Opposition commemorates Gerdec victims

TIRANA, March 16 – The opposition Socialist Party exploited March 15, the day of the blast in Gerdec of the munitions disposal factory two years ago, to repeat their accusation against the government for the 26 dead and 300 injured.
Socialist leaders and lawmakers were joined by relatives of victims on Monday in Gerdec to commemorate the second anniversary of the deadly blast.
The explosion on March 15, 2008, killed 26 people, wounded over 300 and damaged thousands of homes and businesses.
Lawmaker Namik Dokle said those responsible were operating in politics.
“That crater is not only a crater of pain but also a crater that symbolizes those who created this tragedy trying to make profit from the lives of people,” said Dokle.
Twenty-eight people have been indicted over the explosion, including former senior officials of the Defense Ministry and the army. Owner and manager of the private disposal company are also under arrest.
They are accused of abuse of power and some also of murder.
Fatmir Mediu, current minister of the environment and the leader of the Republican Party and the then-defense minister, is not under charges.
He was released of the charges last September after he was re-elected in the parliament and also re-included in the governing cabinet.
Estimates published by the Albanian government say the explosion caused more than EUR20 million in damage to the surrounding area. According to the emergency services, 400 houses were totally destroyed; 188 were severely damaged; 200 sustained major damage; and 1,600 others were slightly damaged.
The factory dissolved stocks of old Chinese and Soviet shells stored at the military bases around the country.
Getting rid of the excess ammunition remains a top priority to the country, now a NATO member since last year.