“If it was not Jared, they would not give a shit about what is happening in Albania,” said Rama on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat, Montenegro.
He claimed that “Trump haters” had helped amplify the protests — a cause he described as noble despite rejecting the criticism around the project.
The planned luxury resort — which is backed by Qatari and local investors, and could include up to 10,000 hotel rooms and villas — lies within a once-protected natural ecosystem that is home to flamingos, more than 200 migratory bird species, Mediterranean monk seals and nesting sea turtles. Environmental groups warn the habitats of these species will be damaged by the project.
Contentious changes made to Albania’s law on protected areas in 2024 paved the way for tourism developments in some of these locations, allowing further growth in a sector that has already trebled in size over the last decade. The resort in question did not undergo an environmental impact assessment.
“Foreigners are the first priority … because foreigners bring money to the country for Albanians,” stated Rama, pointing to the fact that the country tripled its GDP since he became prime minister in 2013.
Rama said he has not been in touch with Kushner since the protests began.