IOM closes project on illegal migrants in Albania

TIRANA, Sept. 20 – The International Organization on Migration closed Wednesday its project titled ‘Fight against irregular migration in Albania and wider in the region,’ which aimed at increasing capacities along the agreement for the return of the immigrants that the tiny Balkan country as signed with the European Union. The two-year project offered assistance to the Albanian government on the returnees being those Albanian or foreigners. The agreement was ratified by the Albanian parliament in January this year and it is in power since May. Based on that Albania is obliged to accept any Albanian citizen who crosses its borders illegally and goes to a EU member country. That also includes foreigners, which will start in 2008, who have entered the EU crossing the Albanian borders.