Albanians call for government change

[00:00:01]Welcome to this week show. From political tensions to the future of tourism, we bring you the stories shaping the Balkans. I'm Nadja Muftic [music] and this is Across the Balkans.

[00:00:25]What began as a movement to protect Albania's natural treasures has evolved into country's largest wave of civil protests in recent years. Thousands of demonstrators have been taking to the streets of Tirana almost daily since the beginning of June. They are calling for the resignation of top government officials and a change of government.

[00:00:46]Selina Cenaj has more.

[00:00:50]>> It is one of the last wild, [music] unspoiled coastal frontiers in Europe.

[00:00:55]Albania's Sazan Island, near the Zvernec Peninsula, was designated a protect maritime sanctuary [music] in 2010, home to over 2,000 rare species.

[00:01:07]But now, the missionary of high end luxury global tourism has arrived.

[00:01:12]>> Albania is not for sale. Albania belongs to the Albanian people.

[00:01:16]>> A controversial law change in 2024 opened up these eco reserves to strategic investors [music] like Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who offered to buy the island to develop a luxury resort.

[00:01:30]This $4.6 billion transformation was sparked by a casual summer holiday.

[00:01:36]>> We swam [music] to the islands. We went on a hike barefoot all the way up to the top and we were just captivated [music] and it stayed with us ever since and >> But critics say this paradise cannot survive a multi-billion dollar concrete development. [music] The sudden arrival of private security at Zvernec on May 30th triggered a violent flash point [music] turning a local environmental outcry into a nationwide uprising.

[00:02:06]>> If you intervene in the lagoon, if you intervene by building beaches, by building small hotels as well, it's going to affect by losing the habitat and also creating [music] lots of disturbance.

[00:02:19]>> The flamingo revolution has morphed into a historic battle against political apathy, lack of transparency, and alleged background corruption in a country struggling with youth brain drain.

[00:02:30]>> A totally too much corruption in the stealing the budget and not correct with the people who live in.

[00:02:39]>> The country's special prosecution office has launched a corruption investigation into the land deals, but Prime Minister Edi Rama insists the project is an economic blessing, even dismissing some of the demonstrators as stupid.

[00:02:59]For now, neither side appears willing to compromise.

[00:03:03]And as the protesters grow larger, a dispute over flamingos, beaches, and luxury villas is becoming the biggest challenge yet [music] to Edi Rama's long rule.

[00:03:14]Selenis Sanchay across the Balkans.

[00:03:18]>> How did the flamingo revolution become a political challenge from Prime Minister Edi Rama? And could it further shake Albania? We will discuss this in more detail with our correspondent in Tirana, Omer Sarac. The protest started over controversial tourism projects and coastal protection, but have now turned into calls for political change. Who are the people on the streets and what keeps them protesting?

[00:03:42]>> What is interesting about this protest is the diversity of people they occupy.

[00:03:47]You see environmental activists, students, professionals, retirees, and local residents who were initially concerned about increasing developments and the impact they could have on protected coastal areas.

[00:04:01]However, over time the movement has broadened beyond the environmental issues. Then protesters now describe their participation as a response to what they see as a lack of transparency, limited public participation, and insufficient accountability from decision-makers.

[00:04:18]What keeps them coming back is believe that this is no longer only about the specific project or stretch of coastline, but about having a meaningful voice in shaping the country's future.

[00:04:29]>> Omer, Prime Minister Edi Rama's government is facing growing pressure.

[00:04:34]From what you see on the ground, could these protests grow into a serious political crisis?

[00:04:40]>> At this stage, it could be premature to describe the situation as a full political crisis, but the protest had undoubtedly created additional pressure for the government.

[00:04:52]Their significance lies not only in the numbers of participants, but also in their persistence and ability to attract attention over an extended period.

[00:05:02]If the demonstrations continue to grow, draw support from broader segments of society, they could become the more significant political challenge. Much much will depend on how the government responds.

[00:05:16]If authorities engage with protesters' concerns and create channels of dialogue, tensions may ease.

[00:05:23]>> Omer, when you speak to people at the protests, what is their biggest concern?

