EU Rebukes Albania Over Police Officers

(RFE/RL) July 18, 2007 -- A European Commission team criticized Albania's center-right government today for firing many of the police officers it spent months training.

Members of the Police Assistance Mission of the European Commission to Albania trained hundreds of officers only to see them dismissed after their courses finished.

The Interior Ministry has not responded publicly to the criticism, but an official called the mission's comments "undiplomatic" and said some of the 800 sacked officers could be rehired in new jobs.

(Reuters)