Luxury resort plans for Albanian island spark protests

Plans by Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner to transform Albania's Sazan Island into a luxury resort are facing significant opposition from local communities and environmental groups. The project aims to convert the former Soviet submarine base and military site into a high-end tourist destination, a vision that has drawn protests, including demonstrators holding pink flamingos.

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There is no chance that this investment will be stopped as long as I am here.

Protesters are concerned about the environmental impact and restricted access to areas they previously frequented. Local leader Kostaq Konomi expressed frustration, stating, "Now they demand visas for us to enter our own land." The protests have escalated, with fences, private guards, and excavators appearing at the development site in Zvërnec, leading to clashes with residents.

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Now they demand visas for us to enter our own land.

Ivanka Trump described her initial fascination with the island during a yachting trip, recalling swimming ashore and being captivated by its beauty. She stated that she and Kushner have spent years developing the potential of the site with "great restraint and care." The proposed resort is envisioned as a new town, potentially accommodating up to 10,000 rooms, and includes the uninhabited island of Sazan along with surrounding marine national park areas.

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We swam to the island and walked barefoot all the way to the top. We were completely captivated, and it has stayed with me ever since.

Despite the local outcry, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has voiced strong support for the investment. "There is no chance that this investment will be stopped as long as I am here," Rama declared, underscoring his commitment to the project. The development is part of a broader effort to boost Albania's tourism sector, with Sazan Island, strategically located at the entrance to the Bay of Vlorë, being a key focus.

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For several years, we developed the possibility of contributing to realizing its potential and transforming it, but with great restraint and care because the place is so beautiful.