Albania rejects request to destroy Syrian weapons
Albania Friday rejected a US request to host the destruction of Syrias chemical weapons, in a new setback for the internationally-backed disarmament plan three weeks after Norway also said no.
As John E. at Ace notes, Albania loves the U.S. It loved George Bush. For a while it wanted to be the 51st state. Wonder what changed? | It is impossible for Albania to take part in such an operation... as it has no capacity to carry out such a task, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told reporters.
More than 4,000 people opposed to the destruction of the chemical arsenal on Albanian soil cheered Ramas announcement, which was broadcast live on giant screens on Tiranas main square.
Rama said that the United States had asked Albania to contribute to the destruction of chemical weapons.
Our response was yes, in principle. We are ready to engage in this mission, but we do not have the capacity, Rama said. He said the decision was very difficult.
In a statement issued immediately after Ramas press conference, the US embassy said Washington appreciates that the government of Albania gave serious consideration to the issue.
We respect the Prime Ministers decision... We remain confident that we will complete elimination of the program within the timeline agreed upon, the embassy said.
NATO member Albania, along with France and Belgium, had been mooted as a possible host for site for the dismantling of Syrias entire chemical arsenal, estimated at about 1,000 tonnes.
Let the Belgians do it. Ship the stuff to Antwerp. | Ramas Socialist-led government, in office since September, had over the past week faced growing street protests over the prospect. Protestors dispersed in Tirana and other Albanian towns after Ramas announcement.
Hundreds of people spent the night outside Albanias seat of government, while thousands of protesters gathered in towns across the country. Protesters carried placards saying No to chemical weapons, We love the United States, but we prefer Albania and We want oxygen, not sarin gas.
Protest organisers, the non-governmental Alliance Against Waste Import, said some 35,000 people had signed a petition urging the authorities to reject the US request.
Analyst Lutfi Dervishi said Albania had so far done everything the United States wants.
Albania is a small country that has always needed US support. In turn, Washington sees Albania as its closest strategic ally in the region, Dervishi told AFP. But Dervishi warned that the country, although indebted to Washington for its support for Albanias NATO entry in 2009, public pressure on Ramas two-month-old government was very strong.
Albania has never said no to the United States but this time the load is too large for a small country and its capabilities, said Dervishi.
Posted by: Steve White 2013-11-16 |