TIRANA, December 6 /ATA/ Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi stated today that the protocol with Italy for cooperation in the field of migration has a complete framework; it has a legal basis and has no financial costs for Albania.
In his speech at the meeting of the National Security Committee where there was examined the draft law “On ratification of the protocol between the government of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Italian Republic, for strengthening cooperation in the field of migration”, Peleshi stated that , “On November 6, the government approved the Protocol between the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania and the Government of the Italian Republic, for strengthening cooperation in the field of migration. This project came as a proposal from the Italian side and then the two ministers, the Minister of Defense and the Minister of the Interior initiated the project/decision to approve this protocol in the Council of Ministers”.
Of course, added Peleshi, “Here we are talking about irregular emigrant flows and the Ministry of Defense has in its mission the preservation of integrity and sovereignty”.
“This law proposes the ratification of the Protocol in accordance with Article 121 of the Constitution and Article 17 of the aforementioned law. In the sense of Article 121 of the Constitution, the ratification is necessary because the protocol involves issues related to the use for a limited time, by the Italian side, of an area of Albanian state property. So, this is the reason, the legal basis, why we are coming to the Parliament with the request for the ratification in the Parliament of this decision of the Council of Ministers, that is, of the Protocol between our two governments”, said Peleshi.
Peleshi said that, “This law has a complete framework; it has a legal basis and without financial costs for Albania, but with many moral benefits in terms of the relationship between Albania and Italy and Albania and the EU. The phenomenon of irregular migration is not only a concern for our southern European countries, but it is a concern for the entire EU because as we know, the destination of these flows is right in the depths of Europe in the main EU countries”.
“With this political gesture, Albania is no longer part of the problem, but part of the solution, as far as this phenomenon is concerned. And this makes us determined to take it forward and ask with great certainty and with great conviction the approval, your support of the Committee and then of all the lawmakers of the Assembly for this Protocol”, he said./p.s./
