‘Tirana Fountain Tower’ competition: Rama responds to criticism, we do not forcibly remove people from their homes for private projects

Prime Minister Edi Rama was present on Thursday at the presentation of the five projects submitted under the international “Tirana Fountain Tower” competition.

In his speech, Rama responded to criticism regarding urban development and construction projects in the capital, emphasizing that no one is forcibly removed from their home for private investments.

Meanwhile, the head of government dismissed claims of a lack of rules and defended the presence of foreign architects in Albania, describing the country as an “open university of architecture” where local professionals grow alongside international masters.

“It has never happened in Albania that someone is forcibly removed from their home for a private investment to be developed, and no private party has been denied their right to develop or not develop a project. With the squatters who are part of legalization processes, the law is very clear for them too, and we have never sided with the owner or the developer; there is no guarantee that a rental contract be given to someone else for a certain number of years and paid by the developers until the citizen enters the housing programs administered by the municipality. The truth is completely different: we have had discussions about development, about the obstacles that have arisen in urban and architectural development, but that does not mean that in Albania we build without rules or do something that in other countries is unacceptable and impermissible. In fact there is something very clear to me: the jealousy of mediocre people and of people who cling to nationalism, to the passport, who cling to the fact that they are part of the local community and do not cling to the profession, to arguments and to the opportunities to be competitive. Meanwhile there are many Albanian architects and young professionals who are part of this transformation and part of the work with foreign architects. And this makes Albania the country where local architects have more opportunity than in other countries to grow professionally, to work with architects who are at the highest level today of thought and of the profession. Today Albania and Tirana are the largest open-air university of architecture. Today architects have the opportunity to meet, to follow and to work concretely with masters,” Rama said.