TIRANA - The president of Albania, Mr Sali Berisha, yesterday admitted responsibility for failed investment schemes that sparked violent street protests and pledged the "total privatisation" of the Albanian economy by the end of the year.
Addressing 2,000 people gathered in a theatre at Lushnje, about 100 km south of Tirana, Mr Berisha acknowledged he should have done more to warn of the dangers of the pyramid investment schemes. However, he dismissed a demand by the Albanian opposition for early legislative elections. The collapse of the pyramid schemes wiped out the savings of hundreds of thousands of people and triggered a month of protests.