Italian media have again returned to the Rama-Meloni agreement between Albania and Italy on illegal immigrants and reception centers to be established in Shëngjin and Jude. Rai Tre will air a special investigation on the issue by journalist Giorgio Mottola on Sunday night on "Report" but La Repubblica newspaper has revealed parts of the documentary in advance.
Initially it is the economic concerns of the deal that the documentary raises. According to her, the costs could reach around 1 billion euros, without being able to solve the migrant problem, risking that some of the money will be seized by renowned Italian entrepreneur Francesco Becchetti who seeks the money earned in arbitration after the closure of agon channel. The key man in the deal sought by the Meloni government is Angel Agaci, "secretary of Prime Minister Edi Rama and also a lawyer for the leading exponents of the Albanian mafia in Italy, at the center of a sensational attempt to corrupt the chief of Interpol in Rome."
The investigation has accounted for the migrant transfer operation in Albania and uncovered "a long series of discrepancies". Compared to 36 thousand migrants per year that Meloni predicts, the two Albanian reception centers can expect a maximum of 2822 migrants, given that the maximum capacity is less than 1,000 people.
"The costs that are now out of control. Construction of the two centres has gone from €35 million to €65 million and there is a risk that they will increase further as works are being delayed. The costs will be met with severe funding cuts for the Italian Ministries of Education, Environment and Health," la Repubblica said.
It raises concern that part of the money could go into the pockets of Francesco Becchetti, the shady entrepreneur, founder of agon Channel.
Albania was sentenced to 135 million euros in damages for the Italian businessman, but has no intention of paying him. And therefore he decided to preventively seize part of the funds intended for the government of Tirana" – the letter reads.
The "Report" show says it has also revealed the identity of the key man in the agreement between Italy and Albania, Engjëll Agaçi, secretary general of the Prime Minister.
"Agaçi is an important Albanian lawyer with an office in Rome. In the past, his clients were also some of the leading albanian mafia bosses, tried in Italy. In 2016, some of his clients ended up at the centre of a legal controversy.
"According to what the Italian magistrates reported, many Albanian mafia bosses, sentenced to sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years in Italy, were very easily extradited to Albania, where after arriving there they were serving much lower sentences or even released from prison," the report said. Lawyer Agaci holds one of the central posts of the Rama government, as secretary general of the Council of Ministers.
When Giorgia Meloni went on holiday to Albania this summer to discuss the details of the migrant deal, he was also present, alongside Edi Rama and the Italian prime minister.
The Report quoted Agaçi as a consultant to the Head of Interpol, General Fabrizio Lisi, a liaison officer between Tirana and Rome, in the fight against drug trafficking. Lisi was to manage an irregible property operation dealing with ownership of some land for his foundation and turned to lawyer Agachi who put him in touch with a prestanome of Arthur Sheu, the head of drug traffickers with contacts with Cosa Nostra and Sacra Corona Unita.
Lisi says he didn't know who Shehu was and that he trusted Agaci. Rama and the government also trusted Agachi. It was he who, in the role of Legal Adviser to Ram, followed on behalf of the Albanian government the lawsuit filed by the opposition in the Albanian Constitutional Court regarding the agreement between Italy and Albania for immigrants that could block everything. Agaçi saved the investment with many millions from Italy that will arrive in Albania. We are talking about 1 billion euros in 5 years," italian media reported.