ALBANIA: Albanians take to the streets to celebrate a decision by the European Union to lift visa restrictions

Record ID: 560949

  • Title: ALBANIA: Albanians take to the streets to celebrate a decision by the European Union to lift visa restrictions
  • Date: 9th November 2010
  • Summary: TIRANA, ALBANIA (NOVEMBER 8, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CARS COVERED IN ALBANIAN, EUROPEAN UNION AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY FLAGS DRIVING THROUGH MAIN SQUARE (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) TIRANA RESIDENT, LEONARD SHAMETAJ, SAYING: "This day is an important day for Albania and all Albanians, it is a day of remembrance for all the people that died trying to reach the European Union countries with a goal of seeing its values. Today we feel very proud of the achievement of the Albanian nation and its government as well those who were able to fulfil the needed reforms to achieve this success." CAR COVERED IN ALBANIAN, EU AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Albanian) STUDENT, ALBAN SULA, SAYING: "It is a very, very happy day and I congratulate all Albanians wherever they are to freely go and see their parents, family members and relatives." CARS COVERED IN FLAGS POLICEMAN WATCHING PEOPLE IN CARS CELEBRATING PEOPLE DRIVING CARS AND FLASHING VICTORY FINGERS SULA ON TOP OF THE CAR WAVING ALBANIAN FLAG MORE CARS PASSING PEOPLE WALKING BY SIGNS WITH NAMES OF EU COUNTRY CAPITALS NO VISA (REQUIRED) SIGN ON TOP OF THE SIGNS WITH NAMES OF EU COUNTRY CAPITALS PEOPLE QUEUING OUTSIDE THE GERMAN EMBASSY MAN HOLDING HIS PASSPORT GERMAN EMBASSY SIGN WOMAN LOOKING AT HER PASSPORT PEOPLE CONGRATULATING ONE OF THE MEN WHO GOT A VISA TO TRAVEL TO GERMANY VARIOUS OF A TRAFFIC LIGHT SHOWING GREEN IN FRONT OF THE "EUROPE" SIGN THAT WAS PUT TO SHOW THAT ALBANIA GOT RID OF VISA REGIME TO EU
  • Embargoed: 24th November 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Albania
  • Country: Albania
  • Topics: International Relations,European Union
  • Reuters ID: LVA86139H8ITHXY3OS4WJY6HW090
  • Story Text: Albanians take to the streets to celebrate a decision by the European Union to lift visa restrictions.
    Albanians celebrated on Monday (November 8) after the European Union announced it would lift visa requirements for travellers from Albania and Bosnia next month.
    The streets of the capital Tirana were filled with cars sounding their horns and their occupants waving flags as they cheered the decision.
    The EU is aiming to encourage democratic reforms in the Balkan states, but warned that restrictions could be re-imposed if travel rules are abused.
    Tirana resident Leonard Shametaj was one who was pleased with the plan to end the harsh visa regime Albania has been subject to since the collapse of communism in the early 1990s.
    "This day is an important day for Albania and all Albanians, it is a day of remembrance for all the people that died trying to reach the European Union countries with a goal of seeing its values. Today we feel very proud of the achievement of the Albanian nation and its government as well those who were able to fulfil the needed reforms to achieve this success," he said.
    Many Albanians have family members who have moved to EU countries to live and work, mainly in Greece and Italy.
    Tirana resident Alban Sula says the decision will help those who remained in Albania.
    "It is a very, very happy day and I congratulate all Albanians wherever they are to freely go and see their parents, family members and relatives," he said.
    The EU's home affairs ministers approved a proposal by the EU executive, the European Commission, to scrap travel restrictions for holders of biometric passports, that have a digitally recorded photo, during a meeting in Brussels.
    However, they insisted the European Commission would continue to monitor how the two countries comply with EU rules on border controls and passport security, underscoring reluctance in the bloc to open up to unrestricted travel.
    Some EU governments doubt the two EU membership hopefuls can cope with issues such as illegal immigration and trafficking along drug routes from Asia to Europe, because of weak institutions and alleged corruption.
    The ministers warned Albania and Bosnia, as well as other Balkan EU hopefuls, that visas could be re-imposed if travel rules are abused.
    Along with the other Balkan states, Albania and Bosnia hope to join the 27-member European Union, but face years of difficult democratic reforms that have been slow to take off because of ethnic tensions and alleged corruption.
    Albania has applied to join the bloc but is expected to suffer a setback this week, when the European Commission is expected to deny Tirana the status of EU candidate for now.
    After Monday's decision the only Balkan state with visa restrictions for travel to the EU is Kosovo.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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