PM Rama told a cheering crowd that the name “Albanian” makes Albanian migrants in England feel proud.

The government head criticized the remarks by former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, calling them distortions of historical truth.

“On my way to this venue and while I was collecting my thoughts I wanted to share with you, I recalled the remarks by that British politician  – I think you all remember for the Former Home Secretary of this country, who just a year ago became the embodiment of the diabolical policy of ethnic discrimination, pointing a finger at us Albanians as a danger to the United Kingdom,” Rama said.

“She addressed British Parliament labelling Albanians as invaders as if Albanians were soldiers of an army of invaders and looters of this country and not part of majority of people who work to build and cultivate these lands,” Rama stated, underlining that “Braverman left office along with her entourage, while Albanians proudly live and work in the UK.”

He assured the audience that Albania’s diplomatic efforts would counter such narratives.

Rama concluded by urging the diaspora to participate in what he called a decisive election for Albania’s European future.

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Çuçi said that during the meeting with his British counterpart Suella Braverman, they discussed bilateral cooperation to address complex issues such as illegal emigration and organized crime and transnational phenomena that cannot be identified with certain ethnic groups.

“I shared with my counterpart the concern that it is intolerable that the Albanian community is singled out and stereotyped only by some characters of the illegal world”, said Çuçi.

Further on, during the meeting, he emphasized that as a matter of fact the Albanians are a vital and integrated community in Great Britain.

The minister made a concrete proposal to his British counterpart, to amnesty Albanians without visas in the United Kingdom, but who work honestly and have no criminal records.

“Our approach is that illegal emigration cannot be addressed as a problem without improving the conditions of emigration through legal channels. At this point, I asked my counterpart Braverman to review once again the regime of treatment of Albanian citizens living and working in Great Britain, to facilitate them in relation to new employment opportunities or seasonal movements. I also asked her to grant amnesty to every Albanian without a visa, but who works honestly and has no criminal records in charge”, Minister Çuçi said.

He also appreciated British assistance and expertise in building our capacities and supporting the modernization of the Scientific Police Institute. /m.m/ /gj.m/p.s./