Press statement by the Minister of State for Reconstruction Arben Ahmetaj after cabinet meeting:
Hello everyone,
I would like to announce to the public a series of important Council of Ministers’ decisions aimed at advancing the rebuilding process in the worst-damaged areas by the devastating earthquake that hit the country on November 26 last year.
The Council of Ministers today declared 18 new development zones I am about to announce. But first, I would like to inform local residents in these zones that the issue or rebuilding in their respective territories is now practically and legally resolved.
The government adopted the following decisions:
1.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Shijak, the Municipality of Shijak, and designating the Albanian Development Fund as the implementing agency.
2.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Laç, the Municipality of Kurbin, and designating the National Housing Authority as the implementing agency.
3.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Thumane, the Municipality of Kruja, and designating the Albanian Development Fund as the implementing agency.
4.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Laç, the Municipality of Kurbin, and designating the Albanian Development Fund as the implementing agency.
5.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Bubq, the Municipality of Kruja, and designating the Albanian Development Fund as the implementing agency.
- Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Fushë –Kruja , the Municipality of Kruja, and designating the Albanian Development Fund as the implementing agency.
7.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Durres, the Municipality of Durres, and designating the Albanian Development Fund as the implementing agency.
8.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Vora, the Municipality of Vora, and designating the Albanian Development Fund as the implementing agency.
9.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Kavaja, the Municipality of Kavaja, and designating the Albanian Development Fund as the implementing agency.
Nine development zones will be established in Tirana:
10.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative units 4 and 8, May 5 area, the Municipality of Tirana, and designating the Municipality of Tirana as the implementing authority.
11.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit 1, the former auto-tractors area, the Municipality of Tirana, and designating the Municipality of Tirana as the implementing authority.
12.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit 6, Kombinat, the Municipality of Tirana, and designating the Municipality of Tirana as the implementing authority.
13.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit 11, the Agricultural University of Tirana, the Municipality of Tirana, and designating the Municipality of Tirana as the implementing authority.
14.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Baldushk, the Municipality of Tirana, and designating the Municipality of Tirana as the implementing authority.
15.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Ndroq, the Municipality of Tirana, and designating the Municipality of Tirana as the implementing authority.
16.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Pezë, the Municipality of Tirana, and designating the Municipality of Tirana as the implementing authority.
17.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Vaqarr, the Municipality of Tirana, and designating the Municipality of Tirana as the implementing authority.
17.Declaring the new development zone in the administrative unit of Zall-Herr, the Municipality of Tirana, and designating the Municipality of Tirana as the implementing authority.
In the meantime, I would like to explain to the public opinion and the quake-affected families and individuals that over the past two months, the central government, in collaboration with the local government authorities, has been working worked around the clock to finalize whole legal procedures before announcing the new development zones I just mentioned.
I want to tell to the worst-affected citizens that this is not about building chaotically, but in accordance with the law and procedures, respecting the whole set of criteria and international building code and standards, including construction of the seismically-proof buildings.
It is all about a complete and comprehensive process, involving the design of master plans, compulsory local plans and private home models.
The National Housing Authority has launched the competition for the models on which the new private homes will be built.
The new contract on the design of new models will be signed later today and the new models will be available by February 6, so that the implementing agencies, namely the Albanian Development Fund and the Municipality of Tirana, can embark on an open legal implementation process and launch work to construct new seismically-proof homes up to the latest contemporary standards and models.
In the meantime, I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to issue an appeal to quake-affected citizens and the local government authorities to speed up the application process via the web platform. It is an indispensable legal process that would allow us to move forward and take other steps, from the process of awarding grants to the calculation of the housing space each family would benefit, as a crucial element also in the planning process.
As many as 75 new public service offices and 130 workers have become available to the citizens to date. I was informed that more than 200 families have filed their application in two days only and I call on the citizens to apply as soon as possible. The process is very simple. Municipal specialists, the reconstruction offices, and my staff are all available and ready to contribute to the efforts aimed at completing the online applications process as soon as possible.
To conclude, I would also like express my appreciation to the non-governmental organizations involved in the rebuilding process, creating a full synergy designed to turn all contributions to the process into sustainable projects and I also take advantage of this communication to express my solidarity with these organizations for the undeserved media assaults, casting shadow over their integrity.
Thank you!
