Andoni: Albania’s liberal stance due to the need for foreign labor

Albania’s stance toward foreign nationals is very liberal due to the country’s need for workers from abroad, assessed political analyst from Tirana Ben Andoni, noting that these workers are mainly from Asian countries.

Commenting on the recent developments in Montenegro involving Turkish citizens, Andoni stated that Albania has good political relations with Turkey, and that Turkish nationals have so far been accepted by the majority population.

“There is a very liberal stance in Albania because our country needs workers from other countries, and these are mostly workers from Asian countries. Cheaper labor is used, and Albania’s cultural adaptability to these countries is also taken into account. When it comes to Turkish citizens, there is a certain level of understanding, because Turkey has historical ties with Albania, and the number of Turkish nationals in Albania is increasing, which is also happening due to the political relations between the two countries. There are many elements of understanding, and I do not believe there is any obstacle for Turks here. For now, that is the situation,” Andoni said.

He emphasized that change may come once Albania closes certain negotiation chapters with the EU.

“You will see what will happen when Albania begins to close negotiation chapters, as Montenegro has done. Montenegro has closed seven chapters and is preparing for others. Only when that moment comes will we see what the Albanian government decides—whether it will make changes to its policy toward Turkey for the sake of European integration, or not,” he added.

Speaking about Turkey’s significant role in the Western Balkans, Andoni stressed that xenophobia in the region has deep roots.

According to him, the introduction of a visa regime for Turkish citizens by the authorities in Montenegro has affected relations between the two countries.

“The policy of the Montenegrin government did not only lead to the establishment of a visa regime, but also created the impression across the Balkans that something is happening. Montenegro has offered an official explanation for this position. It means that Montenegro, as a country that is further ahead than others in the Balkans on the path toward European integration, must align its visa policies with those of other EU countries. However, in this case an impression has been created that the incident has affected relations between Turkey and Montenegro, even though those relations have a 140-year history. This has led to a perception in the Balkans that this type of xenophobia could emerge in other countries as well,” Andoni emphasized.