Albania mulls refugee scenarios with neighbours
Date
3/10/2016 9:23:01 AM
(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) As Western Balkan states act together to stop the flow of refugees on the old land route through the Balkans Albania is holding negotiations with neighbouring Greece and Italy about a possible influx across its own borders.
Though Albania has not been part of the "Balkan route" so far it fears that of tens of thousands of migrants now stuck in Greece - likely to reach a hundred thousand soon - may head towards the Albanian border. The Albanian authorities have divulged little about the negotiations taking place while the European summit in Brussels discussed solutions. Vice Interior Minister Elona Gjebrea told Albania's Top Story TV show on Monday only that discussions with Greece were taking place without giving details. "There is no agreement with Greece on refugees although there are discussions and the solution will come within the European framework" she said. Albanian media quoting Greek foreign ministry sources say Greece plans to distribute thousands of refugees to Albania although is unclear what their further route would be if this was the case. Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has said Rome fears people smugglers may revive the old Adriatic route from Albania across the sea to the Puglia region in Italy. Italy's Secretary of State for European Affairs Sandro Gozi after a visit to Albania early in the week on Tuesday said Italy was working with Albania on a memorandum of collaboration that will help the country to secure its borders. "There is a risk that the Balkan route can become the Adriatic route that includes Albania Montenegro and later Italy. For this reason we want to finish as soon as possible the memorandum that can allow us to give concrete help to Albania" Gozi said. In the last two weeks Albanian police have intensified patrols on the border between Greece and Albania while regular line buses transporting passengers between the two countries are strictly controlled. Controls are also being undertaken on coastal areas to eliminate any possibility of smugglers using inflated boats to take refugees to Italy. Regarding hosting capacities Albanian authorities have identified some sites that could be used in the case of a refugee influx although no further perparations are being made.
By Fatjona Mejdini
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