The U.S. Embassy in Tirana said in a statement that the repatriation was an important step not only for the families involved but also for efforts to strengthen security.

“The US commends Albania for repatriating its nationals from Syria, recently welcoming back two women and three children – providing a future with rehabilitation and reintegration support. A win for these families and for global security,” the Embassy said in a statement on social media.

The operation followed a lengthy and carefully coordinated effort involving Albanian institutions, diplomatic and consular missions and the authorities of the countries concerned, the U.S. Embassy said.

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Prime Minister Rama shared in the social media footage that shows the arrival at Rinas Airport of five Albanian nationals repatriated from Syria, including three minors.

“Five Albanian nationals, including three children, have been successfully repatriated from Syria following a complex operation, with efforts ongoing to bring home those left behind,” wrote Rama.

The prime minister emphasized that it is a duty and state’s responsibility to provide a fresh start for the returned people under the safety of Albanian institutions.

This operation is the result of careful planning and close coordination among Albanian institutions, diplomatic missions and partner countries.

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He explained that the elderly woman, identified as H.T., traveled to Syria to care for her grandchildren after her son joined ISIS and died. Following the collapse of ISIS, H.T. lived in the Al-Hol camp under very harsh conditions. Despite this, she continued looking after the minors, which included two orphaned children in her care.

According to him, her return and the return of the minors are part of Albania’s ongoing efforts to bring home citizens still trapped in Syrian conflict zones and camps.

Lamallari thanked the institutions on the Prime Minister’s special Task Force for handling the repatriation.

He stated that Albania will keep working to bring back all remaining citizens from Syria. This process will follow strict safety and legal rules while ensuring proper care for minors.

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This operation followed months of careful planning and close coordination among Albanian state institutions, diplomatic missions and foreign authorities.

The Ministry said that bringing these citizens home reflects the state’s duty to protect its people, even in dangerous zones. While this return marks a major milestone, the government’s institutional duty of care continues.

“Upon arrival in Albania, the returned citizens will receive proper support, along with health and mental health checks. The relevant institutions will continue to work in a coordinated manner for their accommodation, rehabilitation and reintegration into society,” the ministry said.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs expressed grateful thanks to the foreign authorities, especially the Syrian ones, who enabled the completion of the procedures and the safe transit of the citizens.

“The Task Force will continue overseeing rehabilitation and reintegration efforts while working to safely repatriate other Albanian citizens as conditions permit,” the Foreign Ministry said. /p.s./

President Osmani said the recognition came after meetings in Riyadh backed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

“With the support of His Highness, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, we reached an agreement today in Riyadh under which the Syrian Arab Republic recognizes the Republic of Kosovo,” Osmani wrote on social media.

She thanked Syrian President Al Sharaa for the decision and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for facilitating what she called a “historic act” between the two countries.

“The people of Kosovo and Syria have both suffered and sacrificed greatly for their freedom,” Osmani said. “This mutual recognition is not only of state sovereignty but also of the sacrifices of generations who fought to live free. Kosovo is now recognized by 120 states and continues to move forward.”

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“Albania’s Autocephalous Orthodox Church strongly condemns this act of violence and what is more it happened during Divine Liturgy”, is read in a statement of the Orthodox Church, published in the social media.

A suicide bomber in Syria opened fire then detonated an explosive vest inside a Greek Orthodox church filled with people praying on Sunday, killing at least 22 and wounding 63 others, state media reported.

Archbishop Joani expressed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and to all the Orthodox community of Syria.

“From Albania, a country that has shown the world that the peaceful co-existence between religions is not an unattainable dream or utopia, but a live reality, we call on all to stand up united against violence”, is read in the statement of the Albania’s Autocephalous Orthodox Church. /a.f//r.e/p.s./

During the visit to New York, Hasani participated in the meeting on the rehabilitation and reintegration of those returned from Syria, organized by Albania within the High Level Week of the UN Parliamentary Assembly.

Hasani underlined the urgent need for a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes the protection and reintegration of the returnees, especially children, the most innocent victims of the conflict.

On the sidelines of the high-level event, during the “Accountability for Ukraine” session, FM Hasani emphasized that the process of accountability should go side by side with peace efforts.

“Albania fully supports the process of holding responsibility for the Russian military aggression against Ukraine. The creation of the register of damages caused by Russian aggression is an important step towards the creation of an international compensation mechanism,” said the Albanian chief diplomat.

Likewise, Hasani said that Albania supports the EU initiative for the confiscation of frozen Russian state assets and their use to address the various consequences of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

In June 2024, Albania joined the Core Group on accountability for the crime of aggression against Ukraine, for the establishment of a court for the prosecution of the crime of aggression.

Minister Igli Hasani is in New York, where he is participating in the proceedings of the United Nations General Assembly, as part of the Albanian delegation headed by Prime Minister Edi Rama./p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama has travelled to Beirut, Lebanon, for the repatriation of five women and 14 children from Syria’s notorious Al-Hol camp, an operation scheduled to take place on Sunday.

“Five Albanian women and 14 children from Syria’s death camps to arrive in Albania tomorrow thanks to a long a complicated intelligence operation on the ground and precious assistance by general Abass Ibrahim,” PM Rama.

Speaking to Top Channel TV from Beirut, the government head added that a long and multilateral operation has taken place.

“What matters most is that 14 children and 5 women, hostages of that hell camp, for whom we have worked around the clock since day one after the first repatriation operation. It is a very complicated operation for an array of reasons, but thanks to the close connection I have established with General Abass here and thanks to the close cooperation between the Ministry of Interior and the Lebanon authorities here,” Rama said.

“I am here to take the children and women and repatriate them to their homeland tomorrow,” he added.

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