It's a shame that the internet is a virtual medium, because there are a lot of people out there that I'd like to express my deep feelings of friendship to, and having spent the last two years here in Serbia, I'd like to do it in a truly Serbian way.
Albania Government Row Over Blast Probe
| 26 May 2008 |
Prosecutors have launched a probe into the March 15 explosions and are seeking to indict former Defence Minister Fatmir Mediu.
Prosecutor-General Ina Rama has asked parliament to lift Mediu's immunity. The former defence minister resigned from the government in the days following the blasts.
“The violation of the laws and procedures of security and ammunition storage and the mismanagement of the disposal process caused the sparks that set off the massive explosions," Rama stated in her request for Mediu's immunity to be lifted.
She added that "a flagrant violation in this process has been the employment of children."
Rama accuses the former defence minister of abuse of power. As a member of parliament, however, he enjoys immunity from formal charges and cannot be formally placed under investigation.
“A month has passed [since the request to lift Mediu’s immunity] and under the pressure of Prime Minister Sali Berisha in parliament no procedural action has been taken, though there have been tons of bureaucratic actions to stall justice,” the deputy head of the Socialist Party parliamentary group, Erjon Brace, said at a press conference.
Brace also accused Parliament Speaker Jozefina Topalli of delaying procedures to lift Mediu’s immunity.
Mediu, leader of the Republican Party, a member of the governing coalition, maintains that he is innocent. In a news conference after the request to lift his immunity he complained of a one-sided investigation.
