AFP Reporting: Why Albanians Take Children to France for asylum

Saler of a small market in Albania told AFP she paid 1,000 and 200 euros in 1 trust “ Tochia was taking her 16-year-old son to France at the end of last year, where he joined thousands of other asylum seekers coming from the Balkans.

It's a huge sacrifice. Every night I pray to God” Beauty told the AFP journalist, who heard her confession. The 40-year-old asked not to be named in the media, as she feared the problems she might have with the authorities.

She showed that her son, her only son, now lives in a center for unspoiled children. He learns French, hoping that he will then start a cooking course so that when he reaches the age of 18, he will be able to stay in France.

My only wish is a better future for” She told AFP.

Approximately 29 thousand Albanians sought asylum in the European Union for 2016, according to Eurostat -- 1% of the population of 2.9 million people.

This figure ranks Albania, an aspiring EU country along with Syria's nations, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran or Eritreas.

Despite being considered a safe and democratic country, Albania remains among the main sources of asylum seekers for the European Union -- a migration scheme which Tirana has pledged to stop.

The mass migration of Albanians, the AFP writes, comes from an average salary of 340 euros in Albania and unemployment, affecting one of three young people.

Beauty showed how she and her husband try to keep the family of 7 people, daily going from their village to the capital, selling a few vegetables, and about two quarts [2 L] of milk.

You can't misjudge a mother, because the only thing she thinks is a better future for her child” She says.

“We've decided to stop this phenomenon, which really worries us” tells AFP, Rowena Voda, deputy interior minister, who knows the reality of children travelling abroad without parents.

Eurostat figures show that the main destination of the first Albanians to seek asylum was Germany. But France became attractive in early 2017.

More than 4 thousand Albanian citizens sought asylum in France in the first 6 months of this year, according to Aida Hyanaj, Police Border Director.

Last month, Interior Minister Zerar Kolombe described the flow “a core problem”, which had to be resolved as soon as possible.

French authorities' care for Albanian asylum seekers continues until their demand receives an answer- but in the meantime they benefit a large part of the capacities French have. On the other hand are asylum seekers who come from war - torn countries.

France has an important advantage in the eyes of applicants: Slowing ProceduresAlbanian police say sources.

The time to receive answers could last up to a year. This time is used by them to spend in Great Britain, writes AFP.

The threats of Paris and Berlin to visa returns to Albania appear to have put Albanian authorities accountable. During the meeting that Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati had with Kolob in July, “was introduced.a plan, which will bring results within three months, for illegal migration”,It's Voda.

The plan envisions stronger control over those who flee, especially to prevent the migration of unaccompanied minors. The other goal is to attack criminal trafficking networks.

Albanian police “are investigating agencies, legal companies, associations or registration offices selling counterfeit evidence for asylum seekers”, according to Voda.

From January to May, 1083 citizens were repatriated after being uncovered with forged documents by the French authorities.

According to police, in order to prove that their lives are at risk, there are cases that asylum seekers detonate their explosive devices in front of their homes.

Another way is the evidence that they are possible victims of revenge, endangered by Albanian blood feuds.

Conflicts over property, sexual discrimination and domestic violence are a host of other reasons Albanians present to seek asylum.

They are parents like Beauty, often forced to organize their children's own departure from home.

In 2016, more than 500 unique Albanian children were registered in France, especially in the east of the country.

But parents who think they're taking their children to a better future... don't realize that some of them fall prey to traffickers” says Alan Bushon, head of an association in a town east of France, in the town of Bourg-en-Bresse.

Traffickers “force them to prostitution or beg” says Bushon.

To combat this phenomenon, Albanian authorities also take into account the parents' criminal acts, says Deputy Interior Minister Rowena Voda.

In May, 44-year-old Miranda Locke was sentenced to four months in prison for being converted to 18 months of parole because she abandoned her child in Germany.

But despite these efforts to stop migration -- a Gallup study concluded that 56% of Albanians want to leave their country if given a chance./ Translating from the pen.al