Erion Veliaj answers Ramiz Kelmendi: Tirana cannot be blackmailed

Media in Shirepri have reported on Kosovo MP Ramiz Kelmendi's letter, which they call the construction “deput from Kosovo” to Tirana Mayor, concerning the construction of a commercial centre designed in the area where the bus terminal is expected to be built near the turn of Kamza.

In that letter, the LDK's “millionaireDeputet”, according to Albanian media, complains about why the land in which it claims to build a trade centre should give to Tirana's municipality, which would then restore it to its citizens in the form of a modern multimdal terminal.

But shortly after that came Tirana City Hall response, but even Mayor Erion Veliaj himself, who declared today that the property will be mined according to the law and the bus terminal -- a necessary need for Tirana -- will be built in the service of its citizens.

We've requested from the Transport Ministry to bring the train station to the terminal, as well, as the train will return to Tirana with a main station, to the bus terminal at the Kamza Turn, and then to a city station. So not the freighter, and not the car park, but the city, where the start of New Boulevard is. For all of those privates who a state land, such as the Kamza Return area in Tirana's books, have changed it with all sorts of tricks to build shopping malls, I want to tell them publicly today that I don't care at all about how powerful MP or great millionaire you can be, public interest is about private interest. In the Camza Return area, despite wonders, humiliation and counterfeiting that have been done with land, it will be Tirana's bus terminal, and the Tirana City train station. By saying this, I want to guarantee both the deputies and the millionaires, who have property papers, will surely expand according to the laws of the Republic of Albania and Tirana's municipal decisions, but Tirana no longer has time to lose, Tirana cannot be blackmailed, and Tirana will respect any property against the payment, because Tirana cannot stay without a bus terminal without a train station, as it enters its second 100th anniversary”, Mayor Veliaj declared today during the 99th anniversary ceremony of Tirana's proclamation capital.

Below are Tirana City Hall's clear statements:

The Tirana municipality, based on its policies and on the strategy of sustainable transport development in the city of Tirana, in co-operation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (BERZH), has identified the necessity of establishing a multimdal public transport terminal in Tirana's municipality.

To that end, the Council of Ministers has adopted several sub-legal acts, in the post of continuing procedures for implementation of this project. By Decision No. 770, the date 10,11.2011, the Council of Ministers, has established the transition to Tirana's municipality of land area of 85,000 m2, with the aim of using it to build the Multimodal Terminal of Passengers.

By Decision No. 445, the date 22.05.2013, the Council of Ministers has designated Tirana's Baskia as the contracting authority for providing local construction design, financing, operation and transfer of public transport terminal to the city of Tirana.

Recently, from several joint inter-initiative meetings, we have become aware that the Central Government, through the Albanian Rasha Railways Society, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy, and in co-operation with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, are working on the development of the Durres-Tirana Railway Line project and the construction of the Hekurudor Terminal station. This railway terminal is designed to integrate into the multimovdal public transport terminal in City Hall of Tirana, which is being finalised by Tirana City Hall.

In terms of the construction of the Hekurudhor Terminal, Albanian Railway Company Shah has now officially addressed Tirana City Hall on co-operation with the development of these two major projects in the field of public transportation. At the disposal of these two projects, besides Tirana's municipal-owned property, some private properties, whose deployment will be realised through the legal procedures of public expropriation.

As of above, where public interest and citizens dominate any other project, the Tirana municipality and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy will co-operate to ensure the functionality and development of these two projects, in the service and function of the citizens of our country.

Periscop has reported today on Kelmendi's letter to Erion Veliaj, where he says he does not forgive the property he has cost 5m euros. /Periscopi