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| Bernd Borchardt |
OSCE Ambassador to Tirana Bernd Borchardt has called on the opposition to be cautious at Saturday's protest, on February 16, 2019.
He says that the riots are a short and wrong way to come to power, while stressing that Albania does not need violence since its past is full of such events."We express our hope that Saturday's political protest will not degenerate into violence. Aspirations of all Albanian citizens require a mature and constructive political discourse; riots are not a short way to come to power.
Albania has seen a lot of political violence in the past. Any return at that time would only damage the country, especially now that Albania enters a decisive four-month period when all efforts and energies have to be devoted to the organization of local elections, which are a real proof of democracy", he said.
Also earlier, the United States Embassy in Tirana and the European Union made a strong appeal to citizens and protesters to be cautious and not to incite tensions and violence at Saturday's rally, which has been organised by the united Albanian opposition.