Following discussions on connecting Kashar-Rrogozhina road with Tirana bypass, project details are now finalized and construction will begin this year,” said Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Enea Karakaçi.

“ARRSH has approved implementation project submitted to the ministry today and will immediately start the expropriation process, paving the way for construction to start this year,” said the minister in a video message published on social networks.

“Extending Thumana-Kashar road as part of the Blue Corridor, the 33.5-kilometer Kashar-Rrogozhina highway will be built to Category A standards. This direct north-south route aims to relieve heavy traffic on the busy Tirana-Durrës corridor,” the minister said.

Enea Karakaçi noted that Kashar-Rrogozhina project is part of a larger plan to modernize Albania’s roads and link the country to the European transport network.

As a key part of the Blue Corridor, the new highway will improve north-south travel and give Albania better access to major European routes.

/e.xh/r.e/p.s./

As an expression of solidarity, every year state institutions in the country join this global initiative, reflecting the institutional commitment to increase attention to this social cause.

World Autism Awareness Day aims to raise public awareness of the challenges faced by individuals with autism, as well as to promote inclusion and improvement of their life quality.

On this day, the Albanian government decided to double the monthly payment for 11 thousand children with disabilities, as well as the recognition of social and health insurance for about 14 thousand of their caregivers and assistants. /e.i/a.f/p.s./

Kumbaro emphasized that, for two days, all efforts have been made to extinguish the fires in the Blue Eye Natural Park, which continues to be closed to visitors these days to ensure the well-being of all the holidaymakers.

“The Natural Park is safe today, but the battle with the flames continues without rest in the surrounding villages with the commitment of all forces on the ground, from the Firefighters, to the Civil Emergencies, the State Police, the Armed Forces, the Administration of Protected Areas”, the minister wrote in a post in social media while she expressed gratitude to all the forces on the ground. /gj.m//a.f//r.e/p.s./

In her speech at the “Infrastructure, Achievements and Challenges for Albania 2030” event, where Prime Minister Edi Rama is also present, Balluku said that, “The Blue Corridor is one of the most important in pan-European transport, which connects Croatia, Montenegro, Albania and Greece, thus creating a corridor for the transport of goods and passengers. But, on the other hand, it is associated with several other corridors, as road corridors create the infrastructure for both energy and gas corridors”.

Regarding the route from Kashari to Lekaj, Balluku said that, “We have a completely new route. Kashar-Lekaj road connects north and south without passing through Tirana”.

According to her, this is undoubtedly the greatest achievement for this corridor.

“This segment is completely new and from the project so far it consists of 2 tunnels of 5 km, 6 bridges, 5 junctions and 9 underpasses. I believe that the company working on the road infrastructure no longer sees any problems. I believe that Lekaj-Kashar will be delivered on time, as foreseen in the contract, with all the road safety parameters”, Balluku underlined.

According to her, the entire Blue Corridor is accompanied by parallel roads./k.s/j.p/p.s./

During his speech, former prime minister Berisha said that this is a good day for the opposition, adding that today not him, but the law and the Constitution won.

“The greatest pyramid of fraud in the history of European justice after World War II received the most fatal blow today! This is the day when the monsters of democracy, Edi Rama and George Soros, failed in their attempt to destroy the Albanian opposition. Today, 330 days of sacrifice and 3 years of struggle triumphed and was rewarded”, said Berisha in his speech to the democratic supporters who had gathered outside the premises of the blue headquarters.

Former prime minister Berisha has been under “house arrest” since December 30 of last year, after refusing to obey by the “compulsory appearance” measure, considering it unconstitutional.

Sali Berisha, currently the chairman of the Democratic Party, is accused by SPAK of committing the criminal offense of, “Passive corruption of high state officials”, committed in collaboration during privatization of the former “Partizani” complex.

On his part, Berisha said that he was arrested because he, “defended the national interest, he was arrested precisely because he was the anti-corruption figure of the Albanians”.

“The only evidence found against me was my daughter’s charity for children with disabilities and the payments she had made for medical services for me, all declared. They tried to buy my silence, but now they have made a fool of themselves,” said Berisha.

Berisha added that, “With the return of the Democratic Party to power, we are closer than ever to our mission to save Albania.”

At the end of his speech, Berisha called on Prime Minister Edi Rama, whom he accused of being, “The mastermind of what he called this coup d’état against the opposition,” to pave the way to a caretaker government.

