Former Albanian Premier and historic leader of the Democratic Party Sali Berisha said in a meeting in Durrës today that the port of Durrës affair may extend to the entre coastal area of the country. He said it could actually happen since the government has entitled itself to appropriate the properties of the others.

“This scenario may extend from Velipoja to the cape of Spille”, Berisha said.

“During 2009-2010 a noted German businessman offered to make a giant investment worth USD 15billion”, Berisha recalled. “I didn’t use to refuse anyone because I did not want to give the impression Albania refuses investments. I did the same with this case. When the final steps were approaching, he asked us to pass a law on strategic investments for the entire coast of Albania, which would make ownerships de facto non-existent. It entitles the government to confiscate for strategic purposes the all the coastal lands, including lakes”.

“I said ‘thank you, but no thank you’. He got mad, but I had not promised anything. I told him that was out of any principle because it meant the government to become owner of all the private lands”.

“This is the Law on the Strategic Investment Corporation. I’m telling the residents of Himara and of the coastal area that they are taking their lands, he (Rama) has found some Greek investors. I also say that the Democratic Party will nullify the law when it comes to power, because it goes against our approach to property. The legal basis is a law that in fact destroys the legal security of private property throughout Albania”.