Prime Minister Rama described today's conversation with 35 representatives of families from the historic area of the Castle in Durrës as "constructive." Meanwhile, residents still fear that the demolition of their homes could begin in 10 days.
"I did not come to discuss the project, I came to discuss that the value given is unfair," said Prime Minister Rama during the meeting.
According to him, the value of expropriations for several objects that are expected to be demolished is not in line with the reference prices and it is expected that these previously determined amounts will be revised.
Also, some of the residents were promised houses in the suburbs by the Housing Fund, but the residents said that the idea of building a building "where the Municipality can house everyone" was also put on the table.
Architect Entela Spahivogli, also a resident of the area, told Citizens that the only positive aspect of this meeting is the time it takes for the IKMT to not execute the demolition decision, given that the project is being re-discussed.
We recall that February 15-16 was given as the deadline for vacating the apartments and the demolition of the buildings is expected to begin 10 days later. The residents were unable to obtain insurance for their lawsuit after the request to suspend the works was rejected by the Administrative Court on February 12.
"It was our pressure and protests that brought the prime minister to the table," Spahivogli emphasized.
Meanwhile, she adds that the promise to review several buildings for historical and architectural value, a request that the prime minister articulated today, should have happened before the project was written.
"There will be demolition, the project will not be stopped, but we will carry out verifications for several houses that are claimed cultural heritage, and a flurry of houses that have not received mortgage registration despite having been there for many years," Rama quoted during his speech after the meeting.
After leaving the Durrës Municipality, the prime minister was greeted by protesters who called him a “thief.” Rama responded to the media that they were not the ones in trouble, but rather representatives of the opposition.
New political forces such as the Opportunity Party, the Together Movement and Albania Becomes have supported the residents' cause and were also present at their latest protest, held before PARLIAMENT.
"Just two days before the storm "knocked" to demolish the houses, Edi Rama went to "negotiate" the terms of capitulation. To calm the bloodshed, when the residents, in their right, grabbed all those unworthy and shameless municipal councilors by the sleeve of their jackets to walk the streets of the ancient city" - MP Redi Muçi commented on Saturday's meeting in a Facebook status.
The project “Restoration and urban requalification of the TID prospective area” is being financed by the government and the municipality of Durrës in cooperation with the Albanian-American Development Foundation (AADF). The plan for the TID area was approved in February 2021. It is related to the government initiative, after the 2019 earthquake, with mandatory local plans for urban reconstruction and development.
protests e resident to oppose the project have started since September 2025 and have been continuously reported by Citizens.
He completed his master's studies in the department of Journalism and Communication Sciences at the University of Tirana. She has been reporting for more than four years in Citizens.al on issues of culture, urban development, feminism, etc. She is also a contributor to other local and foreign online media, and has worked in the editing of various materials. She is the author of the podcast "Pezull" on Citizens.al and is engaged as a coordinator of projects related to the empowerment of young journalists and migration issues.
