Ambassador Abbott: There has been a 95% reduction in cases of immigrants going to Britain by dinghy

2024-12-25 10:11:00, Politikë CNA

Ambassador Abbott: There has been a 95% reduction in cases of immigrants going

Great Britain's ambassador to Albania, Nicholas Abbott, stated on the show Opinion with Blendi Fevziu that, in the last two years, there has been a decrease in the number of Albanians crossing to Great Britain by dinghy.

Abbott said it is down about 95% compared to two years ago.

According to the ambassador, the great work done between the two governments has had an impact in this case, which has brought about a real practical change.

Part of the interview

Fevziu: Yes, without question. Ambassador, what is the main file, or the main topics expected to be covered by the British ambassador in Albania?

Abbott: I think the most important thing is our partnership. I think we already trust each other enough and work closely with each other on a number of issues.

Fevziu: For example...

Abbott: Over the last few years, we have seen how Albania's role in the international sphere has grown. We worked closely with the UN Security Council, we also worked closely with the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Of course, there are also a number of bilateral issues that have dominated the agenda in different periods of time. Working to address irregular immigration, and other security-related issues. These are very important for both countries.

Fevzi: I think there are two issues of great importance to our relationships apart from normal day-to-day relationships: immigration and organized crime. How is the situation with emigration now?

Abbott: What we've seen...

Fevziu: It was a topic that dominated the media. Boats with Albanians who cross from France to Great Britain.

Abbott: It was definitely breaking news. During the last two years we have seen a real decrease in the number of Albanians who go to Great Britain by dinghy. It is a drop of about 95% compared to two years ago.

Fevziu: Reduction by 95%?

Abbott: Yes.

Fevziu: What happened?

Abbott: I think the answer is the great work done. The great work done between the two governments, the great work between our various agencies involved in this issue and it has made a real practical difference.

Fevziu: I also think that we have a large community of Albanians in London, especially in London but also in other countries of the Great Kingdom. What role did the Albanian community play there?

Abbott: I think you have to bear in mind that people involved in irregular immigration to the UK are a minority. Most Albanians in the United Kingdom live normal lives.

Fevziu: Yes.

Abbott: They work in the private sector, in the public sector... They have a life like yours and mine and they make their contribution to the economy and to society. This is also known to my friends in the United Kingdom, friends from Albania and Kosovo. People are…

Fevziu: Are people from the Albanian community well integrated? I'm not only talking about the Albanians of Albania, but also the Albanians of Kosovo...

Abbott: They are very integrated. I can point out different individuals who work in the field of medicine, or banking, or the arts. All of these are part of what the United Kingdom is all about. So they are making a very positive contribution. Having said that, there are also Albanians who are involved in illegal activities.

Fevziu: Illegal activities and I think this is the biggest problem. Albanian organized crime organizations I think are very well organized in the United Kingdom and there are large sums of money generated from these illegal activities in the United Kingdom which are invested in Albania. Are you doing anything with the government in this regard?

Abbott: Yes. Of course we are doing. This is of course related to the day-to-day work of a number of staff at our embassy here and a number of people in the UK. We are paying attention to Albania. As you know, we signed, during the previous government, a cooperation agreement last year and this has created a partnership that is real and operational. We work together to ensure that security in the United Kingdom and security in Albania are improved. This involves a host of issues. I don't want the public to think it's just about going after criminals.

Fevziu: Are you satisfied with the cooperation with the Albanian government in this regard?

Abbott: Let me be honest...

Fevziu: You must be honest...

Abbott: The collaboration is many times better than I thought it would be. We are much closer. Last week we had our first meeting on dialogue with the Albanian government on issues of organized crime. There we had frank discussions between the two parties. As a diplomat I sometimes go to meetings and get the feeling that people are forced to say certain things, but that was not the case at last week's meeting. This was an open and direct discussion about the work we do with each other, and what our common objectives are.

Fevziu: A few years ago, let's say 2 years ago, there were some anti-Albanian feelings within British society. I believe you remember the Albanian protest in the heart of London...

Abbott: I remember…

Fevziu: By saying that we are part of this country, we have helped this country and we have helped our country as well. Why were these feelings?

Abbott: I think it's been a very difficult time in the UK because of the huge increase in irregular migrants coming to the UK on dinghies.

Fevziu: And the media focused on this issue...

Abbott: And people were unsure how to deal with this issue. We now have a new government that wants to address these issues in the long term and is looking at innovative and creative solutions to solve the issue.

Fevziu: But ambassador, I think that many people following the news and hearing in the news that the United Kingdom needs workers, drivers, people who will do the daily work because they need such people, they say why not do them in these jobs, for example?

Abbott: The answer is that there are legal ways to do it.

Fevziu: But is it easy?

Abbott: No. It's never meant to be easy. We don't live in a world where such things are easy…

Fevziu: But it is possible.

Abbott: But it is possible. No question.

Fevziu: What is the path they can follow to do this?

Abbott: Of course you have to apply for a regular work visa to the UK, you have to prove that you have an opportunity there, and then you have to go through a certain process. I was also involved in such opportunities in Kosovo. So it's possible to do it, but I'm not saying it's easy. But it is possible to do it.

Fevziu: These are images from the protest held in front of the British Parliament. We see that there are many Albanians.

Abbott: Lots of red and black flags.

Fevziu: Definitely.

Abbott: I also want to say that there has been a shift in perception.

Fevziu: In the last year, yes. In the last two years.

Abbott: I think that both sides have made efforts to change these perceptions and we can see this from the high number of British tourists visiting Albania./ CNA