Prime Minister Edi Rama, before heading to Parliament to attend today’s plenary session, met with a group of residents from “5 Maj” neighbourhood who object demolition of their homes to clear way for construction of Tirana Big Ring Road. The government invited a group of representatives to hold talks at the Parliament offices.
Local residents voiced concern over the situation they are in and called for compensation. “We are not against the state; we are not against the government. We want our homes be constructed the way they were prior to their demolition. We were not aware of the state’s plan to demolish our homes,” Liza, one of the protesting residents, said.
After listening to their requests, the government head assured the affected residents of government commitment to support each and every one of them although their dwellings have been built illegally and cannot be legalized as they stand in the way of a very important development project. “Let’s be clear. First of all, you have built your homes illegally. This means you have occupied someone else’s land. And it is not only you, but many others have done the same. This is what actually happened back then and while serving as Tirana Mayor I have already stated this issue cannot be tackled by demolishing the unauthorized dwellings, because it is a large number of people who have built illegally and it should be addressed through the legalization process. The legalization process was launched and was later changed. It is also clearly stipulated by law that every structure and illegal building that does not hinder development will be legalized, because we do not want to legalize everything that would prevent a road, a water irrigation network or a water supply system will be built. You have built illegally. Your houses won’t be legalized, because it is impossible to do so. However, we have never said that you should leave your homes and go wherever you want to. What we have actually said is that regardless your houses are illegally constructed, the land does not belong to you, nothing, you have made your investment anyway, all those years and we won’t abandon you. This is what we have stated since day one,” the Prime Minister said.
During the meeting, PM Rama briefed residents on the new project due to be implemented in the area , saying the project is designed to deliver one of the most beautiful residential complexes in Tirana. “We plan to build a new residential complex there so that people can lead a decent life, because children are the most important for us and children cannot be raised in those jungles, but instead they deserve to grow up in modern neighbourhoods with their school, kindergarten, park and every other public service accessible and available close to their homes. Older adults need to have a hospital emergency service near their place of residence. We will build there a new residential complex to house all the affected families and people that became homeless in the devastating earthquake and we will house each and every one of you, although you have built illegally there. We will build a new residential complex there and it is set to be one of Tirana’s most beautiful neighbourhoods along with Kombinat area. Once complete, it is expected to be a model in Tirana as everything will be built from scratch. We are not demolishing the buildings there in order to favour other individuals. We are opening that entire space so that we can build a new neighbourhood to house homeless people after losing their dwellings due to the earthquake and local residents there, including each and every one of you. This is being done for people like you, but unlike you haven’t seized any plot of land and haven’t built any villa, but the houses they inherited or have purchased were actually destroyed. We can’t abandon them and we will provide them housing because there is no way that we can abandon all those needy families, old people and children. This is because we can build 50 housing units in the plot of land you have already occupied.”
The Premier assured local residents that they are entitled to government compensation just like it was the case with the quake-affected families and the government will provide a rental bonus to every affected family until they move into their new homes. “You would have been evicted of your houses and you would benefit nothing if we were to live in a previous era. You would be told that nobody told you to build here and therefore you had to leave. You and your sons have built a three-storey house and you and your sons will be provided homes in the new residential neighbourhood. This is what we are offering you all and nothing else. That’s the deal—takes it or leave it! If you want to take to the streets and shout you can of course do so. I am saying that each and every one of you will benefit housing for free just like the quake-affected families,
You will benefit housing under a contract, just like it is the case with the quake-affected families. Nothing will be done differently. And we are not to be credited that we are doing something special for you. In my view, you are equal citizens of the Republic of Albania. We recognize your investment and hard work, because we wish to do so. My answer is the following: You will be provided a rental bonus. You will benefit not only housing through the Albanian taxpayers’ money, but also a monthly rental bonus.
You will be granted a contract, under which you be entitled to housing for free at the new “5 Maj” residential complex once the construction project completes. In the meantime, the government will grant you the rental bonus until the day you move into the new homes,” PM Rama stated at the meeting with affected residents.
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Speaking to reporters following the meeting with the residents, PM Rama said:
“We had an intensive conversation and I actually explained what has been the truth since day one, but as everyone knows truth faces an uphill road here as it encounters many barriers, obstacles, turns and intentional deviations also made through the help of media channels for their own interests.
The truth is that every resident in “5 Maj” and the Ring area, who are actually divided into two categories, will be provided decent human treatment and solidarity, the same as it was the case with all those who lost their homes in the earthquake. This means that the affected families that possess a certificate of ownership they immediately benefit either compensation or the same floor area in new apartment homes. They are entitled to benefit more than what they own as they are legal owners.
In the meantime, an approach of solidarity will be applied for the affected families that possess no legal documents of whatsoever, meaning that they won’t be abandoned and they won’t be left homeless.
I explained to the affected families all the procedures, reminding them of the fact that they have been notified since last June and telling them that every family, whose illegally-built homes will be demolished, will benefit housing just like every quake-affected family and they will benefit rental bonus until the day they move into their new homes.
This is our firm position. You would find no similar cases in any other countries around the world, where the affected families are provided housing for free.
Never in any case a house is granted anyone for free without a bank loan, be it even a soft one. We have adopted such a housing policy and we will stick to it.
It has been clear to everyone since June and we have clearly and continuously stated our position, but things get messy when politics intervenes. However, I explained everything. Of course these are words and what I read during the meeting were unsigned papers.
All it takes for the affected residents is to sit, carefully read the contract and sign it. A significant number of residents have already signed the contracts, a total of 51 of them – unless I am mistaken – and they are now receiving the rental bonus and calmly wait for their new homes. They will be granted the contract and the documents and these agreements will be registered with the State Cadastre office. It is not an agreement for the residents to sign it and be left homeless. They are all registered with the State Cadastre as a state obligation towards these residents and once construction process completes they will move into their new homes, just like it is the case with the quake-affected families.
We can’t meet the demand of those who want their houses be built right on the site where their homes used to stand previously and the way they were built by the residents themselves. This is something we can’t deliver on.
-Mr. Rama, you say the procedure is the best in Europe, yet it has caused such a situation with the local residents in “5 Maj” neighbourhood protesting against the project?
PM Edi Rama: There is nothing about such things in Europe.
