Beaches in Albania Disregard Coast Guard Rule

The rules are set by government decision, but in practice it seems that the decision of a year ago has not found implementation.

Our institution has been sent to the municipalities and ministry with official paperwork since last year's monitoring has not been implemented VKM from municipalities on this issue” says Auron Tare, head of the National Coast Agency.

What solution does the coast agency offer for this service to function as elsewhere?

“We have proposed the model of Montenegro, France, to be a specialised institution that will manage this kind of service -- that is, from sea security to the” tariff collection, adds Auron Tare.

Along the entire Durres coastline lies only one watchtower, others set up two years ago have disappeared. Why haven't municipalities implemented the government's decision to employ coastal guards on beaches?

There are no coastal guards in Durres that are financed by the Durres municipality, but we have asked the subjects who rent the beaches to set up coast guards throughout the coastline. Gather 4-5 subjects together because we don't have funds. About 3 mln new money, says Durres Mayor Vangjush Dako.

But for Dako, this problem will be resolved soon. “We are in the first phase, by July it will eventually be resolved” says Mayor of Durres Vangush Dako.

Through an agreement with the Montenegrin government, two years ago, the National Coast Agency trained and certified 41 students of the sports academy for coastal guards, young people who are unemployed today, not forgetting that the life of any vacationer could be jeopardised by their refusal. / TCh