Italy is confident in a positive
decision from the Albanian Constitutional Court on the migration
agreement between Rome and Tirana as it respects all the rules,
Italy's ambassador to Albania, Fabrizio Bucci, told ANSA on the
sidelines of the Ambassadors' Conference at the foreign ministry
in Rome on Tuesday.
Bucci said the decision by the court to suspend ratification of
the protocol by parliament is a "necessary procedural step"
while it examines two appeals filed by the opposition.
"The Court will rule on the merits in January," he added.
"We are waiting confidently because we believe that the protocol
is absolutely compatible with both the Albanian Constitution and
all international norms," said Bucci.
In early November Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and her
Albanian counterpart Edi Rama signed a Memorandum of
Understanding to set up two centres in Albania to process the
asylum applications of migrants and refugees rescued at sea by
Italian navy, coast guard and police vessels.
People with special needs such as the elderly, children or
pregnant women, migrants and refugees who have been rescued by
NGO-run ships and people who land directly on Italian soil are
to be excluded from the deal.
On bilateral trade, Bucci stressed "the particularly felicitous
season of relations between Italy and Albania".
"It is clear from all the indicators: we are Albania's leading
trade partner, our exchange is worth 20% of Albania's GDP, one
third of Albania's global exchange takes place with Italy, half
of all foreign companies in Albania are Italian, the number of
our companies has grown from 2,600 to 2,800, we are present in
all sectors with small, medium and large enterprises," said the
ambassador.
But it is not only the economy that links the two countries.
"We have a dozen archaeological missions, and Italian is one of
the most studied languages" in Albania, said Bucci.
On the fight against organised crime and drug trafficking he
said the two countries "set up a working group at the level of
police chiefs two years ago and have a dozen joint investigation
teams".
"In the last two years alone we have captured 80 fugitives and
seized more than a tonne of narcotics," he continued.
Lastly, Bucci pointed out the "intensification" of relations and
visits at a political level over the last year as a result of
"this new focus of the Italian government on the Balkans".
In short, he said "in Albania, Italy is the most important
country, and we consider Albania a privileged gateway to all the
Balkans".
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