US President Donald Trump announced today that Albania is one of the countries being considered to take in Palestinians, as part of his plan to transform Gaza into a giant tourist resort, once the Palestinians have left.
The statement was made after a meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan, whom he convinced to take about 2,000 children from Gaza.
Trump was asked by reporters whether Albania and Indonesia are two other countries, besides Egypt and Jordan, where Palestinians could be relocated, and the US president affirmed.
In his response, Trump added that the leaders of these countries are big-hearted people and that they themselves have sought to take in Palestinians.
Video below:
Journalist: Would you also consider other countries, not Jordan or Egypt, Indonesia, Albania, other countries have been rumored?
Trump: Yes, absolutely. We have other countries that want to get involved. We have a lot of people that want to get involved. There's a great deal of understanding to help the Palestinians. There are good countries there, great-hearted people, and this gentleman here (King Abdullah) is at the top of the list.
Trump's statement contradicts the position taken by Prime Minister Edi Rama two weeks ago. When an Israeli journalist named Amit Segal published information that Albania was one of the countries where Palestinians would be relocated, Prime Minister Rama immediately denied it.
"It is absolutely not true," said Rama, who appeared surprised by the information published by Amit Segal, adding that he had not heard "something so false" in a long time.
Rama recalled that Albania has recognized the state of Palestine and that "from the heart of Europe, we cannot do more than any other European country on such an issue."
"Let me be clear: Albania has not been asked by anyone and neither can we. even think of taking on any such responsibility. We are proud of our strong friendships with Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and, of course, with the Palestinian people, whose state Albania recognized long ago. But Albania is not in the Middle East itself and from the heart of Europe, we cannot do more than any other European country on such an issue," said the Albanian Prime Minister.