Majority of Albanians support Zvërnec project, says PM Rama
Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama said that the majority of Albanian people support a planned investment project in the coastal area of Zvërnec in southern Albania, dismissing protests against the development as unrepresentative.
He added that misinformation and manipulated online content had distorted public perceptions of the project, CE Report quotes ATA.
Speaking at the Future Investment Initiative (FII) forum in Rome, Italy, during a discussion with CNN correspondent Eleni Giokos, Rama said the local community where the project is expected to be developed largely backs the investment.
“The community where the project will be implemented wants the project,” Rama said. “What you are seeing is not exactly what is happening on the ground.”
Rama highlighted environmental measures taken by his government, including decade-long moratoriums on logging and hunting, which he said had contributed to a threefold increase in Albania’s bird population.
Addressing criticism of the project, Rama argued that online opposition had been amplified by the involvement of investor Jared Kushner and his links to U.S. President Donald Trump, attracting attention and reactions far beyond Albania.
He said social media platforms have been flooded with false information, including videos from protests in other countries that were allegedly presented as footage from Albania, as well as automated online accounts seeking to influence the debate.
Rama also alleged that Iran has played a role in online campaigns targeting Albania, reiterating previous government accusations that Tehran has conducted cyberattacks against the country in recent years.
He warned that the spread of disinformation was undermining democratic institutions and public trust across Europe and the wider democratic world.
Rama said democracies should reconsider the assumption that unrestricted dissemination of content is simply an extension of freedom of speech, arguing that modern propaganda tools can be used to spread falsehoods and manipulate public opinion.
Photo: Facebook/ediramaal
