Feb 1, 2024. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
The Constitutional Court of Albania declared a few days ago that, according to its opinion, the agreement between the Prime Ministers of Albania and Italy for the creation of a refugee processing camp in Albania on behalf of the Italian state is in accordance with the Albanian constitution, but the prestigious international organization Human Rights Watch seems to think otherwise.
According to her, the agreement actually violates international law, which is binding on Albania and, in the hierarchy of laws, stands higher than the Constitution of Albania.
Human Rights Watch,
based in New York, which, among others, has won the Nobel Peace Prize, is known
for its activism in defense of human rights, including the rights of Albanian
citizens in Albania during the communist regime or rights of Kosovo citizens
during the Milosevic regime, criticized on Thursday the decision of the
Constitutional Court of Albania to confirm the constitutional validity of the
agreement.
"The agreement
between Italy and Albania violates international law and is abusive in many
aspects, including the potential to create a frozen legal situation for people
in need," the statement reads. "However, the plan to detain in Albania
people rescued in Italian waters in the Mediterranean Sea appears to be moving
forward," the statement added.
"The plan raises
many questions. How will Italian rescue ships manage to land in Albania
instead of the nearest port in Italy and how will this affect search and rescue
operations in the Mediterranean? Will families be separated? Where
and how and by whom will "vulnerable" men be identified? How
will the Italian authorities guarantee fair asylum procedures or judicial
reassessment of the bans that will be made in Albania?"
Albania is a country
that has suffered human rights violations, forcing many to flee the country to
escape persecution. One of the people who have experienced such a
situation is the current prime minister, who fled to France after being raped
in Tirana in 1996. Human Rights Watch denounced the violence against Rama
repeatedly at that time. According to international law, such persons have
the right to reside in another country and the host country has the obligation
to provide protection and survival for them.
The Rama-Meloni
agreement has raised concerns not only that the rights of asylum seekers may be
violated by keeping them in Albania, but also because of Albania's potential
legal responsibility for these violations.
BIRN
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