[00:05:29]The fear of losing the country's natural areas, or the feeling that citizens no longer have enough influence over government decision?

[00:05:37]>> For many protesters, the the these two concerns are closely connected. The protection of natural areas was the issue that first brought many people in is freaks, especially those worried about coastal development and environmental preservation.

[00:05:54]However, as the weeks continue, a broader result frequently emerge.

[00:05:59]The feeling that citizens are not being sufficiently consulted on decisions that directly affect their communities and their life.

[00:06:07]Many participants see the debates no longer in the debate is no longer about beaches, forests, and fishing projects.

[00:06:14]Instead, they see these environmental disputes as examples of a larger issue regarding transparency, accountability, and public participation in decision-making.

[00:06:26]While environmental protection remains a new focal motivation, a significant number of protesters have framed their demands around the desire for greater influence over policies and development plans, but seem to contest future.

[00:06:41]Something that, according to many professors, is lacking in the current current government and in current political elite.

[00:06:50]>> Omar, thank you. We will continue to follow this situation as it grows.

[00:07:00]Montenegro is counting on a strong tourism season, but unfinished roads, rising costs, and access problems are raising questions about whether the country can meet its goals. These challenges come as a Montenegro seeks to establish itself as a luxury tourist destination. Here is the story.

[00:07:20]>> [music] >> Montenegro has entered the 2026 [music] summer season with high expectations, positioning itself as one of the Adriatic's emerging luxury tourism destinations, and [music] as a hidden gem.

[00:07:40]It seeks to offer an attractive alternative to its neighbor Croatia, which has [music] long been regarded as the premier luxury spot in the Balkans.

[00:07:49]However, industry leaders warn that infrastructure gaps, rising travel costs, and access challenges could hinder this ambition.

[00:07:58]In March, Wizz Air launched a new base at Podgorica Airport, expanding low-cost connectivity and strengthening links to key European markets.

[00:08:09]Despite improved air access, concerns remain about whether ground infrastructure can keep pace with growing demand.

[00:08:30]Challenges are widespread across the country as various infrastructure projects remain incomplete.

[00:08:55]>> [music] >> Tourism operators say these disruptions come at a critical moment as Montenegro tries to attract higher-value visitors who expect seamless travel experiences.

[00:09:43]>> Beyond infrastructure, global fuel prices, and rising transport costs continue to shape [music] expectations for the season, raising concerns about affordability and demand. Manpower remains another pressing issue. Hotels and tourism businesses continue to rely heavily on seasonal recruitment and foreign workers to fill gaps during [music] peak months.

[00:10:06]Raising concerns about long-term sustainability [music] and service quality in a market aiming for a higher-end profile.

[00:10:16]>> Joining me now to discuss Montenegro's tourism in more detail is Simonida Kordić, Montenegro's Minister of Tourism. Hello and welcome to Across the Balkans. It's a pleasure to have you here with us.

[00:10:29]>> Hello. It's pleasure to being with you.

[00:10:31]>> Thank you.

[00:10:32]Minister, is Montenegro ready for the summer season?

[00:10:35]>> I would say so, and actually we have implemented a certain policies that are actually um well, not regarding the year as series of seasons, but as a rather one continuous tourism period. Some of the segments of it are obviously more intensive than the others, but we are working throughout the year continuously on preparation of certain activities and implementation, obviously, and monitoring.

[00:11:07]So, I'd say that at any given time, more or less, we tend to be quite quite prepared. And so far the season or the pre-season, as is commonly called, has started.

[00:11:21]And the the data that we are receiving are really really good and very encouraging in terms of the more intense period during the summer months.

[00:11:32]We are witnessing increasing number of uh visitors coming from some of the for us newly opened markets.

[00:11:40]So, we have a substantial increase from Far East, from China, also from the United States, and Western Europe, which is traditionally here and present, but this year is even more present in Montenegro than in previous periods.

[00:11:56]>> The tourism sector has faced its staff shortages for years and relies heavily on seasonal and foreign workers. Can Montenegro become a luxury destination without resolving this issue? What concrete steps are being taken to solve it?

[00:12:13]>> Well, it is a global issue and a global question.

