Source: Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Albania |

Statement by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs on the issue relating to the Honorary Consul of Albania in Nigeria, Nitin Sandesara

The formalities for appointing Mr. Nitin Sandesara as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Albania in Nigeria were completed in January 2019

The formalities for the appointment were determined by the criteria and conditions, as specified in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations

TIRANA, Albania, March 26, 2019/APO Group/ --

On the issue relating to the Honorary Consul of Albania in Nigeria, Nitin Sandesara, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs informs as follows:

The formalities for appointing Mr. Nitin Sandesara as the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Albania in Nigeria were completed in January 2019. The formalities for the appointment were determined by the criteria and conditions, as specified in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

The grant of Albanian citizenship and issuance of Albanian passport to Mr. Sandesara is not a procedure that has been conducted through the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, neither is such procedure within the competence of this institution.

Furthermore, the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs explains that even though, subject to Decision No. 335 by the Council of Ministers of 2 September 1997, such Ministry has the authority to issue diplomatic and service passports, neither a diplomatic passport, nor a service passport has been issued to Mr. Sandesara.

The case brought up recently that Mr. Sandesara has Albanian citizenship may infringe the image and reputation of both the Institution of the Honorary Consul, and the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and the Albanian State overall, irrespective of the fact that actions by Mr. Sandesara have been taken in his personal name.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs informs that it has all the legal rights to terminate the functions of the Honorary Consul.

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs has terminated the functions of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Albania in Nigeria for Mr. Nitin Sandesara with immediate effect.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Albania.