"UNESCO's slap to the Albanian government and AADF for Drilon-Tushemisht!"

From Ina Zhupa

Unfortunately, what we had predicted happened.

In the decision on Lake Ohrid, taken at the 45th Session of the World Heritage Committee on September 13, 2023, UNESCO expressed its deepest concern at the approval of the Drilon-Tushemisht Water Park without implementing the relevant recommendations of the 2020 mission. She urged the government to immediately stop further implementation of the project and forward its documentation to UNESCO for review. Otherwise Lake Ohrid will be inscribed on the list of World Heritage in Danger.

But who is really behind the Drilon-Tushemisht Water Park? Exactly the AADF! By its own admission, AADF has taken on 7 of the 15 Water Park sub-projects, including parking lots, and of course the Visitor Center.

Same as in Butrint!

As in Butrint, the AADF set its sights early on the World Heritage Site of Lake Ohrid. At least since July 2018, the destructive plans of the AADF began, of course completely ignoring UNESCO. In October 2018, Mr. Michael Granoff who inspected and approved the Drilon-Tushemishti project, which UNESCO rejected five years later.

As an MP and member of the Committee responsible for cultural heritage, I reacted immediately after the AADF project was made public by journalist Luljeta Progni. I condemned the derogatory language towards UNESCO and clarified the points in common with Butrint of the Ministry of Culture - AADF scenario. Which were exactly:

1- Tentacles of AADF (private foundation and private interests)

2- Moscow and ignoring the requirements of UNESCO, considering it as second hand (advice that no one listens to)

3- Using the method of fragmenting the defense, removing entire areas from the defense and earmarking them for construction.

4- Destruction without any regret of national wealth and heritage of world importance.

Mirëpo nga Riadi i Arabisë Saudite UNESCO e demaskoi publikisht AADF-në, dhe këtë e bëri me elegance të rrallë – duke e injoruar. UNESCO ia përcolli mesazhin vetëm Shtetit Palë të Shqipërisë, pasi AADF-ja nuk mund të legjitimohet në UNESCO.

UNESCO i ra pragut të dëgjojë dera; të dëgjojë Bordi i Drejtorëve të AADF-së, përfshirë zonjat Repishti dhe Gjoni në Tiranë; të dëgjojë edhe I Ngarkuari me punë i Ambasadës së SHBA-së në Tiranë, sidomos tani që SHBA-ja u rikthye në UNESCO dhe mbasi flamuri amerikan u ngrit në Paris nga vetë Zonja e Parë. Dr. Jill Biden në korrik të këtij viti.

Kthimi i SHBA-së në UNESCO është ndër lajmet më të mira të vitit në fushë e trashëgimisë kulturore dhe natyrore botërore, edhe pse ia bën tashmë realisht të pamundur AADF-së që ta injorojë UNESCO-n, siç ka bërë në Drilon-Tushemisht.  Dhe siç po bëjnë tani në Butrint.

Therefore, I make a public call to the Prosecutor's Office to immediately open a criminal case to bring to justice all governmental, local or AADF actors who have deliberately violated the recommendations of UNESCO and the laws of the Albanian state and are destroying the cultural heritage - natural Albanian.