Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Rama after inspecting ongoing construction work in Shengjin, Meloni underlined that under the agreement Italian authorities are responsible for the security in the two reception centers.

Meloni emphasized that Albania-Italy migrant deal is designed to fight trafficking in human beings and any forms of illegal migration.

“We are here at the structure in Shengjin, which will serve as reception centre after the migrants’ arrival here. You are quite aware of the huge number of illegal migrants that have reached the shores of Italy and whole set of procedures normally followed once they arrive, starting with the identification, the fingerprints etc and the migrants will then be transferred to the centre in Gjader,” Meloni said.

The Italian PM clarified that the centres in Albania won’t receive the pregnant women and children or individuals at a certain age only, but it will serve as a structure where the border crossing procedures are carried out. She said that asylum applications will also be processed at these centres.

Responding to the criticism the agreement has been met with in Italy, Meloni said construction work had been delayed by “difficult terrain”.

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