Rama: Urban revival pulled the country out of ruin and degradation; once, when we planted a tree in Tirana, people gathered as if they were watching a show

Prime Minister Edi Rama took part in an event organized for the “Revival 2.0” program, where he stressed that the achievements so far should not serve as a reason to lower expectations, but as an incentive to aim for even higher results.

During his remarks, he focused on urban development, the changes that have taken place in cities, and the new challenges that, according to him, arise after an important stage of transformation has been completed.

“Success, results, change do not soften expectations; on the contrary, they raise them. Even in poor societies there are better things. Even in developed societies there are worse things. There is better, of course there is better. This is the clearest sign that today we are officially in a new stage. I remember that after the last elections, in a closed meeting I insisted that the 83 mandates are a blessing, but just as much a curse. They asked me: what curse? We are fine. No, because we have entered a new phase. The program is one of the instruments that addresses this new phase, starting from the idea that the urban revival we know has fulfilled its function. Now we must go further,” Rama said.

The head of government also touched on criticism regarding the economic and social situation, arguing that some of the dissatisfaction raised by citizens is linked to high expectations following the changes that have been made.

“Before I move on to some of the points I have noted down, I want to return to what the minister said about the population. All of those are real figures, but it would still be a big mistake to think that those who dismiss these figures do so to feel good, when in fact they take them and say: ‘What employment? Here slaves work. Here they give you 200 euros.’ Perhaps the way things are formulated here is wrong, but the expectation is extraordinarily high.

Urban revival was the way out of the ruin and degradation that was everywhere. And if the mayor mentioned the issue of the main squares… If the main square is the face of a city, the main squares of our cities were the degradation of every city,” he declared.

According to Rama, investments in squares, roads, lighting, schools, nurseries, and water and sewage systems belonged to a period when Albanians began to believe more in themselves and in the country’s potential.

“The way out of degradation, the restoration of the city as a space where people can have a possible social life, and then everything that sums up urban revival with the squares, roads, lighting, schools, nurseries, water and sewage systems, belonged to a phase when Albania and its people began to believe in themselves. They began to believe that Albania could be beautiful not only in the mountains and 100 meters off the shore where you swam, but could also present itself beautifully to everyone who lives here and opens the door to visitors.

Now we are no longer in that phase where these things are missing. I remember when we planted trees in Tirana, it was like putting on a show. People would stop and look at the trees,” Rama said.