Work appears to be continuing on the Gjirokaster bypass in the South of Albania, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Photographs sent to Exit by a local resident show that work on the road has progressed significantly. Large swathes of land have been cleared, the base of the road has been created already, and various machines are on-site, digging and continuing with the project.
The project is taking place in a valley behind the castle, which is part of an area protected by Albanian law and UNESCO. Not only does it threaten the integrity of the castle, but it cuts through land that has been untouched for centuries, could hold potential archaeological significance, and includes four Ottoman-era bridges.
An initial plan to build the road several years ago was ditched because it was considered “risky” and “unfeasible” by Atelier4 and other stakeholders. But now, the project appears to be going ahead with new designers and construction companies.
Due to the area’s protected status, the government must consult with UNESCO before starting work.
Exit spoke to the Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre and the Chief of UNESCO Europe and North America, who both said they had only been notified of the project’s commencement and ongoing work by “civil society.” They added they had contacted the Albanian government but were yet to receive a response.
This means that the government did not abide by their obligations to UNESCO in seeking permission for work in a protected area to be carried out. This could jeopardize Gjirokaster’s status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Vice Mayor Jorida Muho said they had notified UNESCO and shared the plan with a junior staff member. She also claimed that all work had stopped on the project and would continue to cease until UNESCO had reached a decision.
Exit presented the Deputy Mayor with images of continuing work, including workers in high-visibility vests in April. She said it was “election time” and suggested they were staged for political reasons.
Copies of the plan and the environmental impact report have been requested on multiple occasions from the Municipality, including via official Request for Information applications. However, despite promises, they have still not been sent.
The latest photos confirm that the work has continued despite not having UNESCO approval and despite claims that it would cease until a decision was forthcoming from the international cultural heritage organization.
Exit contacted the Vice Mayor and presented the photos. When asked what was happening on-site and if UNESCO had approved the continuation of works, no response was given, despite the message being read. The photos have been forwarded to UNESCO and further comment has been sought.
