Speech of Prime Minister Rama, during the presentation of the project Lungomare, in Vlora:

Good evening everyone,

It is frankly, a beautiful moment, because we are celebrating an important part of the work we have begun to radically transform our coastline throughout the country, starting by putting this important cornerstone with the coastline of Vlora.

It is also very important that the project provides us a whole new quality of vision for Vlora and Albania in this new century and it guarantees us a full feasibility level, being it a project as simple as wonderful in the clarity with which architects and their entire team have managed to incorporate the needs, together with the aspirations, in a single frame.

It is also of great importance that we now have available a project carried out in a record time given the volume of issues with which we had to deal and on the other hand, thanks to this record time of the project implementation, we can make reality on a record time also the realization of the first part of the coastline of the city, which includes the segment from the port to the tunnel, historically the most used area of the coastline, but which is even the most introductory part of the city and of the whole region.

It is also of great importance that this project coincides with the beginning of a fundamental transformation that will come as a result of the reform of the new administrative division. Currently, the Municipality of Vlora will be extended to a much wider area and the Ionian coastline will start with the Municipality of Vlora, will continue with the Municipality of Himara, and will end with the Municipality of Saranda, not only through sea but also through what affects all territories, where we will give life to a new development of agriculture, livestock and tourism through agriculture and livestock.

Without any doubt, these three key development points of the Ionian coast from Vlora to Himara and to Saranda have received a new strength and are now in a much greater potential of the integrated urban, economic and social development, thanks to the integration of all existing municipalities that constitute these three major municipalities.  This means on the other hand that it is already administratively guaranteed, a more complete integration of the entire area of Albania near the sea and the hinterland, harmonizing the development that comes from coastal tourism with the development that our new policy will ensure across the river of Vlora and far down, where the coastal south of Albania ends.

For all these reasons that are not the only ones, in fact, this project has a special significance and we shall devote special attention to its implementation. Meanwhile, based also on the new strength that the new administrative division gives to the development of the country, we will immediately begin the work in order to be clear on further performance and the projects chain which will follow each other, so that the opening of this curtain with the coastline of Vlora will be accompanied by new and intense developments throughout the territories of these three municipalities, now very important for their potentials, but also their responsibility, in the whole Ionian line, where Vlora, obviously, is the center of gravity that connects the South with the North of the country.

In this regard I want to stress that we have a very clear plan. The Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism is working hard to make it possible that, either through internal financing, or through external financing, we ensure that within the next three years, the development that begins as a new phase of transformation of the coastline here in Vlora could touch the whole coastline of the country and start to extend within the heart of the three largest municipalities and, respectively, within the city of Vlora.

Very soon we will start another intervention that I consider important, thanks to the cooperation with the Municipality of Vlora and I take the opportunity here to thank all those that were directly involved in the Municipality of Vlora, with the support of the projecting team of the coastline and I mean the project of creating some new areas and new sport areas near schools, here in Vlora. This project as well is only the beginning of a comprehensive transformation process of the entire network and of the pre-university system infrastructure here in town, and then throughout the Municipality of Vlora.

I do not want to prolong. I believe that the patience with which all of you attended this rather quite a long show, patience which actually is not a feature of the citizens of Vlora, shows that the project has deserved your best assessment. On the other hand I am convinced that together we shall accompany the project throughout the implementation period and will make it possible that where we removed about 45 thousand tons of solid waste and where we have so far released an area of approximately 95 thousand square meters, the citizens of Vlora, the families of Vlora, specifically the grandmothers of Vlora – who until they are 100 years old will never give up and will continue to carry around their grandchildren – will have the opportunity starting from next autumn to enjoy the new reality of the coastline, the fruit of this great joint work, between our government, the projecting studio, actually both studios which are cooperating, an international famous studio and a good Albanian studio, between the Municipality of Vlora and the whole community here in Vlora, which until now has been very supportive. And I know very well that, if the appetite comes by eating, the appetite of the citizens of Vlora is increased without even eating.

So, we need to move very quickly, in order to make sure that the community support will grow stronger and that thanks to this support, by the end of the first term of government, we all together will give the opportunity to the entire community, especially to the new generation of girls and boys in Vlora, to see what tremendous potential we have in our hands, to develop this city and this fantastic area of Albania and show them how extremely lucky is whoever is born and is grown up here in Vlora.

Thank you!

***

The Ministry of Urban Development and Tourism presented today the implementation of the project for the coastline of Vlora, in an open meeting at “Independence” square.

The well-known project aims to transform the coastline of Vlora not only in a destination on the tour guides for visitors and foreign tourists, but also into a development model in other parts of the Albanian coast.

“This project is a promise kept at a record time, as evidence of the will of this government to work with more dedication to a process already unstoppable, to regenerate and revitalize the urban and rural areas that offer tremendous tourist potential” – Minister of Urban Development and Tourism, Englantina Gjermeni said

The project on the coastline of Vlora is designed by Belgian studio XDGA, following the draft proposal which was selected by an international jury in an international competition among 45 draft proposals submitted by local and foreign architectural studios.

XDGA Representatives, led by architect Xaveer de Geyter and in cooperation with an Albanian studio, explained the details of the project which, according to them, is intended to meet two objectives, respect and use the entire space of the coastline and its adjustment to its specific elements, thus creating a space for all and active for the most part of the year.

The public presentation was accompanied by a special exhibition, which will stay open throughout the summer season, the implementation phase of the project with start this autumn.