Residents in Morave and Kucova have been protesting against plans to expand a NATO airfield onto their land, claiming the government compensation offered is far below the market rate.
Albania joined NATO in 2009, and now plans are underway to upgrade and extend the Kucova Air Base, located in the centra-south part of the country. The project was first announced in 2019, noting it would “bring Kucova Air Base up to NATO standards by renovating runways, taxiways, and storage facilities.”
“When you take a look at the Adriatic, when you take a look at the southern flank of the European continent, and its proximity in the region towards the European continent, it is important to have peace and prosperity,” said Commander of NATO’s Allied Air Command, General Tod D. Wolters. “Hence, Albania in the Balkans, especially in the western Balkans, becomes a critical place,” he added.
But residents are not happy about the plans, which will see many of them being expropriated from their homes and agricultural land. At a first round of protests earlier this month, they said the Ministry of Defense had offered them just EUR 1,900 per 1000 square metres.
Residents say the land value is up to ten times that amount and demand to be fairly compensated. A second protest has already been scheduled, and residents said they would escalate them if necessary.
On 9 December, Minister of Defense Niko Peleshi said those impacted by the plans would be compensated according to market value and without delay. Additionally, he said works would commence at the start of January, describing it as good news for the country and region in terms of security.
He also said it was good news for local inhabitants as “tens of thousands of euros” will be invested in the surrounding area.