[00:12:18]I'm also the the head of the Commission for Europe of UN UN Tourism.

[00:12:24]And when talking to my colleagues from other European countries, we are all facing the same the same challenges.

[00:12:31]Shortage of labor and also the the question of education of labor and stability of supply of labor and also stability of employment for for the workers. What we have so far done is we have implemented a it's an institute of a permanent permanent seasonal worker.

[00:12:55]This is a legal framework that allows the industry to have certainty in terms of hiring and also for the workers to have certain employment under predetermined conditions. So, this this format works for both sides and in the end actually enables the industry to work and operate seamlessly.

[00:13:25]When uh talking about luxury uh luxury tourism today is not what it used to be uh 15 or 20 years ago.

[00:13:33]Nowadays, it very much relies um apart from the um facilities that need to be at a certain level. It also relies on authenticity uh of service and um and experience. So, in order to achieve that, we are also paying a lot of attention on education um and making sure that foreign Yeah, foreign workers that are welcome to Montenegro um fit in well, and we try to implement new measures to um uh enable them to learn about the culture um and um even language, which is sometimes not that easy, um in order to actually in the end have a service that is um of a very high-quality.

[00:14:17]>> Uh geopolitical tensions and conflicts in different part of the world are influencing travel patterns. Are you seeing Montenegro becoming a preferred choice for travelers seeking a safe and stable European destination?

[00:14:31]>> Uh yes, in fact, Montenegro was uh just now, actually in April, um ranked the uh top, the number one uh tourist destination in Europe. And this is based on the uh impressions of tourists themselves and on the evaluation of the uh quality of uh tourist product. Uh this is actually done by the European Travel Commission.

[00:14:54]Uh so, um we are actually on the path uh to create um a um a format uh whereby Montenegro is recognized as a quality destination. So, uh we uh we are a very small country, obviously, uh and uh we need to manage tourism very carefully.

[00:15:14]It is the biggest industry in Montenegro. It contributes by 30% 3 0 to our overall GDP. Uh so, you can imagine how important the industry is and we have to make sure that what we provide is not going to overcome or overwhelm our physical potentials. But, on the other hand other hand to provide the experience that tourists expect. We are concentrating very heavily on providing authentic experience. We are not going to do the you know one-size-fits-all sort of thing, but to also we are making sure that the the service, the products, the facilities are of of a high quality.

[00:15:57]When mentioning high quality, I mean in terms of stars four to five-star facilities as a general standard. Obviously, there are other facilities as well, but this is what what is even now the standard in Montenegro, but we are even more aiming towards providing that sort that sort of experience. Obviously, we are not um non-wise. So, we're not going to put all the all the eggs in in one basket.

[00:16:27]So, there are options for for for other other guests as well who tend to prefer more budget travels.

[00:16:36]We have a number of air connections with provided by the low-cost carriers.

[00:16:43]And obviously, the options of experiences and facilities that are still quality, but not as expensive I would say.

[00:16:51]>> Minister, while many Mediterranean destinations are struggling with over-tourism, Montenegro still has room to grow. How do you plan to increase visitor numbers while preserving the authenticity and natural beauty the country is known for?

[00:17:06]>> Exactly.

[00:17:08]Montenegro currently has a very developed south. So, our coastline is very developed in terms of tourism and actually it contributes by more than 90% in our overall tourist transactions in terms of the economy economic transactions. However, the rest of Montenegro is stunningly beautiful and not as developed.

[00:17:34]Um keeping that in mind, we are actually intensifying our efforts in quality investments in the northern part of the country and the central region as well.

[00:17:48]These actually we're not doing it just because we want to develop the country which we do, but also that that correlates with the interest of contemporary tourists. They really like to experience the untouched nature, the authentic way of life, the so-called zero kilometer cuisine in which with which we are really well endowed. And that's something that we want to share with our our guests, but also we want to buy investing in these regions to actually upgrade the economic potentials and economic sustainability of of these areas. We are talking mostly rural areas which by developing tourism we are providing a whole new industry for the rural areas to participate in. They already do it. They already do it very very successfully. Four years ago we had 56 registered agricultural homesteads as tourist facilities. Now to today we have 367.

