Albania to produce green energy, Premier says

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Dec 20 – During his speech at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, Prime Minister Sali Berisha said that Tirana was committed to respecting international and EU standards on climate and producing green energy.
“My government’s objectives are to make Albania a small power of green energy in the region,” said Berisha.
The premier said 95 percent of Albania’s energy was produced by hydro power plants and called on international institutions to help companies invest more in the country.
“Two-thirds of the hydro potential is still to be utilized We plan to build 440 hydro power plants, while 130 are already under way,” Berisha said.
On the sidelines of the summit, Berisha held several meetings with leaders from different countries of the world focusing on Albania’s strategy for being transformed into a small regional superpower of renewable strategy.
“I think that the data and figures I presented had a very positive impact because I didn’t involve in any rhetoric, but through concrete projects I appealed to the wealthy countries and the world financial institutions to support the private sector of Albania for its transformation into a small superpower for the “green” energy”, said Berisha.
“I emphasized that Albania has just one fifth gas emissions per capita as compared to the developed countries, but it faces specially on the Adriatic Sea coast the harmful consequences of the global warming. I emphasized that my government is determined to transform the country into a small superpower of renewable energy,” he said at a news conference upon return to Tirana.
He also appealed to the wealthy countries to finance projects of renewable energy in Albania “because it’s to the best interest not only of the Albanians, but of the whole region and over a wider area.”
Berisha also said that Kosovo occupied the main place in his meetings at the summit.
“My main goal is to lobby for the recognition of Kosova independence,” he said, telling international leaders “to present the issue of recognition of Kosova independence as a real contribution of these countries for the stability and peace in our region.”
“I can speak of a greater awareness on the important role of Kosova for peace and stability. I shall make use of all the time available for Kosova issue and the bilateral relations between Albania and the friendly countries in the four continents. I am overly optimistic about further recognitions,” he said.