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The law on protected areas is approved amid protests - Environmental activists: We will not stop! The EU delegation and Rama react
15:41 - 02/22/2024

Protesters : Do not vote for the law! Do not vote for the law! Scratch the office, not nature! Scratch the office, not nature!

As the environmental activists and citizens protested in front of the parliament, the majority MPs raised the cards to approve the changes in the law "On protected areas".

Lindita Nikolla: 74 votes in favor, none against, no abstentions, approved!

From the time when 12 MPs proposed the changes to the government's stance, civil society organizations have argued that the new law paves the way for construction within any national park, landscape or natural monument, destroying these territories. However, after the approval of the law, they said that the resistance will continue, allowing the construction within the national assets.

The government approved the law. We will not forget that the real players in this dirty game are the government. It is precisely this prime minister, who today, being the chairman of the KKT, becomes the owner of the protected areas. We will not leave them in any place to build because it is our property, not theirs. They will have us here, in every battle, in every trench, be it legal, but also protests", said Taulant Bino, president of the Ornithological Association of Albania.

"Our cultural heritage has been destroyed in many cities and we are witnesses, even here in Tirana. The same thing will be done with natural heritage. They should be ashamed of themselves for raising the green cards so quickly because they are in such a hurry to destroy the protected areas. We know that after the green cards, bulldozers will go to the protected areas, but we will also be there and protest", said Olsi Nika, executive director of EcoAlbania.

"Deputies without integrity, without identity voted for the law today, despite the fact that we are the ones protesting here. The government has challenged the European Union to ban this law. It is a total disregard for international agreements, for our European future", said Joni Vorpsi from PPNEA.

After the plenary session, the Minister of Tourism and Environment, Mirela Kumbaro defended the approved law.

"The surface of the territories of the protected areas will not be affected in the final version and I want to thank the deputies who took into consideration the suggestions, and the opinion of the government that there will be no division of the territories of the protected areas with the municipalities", - said the Minister of Tourism and Environment Mirela Kumbaro.

After the approval, the delegation of the European Union in Albania also reacted, which in a post on social networks underlined that in the framework of membership negotiations, the approval of laws on matters covered by EU legislation presupposes genuine and comprehensive public consultation, as well as a predictable and transparent process. "The EU delegation will follow very closely the implementation of the new legal provisions for protected areas, according to the EU legal framework for environmental protection and Albania's international commitments", - it was said, among other things, in the reaction. The answer was given by Prime Minister Edi Rama, according to whom in the last 10 years an exemplary progress has been made in the protection of biodiversity and today we are the first in the region for the amount of protected areas. According to Rama, today's changes strengthen the basis of our ambitious path for sustainable development in harmony with the stunning beauty of Albania.

Ola Mitre / SCAN

https://scantv.al/ligji-per-zonat-e-mbrojtura-miratohet-mes-protestash-aktivistet-mjedisore-nuk-ndalemi-reagon-delegacioni-i-be-dhe-rama/