TIRANA, Nov. 27 – The head of the Albanian opposition, Lulzim Basha, said this week the proposed construction of three incinerators in the cities of Tirana, Fier and Elbasan was a “corrupt affair.”
According to Basha, Prime Minister Edi Rama and Minister of Finance and Economy Arben Ahmetaj are the hidden owners of the companies set to build the incinerators.
Ahmetaj, on the other hand, replied to Basha saying the three projects were internationally certified and backed up, with a total of €54 million for investment and construction costs.
Basha called on state auditors and prosecutors to begin investigating these accusations, claiming that the construction companies are owned by the same person, who simply serves as a cover-up for the real owners – Rama and Ahmetaj.
“The incinerators’ projects have been uncovered to be corrupt and criminal. All three are controlled by one person, who serves as a puppet hiding the real owners, and it is clear that the real owners are Arben Ahmetaj and Edi Rama,” Basha said. “In total, according to the documents in our disposal, we are talking about €400 million that will be paid throughout 20 years for the construction of these incinerators and the tariffs will be paid by Albanian taxpayers.”
Ahmetaj, however, said that, within seven years, Elbasan and Fier municipalities will own two incinerators whose total investment and service costs mount to €54 million, including taxes.
He added the Tirana incinerator might not even be built as it is a proposal at this time.
“While he has not stated anywhere the $1 million discovered across the ocean, the source of which no one but him knows where it comes from, but what we do know is they illegally flowed to badmouth Albania and the Socialist government with slander mud, he declares today that Albania and its citizens’ healthcare is being destroyed by three internationally certified projects,” Ahmetaj said, replying to Basha’s comments.
Ahmetaj’s statement concerning the $1 million refers to recent accusations towards the Democratic Party and its electoral campaign costs used to purchase U.S. lobbying services.
SP says secret payments through an offshore company towards lobbying US companies were discovered this week.
While asking the Prosecution’s Office to investigate, the Socialist Party also called for transparency and an explanation concerning the money source.
