US Senator Kirk and Congressman Engel Issue Bipartisan Call for Calm in Albania

 
Subject: Press Release: US Senator Kirk  and Congressman Engel Issue 
Bipartisan Call for Calm in  Albania  
 
Congress  of the United States 
Washington, DC 

For Immediate Release:   January 28, 2011 
 

US  Senator Kirk and Congressman Engel 
Issue Bipartisan Call for Calm in Albania 
Washington, DC—Senator Mark Kirk  (R-IL) and Congressman Eliot L. Engel 
(D-NY) today issued the following  statement about the political crisis in 
Albania. 
“We deeply regret the terrible events  of January 21, 2011 and express our 
profound condolences to the families of the  victims.  
“We strongly support Albania and the U.S.-Albanian relationship, and are 
deeply  dismayed by the ongoing political turmoil. 
“A credible, independent  investigation into the events of January 21 is 
absolutely critical if the people  of Albania are going to have confidence 
that a resolution to the  political unrest can be achieved.  We strongly 
support the constitutional  Albanian institutions which will carry out this 
investigation.  We welcome  the request for technical assistance from the United  
States to  bolster the investigative capabilities of and enhance confidence 
in the  independence of the Prosecutor General’s office.  Albania is a 
democracy which must preserve its European  perspective.  All democratic 
institutions must be free to conduct their  work.   
“The political rhetoric in Albania is simply too high for the parties to 
the find a way out  of this morass.  We call upon all leaders in Albania to 
soften the harsh words and reduce the political  temperature so that an 
effective dialogue can resume to find an exit from this  crisis.  As much as we 
fully support the rights of free speech and assembly  for the people of 
Albania, we believe that the goal of reducing the heightened  emotions and 
tensions would be better served if mass rallies and political  events were 
suspended until calm can be  restored.”