TIRANA, April 3 /ATA/ – Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha has unveiled the main opposition party’s program for culture, promising to prioritize art and culture as essential elements of national identity and pledging to double state budget for culture if his party is to win the May 11 parliamentary elections in Albania.
Presenting the culture platform on Thursday, Berisha claimed that “current situation of Albanian culture is worse than under any occupation Albania has ever experienced.”
Opposition leader reassured culture and artists community that his post-election government would adapt a completely transforming approach to culture, saying a separate Ministry of Culture will be established in his cabinet, if DP seizes power.
“First of all, culture will have its Ministry,” Berisha said that the Socialist Minister is “fighting against the country’s heritage and culture.”
“The Ministry of Culture will be tasked with the most important mission of developing, consolidating and preserving the national culture,” Berisha said.
He said that the heads of cultural institutions will be elected by the employees in these institutions, adding that art and culture sector urgently need complete transparency over funding.
Berisha said that a profound culture and management reform in national cultural policies will be launched.
Opposition leader also promised to cut taxes on publications and on books to provide relieve to publishers, booksellers, authors and the readers.
Berisha also stated that DP is also committed to building a new National Theatre on the very site of the old theatre building that was demolished a few years ago.
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