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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Angela Giuffrida in Rome

Italy sends first asylum seekers to Albania under controversial pact

Drone view of the reception camp in a port
A reception centre in Gjadër, Albania. Photograph: Florion Goga/Reuters

The first people to be intercepted at sea by the Italian navy under a controversial migration deal with Albania are on their way to the Balkan nation to have their asylum claims processed.

As part of the pact signed off by Italy’s far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, a navy ship set off on Monday and is due to arrive at the port of Schëngjin on Wednesday morning. The interior ministry confirmed on Monday night that 16 men – – 10 Bangladeshis and six Egyptians – who it said had arrived from Libya and were rescued on Sunday in international waters by the Italian coastguard were on board.

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