[00:18:52]So there is a considerable growth there and corresponded with the increasing interest from from our visitors.

[00:19:01]>> Minister, luxury tourism today is about much more than just five-star hotels.

[00:19:06]What does Montenegro offer to the travelers that they cannot find in more established destinations such as Monaco, Santorini, or Dubrovnik.

[00:19:15]>> Um well, I will be very selfish and say that we are even better.

[00:19:19]>> [laughter] >> Uh but uh more uh more than that, Montenegro is a as I said, a very, very small country.

[00:19:25]It takes you about maximum 3 hours to drive from one one end of the country to the other. But in this small space, we have five national parks, we have two UNESCO protected areas, uh we have five skiing resorts, uh we have a number of luxury resort resorts and uh luxury hotels by the Mediterranean.

[00:19:48]>> Perfect. Uh Minister, thank you so much for being our guest in Across the Balkans.

[00:19:55]>> Thank you very much. Thank you.

[00:19:59]>> [music] >> A series of snap elections that failed to produce a political agreement between rival parties has left Kosovo facing prolonged political uncertainty. For the Serbian community in Kosovo, the choice is limited to just two political lists, one backed by Belgrade and the other by Pristina. While politicians compete for seats in parliament, many residents in northern Kosovo, where Serbs form the majority, are quietly leaving searching for better opportunities and a more stable future elsewhere. Zoran Kosanović reports from North Mitrovica.

[00:20:36]>> Welcome to reality could be a message to the Serbs in northern Kosovo, who for years were convinced [music] they lived in a country where the regime in Belgrade, not in Pristina, was in power.

[00:20:48]Until a few years ago, the part of Kosovo did not recognize a single [music] institution from Pristina, and most people worked in Serbian institutions that remained in Kosovo even after the declaration of independence [music] in 2008.

[00:21:04]After such a life, reality has changed in recent years. Of the Serbian institutions, only health [music] and education remained. The government in Pristina is taking over one institution at a time and closing down Serbian institutions that it calls illegal. The reality is that Serbs are increasingly leaving Kosovo.

[00:21:31]>> [music] [music] [music] >> The authorities in Pristina [music] reject accusations that they discriminate against Serbs in the north.

[00:22:17]Local media reported Prime Minister Albin Kurti saying that in Mitrovica [music] all citizens of Kosovo live together and freely regardless of ethnicity.

[00:22:28]Adding that they include Albanians, Serbs, Bosniaks, Roma, Turks and others.

[00:22:35]Kosovo is a democratic state that does not discriminate against anyone and [music] treats everyone equally, Kurti said.

[00:22:44]The part of Kosovo with a Serbian population in four municipalities is separated from the Albanian majority by the Ibar River. Since the end of the war in Kosovo in 1999, the bridge in the city center has been closed to traffic.

[00:23:00]>> Bridges usually bring people together, but this bridge became a symbol of division. It separates the Albanian south and the Serbian north of the city.

[00:23:10]Fewer and fewer people live there. There are no official numbers, but it's believed that North Mitrovica has lost about 1/3 of its population.

[00:23:20]>> Research by non-governmental organizations also confirms that Serbs are leaving Kosovo.

[00:24:06]>> The main reasons for leaving are no surprise as they are similar to other countries.

[00:24:19]>> [music] >> What is different are the political reasons, instability, [music] and interethnic mistrust, and the feeling that the Serbs have been betrayed by their mother country.

[00:25:31]>> The awkward agreement was agreed between Serbia and Kosovo in March 2023 in North Macedonia with the mediation of the EU for the international community, especially the EU and the USA. That agreement represents the basic framework for the normalization of relations between [music] Belgrade and Pristina.

[00:25:55]While for the Serbs in Kosovo, it clearly represents the beginning of the end of life under the Serbian system in Kosovo.

[00:26:04]Zoran Kosanovic Across the Balkans North Mitrovica, Kosovo.

[00:26:10]>> Thank you for watching Across the Balkans. You can follow our stories on social media and TRT [music] World's YouTube channel. That is all from the team for this week. I'm Nadja Muftic and we hope to see you >> [music] >> next time.

[00:26:27]>> [music]