Albania's president calls roundtable talks

Since legislative elections the opposition led by the Socialists, have contested the results of the polls, boycotting the parliament.

TIRANA, February 8, 2010 (AFP) - Albania's President Bamir Topi called Prime Minister Sali Berisha and opposition leader Edi Rama to join roundtable talks on Saturday in a bid to resolve the political stalemate in the country.

Topi "has decided to invite" Berisha, leader of the ruling Democratic party and Rama, head of the opposition Socialist party for "political roundtable" talks on February 13, his office said in a statement.

Since legislative elections in June 2009, the opposition led by the Socialists, have contested the results of the polls, boycotting the country's parliament and thus blocking the adoption of important reforms in the Balkan republic.

The Socialists demand a parliamentary probe into the polls, a request described by the ruling rightist coalition led by Berisha's Democrats, as "illegitimate".

Topi said his call for a roundtable talks came after "long meetings" with various European officials, among them Helmut Lohan, head of the European Union delegation in Tirana, as well as Spanish ambassador to Albania, Manuel Montobbio de Balanzo, whose country currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

Montobbio told AFP late Monday that he supports Topi's initiative, saying that the political crisis in Albania should be resolved through dialogue.

And a Council of Europe delegation was expected in Albania on February 22 for talks focused on the political crisis in the country, diplomatic sources in the capital Tirana said.

In a resolution adopted in late January, Council of Europe's parliamentary assembly called on Albania's officials to find a solution for the crisis which "has deeply affected" the political situation in the country.

"In a current situation, the progress of the country towards the European integration has become more difficult," the assembly said.