“If it was not Jared, they would not care about what is happening in Albania,” said Rama at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat, Montenegro.
He claimed that “Trump haters” had helped amplify the protests — a cause he described as noble despite rejecting the criticism surrounding the project.
The planned luxury resort — backed by Qatari and local investors, potentially featuring up to 10,000 hotel rooms and villas — is located within a former protected natural ecosystem, home to flamingos, over 200 migratory bird species, Mediterranean monk seals, and nesting sea turtles. Environmental groups warn the project will damage these species’ habitats.
Contentious amendments to Albania’s law on protected areas in 2024 facilitated tourism developments in such locations, allowing further growth in a sector that has already tripled in size over the last decade. The resort in question did not undergo an environmental impact assessment.
“Foreigners are the first priority … because foreigners bring money to the country for Albanians,” stated Rama, noting the country’s GDP had tripled since he assumed office in 2013.
Rama said he has not been in touch with Kushner since the protests began.
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