By Blendi Fevziu
The Albanian Government has postponed the expiry date on the Moratorium for Speedboats for another three years. In simpler terms, speedboats, yachts and all seafaring vessels of small tonnages, chiefly for tourism, will be prohibited from navigating Albanian waters.
There is absolutely no doubt that the principle reasons remain those of three years earlier – to strengthen the conviction that Albania always stands ready to combat trafficking even if this means resorting to extreme measures, and the second reason is to strengthen this conviction on the threshold of lifting the visa regime. Without doubting the good will and aims of the Albanian government, it is impossible to refrain from remarking that this decision is an extreme decision, which runs counter to the rights of a part of the citizens of the country as it does with the strategy of the development of tourism in Albania. Allow me to begin with the latter.
First, the entire economic development of the past eight years has proven that tourism, and exclusively tourism in the northern highland areas and along the coastline, is by far the biggest money spinner and the most important industry of the Albanian economy. The construction of hotels like mushrooms after the rain from Velipoja in the North to Ksamil in the South, the growing numbers of Albanian and foreign tourists, the heightened interest of the world press, the investments concentrated in coastal areas, publicity and promotional campaigns, all prove this. However, there is no doubt that the decision to prohibit the circulation of speedboats etc., runs counter to all efforts to build up the mass-scale and lucrative tourist industry. Everyone knows that tourism does not only mean water, sun and sand, but also fun. Entertainment actually occupies a lead position. How can the Albanian coastline be attractive when there are absolutely no boats! How can the view of the Albanian coastal towns and wharves be regarded as attractive to anyone when there are no white sails or boats bobbing on the blue waters which help make such a view unforgettable? How can tourists visit the breathtaking bays and inlets along the southern coastline when they are only accessible by sea. These are only a few moments, but so many others could be mentioned.
Second, the decision to prohibit these boats curbs investments in tourism, and especially those pertaining to ports and berths for yachts, small scale shipyards for their maintenance and the infrastructure. The development of tourism goes hand in glove with this kind of investment and the Master Plans of the coastal zones foresee the construction of several wharves of this nature. If yachts are not to be allowed, then why should money be spent on building berths for them?
Third, the decision to prohibit these boats is also an infringement on the rights of the handful of citizens who have the possibility to own and use such vessels. Although this category constitutes a very small community of the Albanian society, chiefly businessmen and women, it has the undeniable right to own and enjoy these leisure boats, yachts and other luxury vessels as is the case in all the other countries of the world. Their free initiative and personal success grant them this right. So, its denial, even though this only affects a tiny part of the Albanian society – “the new bourgeoisie” as Berisha calls them, it constitutes a direct violation of Human Rights.
Fourth, the law creates discrimination. Yachts flying foreign flags, registered in other countries, are allowed to move freely in, out and around Albanian waters, while Albanian vessels are condemned to remain anchored at their berths. This is another case of discrimination and must be eliminated as soon as possible.
For all these reasons taken together, this prohibition of speedboats should not be regarded as a sign of goodwill to convince the International Community of Albania’s ongoing willingness to put a stop to trafficking, but also as a violation of our rights, which must be corrected as soon as possible.
