Linda Rama explains on Top Story

Balla: In how many projects has Mrs.Linda Basha worked with Kosta Barjaba during their close cooperation?

Basha: I have never cooperated with Kosta Barjaba in any institutional project.

Balla: What is the real story of the five storey building built by her and her relatives in the park of another apartment building, with Rama’s signature?

Basha: This is a residential building, built for personal needs, in a land that has always belonged to the Basha family. In 1995, this land returned to the heirs, and from that moment it was surrounded by a wall. In 2004, my uncle and my father, who left this land to my brother, applied for the construction permit procedure, so that he could build a house. This is built for two families. You can tell that there are only two inhabitable stores, and an attic. It was built for two families: my uncle’s family and that of my brother.

Balla: Was there any conflict of interest for Edi Rama, when he released two construction permits for this building and her relatives?

Basha: My uncle and my brother have followed all legal procedures to receive the construction permit. Every citizen who has his own land and fulfils the legal conditions, and follows these procedures as a real Tirana citizen can, there’s no reason for conflict of interest with anyone.

Balla: Do you feel responsible for violating the law for your family’s interest, by changing the construction permits. The investors of the apartment building are officially one pensioner and another self-employed man, with a low income.

Basha: The investors are my uncle and my brother. The Albanians have built their houses, dozens of thousands of them, with money coming from the emigration, that only emigrants know how to save with many sacrifices and challenges, with money of honest work and sacrifice, as it has happened with my family members.  My brother has worked as an emigrant for 12 years. My uncle has a work experience of many years, and is still working, even after the pension age. This is hard earned money that was invested to build a house, by using loans and other properties they have had.

Balla: Have you financed, directly or indirectly, the construction of this building profited by your relatives?

Basha: Nothing at all!

Balla: What kind of payment was used for the construction firm? Money or favourable contracts, or was it built with the 20% fines given by the construction companies, according to their public accusations?

Basha: It is not good to have such pressures. I don’t know what the firm has done, because it was selected by my uncle and brother, not by me.

Balla: Do you know if the firm has any conflict of interest with your husband, when he was Mayor of Tirana?

Basha: Absolutely not!

Balla: Why haven’t you declared the origin of a 10 million ALL loan with zero interest, that Linda Basha has given or taken. Why the giver or the taker of this loan has not been declared at the High Institution of Declaration and Audit of Assets, as the law requires?

Basha: I have never borrowed any money in my entire life. I have given 70.000 EUR, without interest, to my sister.

Balla: Has Linda Basha paid taxes for this money?

Basha: This is part of my savings, coming from my incomes. The answer is very clear.

Balla: So, they are paid.

Basha: (Nodding).

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