Speech of Prime Minister Edi Rama at the meeting “Development of natural resources in harmony with the environment”:

The moment has come today to take stock of an extraordinary difficult period on a vital issue such as that concerning environment, because all of us can see the serious legacy of extreme abuse of natural resources and assets. The government has been committed since the first day to restore the rule of law in this field where there is still much work to do.

Two crucial moments that have been addressed in this period were related to mining and hydropower plants, in order to create a much more natural balance between the relentless need for development and the necessity for development to not jeopardize the future of the country and for this to not happen at the expense of other generations.

No doubt, we have had a totally unsustainable development in past years, where development rights were granted indiscriminately and without building the necessary mechanisms to monitor obligations arising from these rights.

In fact, there are some very significant examples of many companies that have operated either in the mining sector or in the construction of hydropower plants which still have serious obligations towards society, and a part of them has not even deigned to pay a rehabilitation guarantee for years. Not to mention the fact that in the past corruption and of course this model of development without any sustainability has brought a number of rights or permits issued for HPPs among which 113 directly in protected areas. In other words, they are areas that have been legally defined as areas immune from intervention for development, while 42 of them are already in production, 23 are still under construction, and the other 58 have not started and will not start work, because the draft law to be proposed for reviewing issued permits will stop once and for all construction of hydropower plants or any other activity in protected areas.

The major problem remains companies approach to environment on the basis of signed contracts that provide compensation for the portion used through rehabilitation of surrounding areas.

The new draft law envisaging a progressive rehabilitation of the environment, for which are meanwhile preparing a series of bylaws, requires a reassessment by all relevant institutions.

It’s time for entities to perform progressive rehabilitation, year after year, and not only when the mining license is about to expire. Just as it is time for some positive examples, fortunately we have some positive examples, to become examples across the territory of Albania. I mean here entities operating in the district of Kruje, which really are positive examples in that that they fully comply with the contract to enable progressive rehabilitation of the environment. But at the same time, there are both there and in other areas negative examples which we are fighting on a daily basis.

It is unfortunate that in 2015 we are not done yet with this process of ongoing conflict between the government trying to restore compliance with every contractual commitment of all companies involved in the exploitation of natural resources, and make this compliance the norm, and companies themselves which still resist to be fully subject to contractual obligations from which their rights to use natural resources have derived.

We have revoked 160 mining permits due to the lack of minimum working conditions. But the time has come to go further, so that rights will not be connected only to working conditions and, of course, to people’s lives, which is the most valuable aspect, but also to the implementation point to point of the contract and of the commitments for environmental responsibility made in the contract.

Of course, we will continue to stimulate investment; we will continue to support capacity growth, as we are seeing happen in a very encouraging way in the mining sector where some extremely important investments have brought significant employment growth and a significant increase in the compensation to miners. In addition, we are very encouraged also by the work of a range of companies in the energy field who are building with European standards and are abiding with great responsibility by law obligations. In addition to Devoll mentioned by the Minister, there are definitely other companies, such as those from Mirdite, Skrapar and Berat here present today, but also many others who have brought minor developments from the point of view of dimensions but which have been of the same quality as the others, and whose example is to be followed.

What I want to emphasize in this meeting is the need for everybody to receive a very clear message.

We will not stop! We will have no tolerance for those who continue having barbarian and inappropriate behavior towards the environment.

We will bring very soon in parliament a new package for environmental crimes, and we will thoroughly consider penalties for all those who touch either one tree or the entire forest.

On the other hand, the Ministry of Environment is working on an innovation project to introduce new technology to monitor the situation and to enable real-time identification of offenders and illegal loggers with whom we are confronting every night. Unfortunately, this fact does not allow us to have the wanted and well-deserved success for the whole society, due to the gang of the judiciary system which still tries to take advantage as much as possible, from the cooperation in corruption with organized crime to the cooperation in corruption with these barbarians who, instead of being behind bars come back to the crime scene and continue cutting trees, because they have paid the judges in order to be immediately released from prison, or to not be treated at all as abusers or offenders in front of the law.

