At the joint press conference held in Shengjin, alongside the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, when asked how to proceed with those immigrants whose asylum claim will be refused in Italy, Rama said that, “The Chancellor of Germany, who is the leader of the German social democratic party, i.e. of the European left wing, has said that this agreement is of special interest to Germany itself,” said Rama.

“We are not an EU member country, but we are a European country and the current map of the EU is not our work. The EU is the first geopolitical reality in the history of maps, since the world began to draw maps that have two borders, an external border and an internal border, that is, an external perimeter and an internal border and right in the middle of the EU there is an area called the Western Balkans,” Rama emphasized.

“To enter Albania you will travel through the EU because there is no other way to enter and to leave Albania you will leave the EU because there is no other way to get out. And the fact that we are behaving as all EU countries should behave, which has special legislation on addressing migration. Because when an immigrant sets foot in Lampedusa, he does not only set foot in Italy, he sets foot in the entire EU, so he is a newcomer to the EU, not a newcomer to Italy. And redistribution means that all countries take their burden of managing this influx of people who come to stay and build a life in the EU. This did not work,” PM said.
Meanwhile, Rama added, “this center here is making headlines just because we are not in the EU, but if the same center as here were built there, you can find it in any EU country, it is considered normal, here it is considered Guantanamo. But why? For what reason?”

“We received several thousand Afghans immediately, when NATO countries, very rich countries, rejected them. The UK said they will receive 15,000 in the next 15 years, but in the meantime, 6 governments change in 4 years and they have no problem saying that we should postpone the step because there are the others that can receive them. We were aware when we received them that not all would pass the application process and not all would be considered legally admissible in the US or Canada. So we took a risk that they could leave it to us, and everyone here would not be surprised if the USA forgot this promise, because being so big, they have the luxury of forgetting the promises and we are in no position to seek explanations for that. Things that happened. It is not a criticism, but a finding. But a large part of them have moved. I said that on almost weekly basis planes land here, are processed and take off. There are about 350 persons that are not admitted there, they are not admitted here. Have you heard us raise the voice and tell them, come on, get them, otherwise we will throw them into the sea, no. We have accommodated them in the hotel and their costs are on us, as others have sheltered us and paid for us, when we were in need, when we were Afghans, fleeing from the hell of the communist dictatorship and knocking on the doors of the Italians,” Rama said.
“That’s how life is, there is a time to take and a time to give. Fortunately, we had Italy in the first place which had the opportunity to give us a lot. We are not Italy, we are Albania, but we have the opportunity to contribute a little. And that’s what we’re doing. So there is room for concern from my point of view,” Prime Minister Rama said.
Rama emphasized that there is another point in the agreement.

“There is room for 3 thousand asylum seekers. So there are 3 thousand accommodation places. The deal was concluded for 3 thousand asylum seekers who can be accommodated in Gjadër and there they will be treated according to all the laws and rules of democratic Italy. To the best of my knowledge, Italy has no problems with human rights and then those whose asylum claims will be accepted by Italy will go to Italy. And only those places that will be vacated by those who will go to Italy will be able to be refilled.”
/sm/