Baraliu: Whoever agrees to accept migrants from America must be prepared and show humanity

University professor Mazllum Baraliu says that any country reaching an agreement with the United States to accept migrants from the US must be adequately prepared and demonstrate humanity in providing conditions for people in need. He emphasizes that such agreements with Washington are matters that fall under the jurisdiction of governments.

He does not expect that Kosovo would gain anything by entering into such an arrangement with the US, because, as he points out, it has gained nothing in the past 20 years, neither in the dialogue on normalization of relations with Serbia nor in the process of European Union integration.

“We submitted an application for membership in the Council of Europe, they didn’t accept us. And in the European Union, our government has made a request, but not a single step has been taken, whereas there should have been several steps forward,” Baraliu told Kosovo Online.

When asked whether Kosovo, if it agrees to accept migrants from America, would organize their return to their countries of origin, Baraliu says that this should be viewed from a legal perspective. He also recalls the agreement between Italy and Albania, under which Albania accepts migrants sent by Italy, and in which, as he notes, all international obligations are assumed by the Italian government, while Albania ensures that their accommodation is dignified.

According to US media reports, the administration of President Donald Trump is working on agreements with several countries for the acceptance of migrants deported from the US. Among the countries mentioned as potential hosts are Libya, Rwanda, Benin, Moldova, Mongolia, and Kosovo, with the note that the deported individuals do not necessarily have to be citizens of those countries.