Around twenty people gathered in Shengjin, near the center dedicated to welcoming migrants, to denounce the migration agreement between Rome and Tirana.
In Albania, a demonstration was organized this Wednesday to protest against the transfer of migrants rescued by the Italian authorities to dedicated centers in the northwest of the country.
Demonstration for migrant rights
A group of around twenty activists gathered at the entrance to Shengjin port holding a banner reading “The European dream ends here”.
“This is not the first time that we have protested against such an agreement. We opposed it as soon as we became aware of it”confided Edison Lika, one of the demonstrators. “Firstly because of the way we learned about it, through the Italian media. Secondly, this agreement goes against human rights and more concretely the rights of migrants.”
The first migrants to arrive in Shengjin
A little earlier today, an Italian navy ship arrived at Shengjin Portwith 16 men from Egypt and Bangladesh on board, passing through Libya. Upon arrival, these migrants were registered in one of the two centers created by Italy.
Under a five-year agreement signed last November by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her Albanian counterpart Edi Rama, up to 3,000 migrants rescued each month by the Italian coast guard in international waters will be accommodated in Albania. They will first be checked on board the ships that rescue them before being sent to Albania for further screening.