Privatization of Albanian monuments opposed

TIRANA, Jan. 31 – A proposal to sell some 40 castles and towers has encountered stiff opposition among archeologists and historians.
The plan, spearheaded by the head of the Institute of Monuments, Apollon Bace, envisages the sale of 99-year leases to private companies.
These will then have the right to turn the historic sites into bars, caf고and inns while investing in their restoration.
In an interview for Shqiptarja.com, Bace maintained that this is standard practice “all over the world”. He says it is also backed by Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the Minister of Culture, Aldo Bumci.
However, the proposal, which could be acted on as soon as next month, has drawn a fierce response from historians, archeologist and architects, some of whom accuse the authorities of failing to safeguard the nation’s heritage.
“The proposal from the Ministry of Culture to give concessions for cultural heritage monuments is an awful idea,” historian Auron Tare said.
“The state’s rejection of its responsibilities for cultural heritage and the transfer of this responsibility to private hands is testimony to the collapse of state institutions,” Tare said, adding that the consequences “will be unimaginable and unrecoverable”.
The Institute of Monuments has in the past rented two medieval castles to private companies and Tare maintains that the results of this exercise were poor.
“If the authorities cannot even control two single projects, the question is how will they be able to control more monuments?” he asked.