In an interview with British outlet Truth Times, Berisha said Prime Minister Edi Rama lacked the legitimacy to govern and called for his resignation, proposing the establishment of a non-partisan caretaker government.

Berisha said Rama had initially presented the disputed tourism project as an accord between private landowners seeking to develop their property with a private investor.

He said his position had remained unchanged throughout: he and his main opposition Democratic Party welcome foreign direct investment “with the only condition that it respects the law.” According to Berisha, he first expressed this stance three years ago when the Kushner companies investment was announced and repeated it “word for word” on the day the protests began.

“This position has not changed,” Berisha stated.

He argued that, from a legal perspective as he views it, a development or construction permit should only be granted after an investor has acquired land based on original state-issued ownership titles and when there are no active ownership disputes.

Berisha also condemned the dragging of a protester by private security personnel in the presence of state police, as well as the fencing off of the area with barbed wire. He accused Rama of disregarding both domestic and international law, saying the prime minister had acted like a ruler from past centuries who considered “land, water and air his personal property.”

“That is why I and the Democratic Party fully support the protest,” Berisha said.

On allegations of antisemitism, Berisha said the government had attempted to portray the protest movement as antisemitic, telling Truth Times that there was “substantial evidence” of official efforts to push the demonstrations in that direction.

He referred to the tearing of an Israeli flag near the Israeli Embassy during the protest several days ago as the basis for what he called “serious suspicions” that authorities had orchestrated the incident, noting that police had never publicly identified a suspect. He insisted that the protest movement “was not and is not antisemitic.”

He added that the protesters themselves had made their position clear, saying movement representatives immediately condemned the flag incident – a reaction he cited as evidence that the demonstrations had nothing to do with the label being attached to them.

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The Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro on Thursday shared the story published by the British media earlier this month, saying that Albania is becoming an interesting tourist destination in its every corner.

“Gjirokaster, the summer season in Lunxheri, the thermal baths in Bënjë, Voskopoje churches and Tirana’s modern architecture are just a few of the many attractions and destinations presented to the British public, underlining that in addition to the stunning beaches, Albania is an interesting destination in every season and in every corner to visit,” Kumbaro said.

“I scramble up the steep, hilly path, pausing only to take in the panoramic views, before emerging at the summit of Leusë, a mountain village in Gjirokastër County, southern Albania. Here I find the formerly secret, orthodox St Mary’s Church with religious frescoes dating to the 1800s. The only sounds are the crowing of a cockerel and the clatter of goats’ hooves on the mountainous terrain,” Chloe Govan wrote on the “inews”.

Albania’s natural beauties, cultural and historic heritage sites are increasingly attracting attention of the leading international media.

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This time, Gal-dem.com shares the story of a British writer who abandoned London and Paris to move and settle in the Albanian capital city of Tirana after just a three-week trip to Albania.

Following is the full article by  Sonia Bensoltane:

Before visiting Tirana, Albania’s capital, I had lived in London and Paris; where I felt the spirit of these cities was restless, noisy and rushed. The hustle and bustle that I’d once enjoyed in the British and French capitals had started to feel like a weight on my shoulders and it became clear I needed to slow down.

I had visited Albania on holiday with friends before the pandemic hit. We didn’t know much about Albanian culture, but curiosity had driven us to this small Balkan country which sits at the border with Greece, Macedonia and Montenegro.

When I first walked through the tranquil streets of the capital Tirana, it felt like time had slowed and I was overcome with a feeling of peace. With people casually strolling or chilling in the city’s numerous terraced cafes, the serene environment invited me to slow down. I had barely felt this way in Paris or London because we don’t have time in big cities. We rush. Yet, in Tirana, people didn’t seem so worried about time.

Intrigued by this slower way of living, it stuck with me. After the travel restrictions were lifted, I decided to move to Tirana with a close friend. I didn’t imagine how much it would change my mindset on life. While living there, I too embraced how time could be more expansive, something to savour and enjoy.

The place we were renting was in the Pazari i Ri area, which is famous for its marketplace – called New Bazaar. The old Bazaar, which was the original market, was demolished in 1959. For a long time, The New Bazaar was the only place to trade fresh fish, meat and vegetables. Today a modern glass roof protects the stalls, and several cafés and restaurants can be found in the picturesque, pinkish-yellow buildings that frame the market. In the morning, the smell of fresh coffee from the cafés floats in the air together with the scent of juicy olives, and around noon, you start smelling the traditional Qofte (Kefta) from the restaurants, while the Adhan (Islamic call for prayer) rings out across the neighbourhood.

With this market just next door, it was easy to buy locally and consciously. The freshness of the products got me into a new grocery shopping routine. I started to dedicate more time to cooking as picking my ingredients at the market would encourage me to cook mindfully.

From the location of my apartment in central Tirana, everything was within walking distance. I stopped using public transport, which took away the stress, rush, and discomfort of being on packed buses and trains.

While walking, I started to pay more attention to my surroundings. I would see people and the world around me instead of being on my phone, I’d notice new businesses or some street art that I hadn’t spotted before, I’d feel close to nature as Tirana’s pavements are lined with trees. I would move my body first thing in the morning; walking became a meditation as it would help me to clear my mind before starting the day. The city’s natural skyline also helped my sense of calm; rather than skyscrapers or high rises, Tirana is overlooked by the Dajti Mountain, which turns a magnificent hue of purple when the sun sets.

The city and its slowed-down pace also had an effect on my social life, teaching me how to build stronger relationships. In Albania, more time is typically made for friendships and social activities.

When I started to hang out with my Albanian friends, we would meet up at cafés, order espressos, and would stay there for hours, losing track of time. Coffee isn’t just a caffeine hit for Albanian people; it is a way of life. Around a good cup of coffee, people bond, close business deals, or simply enjoy the moment. Albanian people aren’t in a rush when they invite you for a coffee. This isn’t because they aren’t busy, but rather because they value their relationships. Hence why they prioritise making time for their friends.

Social occasions are enjoyed most obviously on Sundays; a day synonymous with family, food, and quality time in Albania. My best memories were the Sundays spent in the small town of Divjakë, where my Albanian friends would visit their families and invite me along. The idea was to catch up with family members while enjoying delicious food, sharing stories, and listening to some classic Albanian songs – such as Do digjesh zjarr from Anila Mimani, or trying to repeat the Albanian dance steps on Pogonishte from Gena.

Divjakë is an incredible place that exudes peace, family, nature, and community. There is a national park in this town, where families gather during the weekend and have barbecues on the park’s dedicated grill areas. We also enjoyed the town’s natural water reserves; we once got freshly caught fish from a local fisherman and enjoyed this fresh local food after a boat trip on the lagoon. Another activity is cycling through the park; you can rent bicycles at the entrance.

Now that this journey has come to an end, I can say that Albanian culture reconnected me with nature, a sense of community, and the right to slow down. Feeling closer to these simpler things made me reassess what was more important to me at this stage of my life. After my time in Albania, I knew for sure I didn’t want to live in big cities anymore and searched for a new place to call home that shared Tirana’s slower way of life. I ended up moving to a tranquil town in Mexico with these new priorities in mind.

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