Becirovic: Albania-Italy agreement on migrants further activates the Balkan route

Zijad Becirovic, the Director of the International Institute for Middle East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), stated in an interview with Kosovo Online that the agreement between Albania and Italy to build migrant centers in Albania was creating a new route for migrants passing through the Balkans.

According to him, migrants would use this route exclusively for transit to Western countries.

"Regardless of who would come, whether they are migrants or others, this would change the ethnic structure. They want to maintain the existing structure, but this speaks more to the position of Edi Rama himself. He has been in power for more than ten years, and his rule has been contested for years due to well-founded objections and complaints about electoral fraud. We have seen the scandals he has with his lobbying structures, with FBI agents in America where legal proceedings are underway, meaning he is charged with serious illegal acts, including, as I said, drug trafficking and human trafficking. I think the primary goal here is for him to save himself and secure support, and Italy is Albania's most important partner in Europe, the country with which it has the largest trade exchange. He wants to secure his rule or political survival, and then everything else follows. Among other things, of course, the market has its own rules, and business has its own rules, so if you need labor, you have to manage because you want to have a good business result and, above all, make a profit," Becirovic said.

When asked if migrants from Albania might "move" to Kosovo after visa liberalization, when a significant outflow of the workforce from Kosovo to the West is expected, Becirovic said he did not believe that would happen.

"Kosovo is not attractive to migrants in any way; it does not have a developed economy, nor is it attractive for living. Simply put, the route of migrants is primarily towards Western Europe; they do not hide that, and that's why all the countries are participating in this route. Now we have the Mediterranean route, and with this agreement between Albania and Italy, the strongest route for migrants would be through the Balkans. They primarily want to find refuge in Western Europe. All these other countries more or less serve as transit, and they just want migrants to pass through their territory as quickly as possible and let the destination countries, primarily the most developed Western countries, deal with them, mainly Germany," Becirovic emphasized.

The Kosovo Online interlocutor also touched on the situation in Albania itself, which, in his opinion, has introduced a new doctrine – complete orientation and obedience to the West.

"They absolutely accept everything that the West, especially their sponsors, the United States, demands from them. However, the question arises whether this agreement complies with the regulations of the European Union, meaning international standards when it comes to migrants. It is also an open question whether it can be ratified in the Albanian Parliament, considering the power relations within Albania and in the parliament itself, which practically does not function, as written in the European Commission report from last week," Becirovic said.

In his opinion, the entire agreement is based on deals with the West.

"Of course, if it suits the commanders to use it, even for security destabilization, that possibility cannot be ruled out. However, this will raise numerous questions within Albania and within the European Union itself. I think that regardless, it reflects an image of obedience, where, in return, you are allowed to do whatever you want—the best example being illegal drug trafficking, and when it comes to Kosovo and events related to Kosovo, they more or less cater to the Albanian side," Becirovic concluded.