TIRANA, June 10 – Prime Minister Edi Rama told Associated Press that Albania will continue with plans for a luxury tourism investment linked to Jared Kushner despite ongoing protests against the project.
Rama rejected environmental criticism and described it as a result of misinformation. He said the investment reflects growing international interest in Albania and supports the country’s efforts to develop high-end tourism and advance toward European Union membership.
Meanwhile, protesters have continued daily demonstrations in Tirana against the proposed development, which includes hotels, apartments, villas and a yacht marina.
Rama said authorities have not yet started a formal environmental impact assessment because planners have not finalized the project. He stressed that international architects and environmental experts continue to shape the proposal. According to the prime minister, there is still no final project and the process remains at the planning stage.
In addition, Rama said Albania has a strong record in protecting nature. He pointed to hunting and logging moratoriums that, according to him, helped wildlife recover, including flamingo populations.
The prime minister also recalled that Kushner first expressed interest in investing in Albania after visiting the country. A company linked to Kushner has since received strategic investor status from Albanian authorities.
Finally, Rama said criticism of the project contains many “half-truths” that grow into larger falsehoods over time. He added that he was not accusing individual protesters of acting on behalf of foreign interests.
/a.p./
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