The process of issuing property titles for inherited homes in Himarë has officially been concluded, fulfilling the commitment to ensure that all inherited homes would have their title deeds and be properly registered by the end of the year.

“In about six months, we’ve achieved what had been awaited for many years. By building on the groundwork laid in the past, we’ve managed to give this process an extraordinary momentum,” said Prime Minister Rama during a meeting with the residents of Himarë, where he personally delivered the property certificates.

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Good afternoon, and it’s a pleasure to be with you all!                                                                             It feels a bit unusual for me to visit Himarë and, because of the rain, to find us gathered indoors. Normally, when I come here, it’s under the beautiful open skies, with the sunshine and the stunning scenery of Himarë. But what truly matters is that today, we are here to fulfill the commitment we made with Vangjel: ensuring that, by the end of this year, all inherited homes have their title deeds and are officially registered.

Let me say it again—though I hope you won’t tire of hearing it, as I’ve repeated it every time I’ve visited Himarë for this process—this has been far from easy. In fact, it remains a difficult and complex challenge. When I say it’s not easy, I’m also thinking about the next steps, particularly addressing AMTPs, which bring a whole new set of difficulties.

These challenges stem from issues we’ve already discussed and explained—issues you all understand better than anyone else. Himarë, like a few other areas in Albania, has long faced inherited problems, including outdated records, overlapping claims, and other complications.

While today marks an important milestone, our work is far from over, and we remain fully committed to tackling these remaining challenges together.

I am very pleased to be here today with Bledi, who has been instrumental in this process—not only by providing continuous support on behalf of all citizens but also by pushing the initiative forward. I’m also joined by Lorena, the General Director of the State Cadastre Agency, who has overseen this process from the very first day of her appointment. Her leadership has driven further transformation within the agency, motivating and encouraging the respective offices in this region to perform exceptionally well.

As Vangjeli mentioned earlier, I also want to thank the local directors of the Cadastre offices and their teams. They have done extraordinary work, managing in six months to achieve what had been awaited for many years. They utilized the foundation of prior efforts to inject remarkable momentum into this process.

So, a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who has fulfilled their duties exceptionally, often working long hours, as the mayor pointed out. Let me also clarify—since you know this well—that the campaign for the municipality is over. We are not here to promote any candidacies. That said, I can state confidently that the credit for this accomplishment belongs entirely to Vangjel Tavo.

Now, a few words while we’re here about the value of property. As you know very well, the value of a home depends on several factors: the state of the town or village where it’s located, the quality of infrastructure, the strength of the local economy, and so on. That’s why I think it’s worth highlighting that the value of homes across the municipality of Himarë has skyrocketed compared to ten years ago. Moreover, it will continue to grow, thanks to the ongoing investments we’re committed to making in Himarë.

We have a series of new projects, which will benefit not only the city of Himarë but also other parts of the municipality. We are fully determined to implement them on time and with the highest quality.

In this regard, I want to emphasize a significant change in the relationship between the government and the municipality of Himara. Today, it’s no longer the government pushing the municipality to develop projects. Instead, it’s the municipality driving us, constantly pushing for support and funding for projects, projects, projects! Soon, you’ll see new initiatives launched, all aimed at increasing the value of every square meter in Himarë, every home, every apartment.

This will be achieved by further improving infrastructure, enhancing the quality of life, and investing in key areas such as public parking, so that the municipality of Himarë continues to thrive and prosper.

We have plans to make a significant intervention in the center of Himarë, where, as you know, there is currently a rather unusual situation. This area has the potential to become a truly beautiful center, one that will release positive energy for the city, make it more accessible, and encourage greater foot traffic. This new center will not only increase the flow of people but also boost the local economy during the tourist season, which is currently very difficult due to the traffic and blockages. The central area is far from any standard or appearance fitting for a city that has gained such a reputation and attracts so many visitors and tourists.

The new public parking spaces, which will be built in collaboration between the Himarë Municipality and the Albanian Development Fund, are part of this plan for the coming years. Additionally, we have a number of other projects that will impact Borsh and other areas.

Borsh is in need of interventions. It is, in fact, the least developed area in terms of public investment. This hasn’t happened for any specific reason, but because we have avoided building roads that could later be damaged by the construction boom—particularly in the lower part of the area, where a new generation of tourism is emerging in terms of hotel infrastructure, offering higher-quality services that will attract tourists who spend more and generate greater revenue for the region.

I believe we have every reason to be very optimistic about the future, and what we are doing today is reinforcing the foundation for tomorrow’s economy through the registration of all inherited homes. By continuing with an accelerated pace in the process of granting land property titles, we will further energize the entire municipality and create stronger foundations for inclusive development.

I am also pleased that this year is ending with an important government action for pensioners.

I am thrilled that, as a result of economic growth, we have managed to include pensioners—who were the only group that hadn’t seen meaningful benefits from this growth. All other groups have already benefited. The bonus granted this year, which is significantly higher than in previous years, is just the beginning of an ongoing process to include pensioners in the overall economic growth of the country. Just two days ago, we also set the spring bonus, which will be provided through an open fund from the Albanian government at the Bank of Albania. Pensioners with pensions under 200 euros will receive a 100-euro bonus in the spring, while those with pensions over 200 euros will receive a 50-euro bonus.

Additionally, we have allocated much higher support than in previous years for all disabled individuals and people with special needs, who, without exception, will receive 150 euros at the end of this year.

I understand that there’s always room for improvement, but I believe we all know that in order to do more, we need to increase our capacity. This period has been marked by an increase in opportunities, and as a result, we have had the ability to redistribute more. I mention this with the image of many grandmothers and grandfathers in mind, and I wanted to highlight this as a token of recognition and respect for them.

Meanwhile, as we continue issuing these long-awaited property documents, let me assure you that, just as we made the closure of this process a reality together with the mayor, we will also make the closure of the AMTP process a reality.

We are used to being out in the square and making these announcements, but please forgive us as you will need to climb and descend the stairs to symbolically receive these documents.

We do this, as I’ve said before, to raise awareness among others. As Vangjeli mentioned, and as I also said, this process is considered complete from our side in terms of being available beyond official working hours. However, some individuals have not shown up, despite being contacted by the municipality, but I hope they will enjoy this New Year like everyone else. If they hear us, I hope they will come forward wherever they are in the world and quickly receive their documents.

What is certain is that all residents here in Himara, or anyone involved in this process today, will receive the completion of the process, and no one will be left without the property deed for their home.