[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 27 (Wednesday, March 5, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E382-E383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               ALBANIAN CRISIS DEMANDS IMMEDIATE RESPONSE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, March 5, 1997

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of the 
membership to the deeply disturbing situation unfolding in Albania. All 
Members of this body should join me in urging the administration to 
take immediate steps to forcefully address these terrible developments.
  Mr. Speaker, Albanian President Sali Berisha heads an illegitimate 
government with a tenuous, slipping grasp on power. Having ignored 
widespread criticism of last year's rigged elections, Mr. Berisha has 
proceeded with his reelection as president by a parliament comprised of 
loyalists who lack any credibility with the Albanian people as a result 
of the circumstances of their election.
  The people of Albania, outraged by this despotic action and the 
related widespread loss of investments in an unchecked pyramid scheme, 
have risen up in protest against Berisha and his regime. At this time, 
the government appears to be undertaking a vigorous crackdown against 
this outpouring of public outrage and hundreds, if not thousands, of 
lives are in clear jeopardy. Reports from Albania indicate that 
opposition newspapers have been shut down, satellite communication 
links used by western journalists to report back to the capital have 
been cut, a shoot to kill order has been issued, tanks are on the move, 
and buildings reportedly burning. If this situation spirals out of 
control, the resultant refugee flows will undermine what little 
stability exists today in this region.
  Mr. Speaker, what must happen is that Sali Berisha must step down and 
yield power to a coalition unity government that will promptly schedule 
free and fair elections. The United States can and must support 
European governments in securing this outcome by withholding emergency 
assistance--and all other

[[Page E383]]

assistance, especially military aid--from Albania until and unless 
Berisha steps down. Mr. Berisha could not win a fair election and he 
cannot now repress the wishes of the Albanian people. He must step down 
to avoid a catastrophe and we must press hard for this to happen.

                          ____________________