Residents protest NATO airfield to be built on their land – EURACTIV

Residents in Morave and Kucova in Albania havebeen protestingagainst plans to expand a NATO airfield onto their land, claiming the government compensation offered is far below the market rate.

Albania joined NATO in 2009, and now plans are underway to upgrade and extend the Kucova Air Base, located in the centra-south part of the country. The project wasfirst announcedin 2019, noting it would bring Kucova Air Base up to NATO standards by renovating runways, taxiways, and storage facilities.

When you take a look at the Adriatic, when you take a look at the southern flank of the European continent, and its proximity in the region towards the European continent, it is important to have peace and prosperity, said Commander of NATOs Allied Air Command, General Tod D. Wolters. Hence, Albania in the Balkans, especially in the western Balkans, becomes a critical place, he added.

Butresidents are not happy about the plans, which will see some lose agricultural land. At a first round of protests earlier this month, they said the defence ministry had offered them just 1.90 per square metre.

Residents say the land value is more than ten times that amount and demand to be fairly compensated. A second protest has already been scheduled, and residents said they would escalate them if necessary.

On 9 December, Defence Minister Niko Peleshi said those impacted by the plans would be compensated according to market value and without delay. Additionally, he said works would commence at the start of January, describing it as good news for the country and region in terms of security.

He also said it was good news for local inhabitants as tens of thousands of euros will be invested in the surrounding area.

(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)

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Residents protest NATO airfield to be built on their land - EURACTIV