Prime Minister Edi Rama also appeared nervous in front of American journalist Ines de La Cuetara of the major news network MS NOW (formerly known as MSNBS), who came to Tirana to report on the protests.
Rama pledged to move forward with negotiations to build the luxury resort in Zvërnec, which is being developed by Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.
“An investment of such magnitude in tourism, of course, is to build something spectacular… it brings a lot of income for everyone because the country receives a lot of profits,” said Rama, who called the accusations about the project “ideological nonsense.”
Rama said the talks were still ongoing and rejected accusations of any conflict of interest, insisting that the matter had begun before Trump returned to the White House and that Kushner was not acting on behalf of the US government.
“What conflict of interest? What is he talking about? Jared Kushner is not negotiating. He is winning a f*t. Once again. You have to understand. When Jared Kushner and Ivanka came here and we started working together, it was not clear whether Trump would go to jail or to the White House,” Rama said.
“What are you doing here? Go fight Trump in the United States. Don’t come here to fight Trump. This doesn’t make sense,” Rama said.
Rama stressed that the agreement included parties other than Kushner’s firm. He said that the “extraordinary team of investors” was “not coming to Albania to destroy,” but “coming to build,” while accusing Albania of being used to attack Trump.
“Do you want me to believe that suddenly the American media, American influencers, the American world are taking care of some flamingos in Albania?” he said.
Rama also spoke to the American media about the protesters’ demand for his resignation.
“Rama said he would not resign and suggested, without evidence, that a “majority” of the population “wants the project.” He also said that an “investment of such magnitude in tourism” would bring “a lot of income for everyone” in the country,” the American media quoted him as saying.
Rama told MS NOW that he was not concerned that the construction would affect his country’s chances of joining the EU. ©LAPSI.al