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"We are in Tirana, not Tehran"/ Rama: The deadline for removing fireworks from public spaces expired today

2025-08-01 14:08:00, Politikë CNA

"We are in Tirana, not Tehran"/ Rama: The deadline for removing

Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a reaction on social media, mentioned the fact that today the deadline for all businesses that must vacate public spaces has expired.

Rama said that this is a stance he has held since he was Minister of Culture and then mayor, and it is not, as critics say, that he has now remembered to hit businesses.

"Today is August 1st, yesterday the deadline for the removal of all types of vehicles along national roads expired, and from today, the intervention of the relevant forces to control the territory will begin step by step."

Our ambition is to be the Balkan champions in tourism.

We have managed to do an extraordinary amount in recent years, an extraordinary amount. Just this morning, I was sent a report by one of the most prestigious institutes in the world for good governance, or more precisely for governance, but which also produces a report on good governance, the Chandler Institute of Governance in Singapore, which evaluated Albania as one of the rising stars of Europe in good governance. They say, we have no cousins in Singapore and we have no influence on the Singapore Institute of Governance.

Our government and governance in Albania is evaluated along with Italy, Lithuania, Greece, I don't remember a fifth country for what they have done in recent years in terms of governance reforms, and this is real.

However, the relevant forces will have to be much more engaged now and in the future, because we need to live and coexist with the idea that all together we must now give a new quality to our country, as a tourist destination, but also as a state with the right to become a member of the European Union, and we cannot become a member of the European Union by dividing the tasks backwards, some trying to do the work, some on the other hand trying to do everything, without asking about the common work.

In this regard, territory has a special importance. In this regard, respect for public space has a special importance, in this regard, clearly establishing the boundary between the right of everyone to the common space and the right of anyone who will develop a certain legitimate activity in this space is a necessity.

We cannot continue to allow the great beauties that God has given us, nature for those who do not believe in God, to be abused and, on the other hand, to appear before our children, first of all our children, then others, if we have no respect for ourselves, - as a swindler, as a embezzler, and as an abuser of wealth that is not ours, that is, it is common, so it does not belong to anyone who wants to abuse what is theirs alone.

We have now taken some steps, but I want to assure everyone that this is not a stunt. This is an unstoppable effort for a new way of standing together.

Now there are some who say why did you remember now? We haven't remembered now, and I especially have remembered since the first day I ran Tirana in 2000.

I even remembered the first day I entered a state office as Minister of Culture, when I took some children and cleaned and painted some tin cans that had been placed to surround the area next to the Ministry of Culture, where today the Frashëri brothers stand on the boulevard.

So, not only have I not remembered now, so we have not remembered now, but we have remembered over time, but this is a process. And today, temporary buildings have been erected haphazardly, fortunately in their vast majority without permission, and they will all be turned back.

Of course, on the other hand, because I see some who complain that no, they removed the tents, but the chairs remained. We all need to understand that this is Tirana, Albania, not Tehran, not Iran, so we have not launched an attack to destroy private initiatives, small businesses, service units, the Mediterranean life of cafes, restaurants, etc., etc., but to establish the border.

The border is important, to make it clear that the sidewalk belongs to the citizens and in a part of it, it can definitely be used for those citizens who want to stop for a coffee, but with a border, with a very clear border. Mothers with children in strollers cannot pass through the chairs, the elderly cannot not be able to sit in a space within the neighborhood, because tents have been set up there and the metal structures of endless cafes have been erected, or because someone has placed a beam there and arbitrarily decided to collect money for an unauthorized parking, or someone else has decided to connect the hose to the water system, or to open a well to do a car wash or do a series of things, etc. But on the other hand, patience is also needed, because there are many, there are many and also, patience is also needed for the fact that some do not understand.

You go and remove them, you tell them to push here, they push forward, etc., etc. And all this will be addressed step by step. What are we doing? We are making the national regulation, which will clearly set the boundaries, we have studied the regulations of many cities. There are cities like Barcelona or Copenhagen that have them with a certain meter measure, some have 1.8 meters, some 2 meters, some 2.5 meters, Madrid and others. How much it should be absolutely empty. There are other cities that have them with other formulas, but we will make these very clear, just as we will make the obligations, the obligations and on the other hand, the penalties, very clear to everyone.

Now, to come to the punishments, it is very important to understand that the idea here is not "come on, men, let's punish you." Here, order that, while I am reading, they have left the platforms, they have left the boards. They will all be removed, sir, they will all be removed.

And they will be removed step by step, and it is a great thing for all of you to participate in this process, by continuously filing complaints.

Another one will be opened, a special address will be opened, a special portal, ''my space'', where everyone will be able to submit complaints continuously, because this is a continuous battle until the mind is divided that it does not happen here, so just as the mind was divided that it does not build at Lana, it does not build at ''Rinia'' park, it does not build here and it does not build there, the mind must be divided that you cannot be pushed beyond the border where community life begins.