This is absolutely not an easy battle, and it is far from being a won battle.

But, obviously, there has been in this period a significant change in the relations between the government and legal entities. There has been a significant difference in the behavior of legal entities. There has been also a significant retreat of all those who operate illegally and have illegal benefits from the barbarous exploitation of common natural assets.

This is an intermediate moment, and there is still much to do, but what is noteworthy today is that we are very encouraged by the results achieved thus far. We are very determined to successfully conclude this battle and to fully normalize relations with environment, because we have made a colossal leap forward by putting an end to the industry of illegal constructions, and by making it possible to stop thievery and degeneration of another part of the territory, as it has already happened to a substantial part of agricultural land, coast areas, hills or even forests which have been ravened and degenerated.

In addition to showing respect for all those who are on the front lines of this battle, we consider of the same importance the internal battle against corruption in the inspection structures, because there are also persistent problems, as there are within the Police State and in all other structures. The important thing is that we have undertaken this battle and we are doing it day by day, and just like we are determined to chase and examine all those who oppose to the state and the law, the same we are willing to penalize all those who from within the state try to get benefits from making deals with crime or criminals of all levels, in this case with environmental criminals, for whom, as I said, there will be a special package with every necessary medicine so that this environmental crime will be over, and Albania can finally have available its most fantastic asset which is beauty and priceless natural assets.

Thank you!

 

***

The meeting continued in the form of a dialogue between the interested parties and the panel consisting also of the Prime Minister and the two ministers Gjiknuri the Koka. One of the concerns raised by one of the entrepreneurs was that an area of 400 hectares has been declared as a mining area thus blocking, according to him, all pastures of Martanesh. In addition, the entrepreneur said that the new mining area creates problems with other entities because it closes roads.

After the explanations given by ministers Koka and Gjiknuri, Prime Minister Rama said:

 

“The interaction was very good because it broke the routine of a regular meeting, and I thank the gentleman who took the floor and expressed his concern.

It is clear that from the procedural point of view the issue has been addressed so far within the limits of the law, but has not been completed. So the moment of the announcement by the Ministry of Energy is not the final moment, because after that moment there is an estimation by the Ministry of Environment, and you’re the right person at the right time since thereafter the Ministry of Environment will follow this issue to balance out on the one hand what has prompted the Ministry of Energy to operate towards granting permission, and on the other hand what has pushed you and the community to oppose this possibility. Looking at the pros and cons, and weighing things according to their competence, the Ministry of Environment will hold its position, and the position of the Ministry of Environment is final. The Ministry of Environment will consider whether you are right and this area causes the damages that you foresee, or that you are wrong because such damages have not been duly assessed by you.

So it’s a process, and you must be thoroughly convinced that we will follow this process with great attention, in order to make the right choice, as we have always tried to do.”

Another guest spoke on behalf of the Institute of Nature Conservation and expressed a concern of civil society. She said that during her work she has faced drastic facts of destruction of our nature due to the construction of hydropower plants not only in protected areas, but due also to the fact that planning has been affected. Every stream in the Albanian territory has been affected. First, a genuine study on water potentials in Albania should have been done, and then give permits for these plants because there is no proper study to know how much water is needed for the plants and then give permits for their construction. 

Appreciating the fact that civil society also has revived after 2013, because when permits were given with no criteria civil society had no voice, Prime Minister Rama said that the new bill to be brought to Parliament for approval aims precisely at curbing this nonsense that has been going on with natural resources and assets of the country:

 

“As far as this government is concerned, we have blocked, stopped and prevented with all our powers what the chaos of the previous years has brought us. I told them that that are 58 hydropower plant projects in protected areas, in addition to those that have been built or that are being built, for which we can do nothing because they are concession contracts related with the government, and if together with the National Inspectorate of the Territorial Preservation we blew them up, we would have enormous bills to pay; the numbers don’t add up. But, those who have not started yet will not start. They will be banned. Just as the bill prevents definitely any institution from being included in the granting of rights to use natural resources in all protected areas.

