Prime Minister Edi Rama said today that planned investments in Sazan and Zvërnec will not harm protected areas.
Speaking in an interview on “Flasim Shqip”, Rama explained that Sazan is not a protected area. He added that Zvërnec holds the status of a protected landscape under Category V.
According to Rama, European protection standards allow protected landscapes to include inhabited areas.
“We are not harming anything. On the contrary, the investment will also benefit the lagoon, which is currently one of the most polluted areas in Albania,” Rama said.
He also stressed that Albania expanded its protected territory when it adopted the law on protected areas.
“We increased Albania’s protected territory. We did not reduce it and we continue to expand it,” he said.
Rama added that different protected areas have different categories and levels of protection. He pointed to Theth as an example, saying it is a protected area but also home to a local community.
Meanwhile, Rama clarified the status of other areas in the region. He said the Vjosa-Narta area does not have the same status as a protected area. According to him, the Pishporo-Narta area has long held the status of a protected landscape.
He added that previous authorities had issued construction permits for apartment buildings in Pishporo-Narta. However, his government later blocked those projects.
Finally, Rama said Jared Kushner had requested from the beginning of the process that every investment should follow the law and all relevant regulations. The Prime Minister said the projects will move forward within the legal framework and without undermining environmental protection.
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