Pacolli on Vlora Airport: Mabetex’s First Failure, We Will Take the Case to Arbitration and Court

Businessman Behgjet Pacolli has responded to developments related to the Vlora International Airport project. He claims that, for months, Albanian institutions have prevented his company from accessing the construction site to complete the work.

According to Pacolli, the phase of emotional reactions has now ended, and the case will be pursued based on facts, documentation and legal avenues.

He said that, since March, state institutions have been contacted daily in their capacity as the contracting party. According to him, the company has asked them to fulfil their contractual obligations, provide the necessary conditions and grant it access to the construction site so that the remaining work can be completed and the airport brought into operation.

Pacolli said he had also approached the justice authorities, asking them to conduct full and independent investigations to identify those who, in his view, are responsible for the situation that has arisen.

He stressed that all options had been explored to avoid arbitration proceedings, which, he warned, would be very burdensome for the parties.

The Kosovar businessman stated that the concession agreement for Vlora Airport was signed in compliance with Albanian law and international standards. According to him, its purpose was the construction, completion and operation of the airport.

However, Pacolli said the contract was not allowed to proceed to the operational phase and, as a result, failed to fulfil the purpose for which it had been concluded. For this reason, he announced that the rights arising from it would be defended through judicial and legal mechanisms.

Accusing the institutions of obstructing the company for several months, Pacolli said an entity that was physically prevented by the State Police from entering the construction site and carrying out the work for which it had been contracted could not be held accountable for delays.

According to him, the airport was close to completion, with only the installation of several systems, final testing, cleaning and preparations for the start of operations remaining.

Pacolli described this as the first project in Mabetex’s history that has not been completed. He explained that the reason was not a lack of technical, financial or professional capabilities, but the fact that the company had been denied the right to continue the work.

He called for the blocking of the construction site and the failure to honour contractual obligations to be subjected to an institutional and legal investigation.

According to Pacolli, MABCO has been forced to defend itself against attempted fraud, rulings by influenced judges that he described as contradictory and unlawful, as well as institutional indifference toward or support for individuals who, according to him, were acting illegally and taking the law into their own hands.

He added that all facts and documents would be submitted to the legal representatives and the competent courts. Pacolli expressed confidence that due legal process would clarify where responsibility lies.

In conclusion, Pacolli said the citizens of Albania are owed full transparency regarding every fact and document, including the manner, timing, location and reasons behind their entire legal journey.