TIRANA, November 8 – President Bajaram Begaj reacted to the debate of the last few days between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and British government officials regarding clandestine immigrants. Begaj demanded that a British consulate be opened in Kukes, northeastern Albania, to provide citizens with visas so that they do not flee on rafts.
The President made that request on Tuesday during his visit to the Municipality of Kukës, which is already considered the region with the largest exodus of young people to England. After the meetings with the local officials, President Begaj commented on the debate between the British and Albanian governments regarding clandestine immigrants.
Begaj asked the government of the United Kingdom not to make bullying statements against Albanians, while he asked the British embassy in Tirana to open a consulate in Kukes, to provide Albanians with visas, so that they do not flee on rafts.
“Albanians cannot be cursed and labeled as invaders due to the fact that they live and work everywhere in the world. They have been integrated in many countries of the world, including Great Britain,” he said, adding that they have built their lives by paying taxes regularly and working hard.
This is why, according to Begaj, it is not right that they are bullied in this way. “My request to them (the British embassy) is related to the opening of an English micro-consulate in Kukes to make it possible for citizens to leave with temporary visas to work as seasonal workers,” said the head of state.
During the visit to Kukes Begaj held a meeting with the mayor Safet Gjici and visited several institutions in this city. /Argumentum.al
