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Tirana March 8, 2011 NOA - Prime Minister Sali Berisha chaired today the routine meeting of the Parliamentary group of the Democratic Party. Wishing the Teacher’s Day to the legislators with a background from the academic world, PM Berisha announced the opening of the tender for building of Lushnjë – Berat road and Shkodra bypass.
Saying that the DP has already ‘de facto’ launched the electoral campaign and preparations for the local elections of May 8 have begun, PM Berisha emphasized that the DP appreciates the campaign as one from beginning to the end for the citizen and its concerns and this should be the message that must be conveyed to all the party structures.
Likewise, PM Berisha ensured that every Albanian citizen will vote with the most modern infrastructure; their vote will be counted by the most modern counting system; every vote will be respected and the willing of the citizens will also be respected.
Expressing his conviction that in these elections the Albanian citizens will make their substantial contribution for consolidation of democracy, PM Berisha called on the opposition leader Edi Rama to read between the lines the messages of the Albanian citizens and foreign friends of Albania which consider the local elections a test of the stand on freedom of the Albanian political forces and Albania citizens.
Likewise, the prime minister demanded from Mr. Rama, “To obey law and consensual procedures instead of looking for Eskimos or Arabs in my village”, as he put it.
PM Berisha said:
“I had an emotional meeting with teachers from all over Albania. Also most of you have a background from the field of education. Hence, I congratulate you on the Teacher’s Day for the contribution you have made.
Let us pledge to the teachers and students that in the Parliament we shall be the advocates of the values they promote every day and their interests while as a ruling majority we shall constantly support the education system and have the teacher at the epicenter.
It is a pleasure to inform today that the Ministry of Transport and Public Works has been instructed to open the tender on procurement for Lushnjë – Berat road and Shkodra bypass. The winning company for building Kërrabë tunnel within a deadline of 18 months is already announced. Meanwhile, the government is set to adopt this current week the agreement with the Islamic Bank on a 200 million USD credit following this bank’s success stories in Albania. The works on the tunnel will kick off by April; the tunnel is the most important segment of Corridor 8 and the Southern Axis. While Tiranë – Elbasan highway is the most suitable work for transportation; it’s the shortest distance and highest speed.
Meanwhile, it becomes indispensable the reconstruction of Lushnjë – Berat road as it also passes through densely populated areas. Irrespective of building of the Southern Axis, this road is worthy as it provides an opening to the sea for all the area and it will be built by procurement. The Ministry of Public Works is instructed to divide this work into lots so that it’s built in the shortest possible time.
We shall procure in the same way even Shkodra bypass considered as the salvation work of Shkodra from floods. The initial project on the highway has already been adapted also carrying an actual dyke to prevent Shkodra flooding.
Along with Kiri River embankment and some work on the mouth of Drini River into Buna and following the completion of works on the bypass, there will be no more floods in Shkodra except for extraordinary cases, like every other city can experience. The building of Shkodra bypass is also considered the best protection by the Italian, Dutch and British teams of experts that examined the basin. We shall begin building all over its length; it will be a major work as it will give a solution to a concern that has constantly put the city in serious difficulty.
The implementation of all these projects and others like the salary and pension increase is related with success in the fight to eradicate corruption, economy enthusiasm and development and performance of the country institutions and agencies.
The Minister of Education has already announced the salary increase for the teachers. It will be a greater increase as compared to the 15% increase we realized by 2006. We shall stick to our governance programme.
The DP has already ‘de facto’ launched the electoral campaign and preparations for the local elections of May 8 have begun. We appreciate the campaign as one from beginning to the end for the citizen and its concerns.
You should convey this message to the grassroots. This is the best policy we can and must pursue. During this electoral campaign the citizen and his concerns are at the focus of the attention along with the community, local units and the development potentials. It is clearly indispensable for us to present at these elections the decisive project of Albania being qualified into the group of developed countries.
Our concept is just and fair. There can be no developed Albania without a sustainable development and rural development. We must record every problem and provide the most deserved solutions. We operate within our opportunities. We face difficulties and shortages, weaknesses, but not faults. However, we have great opportunities and we shall make use of them so that to answer all concerns of the citizens.
We do not ignore any community, and we put the priority in line with the needs. If we have invested billions of euros in the coastal lowlands, it has been in the best interest of every citizen. But, it does not imply we turn our back on Lekbibaj, Tomorrica, Kelmendi or other areas. No communities will be left in oblivion. We do not accept ideas like “here can be no development”. Every community has an opportunity and potential, but we have to encourage and develop it. Other countries have applied the same principle.
Also I say that every Albanian citizen will vote with the most modern infrastructure; their vote will be counted by the most modern counting system; every vote will be respected and the willing of the citizens will also be respected.
I believe that in these elections the citizens will make a substantial contribution for consolidation of democracy. I call on Mr. Rama to read between the lines the messages of the Albanian citizens and foreign friends of Albania which consider the local elections a test of the stand on freedom of the Albanian political forces and Albania citizens.
It would be better if he obeyed the law and consensual procedures instead of looking for Eskimos or Arabs in my village.”
