Prime Minister Edi Rama responded to a statement by U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, who claimed that over 100,000 Albanian citizens protested a tourism investment project in Zvërnec.
Rama reacted on the social media platform “X.” He said no approved project, construction permit, or final development plan exists.
Furthermore, he said it is wrong to label something an environmental disaster before it exists. He argued that public debate should rely on facts, not headlines.
He also said that Albania is not a backdrop for political debates in the United States or elsewhere.
“Albania is a state, not a line in an American political debate,” Rama wrote. “Facts on the ground are different from media headlines.”
In addition, he rejected claims about protest numbers. He said reports inflated the figures from under 10,000 to over 100,000.
Moreover, Rama stressed that the project remains in a planning phase. He said experts in architecture, environmental science, and landscape design are working on a sustainable tourism vision.
He also said the plan aims to increase green areas, expand biodiversity, and improve environmental outcomes.
However, he emphasized that no construction will begin without legal approval.
“Dissent is legitimate,” he said. “Environmental scrutiny is welcome. That is how democracies work.”
At the same time, he said Albania welcomes serious investors who create jobs and respect national laws. He rejected what he called “imported indignation” and ideological reactions.
Furthermore, he said Albania will decide its own development path through its institutions and laws. He insisted that no project will bypass environmental standards.
Finally, Rama invited Sanders to visit Albania and see the country directly.
He said Albania is a small but proud nation that is shaping its future. He added that the country will continue to base its decisions on facts, institutions, and legal processes, not viral narratives or political disputes.
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