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Albania deputy PM welcomes probe on graft charges

by (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Click For Restrictions. http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 17:28 GMT

By Benet Koleka

TIRANA, Jan 12 (Reuters) - Albania&${esc.hash}39;s deputy prime minister relinquished his immunity from prosecution on Wednesday to allow investigators to probe allegations of corruption contained in a conversation filmed by a former minister from his own party.

Ilir Meta&${esc.hash}39;s party is the minority coalition partner to the Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and thus key to the European Union applicant government&${esc.hash}39;s future stability.

"For the sake of transparency following accusations of corruption and violation of the law, I officially announce I relinquish my parliamentary immunity," Meta told reporters.

The deputy prime minister spoke after the release of a tape filmed by Dritan Prifti, whom Meta replaced as economy minister in September, in which the two men discuss business.

According to the excerpts, Meta asked Prifti to cancel a tender of state-owned Albpetrol company to help another company take part and give a hydropower plant concession to another company despite an ongoing court review.

Meta dismissed the tape a "fabrication" and an "ugly political and moral bluff".

Prosecutors have taken possession of the video, whose contents were broadcast on a local television station.

Asked if he would resign, he said: "My actions are crystal clear."

Prifti, who did not explain why he had filmed his conversations with the leader of his own political party, responded in a statement: "The video is crystal clear, not Ilir Meta."

The European Union, which rejected Albania&${esc.hash}39;s application for candidate status late last year and urged Albania to meet an agenda of 12 points topped by fighting corruption, called for an investigation into the allegations against Meta.

Berisha was quoted by his party saying he appreciated Meta&${esc.hash}39;s decision to relinquish his immunity and denouncing the video as amateurish work. He blamed the opposition Socialist Party for being behind its release. (Editing by Adam Tanner)

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