The Deputy Mayor of Tirana, Arbjan Mazniku stated that the lavish dinner enjoyed by senior government officials and aids in Dubai at the weekend was aimed at bringing Arab investors to the country.
Deputy Mayor of Tirana Arbjan Mazniku, Director of Communications Endri Fuga and his wife, Minister of Reconstruction Ahmetaj, and Minister of Infrastructure Belinda Balluku, and businessman Saimir Mane all enjoyed a meal at one of Dubai’s most expensive restaurants Nusr-Et. Top Channel journalist and political correspondent Muhamed Veliu was also in Dubai to report on the meetings.
The news was not welcomed as it took place at a time the country was being battered by storms and floods, while the ongoing pandemic raged. Steaks in the restaurant can go for as much as EUR340 and can be served plated in gold. Salads and starters range between EUR 50 and more than EUR 200.
Mazniku, who himself was accused of accepting luxury hotel stays in Spain at the expense of developer Fusha Shpk, defended the delegations trip. He said they visited Dubai to bring the Arab company EMAAR to the Durres Port Project.
“We went as a part of a government attempt to bring Albania an investor called EMAAR Group. It’s one of the interested parties for the revitalisation of the Durres Port. We are talking of an investment that exceeds EUR 2 billion,” he told Syri TV.
When asked if this could be seen as a conflict of interest, he denied it was the case and said that officials should do all they can to bring investors to Albania.
“All possible legal means must be used to entice investors to come to Albania.”
He added that the company is interested in Tirana and is considering investment there. Mazniku said he was there to present some possibilities to them.
He claimed the media has taken the dinner out of context and that the video doesn’t show the Arab investors as “they had to go”.
“Dinner was offered by the company. We met at Nusr-Et, we did not see the menu and we did not order because we were guests of the company,” he said.
