On Monday, Prime Minister Edi Rama accused President Ilir Meta of blocking funds for the construction of the road that will connect Vlora with Radhima and Orikum.
During a visit to Vlora, Rama said that the government has been waiting for the president’s approval for this investment since November.
“Now we did not want to hold a public debate on this, but it is a fact that since the beginning of November we have been waiting for the full authorization of the President after we have done all the negotiations with the Saudi fund. It is a total blockade…it’s an absurd delay,” he said.
The same concern was raised by the mayor of Vlora, Dritan Leli, who said that there is growing public concern about the blocking of guaranteed funds by the President.
President Meta says that he has not given the authorization for the financing of the road because the constitutional procedure has not been respected by the government.
In a letter to the Ministry of Finance and Economy, as well as the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, the president said that in the negotiations between the government and the Saudi Development Fund, his approval for the government to negotiate in full was not sought.
The ‘plenipotentiary’ is a document issued by the competent authority of the Republic of Albania, which authorizes one or several officials to represent the state or the Government in the conduct of negotiations, initial wiling and signing of an international agreement. It is given by the Foreign Minister after the authorization of the President.
In this case, according to Meta, the constitutional and legal procedure to be provided with authorization to negotiate the financial terms of a loan agreement concluded on behalf of the Republic of Albania, has not been respected.
In his letter, Meta wrote, among other things, that there is a discrepancy between the position of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and Rama’s statements.
“Furthermore, the Prime Minister, in a public statement dated 4.01.2021, has quoted, among other things, that,“[…] Since the beginning of November, we have been waiting for the full authorization of the President, after we have done all the negotiations with the Saudi Fund. It is a total blockade, because at the moment when the omnipotence is not given, we cannot materialize it “.
From this statement it is clearly stated that we are facing a serious deception done to the Albanian citizens, and the Institution of the President of the Republic, because:
– on the one hand, the Minister of Finance and Economy confirms in writing that no negotiations have taken place for this project; while,
– on the other hand, the Prime Minister cites that he has carried out a negotiation process.”
Rama called the president’s reasons “to cry and laugh”. He did not respond to Meta’s allegations about not obtaining authorization before negotiating the deal.
In a note on Twitter, Rama said that he will wait a little longer for Meta to read the explanations launched by the government.
“The project is ready, the financing is ready, but the transformative intervention along the Vlora-Orikum segment and the residents, entrepreneurs, tourists of that area must wait for Ilir Meta! I waited patiently and we will wait a little longer for IM to read the explanations we have started, before talking to Vlora! ”
