Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the village of Vuono in Himare on April 2, as part of the presentation of the Albanian Ministry of Culture’s program “Cultural Heritage as an Engine of Development.”

Prime Minister Rama made statements regarding the Ministry of Culture’s program as well as other issues concerning Himara, such as property and investments in the area. Below you will read his statements and our comments on what he really meant.

Speaking in front of the church of Saint Spyridon, the Prime Minister expressed his concern about the situation of cultural monuments in the Himara region, which have been neglected for the last 20 years.

“He meant that churches and monasteries have been collapsing and being destroyed for the last 20 years, but with the latest decision of the Ministry of Culture “On the concession and rental of cultural monuments,” we will concede the churches, monasteries and cultural monuments that need maintenance to private individuals and thus we will have an excuse not to return them to the Church.”

Regarding the issue of property, he stated that fake property titles for 11 thousand acres have been distributed, have been taken from the real owners and given to fictional owners, and must be canceled in order for the property to return to the legal owners.

“He meant that the policy of canceling property titles that people from Himara have obtained will continue, as in the case of the Kyritsis family in Himara and the Nestouris family in Palasa, and then they will be declared state-owned to be given to investors (friends) for 1 euro (plus the fat envelope under the table).”

Regarding the program “Cultural heritage as a growth engine,” he stated that thorough interventions will be carried out in the old villages of Vounos and Drymades, affecting every alley, wall, window, roof, to restore the lost shine.

“He meant that the bulldozer will enter the villages and demolish the walls and buildings belonging to those who do not vote for the Socialist Party with the excuse that they do not comply with the new criteria that were passed with the decision to declare the historic centers of Old Himara, the village of Vouno and the village of Drymades.”

Rama stated that he will free the historical areas of Vounos and Drymades from the ticks (meaning illegal buildings) and the ugly buildings that spoil the harmony and violate their image and content. He also referred to Giali (the tourist area of Vounos), stating that Giali has become unimaginable (in a negative sense) with new constructions without criteria and connection.

“He meant that he didn’t like what he saw in these areas and in Giali and as prime minister = architect he will send his bulldozers to demolish the investments made by local residents to pave the way for investments by Albanians from Tirana and other areas.”

Regarding the revitalization of old villages and houses, Rama stated that no new tourist village can reproduce the beauty of the Mountain and the Drymades, so the owners of the houses should return to Himara and make their houses available for rent, without mentioning at all the issuance of property titles.

“He meant that the owners of the houses who do not exploit their homes and live abroad would do well to take an interest before nationalizing them as abandoned houses, but there is no question of a title deed.”

In the end, he mentioned the fact that he is a grandson from Vouno and thus intends to spend his old age in the region together with Kotsos Kokdimas and together they will discuss and solve the problems of the world.

“He meant that together with Kotso he intends to rule Himara for many years to come and we won’t get rid of him easily, at least not soon. As for the old people in the Mountain, it was a joke to close his speech.”

The statements are Rama’s, the comments are ours, and the conclusions are yours.