Albanian prime minister lashes out at United Kingdom in migration riot: “It sounds like screams from a madhouse” | Refugee crisis

The United Kingdom should take an example from Germany in tackling the influx of migrants. With that reprimand, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Thursday referred to the way the British government recently portrayed Albanians entering the country via the Channel.

British Home Secretary Suella Braverman earlier this week spoke of an “invasion of migrants” and an “increase in the number of Albanian immigrants” that she blames on young, single men she believes are part of organized criminal gangs. “Many Albanians are also abusing our modern slavery laws,” she continued.

The comments caused a riot in the United Kingdom and also went wrong with Rama. “Choosing a community and talking about gangsters and criminals doesn’t sound very British, that sounds more like screaming from a madhouse,” Rama said, praising Germany’s migration policy at the Western Balkans Summit in Berlin. “I have never heard a German minister speak of Albanians as criminals,” he noted, praising the “dignity” of the German approach. Less than 1 percent of Albanians in Britain are currently in jail, he added.


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It’s not about Albanians or foreigners or gangsters, it’s about a failed policy on borders and crime

Edi Rama, Prime Minister of Albania

scapegoats

In an interview with the BBC, Rama said Braverman’s invasion comment was “disturbed” and it was impossible for him not to respond. “It’s not about one person. It’s about the climate that was created and it’s about finding scapegoats and blaming others. It is not about Albanians or foreigners or gangsters, but about a failed policy on borders and crime.”

“Such language is not a policy, it is not a program, it is not a vision. It is nothing more than fueling xenophobia and targeting a community. I admire all that Britain stands for, but I really loathe this kind of politics that is ultimately doomed to fail,” Rama said.

Earlier today, a spokesman for British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak already tried to calm people down and referred to cooperation with Albania in tackling people smuggling. “We have a strong relationship with our Albanian partners. We are grateful for the cooperation with the Albanian government and remain determined to work with them,” the spokesperson said.

1 percent of Albanian men

Last week, the British House of Commons learned that 12,000 Albanians had already entered the country illegally this year after crossing the Channel. In 2020 there were only 50.

10,000 of the newly arrived migrants are men. Accounting for 1 percent of the adult male population in Albania. Albanians now make up the largest group of migrants crossing the Channel in small boats.

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