Prime Minister Edi Rama’s statement from Dublin (Ireland) draws an important distinction in the debate over Sazani: negotiating an investment does not mean selling the territory. According to his clarification, the island has not been sold, there is no request to purchase it, and a final agreement with the Jared Kushner group does not yet exist.
“Sazani is the property of Albania and will remain so” is a political commitment that deserves to stay at the center of the discussion. It responds to citizens’ concerns and publicly sets a limit within which the government must remain accountable.
On this issue, Rama is right to ask that the debate be based on the distinction between ownership and investment. A tourism project can be discussed, supported or opposed on its terms. But presenting negotiations as a completed sale, when no agreement has been signed, leads the public to a premature conclusion.
Albania has an interest in attracting investors with financial capacity and in opportunities to link domestic tourism with international markets. The government has an obligation to examine these opportunities and to negotiate the best benefit for the country.
The prime minister’s assertion that Albania seeks to be a shareholder in the investment is particularly positive. If it translates into real participation, with clear rights and benefits, this approach would place the state in the role of economic partner, giving it the opportunity to benefit directly from the project’s development.
The duration of the negotiations, which Rama says have been ongoing for three years, also shows that the process cannot simply be described as an immediate handover of the island. However, the final assessment will be made on the concrete conditions that the parties may accept.
Prime Minister Rama did well to give a direct answer on this issue. His clarification now also creates a basis for more public information as the process continues. Transparency would strengthen the prime minister’s position and make the defense of the project more convincing, if the negotiations conclude successfully.
Sazani could be an opportunity for development, while preserving Albanian ownership, natural values and the interests of citizens. From Dublin (Ireland), Rama gave a clear commitment: the island remains Albanian.
Photos from the meetings in Ireland