CET ON-LINE* 29-May-96

Wendesday, May 29, 1996 Volume 1, Issue 357

Irregularities in Albania's elections could threaten Tirana's attempts to forge

stronger links with the European Union. The Commission has been working since

1992 on a mandate for EU-Albanian relations which will be put to the General

Affairs Council when complete. The EU has increasingly linked aid and trade

deals to improvements in human rights and democratisation, but diplomats

said the Albania deal could be scrapped if reports of poll irregularities

are confirmed.