Rent of castles sparks political accusations

TIRANA, May 16 – A government decision to rent out facilities in Albanian fortresses for recreational purposes ahead of next June’s general elections has sparked a political row with the opposition warning it will not recognize the contracts when it comes to power. A recent government decision has put up for rent facilities in 12 cultural heritage objects, of which 19 castles and three Turkish baths known as hamams. The Berat, Shkodra, Porto Palermo, Ali Pasha castles and the hamams of Kruja, Durres are some of the monuments where part of the facilities can be hired by private companies to set up coffee bars and restaurants for visitors but also maintain the cultural heritage objects. Reacting to the government decision, the opposition Socialist Party said it will not recognize concessions or leasing of monuments of culture, describing the government initiative as corruptive and damaging national heritage.
Experts say the castles of Lekures, Petrela and Preza whose facilities have been rented since years and concrete areas have been set up are not the best example of leasing cultural heritage sites.
The Culture Ministry says that currently only the Lekuras and Petrela fortresses are on long-term rent contracts while others are on one-year contracts with an option to renew them.
According to the plan unveiled in late January by the head of Albania’s Institute of Monuments, Apollon Bace, some 40 monuments would be leased for a period of up to 100 years, mainly because the government is unable to preserve them.
Rich with monuments dating back to Roman times, Albania has struggled for years to preserve them properly, with governments failing to invest enough in restoration.