But the penalties are very important, because we have established public beaches. We are much better than we were years ago, but we are not good enough, because on the one hand it has become like a game of cat and mouse, on the other hand, the municipalities have not fully committed to setting up umbrellas, to setting up their sun loungers. So, it is not a public beach, it cannot be just an empty territory. Ok, you leave the parts empty for those who are nostalgic for the towel, but as you can see, it does not happen, because public beaches are not very frequented, the conditions need to be improved.

On the other hand, for those who play this game, ''cat and mouse'', the penalties are very strong. So, it cannot be that we engage the forces, engage the police, engage inspectors, pay for oil, engage time to go and take action and then, as soon as we turn our backs, the forces of law start the game all over again. There will be such penalties that it will not occur to anyone to easily start the first game. The next thing is that it is important, it is good that we are uprooting these, but what comes next? Then comes Urban Renaissance 2.0. We will be preparing, we have set up groups, to step by step turn these spaces into beautiful spaces for the community. For example, we clean up ''21 December'', we clean up ''Paris Commune'', we clean up ''5 May'', etc., but things cannot remain like that. We will have to intervene with urban development projects to create beautiful public spaces. Those who own properties and use them as parking lots illegally are invited to come and request permission and build parking lots.

They can't build buildings inside buildings. We can build parking lots, 2 or 3-story parking lots, which can be very beautiful buildings that can be used. On the other hand, we have started working with one of the most famous experts in the world, who has worked in many cities and has actually become very famous with the so-called super blocks of Barcelona, for reducing traffic, for increasing pedestrian spaces, for reducing speed, etc., and this component will also be introduced. But one thing, one thing we will have to say is that it is very important to have patience. It is very important to cooperate with each other. It is very important for everyone to make their own denunciation.

And it is very important to be clear that there is absolutely nothing selective here, nothing selective will be allowed. Nothing selective will be allowed! Of course attempts will be made, of course someone will turn their backs, of course someone will close their eyes. These are inevitable, but nothing selective will be allowed. And how nothing selective will be allowed, by the community cooperating with the authorities, by insisting, denouncing, insisting and moving forward this joint process. Another very important thing is the new regulation for construction sites. Whoever builds a building can no longer become the problem of the area, but must take all measures so that the area where it is a residential area, does not feel it at all, if possible, or if not at all, feels it very little less. So, measures must be taken to properly fence off the construction sites, to do the proper cleaning. To not bring anything that is being processed inside onto the street. Not by opening up and taking over the sidewalk, because you are building a building, but by making the sidewalk crossings with protective shelters, etc. It is a completely new regulation that will be given to builders and the measures for them will be drastic in case they violate the community, in case they violate the environment and so on. The other thing is that we are not doing in this, and this is very interesting to know, we are not doing in this effort a, so to speak, job only to remove platforms, tents or temporary structures, but also an inspection of the construction sites, but the construction sites do not appear on television. They do not appear on television because, just like when the battle goes to court, they have a certain force, they have a certain force to control the media, they have a certain force to control the courts. However, we have made seizures again and we will continue to make seizures and seizures. Despite the fact that on the road we come across someone like a brazen, completely brazen judge, who takes security measures for an entire building in illegal hands, which has now been turned into a building for the state cadastre agency, which should have been moved from the existing building, because it has been a dangerous building since the earthquake, and it was fixed, and now this guy comes out and puts security measures on those who have built completely without a permit, which is a crime, which is a criminal offense.

However, these are challenges. These are challenges but the beautiful Albania, the Albania that lives in harmony with the rights of people to be masters of public space, that lives in harmony with the right of people to develop their properties, and that lives in harmony with nature is an ambition that is an obligation first of all of our generation, it is the obligation of this time. And at this time, when the forces of development have become very large, it is very important that we now stand much stronger in protecting nature, to stand much stronger in protecting the balances, the lost balances, as we noticed in Tirana.

And the last thing I have is, in the last campaign I was on the Tirana list and I am also a Tirana MP. And whoever says that's how it is, I want to tell them that I am doing as I have done in a more special way and as I will continue to do for Vlora and Durrës, because they have honored me as their MP, I am doing what I should do as a Tirana MP.

These churches to share in a general and not ordered and quite sporty way here with you. And in the meantime I greet some and surprisingly, even in the middle of the heat they have no better work to do and feel no other pleasure than to let out words, unseemly words, but apparently, even the sun does its job. But no problem!

I thank you all for your patience, attention, support, and I ask you very much, even more patience, even more determination, even more cooperation, and do not spare yourself in disseminating information and sending denunciations in all cases when you see that there is a need for intervention, whether when the shock wave has not yet arrived, or when after the shock wave someone, some return to the old way of speaking. Many, many thanks to everyone", said Rama./ CNA





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