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Europe

The Latest: Albania won't take migrants blocked in Greece

Associated Press
Published | Updated

ATHENS, Greece – The Latest on the flow of migrants into Europe (all times local):

12:25 p.m.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama says that Albania will not become the new route for migrants headed for western Europe "because we have neither the conditions nor the strength nor the enthusiasm to save the world while others close their borders."

Macedonia has all but closed its border with Greece, blocking the path for migrants who are continuing to arrive at the rate of thousands daily, leading some to wonder whether a route through Albania would be viable.

Speaking on a talk show late Thursday Rama contradicted a statement made earlier by the integration minister in which she said Albania would not build a wall to prevent refugees and other migrants from entering.

Rama said Albania could not hold "the entire burden. ... I have said that in case of a distribution of the burden we shall take our part."

He added that Albania has for six months been in negotiation with the Italian government about what to do if the migrants came to his country, "because normally they would not come to stay in Albania but would target Italy" — across the Adriatic Sea.

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12:20 p.m.

Greece's government has ordered authorities on islands facing the coast of Turkey to reduce the number of migrants allowed to travel by ferry to the mainland so that more temporary shelters can be set up to cope with the crisis triggered by border restrictions in countries further north.

The Merchant Marine Ministry said ferry companies and regional authorities had been given the instructions Friday, as the number of migrants and refugees stranded in Greece continues to rise with thousands sleeping rough in parks and along the country's highways as existing shelters are filled to capacity.

The ministry said chartered ferries would be used on Lesbos and other islands to provide temporary shelter through Sunday.

About 2,000 people are arriving daily from Turkey using dinghies and small boats.