Italians to reconstruct Gjirokastra’s airport

TIRANA, March 27 – Italy will help Albania reconstruct the Gjirokastra airport with a 15 million Euro project, an airport which will serve for civil and military purposes. In a joint project with NATO structures, Italy will undertake a project to rebuild and remodel the airport, hoping it will boost regional tourism and also serve local and foreign businesses. “It is a project which has to be taken seriously and we are looking forward to its completion,” said Brigadier General Aldo Piccoti, the Italian military representative working in the framework of NATO forces.
The first phase of rehabilitation should be completed in September. Italy’s Aero-Club plans to hold a special tour, bringing members of Italy’s business community to Gjirokastra via private jet. “Our aim is to promote tourism in the city,” Deutsche Welle radio quoted Italian consul general Lorenzzo Tomassini as saying. The airport will very likely help develop not only Gjirokastra, but also neighboring Saranda and Vlora, trying to connect all three cities as hubs for domestic air flights. Vlora’s Bisht-Poro airport is also being rebuilt by the Italian Defense Ministry in the framework of NATO programmes.