Italian ship transfers 16 intercepted migrants to Albania in a first under their new migration plan

Associated Press

SHENGJIN, Albania (AP) — An Italian navy ship docked at the Albanian port of Shengjin to bring the first group of 16 migrants intercepted in international waters. The naval ship Libra left the port of Lampedusa on Monday with 16 men — 10 from Bangladesh and six from Egypt — who were rescued at sea after departing from Libya. Last week Italy formally opened two centers in Albania based on a five-year deal signed last year. The controversial agreement to outsource the housing of asylum-seekers to a non-EU member country has been hailed by some countries that, like Italy, are experiencing a high level of migrant arrivals. But it has been slammed by human rights groups as setting a dangerous precedent.