Italian Leader Risks Quick Visit To Albania

Italy’s premier flew to Albania under heavy security Wednesday to try to smooth the way for Italian troops who will lead an international aid mission to the chaotic country.

Italian Premier Romano Prodi crossed the Adriatic Sea by helicopter to talk with Albania’s prime minister, Bashkim Fino, in the city of Gjirokastra. Four helicopters hovered above while Prodi landed, accompanied by 40 Italian special forces soldiers.

Fino said Prodi came “to reconfirm that the Albanian government still wants the deployment of the multinational force.”

Prodi also accepted his invitation to visit the insurgent-held southern port of Vlora, where rebels say Italian troops are unwelcome after last week’s deadly collision between an Italian warship and an Albanian vessel crowded with refugees.

European military officials were meeting in Rome to plan the international mission, expected to require 5,000 troops, about half of them from Italy. The force is to secure aid shipments and bring some order to the anarchy in Albania.

The country disintegrated into armed insurrection in January after the collapse of shady investment schemes that cost thousands of Albanians their life savings. Many Albanians blame President Sali Berisha for the collapse.

More than 200 people have died and at least 700 have been injured since the rebellion began, and 13,000 Albanians have fled to Italy since February, giving that nation an interest in stopping the unrest.