Albanian PM defends investment project amid Zvërnec protests

Prime Minister of Albania Edi Rama said protests against a proposed investment project in the Zvërnec area, southern Albania, had become part of a broader political dispute unrelated to the local environment, arguing that public debate should be based on facts rather than misinformation and political agendas.

Speaking during his weekly address, Rama said the project that has sparked protests remains under development and should be assessed on its merits rather than opposed before its details are fully known, CE Report quotes ATA.

“People believe they are defending the flamingos, Zvërnec and Albania, while in reality they may be defending someone else’s interests, interests for which Albania has no value,” Rama said.

The Prime Minister argued that the controversy surrounding the project did not arise because of sudden international concern over the fate of flamingos in the Narta lagoon, but because a wider political confrontation had been transferred to the area.

“The world did not suddenly wake up alarmed about the flamingos,” Rama said. “A larger political battle was relocated to Narta for reasons that have nothing to do with Narta.”

He said the debate had been fuelled by political and ideological hostility, creating space for what he described as an “imaginary revolution” driven by groups seeking political relevance.

Rama reiterated that the government remained committed to protecting nature, Zvërnec and the flamingo population, while calling for public discussion to be grounded in facts.

“We are here to do what is best for Albania, for nature, for Zvërnec and for the flamingos,” he said. “But that requires cooperation with reality, sharing facts and discussing how the project can be improved, rather than rejecting it while it is still taking shape.”

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