MEP Thierry Mariani said Albania is the center of Turkish influence in the Balkans

 Thierry Mariani

 At today's meeting of the European Parliament, the MEP Thierry Mariani said that the policies that Albania is currently pursuing towards EU membership are not the appropriate and the same as those of the union.

Mariani said that he is against EU enlargement and that Albania is a central point of Turkish influence in the region.

"We are against EU enlargement and the question now is for Albania in terms of pre-enlargement instruments. Albania is a central point of Turkish influence in the region. I want to mention 5 teachers in March in Kosovo who were abducted and sent to Turkey.

Turkish intelligence also had Albanian partners. We do not think that the policies that have chosen these moments are appropriate and the same as the EU. We need to be more honest about Albania. When I hear David Lega about corruption, crime in Albania, why we get tired of Albania. We need an agreement, but Albania has no vocation to join the EU", he said.