At the roundtable held for the Port of Durres, Democratic MP Igli Cara said that the current project is destroying its fundamental function.
He stated that the Port of Durres is not simply a goods transit point that connects maritime and road transport, but an economic engine and a key strategic point for Albania, the Balkans and as a NATO member country.
Excerpt from Igli Cara's speech;
I really liked today's meeting, above all, because today all aspects were touched upon, both technical, from the launch of corridor eight with Mr. Gorea, the meetings that the Municipality of Durres had precisely with the port of Durres to turn it into an important one, with technical representatives, engineers, lawyers, with those who have acted in court and so on. But in the end, I will make a summary.
What is a port? For all those who follow us. It is a place that transits maritime transport and combines it with road transport. It is precisely the ports here that are important, because they transform the trade flow and the flow of citizens into a flow of income, both in the economy and in turn with income with benefits for the country.
Why is Durrës important? Because Durrës has the port, otherwise it would be like one, like any other city in Albania. This place, which as was said, is blessed by God and a strategic place. It has always been in the attention of all governments without question, but surprisingly in recent years after 2013 it is no longer. Meanwhile Berisha touched and, in fact, let me remind you that it is true, we had foreseen the fishing port, as Klodi said, we had foreseen the navy, and the movements.
If you remember, it was precisely the fuel depots, which were a very big problem for the city of Durrës at that time, that government decided to transfer them to Porto Romano. But we had never thought that the port of Durrës, this great national asset, as I said not simply in terms of economic value, but above all strategic, let's not forget that we are also a NATO country.
And as a NATO country, it is understood that we cannot make such important decisions, to remove such an important port, which can serve in moments of crisis, and transfer it and be left without a national port. And what actually happened is that I think no left-wing government, no right-wing government, I'm thinking, and no government anywhere in the world has done it. It has never happened in Europe, it has not happened in neighboring countries either. Dubrovnik, Bari, Ancona, anywhere in the world. It has never happened that a port is taken and given to a friend. And this was done in 2020, at that time with that fake opposition, such as Adriana, in 2020, November 2020 and it was transferred.
But what does Rama do with this? And here, besides the economic aspect that Ardi mentioned, without a doubt, it is a lot of money, it is a value that is 3 to 4 billion. There are 231 million euros in unpaid taxes, there are loans. There are also investments that are currently being made. Today, as they brought me now, the electricity is also paid, the infrastructure is connected, the Albanian government is paying 288 million lek. And the water supply will be paid by the Albanian government tomorrow. And the road, as they declared yesterday in parliament, is being taken by Alabari.
How is it possible that a port that has six lanes will be halved, will have three lanes, and all this large trade flow that is over 80%, not only of Albania, but of the entire Balkans, will now have a funnel where only one vehicle will pass at all times?
This, apart from the reason for the terrible abuse and I would say one thing, forgive me for the term, criminal, abusive, anti-national, I have nothing else to say. Because I understand that anyone can make mistakes, but to make these and to advance in this way where, as my colleague above said, we currently have not started the procedures for the new port.
How can you shut down a port? When we can have a moment of crisis in six months. But how can you leave the port without an entrance? Is there a more important road axis than the entrance to Corridor Eight, the entrance to the trade flow that connects us with Kosovo, with the Balkan countries, than the port of Durres? From six courses it will go to three. Why? Because Alabari will build palaces. Yes, all over the world, and I was lucky enough to be in Hamburg.
Hamburg has a valuable experience when they got together and realized that they took away part of the city to give it to the port. In our country, the opposite happens, the port is taken away to build palaces. Apart from a crazy and anti-national mind, I don't know what to call it.
How can you build palaces instead of a port, because let's not forget that we could be a country that will no longer have a national port, when Albania is important and strategically because we have the port that connects us to the Balkans. Because we are in competition with neighboring countries. Without a doubt.
