Greek media outlet ** Protothema.gr** writes that Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama is under increasing pressure due to the recent protests in Albania and has often claimed that Greece is jealous of American investments in the country.
Recalling Rama’s meeting with Ivanka Trump, the publication reports that as early as 2024 it was clear Albania would be affected by major American investments.
“When Edi Rama welcomed Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner to Tirana in 2024, he made sure to properly promote both the dinner they shared and the couple’s plans for a major tourism investment with two pillars: one on the uninhabited island of Sazan Island, which still bears the marks of its past as a military base under Hoxha, and the second in the Vjosa-Narta region, one of Europe’s most important coastal habitats,” the article begins.
What stands out most in the report is the claim that, according to Protothema, the majority of the landowners in Zvërnec are members of the Greek minority.
“Most of them, in fact, are members of the Greek national minority who lost their properties when the communist regime abolished private ownership,” the article states.
The report also highlights statements made by MEP Fredi Beleri, who has reportedly brought the matter before the European Commission.
Addressing European institutions, Beleri argued that the properties have not been returned to their lawful owners and that their rights are being violated. He added that the incidents raise serious questions regarding respect for fundamental freedoms, property rights, and the protection of recognized national minorities in a country seeking membership in the European Union.
“The incidents in Zvërnec, which brought widespread attention to the investment issue, prompted a parliamentary question from New Democracy MEP Fredi Beleri to the European Commission. After stressing that the events took place on land that had been unlawfully confiscated and not returned to its rightful owners, he argued that the violations raise serious concerns about fundamental freedoms, property rights, and the protection of recognized national minorities in a country that is a candidate for accession to the European Union,” the article states.
As Prime Minister Rama himself has indicated, the ownership issue in Zvërnec is currently being examined by the justice system. He has emphasized that if the residents claiming ownership are proven right, they will be compensated for every centimeter of land used for the investment.
“Following the incidents that attracted international attention, particularly the images showing a Greek protester being dragged on the ground by members of a private security company, Albania’s Special Anti-Corruption and Organized Crime Prosecution Office (SPAK) has begun investigating the complaints. A criminal investigation has already been launched into how the land was transferred, the source of the funds used to purchase it, and, meanwhile, construction works have been halted,” the Greek publication concludes.
