Daily Press Briefing Index
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Briefer: Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman
ALBANIA...
U.S. Condolences for Those Injured in Explosion at Arms Depot
Resignation of Defense Minister an Internal Matter for Albanians to Address.
Resignation of Defense Minister an Internal Matter for Albanians to Address.
QUESTION: (Lambros Papantoniou). On Albania. Mr. Casey, anything to say about the tragic explosion in Albania before yesterday causing 15 deaths, 13 missings and 300 injured? And Defense Minister Fatmir Mediu resigned yesterday instead of Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who is guilty according to the entire Albanian press.
MR. CASEY: Well, first of all, we express our condolences to those who were injured in this attack and to the families of those who lost their lives -- sorry, in this explosion. This was an incident that occurred at an arms depot in Albania. As far as I know, while investigators are still looking into this, this is not something that occurred as the result of a deliberate act or an attack, though again, I would leave it to the Albanian authorities to provide details on that.
In terms of the political implications and the resignation of the Defense Minister, obviously, these are internal matters for the Albanian Government to respond to and to deal with. Certainly, though, it’s important that efforts be made to make sure that these kinds of facilities are secure so that the kinds of incidents that we saw don’t happen.
I do know and I should note, too, that the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, did provide some medical and other kinds of assistance to the Albanian Government to try and help them deal and support some of the injured there.
MR. CASEY: Well, first of all, we express our condolences to those who were injured in this attack and to the families of those who lost their lives -- sorry, in this explosion. This was an incident that occurred at an arms depot in Albania. As far as I know, while investigators are still looking into this, this is not something that occurred as the result of a deliberate act or an attack, though again, I would leave it to the Albanian authorities to provide details on that.
In terms of the political implications and the resignation of the Defense Minister, obviously, these are internal matters for the Albanian Government to respond to and to deal with. Certainly, though, it’s important that efforts be made to make sure that these kinds of facilities are secure so that the kinds of incidents that we saw don’t happen.
I do know and I should note, too, that the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development, did provide some medical and other kinds of assistance to the Albanian Government to try and help them deal and support some of the injured there.
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