Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has been embroiled in a heated debate with a CNN journalist during an interview discussing the investment project in the Zvërnec area. Faced with continued questions about the progress of the project and investigations reported by international media, Rama insisted that there is currently no approved project and that many of the claims circulating are unfounded.
At one point in the interview, the prime minister reacted to the journalist's interventions, accusing her of not listening to his explanations.
Edi Rama: Listen, thank you for showing that video, because it is precisely the portrait of someone who is misinformed or part of those who misinform. Because, first of all, there is no project. He is talking about a project that he has not seen anywhere else except in false images created and distributed on social networks in Albania, because we are in a hybrid war. As for the project…
Journalist: So, just to clarify, the project will not continue?
Branch: Again, there is no project yet. There is no project.
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Journalist: I want to listen to you, Mr. Prime Minister, but I'm trying to clarify...
Branch: Do you want to listen to me or do you just want to talk?
Journalist: I want to hear you, but I'm trying to clarify for our viewers. You're accusing us of fake news and I'm trying to understand if the project is continuing or has been stopped. Because, according to Politico reports, the Special Prosecution Office against Corruption in Albania has launched an investigation into this project. How can the project continue under these conditions?
Branch: Again, you don't want to listen. It's very clear to me. I'm not attacking you. I'm telling you the truth. And until you show me the project, you have to listen to me, because there is no project.
To create this project, the group, which consists not only of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, but also of other highly respected investors, has engaged five of the best architects in the world today:
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Kengo Kuma from Japan, Bjarke Ingels from Denmark, Emre Arolat from Turkey, K-Studio from Greece, Jean Nouvel from France. They are working together with top-level environmental engineers and social impact specialists. Meanwhile, one of the largest consulting companies has also been engaged for the environmental impact assessment.
Because the challenge is not to build a city. The challenge is not to pour concrete over the heads of flamingos. The challenge is to prove that development and nature can not only coexist, but that nature and development need each other.
People deserve to live in a different kind of environment, where they can enjoy nature and at the same time show it respect. So, the project doesn't exist yet. The environmental impact assessment is still being carried out. Do you understand? And let me finish.
Journalist: I am listening to you, Mr. Prime Minister.
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Branch: Let me finish, because you mentioned Politico and you said there's an anti-corruption investigation. That's fake news. The investigation is about one of the owners of the land. It's private land and one of the owners sold the property, which was purchased through completely transparent banking transactions.
The investigation is about that issue. It's not about the investment. It's not about the project. It's not about Kushner. It's not about Trump. It's not about any of the stuff that's being thrown into this mix to create the sensational news that Albania is a place where we're killing flamingos.
