Refugees may start to cross over Albania

THE ITALIANS could scarcely believe their eyes. Twenty-five years ago thousands of Albanians, crammed onto leaky boats, began arriving in the southern port of Brindisi, on the south-east coast of Italy (pictured). Communism was collapsing in Albania and rumours had spread that the Italians were handing out visas. In August alone 20,000 packed onto a single ship. Then the Italians promised to pay the Albanian government $9m ($16m today) to keep their people at home and the flow of people came to an end.

Today’s migrant crisis gives many Albanians mixed feelings. As a country of emigrants Albanians are sympathetic to others who flee war or who just want better lives. Just under 3m people live there; at least 1m Albanians, the largest part of the diaspora, live in Greece and Italy. Last year just under 55,000 tried their luck at escaping poverty by joining the flow from the Middle East and applying for political asylum in Germany (nearly all will fail).