TIRANA, June 7 – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama said protests against a proposed investment in Zvërnec have been exaggerated by international media, arguing that no approved project currently exists.
In a message addressed to international news organizations, including CNN International, Rama said the latest protest drew about 2,000 participants. He added that attendance never exceeded 8,000 people, even at its peak. Meanwhile, he questioned how a local demonstration had become an international news story and urged closer scrutiny of the gap between events on the ground and their portrayal online.
Rama said no final project, construction permit or building activity currently exists in Zvërnec. According to him, the government has only outlined a vision to develop high-end tourism while improving environmental indicators and expanding green areas. In addition, he said international experts in ecology, biodiversity, landscape architecture and sustainable tourism are working on the concept.
The prime minister also rejected claims that the project poses an environmental threat. He said any future proposal should undergo scientific assessment, public scrutiny and transparent debate. However, he argued that assumptions and speculation have shaped much of the public discussion.
Rama further claimed that manipulated content, anonymous accounts and coordinated online activity amplified the controversy. At the same time, he criticized reports that, he said, failed to distinguish between a private mainland property and an island. According to him, that confusion distorted the debate. He concluded by saying that criticism and disagreement remain legitimate parts of public discussion.
/a.p./
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