Prime Minister Edi Rama shared today in the social media photos from the project of these apartment buildings where the families affected by the Lana River project will move, but where there will live also those that will be treated according to social housing policy.

PM Rama said that the apartment buildings will be constructed for the housing of residents who are affected and will be displaced following opening of the new chapter of transformation of the Lana, but there will also be apartments for social housing, services and parking under state administration.

The Municipality of Tirana presented yesterday the project for the rehabilitation of the Lana River, a part that extends from the green apartment building with painted arrows to the intersection with “Teodor Keko” Street, which marks a new chapter for transformation of the city.

The project includes the extension of the two main boulevards, “Gjergj Fishta” and “Bajram Curri”, which run parallel to the Lana, and aims to significantly improve traffic and the quality of life for the citizens of Tirana.

All citizens benefit from this investment, very important for the development of the city, while the 317 affected families (even those without property documents) will first benefit from a rental bonus and then from a new apartment for free. /p.s./

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Thank you very much!

I am sorry that because of the rain it was impossible for us to hold this meeting outside, in an outdoor space that was already arranged in advance, but on the other hand I am really happy that it is raining today. I am so happy today that I even declined to hold the umbrella, because our country is actually reliant on the rainwater and on the hydropower for the domestic energy generation and rainwater is desperately needed especially at this difficult moment for the energy production, not only for us, but for the whole of Europe, for the whole world and Albania is still in the process of transforming the power generation system through a series of investment projects that will somehow make up for the complete dependence on hydropower.

Before I reiterate what I have somehow said about this issue, I would like to dwell upon the olive and olive oil sector. It is true that the olive oil price is currently lower than the vegetable cooking oil in the market. But what lessons can be drawn from this situation?

First of all, let’s not forget that in spite of a huge installed production capacity we still import more than 1000 tonnes of olive oil. Why? The reason is an inertia and an inherited preference for the imported olive oil, on one hand, but also due to the fact that our olive oil production industry is still a nascent industry in its early steps and despite the government support – because supporting this sector, even the most symbolic industrial chain of this sector was out of question previously – this industry still faces certification issues and has yet to meet the required standards. So the first lesion is that this already created value should be guaranteed as it has yet to be guaranteed.

What we are seeking to do and we are ready to do is to support all the olive oil producers so that they succeed based on processes they have agreed with one another on the way how the whole process and this culture is treated and how the production is eventually harvested and certified by certainly mobilizing funds and by making available new olive oil extraction plants so that whole wonder I had the chance to see firsthand on my way to this meeting, namely the mosaic of all of those small producers is transformed into a wonderful development power locally to help all olive growers and olive oil producers grow their household economies, help local economy to grow and practically turn Mallakaster into the embodiment of development of olive oil processing and production industry. I am convinced this is totally possible, but it certainly calls for readiness and willingness of each and every one of you to join your forces with one another. It is therefore for this reason that I would beg everyone to look forward to the future together, whilst the municipality and local government authorities should assume a role to organize people, help them organize and the central government, through the Agricultural and Rural Development Agency, through the EU-funded programmes, through the guaranteed and sovereign loans, will assist you all so that this nascent industry gradually consolidates and turns into a very profitable industry.

What I would also like to note is the fact that we now witness an altered reality. However, we also witness a reality with a tremendous potential to be tapped, namely agritourism businesses that should strengthen and further expand in this whole area.

We do no longer talk about things that may happen, but we are talking about things already happening instead. The thing is that we need to multiply them. We expect the country’s agricultural exports to be valued at around $500 million by the end of this year compared to the value of $120 million when we took office. Half a billion is really a serious figure, still an insufficient one. Albania’s agricultural exports during this phase exceed the communist-era exports! In the meantime, I am really glad that we are also delivering on the 24/7 water supply project here in Mallakaster and elsewhere across the country.

Coping with the upcoming winter, expected to be the harshest one after World War II, and facing the energy crisis effects is the main ongoing debate in the wealthiest countries throughout the world. I visited Berlin last week and this was the main topic up for discussion in Germany too. Germany, a country with tremendous resources and capacities, is preparing to inject a gigantic relief package. And it is a country that can afford doing it financially. One should take into consideration the effect of the amount of EUR 460 million we have already made available to protect the Albanian families and small businesses from the rising energy in the state budget and our state coffers. It is absolutely a considerable amount we have made available to mitigate the effects of this war, as we don’t want retired people, the household consumers, the female family heads and small businesses bear the brunt of the crisis. If we were to do so, the electricity bills for all these categories would have been unbearable and your lives would have become really hard. Instead, you pay just 20% of the real electricity price, whereas 80% of it is paid by the government through the state budget.

