TIRANA, March 10 – As Balkan countries along the current migrant route have decided to shut their borders resulting in several thousands of refugees stuck in Greece, the possibility that immigrants try to cross into Albania and then reach Italy via the Adriatic Sea gets higher with each passing day.
It is reported that the Albanian government is holding low-key negotiations with both Rome and Athens on the Syrian refugee issue. According to Greek and Italian media, the migrant route passing through Albania is becoming inevitable in the current circumstances.
The Greek government has announced plans for transferring thousands of refugees in the proximity of the Albanian border.
Local media citing Greek Foreign Ministry sources reveal that Greece is in negotiations with Albania and Bulgaria for the transfer of up to 15,000 refugees to each country.
Italy is another country that is concerned it will become entangled in a potential new migrant route which involves the crossing of the Adriatic Sea by refugees desperate to reach EU countries. The visit of Italian Undersecretary for European Affairs Sandro Gozi this week in Albania is believed to have consisted of devising an emergency plan with Albanian authorities to deal with a potential refugee crisis in case Albania becomes affected.
Italy will also be sending police to monitor Albania’s land border with Greece and also provide technical assistance at border crossing points between the two neighbors.
The issue was decided during a recent meeting Interior Minister Saimir Tahiri had in Rome with his Italian counterpart Angelino Alfano.
The Italian Interior Minister has admitted negotiations between Albania and Italy and has promised to visit Tirana in upcoming days to discuss about tackling a potential massive wave of immigrants.
The deployment of Italian police troops at Albania’s borders for an unspecified period of time is thought as a way to weed out potential terrorists, but also because of Italian police have more experience with regards to dealing with immigrant influxes.
Albania and Italy have also increased the exchange of information regarding their shared sea border recently in the light of the new developments, whereas joint sea patrols have been operational for quite some time now.
