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TIRANA – “We stand for Europe’s cultural heritage. This is why we oppose the proposed illegal demolition of National theater in Tirana, one of Europe’s 7 most endangered sites,” has said Europa Nostra.
The organization took to Twitter on Friday after a secret decision of the Municipal Council of Tirana to demolish the Theater which was leaked to local media late on Thursday night causing an increased anger among the opposers of the demolition who were joined by DP chairman Lulzim Basha and other party activists.
Europa Nostra, which previously recognised the National Theatre as one of the 7 Most Endangered Cultural Sites in Europe, reiterated on Friday that the Theater is protected by national law and is strongly defended by civil society and experts.
The organization has informed several European institutions and personalities about the news. They include President of European Parliament David Sassoli, European Commissioner for Culture Mariya Gabriel, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell, and EU ambassador to Albania Luigi Soreca.
Earlier in the year, Europa Nostra sent a letter to Prime Minister Edi Rama and Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj to ask them not to demolish the theatre.
The Decision number 50, dated 14 May 2020 issued by the City Council states that the building will be demolished based on the expertise of the Institute of Construction. It also states that the Institute of Territorial Defense has the right to surround, enter and then demolish the building. The decision gives no date for demolition but says it will notify the Municipality 24 hours before it enters the building.
Asked about the possibility of a popular referendum regarding the issue of the National Theater, the mayor Erion Veliaj called local elections a referendum and swerved into blaming the opposition for boycotting the parliament and elections, seemingly misunderstanding what a referendum means.
Earlier on Friday opposition leader Basha didn’t spare threats against PM Edi Rama warning him that the Theater is the red line and if it is passed Surrel, residence of the Premier in the suburban areas of Tirana and luxurious objects of oligarchs will be set on fire.
DP’s Basha and opposition were strong supporters of inhabitants of Astir neighborhood in Tirana who defended their houses from demolition by the City Hall but the latter went ahead with the demolition scheme a few months ago before the outbreak of the pandemic. Opposition kept silent, and Mayor Veliaj recalled that withdrawal ridiculing it. /argumentum.al