We will keep supporting households and retirees as much as we can.  The government has indexed pensions twice this year. I know this is not enough. I definitely agree. We will keep increasing pensions. Despite the budget difficulties, the government will provide the year-end bonus to the retired people in early December. We will raise wages for everyone. However, it is unacceptable that the university lecturers and the academic workers ask for more, although they have seen the highest pay rise. We can’t accept it. We can’t do that. Moreover when this is something demanded from a former intelligence officer. Did you hear them warning of staging a hunger strike if no pay hike is approved. They then called on the President to guarantee their lives. They then called for protection from the international community and eventually gave up, saying no strike will be staged at all.

How can these people possibly be university lecturers?! They do not represent the majority, but how can they possibly be university professors and lecturers?! What can they possibly teach the younger generation? However, we will overcome all of these. We overcame the earthquake and the pandemic. This is the worst of the three, but we will overcome it too. We will definitely take Albania to the height we have decided to take it and we will definitely go on supporting Mallakaster and I acknowledge you have been waiting for too long for the new road to your municipality to be built.

I very much hope I won’t have to visit Mallakaster and pledge for construction of this road again.

/u.sh/

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Thank you for attending and your presence! I have visited Tropoja on regularly basis and I can openly state that I fell really encouraged by the obvious and tangible changes and, most importantly, I am encouraged by the fact that something I felt while on my way here was confirmed by the Mayor, namely the continued increase in the number of newly-built structures, investments in building new houses, villas indeed, a fact showing that people feel that things are changing and the area’s tremendous potential has started to become more tangible and more obvious as an opportunity for development.

On the other hand, I am also encouraged by the fact that as many as 150, 000 local and international tourists and sightseers have visited Tropoja this year.

You know it much better than I do what local government and local authorities have already accomplished, the projects they have delivered on, and what the municipality should do better, just like you know better what the central government should still do about this area, but I would try to briefly comment on the current overall situation, as we are all through a fragile moment that has to do with the lives of everyone of us and has to do with the fact that we now are part of a community of nations and countries involved in an Alliance, against which a war has been already waged on. The war in Ukraine is not simply targeting Ukraine only and the Kremlin’s project is not just to annex certain parts of Eastern Ukraine, but through aggression on Ukraine, the Kremlin is seeking to bring the whole West to its knees, namely all the countries within this Alliance we definitely belong to. Indeed, the crisis was a warning of what was about to ensue and the crisis has now gripped whole Europe, where the energy prices have skyrocketed and at the very onset of the crisis we decided to place a financial shield to defend all the households and small businesses so that they are not affected by the rising energy prices.

As a result, the electricity bills forwarded to your homes contain the pre-crisis rates, paying just 20% of the true electricity price, whereas 80% of the electricity bill of each of you is paid by the state through its budget under the government decision to protect the household consumers.

This is also the case with the small businesses that pay the pre-crisis electricity rates and the difference of the real price is again covered by the state budget. The cost of this financial shield for the families and the small businesses is estimated at around EUR 450 million.

However, by deciding to protect small businesses, we have actually defended consumers as the electricity price is not reflected on the bills of the everyday food products and other items people buy in shops. So, the war-driven inflation, which is unavoidable, stands at a lower rate in Albania as compared to other countries in the region and we are seeking to keep inflation at a lower rate compared to other countries in the region by continuing to compensate the electricity price.

Albania has yet to generate enough electricity to meet its domestic demand. Current generation capacities, hydropower plants in Albania meet only 75% of consumption when they are working at full capacity during the period with abundant rains, whereas the 25% of the demand is met through imports.

When the rain is scarce, the electricity imports grow. It is for this reason that we are seeking to diversify and increase the number of energy generation sources with the new photovoltaic park already being built in the area of Karavasta, whereas construction of another large photovoltaic park in the area of Spitalle will kick off soon after all the procedures have already completed;  the wind power projects we have launched with the European Bank; the Skavica hydropower plant, which is being built by the American company; the liquefied natural gas terminal in Vlora and so on and so forth. All these projects will undergo two development stages and we will fully meet the domestic demand for electricity by 2025, given that abundant rain falls. In the scenario of insufficient rainfall, we will be able to develop full generation capacities by 2029. By then Albania will be a totally sovereign country in terms of energy and will face no problems and will have nothing to do with the international energy markets. By then Albania will no longer be forced to purchase electricity, and instead the country will actually sell electricity, after having met its national demand. This is a major ambitious project we are working on and will keep working until we fully deliver.

Under such conditions, we face yet another problem. We have a public environment with Kremlin having its own representatives and this is really a serious problem, because given these conditions it is out of question that we all come together in a single party, and not everyone agrees on the way how the government, the ruling political party addresses the problems, because debate can be held on these issues and they are all legitimate debates.

