Tirana, Albania – In a firm response to the wave of popular protests sweeping Albania, Prime Minister Edi Rama asserted that the fierce opposition to a planned luxury resort project in a protected area on the Adriatic coast is based on “misinformation” and claims far removed from reality.
“No sale of the island”: Rama denies the claims
In an exclusive interview with the German Press Agency (dpa) from Berlin, Rama asserted that the campaign targeting the project lacks both legal and factual accuracy. He emphasized that “the facts confirm that there is no deal concerning Sazan Island.” Responding to the circulating claims, Rama added, “The media is filled with false allegations that there is an agreement, that the Kushner family will acquire the island, and that Albania will sell it, but there has never been any sale involved.”
The prime minister explained that his government is still negotiating a joint venture to build Albania’s first luxury resort on the island. He confirmed that Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump, is just one of the potential investors. Rama attributed the political tension surrounding the project to international ideological factors. “Albania has become a platform for anti-Trump anger around the world,” he said, referring to the politicization of the environmental issue.
Street protests and pressure to stop
Albania, which considers EU membership a strategic priority, has been experiencing widespread protests for several weeks. Thousands of citizens have taken to the streets of the capital, Tirana, and the demonstrations have seen sporadic clashes with police. The protests express opposition to construction plans that threaten nature reserves, particularly on the Zvernets Peninsula, where sand dunes form a vital barrier between Lake Narta and the Mediterranean Sea. The peninsula is also home to hundreds of rare bird and animal species.
In an attempt to quell the anger, Rama indicated that preliminary exploratory drilling had been halted. Temporary fencing had also been removed from the construction site. Rama explained, “The preparatory work wasn’t stopped as a result of a specific decision, but there’s a pause because it’s impossible to continue working under this pressure and with this level of intensity.”
EU standards and the environment
On the legal front, Rama confirmed that no formal building permits have yet been submitted for the Sazan or Zvernets areas. He also stressed that conducting environmental impact assessments is mandatory and unavoidable. The Albanian government maintains that the plans allow for very limited construction and that they comply with environmental standards.
Conversely, environmental activists argue that the 2024 amendments to the Protected Areas Act pose a threat to biodiversity, a view echoed by EU reports indicating a decline in protection levels.
However, Rama strongly rejected these criticisms, asserting that it is illogical for a candidate country for EU membership to disregard the bloc’s environmental standards. He concluded by emphasizing that any project will be subject to comprehensive environmental impact assessments in accordance with rigorous European standards.