“Form a caretaker government because the next act of civil disobedience is ready,” Berisha said. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Anila Denaj said that, “The “Blue Economy” program contributes by offering institutions and the private sector new opportunities in context of the EU membership process”.

According to her, this program complies with the Strategy for Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries 2021-2027, and aims to improve fishing infrastructure and supports small-scale fishing throughout the Albanian coast.

Also, the minister said, this step will help promote employment, formalization, modernization of the sector, increasing its competitiveness and sustainable development.

“The investment contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030, for food security, sustainable patterns of consumption and production, and conservation of marine resources,” said Denaj. /r.e/p.s./

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in context of the “Beautiful Albania” feature in the social media, shared today images from the “Blue Eye”, where young people bathe in the cold waters of the spring.

“Blue eye” is located near the village of Muzina, by the national road Delvina-Gjirokastra, about 30 minutes away from Saranda.

It is a natural asset of Albania, which by decision of January 2022 has received a higher protection status, that of “Natural Park”, with an area increased to 293 hectares, so that to better protect the Natural Monument with the same name, which is inside the park.

In recent years, the “Blue Eye” has attracted many visitors from different countries of the world.

/k.s/r.e/p.s./

Rama said that about 70% of the works on this crucial road have already been completed.

During a press conference after the two-day meeting on the governance priorities of 2024, which was held in Lezha, Rama also said that now we are crystal clear about the progress of the process so that to start the construction of Milot-Thumana road.

“This is also a crucial road, as we are well-aware how difficult it is to move, especially during the summer season towards the south or Tirana”, said the prime minister.

The prime minister expressed his belief that the signing of the contracts for the Kashar-Rrogozhin and Rrogozhin-Lekaj road will be done before the summer season.

“The completion of these roads will lead to the completion of the Blue Corridor. Meanwhile, work is underway on the first phase of the process, specifically the project for the Milot-Muriqan segment”, stated Rama./p.s./

The new infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists has radically changed the tourist route to this natural park, making it more accessible to tourists.

Director of the Administration of Protected Areas in Vlora Edi Breshani said today for ATA that, “After building of the new road infrastructure and the creation of more suitable surroundings for visitors to the “Blue Eye” Natural Park, the number of visitors during 2023 has been growing every month”.

“From January to September, there were 185,305 visitors to the “Blue Eye”, of which 60,821 were locals and 124,484 were foreigners,” Breshani said.

According to him, even during October, this natural park continues to attract local and foreign tourists.

Breshani also said that the National Agency of Protected Areas new master plan carries the paths within the “Blue Eye” Natural Park, the sign posts that has been missing for many years and some observation points for tourists of special interest.

“Also, the Ministry of Tourism and National Agency of Protected Areas are working to increase the services at this tourist point in cooperation with the local businesses of the area”, said Breshani.

The “Blue eye” is located in the vicinity of Muzin village, near the national road Delvinë-Gjirokastër, about 30 minutes away from Saranda. It is the largest and most beautiful water spring in Albania, which enjoys the status of a natural monument.

Its depth, it reaches up to 45 meters. It is a source of fresh and sweet water surrounded by dense and evergreen vegetation. The source of the Bistrica River, which runs through a part of the south of Albania, really resembles a big round eye with a diameter of about ten meters.

Water and forest surfaces, meadows and agricultural lands are included within the protected area.

The “Blue Eye” attracts every year thousands of visitors from all over the world. /k.s/p.s./

“So, practically next year we will be on the construction site for building of this corridor. Croatia starts the investment from its side. Hopefully, Montenegro will also make the connection and then it will be complete another added energy that will come to us”, said PM Rama at the meeting on the balance-sheet of tourism held today in Tirana.

Meanwhile, Rama said that the works on Llogora tunnel is at a very advanced stage.

“We hope that next summer will be the first summer with an open tunnel. Besides, we continue the works for building further on a tourist road,” he said.

The prime minister added that access to the ports and airports has also improved.

“So, there is good reason to worry in the face of the challenges that must be won quickly and we have every reason to believe that we can win them quickly. First of all, access to the airport has been expanded and will multiply with building of the airport of Vlora. Secondly, port access has been improved and will be expanded with tourist ports”, he emphasized. /r.e/p.s./