Last week, some in the new populist coalition government threatened to withhold nearly 20 billion euros ($23 billion) in contributions to the EU if member nations didn’t volunteer to take the last group of rescued migrants reaching Italy. If the prosecutor "wants to interrogate me or even arrest me because I defend the borders and security of my country, I'm proud of it," Salvini tweeted. Salvini stopped the majority of the migrants disembarking from the Diciotti after they were rescued on Aug 15, but he allowed 27 unaccompanied minors off the boat on Wednesday. Italy’s Foreign Ministry called Albania’s offer “a signal of great solidarity and friendship which Italy greatly appreciates.”

Salvini was in discussions with other non-EU countries who might be willing to follow Albania’s example, an Interior Ministry source said earlier on Saturday.
Thirteen sick people are taken off the stranded Diciotti vessel in Catania, Italy. Albania offers to take in 20 migrants.