In a public reaction on his official Facebook page, cultural heritage researcher and activist Auron Tare has denounced the current state of one of the most important natural and cultural heritage areas in the country — Butrint National Park.
He has published shocking images showing the degradation of part of the protected area, raising the alarm about the way a national asset of international importance is being treated.
According to Tare, this area of Butrint, which in the 1990s was earmarked for construction by the "Berisha 1" government, was saved thanks to the continuous efforts of the Butrint Foundation and the intervention of the then Minister of Culture, Arta Dade, as well as the support of high-ranking state figures such as Edi Rama, Fatos Nano and President Rexhep Mejdani. This initiative was considered one of the greatest works of the Socialist Party after 1997, giving legal and institutional protection to a precious national asset.
But today, according to Auron Tares, everything seems to be left to chance. “Thanks to the dedicated work of Minister Kumbaro & Co., the pictures speak for themselves,” he says with irony and indignation. The implication is clear: the current policies of the Ministry of Culture and the management of Butrint have failed to preserve the integrity of the protected area.
This denunciation comes at a time when the debate over the management of Butrint has been intense and polarized, especially after recent decisions to transfer the administration of the park to a new form of public-private partnership, which has been opposed by many civil society voices and cultural heritage experts.
The images published by Tare reinforce concerns that the historical, archaeological and natural values of Butrint are more endangered today than ever. He calls on institutions to react responsibly, before it is too late.
