Albanian Prime Minister Eddie Rama considers that protests against the planned construction of a luxury resort on an island near the Adriatic coast are due to misinformation, while rejecting that protected area sold to investors, including US President Donald Trump's son-in-law.
"The fact is no agreement has been reached on the island of Sazan", As part of an interview he gave to the German Agency in Berlin. "It's all lies", He insists.
According to Mr Rama, his government is still negotiating a possible partnership between the public and private sectors to build what will potentially become the country's largest luxury resortOn Sazan Island.
Confirms that the Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump's son-in-law, is among potential investors. However, he categorically denies, talking about false news, that "the Kusners acquired the island" or that " Albania sold the island".
"Albania has turned into platform of all rage against Trump around the world"Mr Rama argues.
In the Balkan country, candidate for membership of the European Union, massive protests have been recorded for weeks against the planned investment. Thousands of people participated in demonstrations in the capital, Tirana, where incidents with police broke out.
Beyond Kazan, the plan also includes the assignment to small-scale individuals near the city Geverettes, separating the Narta lagoon from the Adriatic. It is a protected area, as it is characterized as a habitat for birds and other species of fauna.
Mr Rama states that the preparatory, research work there was temporarily suspended due to the "pressure", but insists that the investment will proceed.
According to the Prime Minister of Albania, plans have not yet been submitted for either location. It stresses that it is a prerequisite for environmental impact studies to be carried out.
Environmental protection organisations criticise amendments to Albanian legislation on protected areas, adopted in 2024. The Rama government says it was "clarifying" about the status of protected areas. However, the EU assessed that changes in legislation weakened the legal framework for environmental protection.
Prime Minister Rama rejects this position. It emphasises that there is no "no occasion" for the country on the path to EU membership to approve projects which are not in "full compliance" with European environmental criteria.
RES-APA