Albanians Try To Recruit Police Officers

Albania’s government appealed Friday for new police recruits to help end the country’s lawlessness.

European countries plan to send soldiers to Albania to secure harbors and airports for desperately needed shipments of food, medicine and other aid. But the government says Albania also needs more of its own people to patrol the country.

Albania disintegrated into armed insurrection in February after the collapse of shady investment schemes that cost thousands of Albanians their life savings.

Thousands of Albanians have been fleeing to Italy, and last week, a refugee boat sank in the Adriatic after it collided with an Italian navy vessel sent to discourage the refugees. Up to 80 people are missing.

In response, rebel leaders in Vlora had warned Italian soldiers with the European force to stay out of the town. The force is to arrive the week of April 14.

But on Friday, the insurgent leaders said the Italian soldiers would be welcome in Vlora.

Gjergji Muco said “we think the incident in the Adriatic was caused by certain Italian segments, and not by the Italian government.”