TIRANA, June 1 /ATA/ – Main opposition Democratic Party (DP) leader Sali Berisha said on Monday that foreign investment was vital for Albania’s economic development, arguing that investors should not bear the consequences of disputes arising after state institutions have approved their projects.
Speaking in parliament during a debate that touched on the proposed tourism development in the Zvërnec area, southern Albania, Berisha accused the government of creating conditions that discourage foreign investors.
“Foreign investment is of vital importance for Albania’s development,” Berisha said, adding that the country had failed to attract major international investors in recent years.
He cited several large-scale projects carried out during the period when DP was in government, including the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and hydropower developments on the Devoll and Fan rivers, saying foreign direct investment had reached between 1.2 billion and 1.4 billion euros annually between 2008 and 2013.
Berisha said investors whose projects had been approved by government institutions and other state agencies should be protected from subsequent legal and administrative disputes.
“If an investor has obtained all the necessary approvals from state institutions, responsibility for any later conflicts should not fall on the investor,” he said.
DP supports full respect for property rights, Berisha added, arguing that individuals claiming damages or ownership violations should seek compensation from the state, which should also prosecute any cases involving fraud or document falsification.
His comments came amid public debate over a proposed tourism investment in the coastal area of Zvërnec, where questions related to land ownership and development plans have sparked controversy.
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