Albanian ambassador declares Balkan state ‘safe’ — despite huge numbers of migrants claiming asylum in UK

ALBANIA’S ambassador yesterday declared the Balkan state “safe” — making a mockery of the huge number of arrivals on dinghies here claiming asylum.

Envoy Qirjako Qirko made the comment during a heated exchange with MPs.

Critics have long argued that, far from being victims of modern slavery, many arriving in the UK on small boats are economic migrants.

A third of the 33,029 people who crossed the Channel between January and September were from Albania — a major hike on the three per cent recorded for 2021.

Mr Qirko said he would back plans to rapidly return migrants, stating the Eastern European country was secure.

But he dodged answering whether he thought ­Britain should not have to recognise asylum claims from Albanian nationals.

He said: “It’s up to the British authorities to decide.

“What I can say is Albania is a safe country.”

Mr Qirko also said some Channel migrants are coming to the UK after seeing ads on social media platforms such as TikTok.

He added: “I have been in contact with some people asking for our embassy ­services.

“Some of them explained that yes, we are victims of TikTok and Facebook, we have come here because we thought it was easy to start a business.”

Ministers have been under pressure to reduce accommodation costs for migrants — currently £6million a day.

PM Rishi Sunak yesterday said he will “urgently” bring forward proposals to reduce the costs pressure with ­holiday camps and student accommodation to be used.

Also, a rise in capacity for immigration and asylum ­tribunals is set to allow 9,000 more cases to be heard before the end of March.