Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama welcomed on Sunday the plans of the American company Affinity Partners and entrepreneur Jared Kushner to invest in Albanian tourism.

Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump, posted images of projects on social media that he aims to undertake on Sazan Island and in the Zvërnec area. However, regarding the latter, the Albanian Ministry of Tourism has stated that it is not yet aware of these plans.

Echoing the development of the tourism sector in the country, particularly after the progress made during the past year, speaking at the Assembly of the Socialist Party held on Sunday in one of the coastal resorts of Durrës, Prime Minister Edi Rama also discussed the publicly announced plans by Kushner.

“In recent days, Jared Kushner, a prominent American entrepreneur and son-in-law of former President Trump, publicly announced the ambition to invest in two major tourist projects in Albania. Those who were telling us about Montenegro for the development of tourism and foreign direct investments, today they speak to us about the threat posed to Sazan by turning it into a gem in the golden crown of tourism in the Mediterranean,” Rama said.

Although he mentioned two projects, the Prime Minister only focused on the plan for Sazan Island.

A few days ago, in an interview with Bloomberg News, former President Donald Trump’s son-in-law revealed plans to turn Sazan Island into a luxury eco-resort.

He also added that his company, Affinity, seeks to develop the Zvërnec area near Vlorë, planning to build several resorts with around 10,000 hotel rooms and villas. Kushner shared illustrative images of both projects for investment on the Albanian coast on social media.

In comments to Voice of America, the Ministry of Tourism and Environment confirmed the application of Kushner’s company for the project on Sazan Island but stated that it is not aware of any project for Zvërnec.

Kushner’s announcement coincides with changes approved by the Socialist majority a few weeks ago regarding a government proposal for “Protected Areas”, which pave the way for construction in them, including hotels or other projects considered strategic investments.

Rama spoke ironically about those who see a direct link between these changes and the projects announced by Kushner, who visited Albania last year in the company of former US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell.

Environmental experts note that Sazan Island’s land is a military zone but not part of protected natural areas, while the water perimeter around the island is part of the Sazan-Karaburun National Marine Park.

As for Zvërnec, they emphasize that it is a protected area of category five, part of the Vjosë-Nartë protected landscape, and construction is not allowed there because it is part of the central zone.

According to them, in the recent legal changes, the government has removed sub-zoning from protected landscapes, paving the way for construction in protected areas, while under the previous law, construction was not allowed in any protected area.

These legal changes have been strongly opposed by environmental organizations and the opposition, who see them as laws by order. The President of the Republic’s stance is awaited for the latest changes to this law, whether he will approve them or return them to Parliament for review.

Socialists appear determined to move forward with investments in the tourism sector, attracting private capital. Prime Minister Rama did not hesitate to criticize the Prosecutor’s Office and the Special Court for blocking a contract for an investment by two Albanian companies in the maritime base of Limion in Saranda, although he has repeatedly stated publicly that he does not comment on the decisions of justice institutions or exert pressure on them.

“Absurdity reaches the point where a strategic investment of nearly €200 million in Limion, Saranda, which has had a development plan for a tourist marina since the time of King Zog, is seized preventively in the name of NATO,” Rama said.

The Limion base was put under preventive seizure a year ago, interrupting investments in the area, as according to the Prosecutor’s Office, “the disposition of this property by private entities undermines the readiness and operability of the Naval Force”.