Brussels, 24/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 24 January, the European Union called on Albanian political leaders - both government and opposition - to show “responsibility and political maturity” and to find a democratic solution to the serious political crisis gripping the country, a potential applicant to join the EU. On Friday 21 January, opposition-led anti-government demonstrations, described by Prime Minister Sali Berisha as an “attempted coup” ended in three deaths. On Monday, tension remained high in the Albanian capital Tirana, with both sides calling on their supporters to stand at the ready. Berisha called a major pro-government demonstration for Saturday, while opposition leader Edi Rama, the Mayor of Tirana, called on his supporters to demonstrate on Friday. The European Commission has urged both sides to “avoid any repetition of the violence” and to engage in dialogue to find a solution. The Albanian parliament has set up a commission of enquiry into the events of Friday. The EU has backed this enquiry “in principle” but stresses that it must be “inclusive”, that is, it must be open to the various parties. The Socialist opposition has never recognised Berisha's victory in the June 2009 general election, accusing the prime minister of electoral fraud. The country has since been in crisis, with the opposition boycotting parliament. It is this great democratic and institutional instability which is to blame for the negative opinion delivered by the European Commission in its last annual report (see EUROPE 10253). The Commission concluded that Albania is not yet ready to become an applicant country and even less in a position to begin accession negotiations. (H.B./transl.rt)