mar 1997) English/Nat
OSCE envoy Franz Vranitzky urged Albanian president Sali Berisha Saturday to extend the cease-fire in the country by another 48 hours after it is due to expire on Sunday.
Speaking at a press conference after talks with Berisha, Vranitzky said that the Albanian President was involved in talks with other parties on setting up a caretaker government.
Saturday's talks in Tirana between the OSCE delegation, headed by Austria's former chancellor Franz Vranitzky, and Albanian President Sali Berisha settled down behind closed doors for several hours.
The team of international mediators arrived early Saturday in the Albanian capital in a bid to negotiate a settlement to the country's crisis.
Berisha and Vranitzky emerged after several hours - Vranitzky heading off to brief a media conference on the negotiations.
SOUNDBITE: (English with translations)
'This is the idea of establishing a caretaker government.... a caretaker government which Mr Berisha has started talks with the other political parties today......he told us that he had not yet finished the conversations concerning the caretaker government.....but that he will continue to have these talks and negotiations in the next couple of hours and days'
SUPER CAPTION: Franz Vranitzky, Chief negotiator
Vranitzky pointed out that this move would lay the groundwork for the next step in restoring order in Albania.
SOUNDBITE: (English with translations)
'This subject is also linked to the other very important (inaudible) to have an general election in the course of this year...I think it is fair to say that there might be a chance for a flexible approach as to when to the time which the election will take place.
SUPER CAPTION: Franz Vranitzky, Chief negotiator
And according to the chief negotiator, the Albanian President has become more flexible in the negotiation process.
SOUNDBITE: (English with translations)
This is important because at the beginning of this day when we first met Mr Berisha he was more or less fixed on the 35 days rule.....he now looks at it from a more flexible point of view....and I think that he could for instance have the election after the restoration of order.
SUPER CAPTION: Franz Vranitzky, Chief negotiator
The head of the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) called for intensified discussions between Berisha and his political opposition, after a first meeting earlier in the week.
Vranitzky was returning to Berisha's residence Saturday night for another round of talks.
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