Italy holds talks with Albanian rebels

[Reuters]

ROME (Reuter) - Italy was holding talks with rebel leaders
from southern Albania Monday in an attempt to foster a dialogue
between them and the Tirana authorities, the Italian Foreign
Ministry said.
A statement said the talks were taking place on the Italian
naval vessel San Giorgio in the Adriatic between Italy's
ambassador to Albania, Paolo Foresti, and rebel representatives
from the port of Vlore and other southern towns.
The statement said the authorities in Tirana had asked the
Italian government to help ``initiate a dialogue with
representatives of the movements operating in Vlore and other
towns in the south'' of Albania.
The request followed an accord signed by Albanian President
Sali Berisha and 10 political parties, aimed at ending more than
a month of unrest. It provides for an all-party government and
new elections by June under international observation.
Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini visited Tirana Sunday
night shortly after the deal was signed. He said after meeting
Berisha and the opposition that Italy had been asked to
underwrite the accord and monitor its application.
Monday's statement said the rebel representatives, ferried
to the San Giorgio by helicopter, had been told by Foresti that
Italy was ready to supply humanitarian aid and, with the
European Union, help to relaunch Albania's economy.
Italy also said it had evacuated 10 people -- six Italians,
two Albanians, one German and one American -- from Vlore
Monday. It was the third such mission Italy has carried out over
the past week.