(4 Apr 1999) Italian/Nat
Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema has inspected Italian aid efforts for refugees from the Kosovo crisis in Albania.
He toured refugee camps in Durres and Kukes and called on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to heed Pope John Paul's call for a "humanitarian corridor" to be set up for refugees.
Also touring the region was Germany's Interior Minister Otto Schily.
Much of the aid destined for Kosovar refugees stuck in Albania arrives here, at the Adriatic port of Durres.
On Sunday, the port was also the starting point for Italian Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema's one-day tour of the country.
Lying as it does, across a narrow stretch of the Adriatic Sea, Italy has played a key humanitarian role in the crisis.
D'Alema's visit came a day after a decision was taken, at NATO's headquarters in Brussels, to send up to six thousand Italian troops to Albania.
Their mission is to protect the humanitarian operation helping tens of thousands of ethnic Albanian
refugees from Kosovo.
Speaking after a meeting with the Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko, the Italian premier said Albania was prepared to take in up to 100-thousand refugees stranded in Macedonia if other countries pledged assistance.
SOUNDBITE: (Italian)
"From our point of view we consider the decision taken by NATO to be very important. Following a request from the Albanian government and a proposal from the Italian government NATO will be sending a contingent into Albania which will take with it supplies which will be of vital importance to the Balkans."
SUPER CAPTION: Massimo D'Alema, Italian Prime Minister
The Italian premier went on to tour Kukes in northern Albania.
Around 500 tents have been set up at this site to shelter the refugees.
Assessing the plight of the Kosovar refugees, D'Alema called on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to heed Pope John Paul's call for a "humanitarian corridor" to be set up for refugees from Kosovo.
And he warned that if Belgrade doesn't comply, NATO will have no option but to continue the air strikes.
Also visiting the region to assess for himself the crisis was German's Interior Minister Otto Schily.
To help alleviate the burden on states neighbouring the southern Serb province of Kosovo, the United States is brokering a temporary refugee relocation deal.
That would involve refugees being airlifted out of the most crowded areas such as Montenegro, Macedonia and Albania and given temporary shelter in countries further afield such as the U-S, Germany and Turkey.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
