France Returns 30 People to Albania

About 30 Albanian citizens, who were denied asylum demand in France, were repatriated today on a special plane to the “Mother Teresa” airport.

The process was attended by the French Embassy's security attaché in Tirana, while Albanian authorities appeal to citizens not to view asylum demands as opportunities, as admissions will be zero.

“We repeat several times as the interior minister, as the Albanian government, that the way of applying for asylum in European Union countries is not approved for Albanians, because Albania is considered a safe country. Simply put, it means that the chances of profiting from Albanian citizens of economic or political asylum in the EU countries' space are zero”, said Deputy Interior Minister Stefan Cipa.

We continue intensively working with all partners, but also with all other European Union states, which have made it clear that asylum in Union countries is impossible. So and in this context, all Albanian citizens who take the initiative or violate or respect the rules of the Schengen area are obliged to return and return to Albania, creating an extraordinary cost not only for families and for themselves, but also a great cost related to all Albanian citizens and citizens who look forward to Albania's integration and entry into the EU”, said police director General Hakki Chako, on the other hand.

The highest number of Albanian asylum seekers in recent years has resulted in Germany.