Warsaw

Religious leaders in Albania have pledged to co-operate in improving conditions in the country, which was declared the world's first fully atheist state and pronounced "cleansed of religion" in 1967 by its then-Communist rulers. 

"After rebuilding our religious communities, we have entered a new phase of challenges," the leaders of the country's main faiths said in a declaration signed recently in the presence of Albania's Socialist prime minister, Fatos Nano. "These require us to strengthen efforts to promote traditionally good relations and co-operation among ourselves, while also enhancing the role of our communities as important institutions in our society." Â 

The document was signed by the head of Albania's Orthodox church, Archbishop Anastasios Yanulatos, and the Roman Catholic archbishop of Tirana-Durres, Rrok Mirdita. It was also signed by Muslim leaders Selim Muca and Reshat Bardhi. 

Henry Veldkamp, a Roman Catholic spokesman, said that religious leaders had been preparing the document in the hope of avoiding entanglement in "bloody conflicts"' such as those in nearby Bosnia-Herzegovina and Kosovo. Â 

 An estimated 70 per cent of Albania's 3.5 million people are Muslim. Orthodox Christians are estimated at 20 per cent of Albania's population, and Roman Catholics at 10 per cent.