In 2011 a Decree of the Council of Ministers holding the signature of Sali Berisha gave birth to a company named “Red and Black”.
This DCM allocated 75% of the “National Stadium Qemal Stafa” Enterprise for the Albanian Football Federation (with private NGO status) and 25 percent for the Albanian state, represented by the Ministry of Economy.
It is recognized by the circles of sports in Tirana that Berisha’s signature came after a very strong lobbying, especially from the well-known Frangaj-Duka business district.
With this DCM, “Qemal Stafa” was almost privatized because the private part (75 percent) already easily made all the decisions for this JSC.
Not surprisingly, the Board established after this Berisha’s DCM has the chairman of AFF, Armando Duka and former AFF administrator Eduard Prodani.
It took the track so what for comparison is we call “Version 1” of the new stadium.
At that time, FIFA contracted for 200,000 euros a company that would make the existing “Qemal Stafa” feasibility.
This study suggested that the new stadium could have only 16,000 seated seats, which after the FIFA-FSHF negotiations were 22,000.
After this study, the Red and Black Society declared the tender for the construction of the stadium open. The Concession Form was adopted, also approved by UEFA FIFA.
This version envisaged the construction of the 35-year Concession Stadium. After 35 years the stadium will be returned to the Albanian state.
In August 2013, the receipts of the documentation from interested companies were closed and three finalists were announced from South Korea, Italy and France.
After the bizarre attraction of the Asians, everything was discussed between Bouygues Batiment International Institutions from France and Serenissima Controversies from Italy.
The winner was declared the latter.
As it is done in fragile and unstable countries, the winning Concession Firm for the new stadium called for a “Letter of Guarantee” from the Albanian government.
But the political change after the 2013 elections left everything pending.
Edi Rama, who took the lead of the Albanian Executive, advised by the IMF did not issue this letter of guarantee.
Instead, Rama stated at the beginning of the government that “we do not build new national stadiums with 50 or 70 million euros, but with 20 million euros we will reconstruct 4 to 5 current stadiums.”
And so it was. Elbasan and Shkodra were reconstructed, while in “Qemal Stafa” began the partial renovation of the stairs, the different premises and the new pavement of the field.
But something unexpected happened. Albania qualifies for the EURO 2016 finals. In addition, the way for several million Euros by FIFA is opened.
Under these conditions, the idea of building a new national stadium with Concession is re-enacted on the stage.
But … The story now completely changes.
We’re here at “New Version 2” of the new National Stadium, or at the recent debate.
The “Red and Black” Society and the Government (or Duke and Rama representing 75 percent and 25 percent of the company) “find” an Albanian company named Alb Star.
Alb Star, known in business circles as “Olldashi’s former partner company,” promises an investment of 40 million euros, while the FSHF and the State promise to invest another 10 million to build the new stadium.
Interestingly, still not being declared winner, Alb Star commissioned an Italian studio to make the new stadium project.
Along with the stadium and sports facilities, the contract gives Alb Star the right to build up with the “unsportsmanlike” stadium, among which a 19-storey Business Tower.
Even the government recognizes the right of Alb Star to provide 25,200 m2 “business part” at the new stadium.
Even the parking lot under the administration of the FSHF (the current square opposite the stadium) passes Alb Star and the entrance of the new stadium according to the project will be at the resting place where previously was the local known as the Columns.
The concession in question does not recognize the state’s right to return to the stadium after 35 years of use as in Version 1. The stadium remains eternally private.
Overwhelmed by political noise, details remain dark to the public.
But DITA possesses the complete documentation of the two versions that proves the above.
The only barrier that has actually arisen is the Directorate for the Protection of Cultural Heritage.
The director of this office refuses to sign the agreement in question, as the stadium Qemal Stafa is on the list of Monuments of Culture.
Government sources told DITA that the director in question has asked for the Assembly to abolish the part of the law that foretells “Qemal Stafa” as such, otherwise it can not sign its demolition, which is banned by the same law.
Not by chance a few days ago, Rama himself ironized the voices that defended “Qemal Stafa” as a Cultural Monument, saying that the London Bridge was also broken.
“Named a cultural monument only because of the façade of the central tribune, while everything in the rest is a monument of vulgarity, degradation, dirt” – said Rama for Qemal Stafa.
Faced with the insistence of the Directorate in question for not signing and hastening to proceed with the work without legal changes in the Assembly, in the last hours there has been an impressive solution: the facade of the Central Tribune of Qemal Stafa will be “expected” and will “climb” at the new stadium.
Tomorrow is foreseen the meeting of the National Territorial Council under the direction of the Prime Minister, where in the list of approvals is this “version 2” of the new national stadium.
Will it pass? It remains to be seen.
Taken from the Dita Newspaper
