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Kosovo PM Albin Kurti: We feel 'obligation' to host UK migrant return hub

On Wednesday, Albin Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo, said talks are under way with the United Kingdom on a migrant returns deal despite Kosovo's limited capacity but expects success.
Because of close historical ties, Kosovo expects security support including equipment and intelligence-sharing in return for aiding the United Kingdom, citing Britain's 1999 NATO role.
A Home Office team is exploring how a return hub could operate but no formal UK request has yet been made to Kosovo; only 3% of small boat arrivals in 2018-24, or around 5,000 people, were returned from the UK, the Oxford Migration Observatory found.
Kosovo would likely seek a defence agreement and UK investment in return for hosting migrants, building on its June deal to take 50 US deportees under the Biden administration.
Nine countries are under consideration for return hubs, but Albania's president Bajram Begaj and Bosnia and Herzegovina presidency have rejected hosting and experts warn legal hurdles remain.

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Britain receives migrant crisis olive branch as ally offers to become UK return hub

Britain has been extended a migrant crisis olive branch as Kosovo's Prime Minister has said he "wants to help the UK" by offering to accept the UK's rejected asylum seekers.Albin Kurti said he wants to help Britain combat illegal immigration in return for more support to strengthen its national security against Serbian and Russian threats.Mr Kurti spoke before a summit of Western Balkan leaders, hosted by Sir Keir in London on Wednesday, where h…

10 hours ago·London, United Kingdom

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