TIRANA, May 25 /ATA/- Foreign Embassies accredited in Albania called upon organizers, all involved in a Saturday’s protest, and Albania’s authorities to ensure that the demonstration is conducted peacefully and in an orderly manner.
Few hours ahead of an opposition rally due to take place along the Martyrs of the Nation Boulevard in front of the Prime Minister’s office in Tirana on Saturday evening the foreign embassies in Albania unanimously stated they “condemn the acts of violence that have taken place in the previous protests and appeal to the protest leaders as well as the Albanian authorities to ensure that today’s protest is held in an orderly and peaceful manner. All concerned have the responsibility to guarantee safety,” the European Union Delegation and the European Union Member States’ Embassies to Albania stated on today’s protest.
Austrian Embassy: Peaceful protest
The Austrian Embassy in Tirana joined the statement by the EU Delegation in Tirana calling on opposition for a peaceful protest and urged the country’s political leaders to engage in dialogue.
Italian Embassy:
The Italian Embassy in Tirana also joined the appeal issued by the EU Delegation, highlighting the importance of exercising the right to protest peacefully.
The Italian Embassy shared the EU Delegation’s statement, urging the protest organizers and the Albanian authorities to make sure the protest takes place in an orderly and peaceful manner.
German Embassy
The German Embassy also published the statement by the European Union Delegation and the European Union Member States’ Embassies to Albania, appealing for peaceful protest and restraint from violence.
German Embassy calls on political parties to dialogue and reach a solution to the recent political situation in the country.
“For the benefit of the Albanian people, the large majority of whom wish to see their country move ahead in the reform process and advance toward European Union membership, we call on all sides to build upon the existing offer for a dialogue, with the view to finding a way out of the current political situation as a matter of urgency,” the statement read.
Dutch Embassy
The Embassy of the Netherlands joined the statement by the EU Delegation, appealing for peaceful protest by the opposition coalition in the country.
“All concerned have a responsibility to guarantee the safety of those on the streets of Tirana tonight. There is no place for violence at a peaceful protest. Law enforcement authorities have a responsibility to act with restraint, even if provoked,” the joint statement read.
British Embassy
The appeal for calm and peaceful protest was backed by the United Kingdom’s Embassy in Tirana too. “As a member state of the European Union, the United Kingdom also fully supports the following statement,” UK Embassy said, sharing full statement issued by the European Union Delegation and the European Union Member States’ Embassies to Albania.
“There is no place for violence at a peaceful protest. Law enforcement authorities have a responsibility to act with restraint, even if provoked,” the joint statement read.
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