On the other hand, let me give you some information on the streams. I believe that you agree with me that one of the most important streams is Vjosa. Vjosa was envisaged to become like, I do not know if you remember, like Gulliver tied by the Lilliputians, and have hydropower plants built everywhere. Meanwhile, we have another plan for Vjosa, the plan of a Natural Park. Certainly, we cannot undo the plants under construction, but from Kalivac upward we will not allow any plant to be built.

In terms of sector development, let’s say directly linked to the sector, this might be an economic disadvantage, but the economic and social damage would be even greater, if we allowed the body of Vjosa to be tied like Gulliver by the Lilliputians. In addition, this is the government’s attitude throughout the territory.

Of course, we cannot be one with you, that’s why we exist as separate entities. If we followed you literally, we would have to restore the slogan “we’d rather eat grass than give up”. We need to balance both things together.

We are highly determined to do this. We are highly determined to give a green dimension to our policies in all directions. We do not commit to make you happy, for it would be the end of civil society. You must be unhappy in order to help us improve under the impetus of your unhappiness. But, obviously, we are absolutely on the same wavelength when it comes to stop and reverse this great barbarity that has made Albania to pieces in the name of development.

If you look at all sectors of development, their performance throughout these years has been in accordance with the principle of granting rights to develop without doing anything to protect the public interest, the rights of the public and to ensure that development is sustainable.

There is not the place for dwelling into conversations, but if we look at what big trap has been set to the government, to the state and to society even in many of these pre-emption energy contracts, it is still another story on its own. So, just give rights to develop without worrying who is going to pay the costs of that development.

Meanwhile, we want every development right to be balanced with the obligation that society has towards this right to development. The state should always be able to protect these obligations one by one, and recognize entrepreneurs the right to do development. Only thus, I believe, we can harmonize the interests defended by the government, the enterprise and by civil society. We stand in the middle, and therefore we are always “the worst and the most unwanted’, but that’s what we chose; nobody forced us to, so the more you get annoyed at us, the better for us.”

A representative of some foreign companies interested in investing in Albania, who has been in businesses also abroad, told his experience and was interested in recycling: “I came here some years ago with a group of Dutch people and did a study on waste recycling. We proposed it to the former Prime Minister who showed a great interest, but nothing was done. What can you do in terms of waste recycling? There are recycling plants from Italy to northern Europe. Let me say, not only because I have looked at them closely, but also as an expert in this field, that waste recycling means harmonization of nature and environment, and it will be a solution for tourism in Albania.”

The Prime Minister said that steps have been made in this regard: 

 

“You’re absolutely right, and this is definitely part of our concerns.

Firstly, we have a reious legacy also in this aspect. Part of successful waste recycling is successful recycling of people’s mindset. This means that there is a lot of work to do, because unfortunately people are not accustomed to the fact that waste recycling means direct care for ourselves and for our children.

On the other hand, we have made some steps. Suffice it to recall what we are doing in Elbasan, where we have gone to a whole new stage of waste treatment thanks to the investment that is being made there. Meanwhile, a pilot project will start in Berat, which I believe will be a fantastic example, thanks to the cooperation of the city of Berat with the Municipality of Verona. This Municipality is a leader in this field and has managed to have a company that deals with waste. This company is already a profitable company providing services around the world.

There is a complex project of the whole process of recycling, waste separation from the first moment, and then their recycling, which I believe will be another success story.

Meanwhile, there are also a number of other projects, so we will welcome any proposal by you. You tried it with the former prime minister and you didn’t succeed. You do not lose anything if you try it with this Prime Minister as well, for you are used to not succeed, so it will be nothing new.”