Albania FCO travel warning - 23.3.08
Albania
This advice has been reviewed and reissued with an amendments to the Summary, Crime, Local Travel and Sea Travel sections (explosion at ammunition depot in Gerdec, near Tirana on 15 March). The overall level of the advice has not changed.
We advise against all travel to the north east border areas (i.e. the districts of Kukes, Has and Tropoje) between Albania and Kosovo because of the risk of unexploded ordnance placed during the 1999 Kosovo crisis and the poor condition of the roads.
On 15 March 2008, there was a major explosion at an ammunition depot in Gerdec, near Tirana and close to the main Tirana-Durres motorway (a section of which was temporarily closed). We have not received any reports that British Citizens were among the casualties. Flights from Rinas International Airport were affected but services have now returned to normal.
Although public security is generally good, particularly in Tirana, crime and violence still represent a serious problem in some areas. Gun ownership is widespread.
There is an underlying threat from international terrorism. Attacks, although unlikely, could be indiscriminate, including places frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
According to the Albanian Ministry of the Interior, there were nearly 38,000 entries into Albania by British nationals in 2006. Most visits are trouble-free. The main type of incident for which British nationals required consular assistance in Albania in 2007 was for replacing lost or stolen passports.
We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Albania. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and: Travel Insurance for more details.
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Kind regards,
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