Prime Minister Edi Rama has addressed protesters opposing the Zvërnec and Sazan projects, delivering a message and an invitation to those taking part in the demonstrations.
Rama stated that he would be just as outraged as the protesters if the claims circulating about the projects were true, but insisted that the facts point to a different reality.
“I take responsibility for every fact I present. If what you have been led to believe were true, I would be just as disgusted as some of you appear to be. The truth is that we are witnessing one of the major developments of social media in recent years, where other countries have fallen into the trap of proven and exposed methods of manipulation.
To anyone genuinely interested in protecting the public interest, the environment, and the future of birdlife in the Zvërnec and Sazan areas, I say that the facts we have available should be more than enough to reassure anyone. So come, see and hear the facts for yourselves, examine the evidence, and feel proud that our institutions have represented the public interest, both regarding Sazan and the application process for the development of Zvërnec.
Come and see that there is no strategic investor status involved. You have been saddled with a very powerful lie, one that you have turned into your battle horse, but you cannot fight a battle on the basis of that horse. I have no negotiations to conduct with you because I do not negotiate the program, vision, or mandate given to me by those who voted for us to lead Albania into the European Union.
I am open to any discussion about tourism development. As for the future of Zvërnec, it will be determined solely by the quality of the project and the level of ambition shown in the proposals submitted by investors. Stay away from the hyenas gathering around you, because you will be the first to drown in the saliva of that hunger for power, a hunger that we Socialists have recognized from afar and which some try to hide beneath a traditional cap they are wearing for the first time.
If you truly want to protect Albania, those of you who are sincerely concerned should not confuse real risks with political manipulation. Instead, come and join the Socialist Party, which needs people who are willing to challenge what is wrong and work together with us to improve it.”