The matter is that we are being hampered  and by us I don’t mean the government, but we as a country are being hindered by a political group now turned into an alliance unwilling to formally cooperate and agree on the fact that we are under the pressure of a war from a hostile aggression, not simply against a nation that is geographically far away and that is unfortunately being bombed, but it is a war against us, our community, against our belongingness to this community, against our being part of a strategic alliance with the United States of America and the European Union and, at this point, no discussion on the veracity can take place, at this point our public environment cannot be split into those speaking with the language of Europe and those speaking with the Kremlin’s rhetoric.

When a big power like Russia injects and allocates money for a political party, that country certainly does so to recruit as its servant and have that party under its influence. This is universally known and Russians do this everywhere.

In the meantime, one should wonder what would possibly force our strategic ally, the United States of America, to designate persona non-grata someone who used to serve as the President of this country and with whom the U.S. has cooperated; someone who  has served as the Prime Minister of this country and with whom the U.S. has cooperated?

Is corruption enough to declare persona non-grata a personality of an allied country? Undermining democracy? How? Justice intimidation!

So, my friends, I am saying that in the light of what is happening today, one should fully read the attitude of the United States and in the light of what is happening we should also recall the 2021 electoral campaign, when I urged former opposition leader Lulzim Basha to distance from the duo.

What does Putin want? Putin wants to cause unrest in the NATO member countries. What are they trying to do? They are precisely seeking to cause unrest? Unrest! Unrest! Because the elections are set to take place in May.

Thank you very much!

/u.sh/

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Thank you very much for coming here. As I already noticed last night and today, the guest houses, hotels and your shops in the Bazaar Pass are jam-packed with people and I am very glad, again, that the feeling impact from this visit is the sense of change, novelty and continued development that is increasingly becoming more capillary, not only thanks to the government projects and investments, but also thanks to the stable and continued investment projects designed to transform the private family homes and launch new family businesses and boost household and local economy.

I was pleased to visit another new hotel facility a day ago. I have told (the Tourism Minister) Mirela that I would wish to see a new hotel or a guesthouse complete or being constructed any time I visit Gjirokaster, and I visit the city very often indeed. This has been actually the case by far and you of course know it better that the number of accommodation facilities, the number of visitors to the city was very small just five or six years ago and a grey shadow of oblivion and abandonment had swept the city with the destroyed coble-stone streets, the devastated Old Bazaar, dilapidated buildings etc.

However, the situation is not all roses indeed. It is actually a disturbing situation, because the world, and certainly Europe and Albania too, have ushered in an era of new threats. A new era of threats due to the escalation of an ongoing conflict that has degraded to the point that one could suggest a potential nuclear war as if talking about stone-throwing clashes in a neighbourhood. A nuclear war that would mean the end of everything and of course, although geographically far from the war zone and the heart of this fiery blazing heart of this potential major world conflict, where bombs are being thrown and released, we are still being hit by the rising inflation triggered by this war and Vladimir Putin’s extreme aggression not only on Ukraine, but also on the West, because Putin bets to defeat West by winter. The next winter is said to be the most difficult winter in post-WWII Europe. It will be as such for us too. And it would be even harder. Why? This is because Europe’s energy and heating sources and operation of all industries have been maximally limited.  What is our position in this context? In this context, we have been fortunately spared of the worst blow, also thanks to the government’s decision and determination, for the sake of truth, to keep the electricity price unchanged.

You consume electricity with the pre-war price rate and your bill doesn’t include what the state budget, the common state coffer pays to make up for the higher electricity generation cost, because we strongly believe that the government is in office to serve as a shield and prevent effects of the energy crisis, which has pushed up prices extremely high, be included in the electricity bill of the households and small businesses. Not only that, but although we have imposed a 800 kWh consumption cap, which is sufficient to cover the needs of the households, and we have announced that higher rates or real energy price will be applied over this consumption limit, because a small number of households, around 60,000, consume more than 800 kWh monthly. However, we postponed enforcement of this decision taking notice of an opportunity that was created and we are now exploring every possible opportunity so that such a price cap is not enforced during November too.

Yesterday I happened to watch the European Commission’s President Ursula von der Leyen appearing on TV, urging people to save energy. If we save, we will have available energy, if not, we will lack it and if we want to have electricity, we would be forced to purchase it at a very high price. We are forced to import a part of the electricity and fewer rains, less electricity will be produced and therefore we would have to import it.

