TIRANA, January 17 – The President of Albania, Bajram Begaj has reacted after a statement by Robert Jenrick, the British Minister of Immigration regarding Albanian immigrants.
In a published video, Jenrick launched the appeal for the arrest of Albanians, describing them as criminals. During the commemorative activity of the 555th anniversary of the death of Albanian national hero ‘Gjergj Kastriot Skënderbeu’ on Tuesday, Begaj spoke about Albanians who have achieved success in certain countries of the world.
“We Albanians, even today, 617 years after the birth of Kastriot, must remember some of the history of our country and Europe. Kastrioti is our national hero because we are grateful for his struggle, success and example,” said President.
Further he said that Gjergj Kastrioti was an Albanian like others nowadays who have love for these people and know how to achieve success for themselves and others. “These Albanians are here and there where there are high officials who have to solve their daily despair by cursing the Albanians,” he said.
The statement of the British Minister of Immigration has also caused reactions of the official institutions of Albania. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Olta Xhaçka, reacted first by considering Jenrick’s statement as “shameful” with the sole aim of winning a few votes of the British electorate.
The Foreign Ministry asked for a meeting with British ambassador in Tirana, Alastair King Smith, on Monday to whom they handed a ‘Note Verbal’ from Albania to Great Britain for the discriminatory language that harms the cooperation between the two countries/Argumentum.al
