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Thousands Protest Trump-Kushner USD4B Albania Resort
(MENAFN) Mass demonstrations have swept through Albania over a sprawling luxury tourism project tied to US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, with protesters denouncing what they see as the systematic opening of protected natural areas to large-scale commercial development, media reports said Tuesday.
Thousands flooded the capital Tirana under the rallying cry "Albania is not for sale," marching from Skanderbeg Square to the gates of the prime minister's office in opposition to plans targeting the Zvernec area near the coastal city of Vlora, according to local media.
Demonstrators blanketed the streets with banners and placards, demanding the preservation of ecologically sensitive zones and an immediate halt to construction activity within protected territories.
At the heart of the controversy is a proposed transformation of Sazan Island and sections of the adjoining Narta-Zvernec wetland and lagoon ecosystem into a high-end tourism destination. The project carries an estimated price tag of around $4 billion and is reported to encompass approximately 618 acres within the protected coastal ecosystem.
The development is being pursued by Kushner's investment firm and has drawn firm backing from the Albanian government.
Environmental organizations and grassroots campaigners warn that the project risks devastating one of Albania's most ecologically fragile coastal regions, with additional concerns raised over its impact on properties belonging to Greek minority families residing in the area.
Tensions boiled over during weekend demonstrations at the proposed development site, where clashes erupted between protesters and private security personnel guarding the grounds. Pepper spray deployed by security staff affected both demonstrators and police officers on the scene. The security company subsequently announced the suspension of several employees implicated in the incident.
The project has rapidly evolved into a full-blown political crisis, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and accusing his administration of paving the way for the development through legislative amendments adopted in 2024 governing protected areas.
Rama has pushed back against the criticism, insisting the project is advancing in full compliance with legal and environmental requirements.
The Albanian government has championed luxury tourism investment as a pillar of its broader strategy to attract foreign capital and position the country as a premier high-end travel destination.
Thousands flooded the capital Tirana under the rallying cry "Albania is not for sale," marching from Skanderbeg Square to the gates of the prime minister's office in opposition to plans targeting the Zvernec area near the coastal city of Vlora, according to local media.
Demonstrators blanketed the streets with banners and placards, demanding the preservation of ecologically sensitive zones and an immediate halt to construction activity within protected territories.
At the heart of the controversy is a proposed transformation of Sazan Island and sections of the adjoining Narta-Zvernec wetland and lagoon ecosystem into a high-end tourism destination. The project carries an estimated price tag of around $4 billion and is reported to encompass approximately 618 acres within the protected coastal ecosystem.
The development is being pursued by Kushner's investment firm and has drawn firm backing from the Albanian government.
Environmental organizations and grassroots campaigners warn that the project risks devastating one of Albania's most ecologically fragile coastal regions, with additional concerns raised over its impact on properties belonging to Greek minority families residing in the area.
Tensions boiled over during weekend demonstrations at the proposed development site, where clashes erupted between protesters and private security personnel guarding the grounds. Pepper spray deployed by security staff affected both demonstrators and police officers on the scene. The security company subsequently announced the suspension of several employees implicated in the incident.
The project has rapidly evolved into a full-blown political crisis, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama and accusing his administration of paving the way for the development through legislative amendments adopted in 2024 governing protected areas.
Rama has pushed back against the criticism, insisting the project is advancing in full compliance with legal and environmental requirements.
The Albanian government has championed luxury tourism investment as a pillar of its broader strategy to attract foreign capital and position the country as a premier high-end travel destination.
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