Our government plan projected the minimum wage to increase to 40,000 lek within this term in office. Yet, we should make such a decision much earlier, so we will raise the minimum monthly wage to 40,000 lek much earlier. This is indispensable! We should hike the wages of all public administration workers and the state’s civil servants, although we have already increased the pay for nurses, doctors and teachers. That’s why we have refrained from adopting the so-called temporary pay rise, like the one two-month or three-month increase. Instead, we have approved permanent salary and pension hikes and that’s why the 2023 state budget bill will include a specific funding to cope with this situation. The 2023 state budget will double.

We have allocated a new bonus for restoration of the old family homes and 11 applicants from Gjirokaster have been declared winners and 11 more homes will be transformed into agritourism businesses. However, this is not enough. We will in the meantime make a final decision that not a single so-called owner can keep the old traditional houses hostage.

The government’s low tax policy, the reduced VAT and other taxes on the guesthouses and hotels, has turned out to be very effective. However, this sector should increase the salaries of its workers. I reiterate, the minimum wages should be increased and the wages in general should be increased. This is essential. It is essential because the cost of losing the human capital is very high.

/u.sh/

Speaking to reporters after meeting with a representative group of the residents of “5 Maji” neighbourhood, PM Rama said that we had an intense conversation and I made it crystal clear what has been the truth from the first day”.

“Those who have a certificate of ownership have nothing to discuss because they have regular, legal documents and for them the solution is clear, either financial compensation or compensation in exchange, i.e. they get more than they have as property being owners”, emphasized PM Rama.

The head of government said that, “For those who don’t have any property document at all, as is the case with the old woman here, there will be applied the solidarity approach, i.e. they will not be taken into the open. I explained to them all the procedures. I reiterate that the house that is built without a permit is demolished and the family receives compensation, a house the same like those who were left homeless by the earthquake. Until the house is built, the state pays a rent bonus for the family.”

“If you compare the case with other countries, nowhere is anything given without credit”, said PM Rama.

Actually, there are 51 families who have signed and the procedures for receiving the rent bonus continue.

“The agreements will be registered in the Cadastre and at the moment when the construction is finished and the house is ready, as it happened with the quake-affected families, they will enter the house”.

“But, we do not fulfil requests like we want the house here or we want it there because they have worked hard to build those houses without permission, contrary to any rule, and still will get a house”, said PM Rama.

The local residents of “5 Maji” neighbourhood have recently protested about demolition of some buildings in the area in context of an extended reconstruction project after the quake 2019./k.s/p.s./

During a meeting with representatives of taxi service companies in Tirana, Veliaj said today that no one can block the progress of the city by threatening.

“Everyone is getting the same square meters owned. One occupied 450 meters without permission, and he will get 450 meters, but now urbanized, with permission, by the architect Stefano Boeri. There is nothing fairer than that. As this happens, you will receive the rent bonus. All of a sudden, all the media was dealing with two criminals yesterday and they were talking of how they were going to kill the mayor. I say, those who shout the loudest are not strong. They are in the minority with 99% others who pay taxes, they do not block the progress of the city. They shout to remove the fear from themselves because they are cowards and the minority”, said Veliaj.

The mayor said that all those who will be affected by the reconstruction, will also receive a rent bonus until they receive the keys to the new houses in hand.

Residents affected by the construction of the new neighbourhood in the area of ​​”5 May” will be 100% compensated for their property.

Based on the decision approved by the government, it is ensured that all residents affected by this project will receive full compensation, through the exchange of their property with the new facilities that will be built in the new neighbourhood./r.e/p.s./

Currently, the first 23 agreements have been signed with the Legal Directorate, while this process continues rapidly with other residents who have shown a high interest in signing contracts.

To ease the process and to come to the aid of the residents, the municipality of Tirana has opened a special office for the clarification and signing of contracts with the residents in this area.

According to the government decision, it is ensured that all residents affected by this project will receive full compensation, through the exchange of their property with the new facilities that will be built in the new neighborhood. Likewise, the owners of apartments in the process of legalization will now benefit the same area in square meters, in the new buildings that are being erected in the same area.

Beneficiaries of this project will also be the families who have had illegal constructions, expropriating 100% of the area of ​​the building without any permit. The construction area in new residential buildings, which benefit those who possess illegal constructions, is 100% of the surface of the illegal building, according to the table attached to this decision.

To ease this period, the Municipality has undertaken to provide a rent bonus to the affected residents, until they receive the keys to the new housing.

The new “5 May” neighborhood will be turned into a new urban center for 11 thousand inhabitants, with quality apartments, commercial service units, schools, kindergartens, nurseries, institution buildings, parks. There will be sheltered the families affected by the quake of 2019 and the families affected by the construction of the new neighborhood. /a.a/r.e/p.s./