Independent MP Marjana Koçeku, who recently left the Socialist Party, has reacted again to the fire situation in the country, raising accusations and doubts about the way in which the territories affected by the flames are managed.

In a reaction on social media, Koçeku focuses on the area behind the cement factory in Kruja, where she says there are 4-5 large quarries. She claims that this area has been one of the main hotbeds of fires in recent days, and that three of them are still active.

"Not by chance," writes the MP, raising suspicions that the fires may be linked to interests in the further exploitation of territories. According to Koçek, fires in Albania in some cases may have served as a means to create space for later developments, legal changes or interventions that under normal conditions would be more difficult to implement. She cites the case of Pishe-Poro as an example, claiming that the fire there lasted for 10 days without intervention and caused great damage.

Koçek also raises concerns about land and forest administration, arguing that the lack of a clear line of responsibility favors abuses and economic gains.

In her response, the MP also links this problem to territorial reforms and the plans to merge several small municipalities. According to her, the weakening of local level powers separates communities from the territory and reduces their responsibility for its protection.

REACTION
Behind the cement factory in Krujë are 4-5 large quarries. These days, this place was also one of the main hotbeds of fire, where 3 of them continue to be active. Not by chance… Often fire in Albania has been political and a means to seize new territories. Fire to incentivize later “developments”, legal reliefs and breakthroughs that, under normal conditions, would not have been possible. As happened in Pishe-Poro two years ago, where the fire lasted 10 days without intervention and burned everything.

There are more incentives to burn and exploit territory than to protect it. By focusing all their energies on indiscriminate and speculative construction, people see any way to gain economic benefit. It is no coincidence that most quarries are also controlled by mafia and criminal groups.

There is still no clear line on how forest land is administered. Often, when land is left to no one, no one feels any responsibility or belonging, but only the desire to extort and profit.

This is inevitably also related to the territorial reforms that have been carried out in the past and that are now aiming to dissolve some small municipalities. By removing competencies from below, the connection of the community with the territory, the administrative-institutional connection with the people of the country is being dissolved. This is the most destructive.

If you remove responsibility and belonging to the place, the community's relationship with the territory turns into nothing more than bureaucratic relationships on paper. They turn into dry and desolate relationships.