Just one week away from the opening of the immigrant camp in Gjadër, an agreement between the Albanian and Italian governments, Prime Minister Edi Rama gave an interview to the Italian media 'La Repubblica', where he spoke about this agreement.
"The immigrant centers in Albania do not concern our government. We will only worry if we are involved by Italy and when there is reason to worry", says Rama in the interview, while 'La Repubblica' writes that, "the Albanian prime minister who dreams of EU membership, is calm.
He was the one who made the pact with Giorgia Meloni for the megastructure for the detention and repatriation of immigrants outside the Italian borders and now he is only watching."
The head of the government says that the centers for immigrants have nothing to do with the Albanian government.
Rama makes it clear that the agreement does not provide for the emigrants to leave the camps and move freely, as in such cases the Albanian security forces will intervene.
Full interview:
-The Italian government has announced that the opening of the centers in Albania is very close, by the hour, right?
"Your government has never lied to us and does not forget any of the many commitments made to us. However, I do not represent any authority of truth to verify what the Italian government says about matters that concern you and not us: the construction and management of the centers is something that has absolutely nothing to do with the Albanian government. It does not belong to us".
-The centers were supposed to be ready in May. Do you know the reasons for this delay?
"I can explain why a major public project in Albania is currently delayed due to geological problems, but I cannot tell you if and why there is a delay in this project of your government. Similar delays occur on more than one occasion, and they do not even shock our good and accurate German friends, I know that for sure."
-Are you aware that the first immigrants should arrive next week?
"No, I don't know, because they will be accompanied by the Italian authorities in a country that is under Italian jurisdiction. Both during the journey and during the stay there is no confusion with our authorities".
- Have you talked to Meloni recently? There will be no ribbon cutting for this project.
"I don't know, we haven't talked about it since she was here to inspect the construction sites."
-Some European countries would like to repeat the Italy-Albania agreement. What do you think?
"It may be repetitive, but first I would have to understand who is the other de facto couple in Europe, consisting of an EU member state and a European state not yet a member of the EU: for now i can't see it. ».
-Are you worried that the pact could fail because of legal obstacles in stopping immigrants?
"The agreement stipulates that immigrants cannot leave the facilities and travel freely in Albania. If this were to happen, an agreed action plan would be set in motion: our security and justice institutions and agencies have worked closely together for years to fight organized crime. I will worry if and when there is reason to worry, and only if Italy asks us to share the concern.
Until then, I'm not worried. In fact, I am very calm, because the relationship between Italy and Albania, during these decades, has taught me that when Albania needs to worry, it is never alone. Thanks to Italy, first of all. And then, to put it bluntly, when at the head of the government in Italy there is someone who insists on always showing his face, you can move forward with confidence even against any unexpected disaster".