Veliaj: Tirana, a safer city, which cannot be compared to what it used to be
2023-09-14 20:28:24
TiranaPost
In an interview for "Real Story" with journalist Sokol Balla on ABC Neës, the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, said that Tirana today is a safer capital, compared to previous years. He added that efforts are being made to increase security around Tirana's schools, especially to eliminate drug dealers.
"I remember the conflict of 1997-98 in Albania, the time of the Pyramids, when there were several bomb alarms in schools. For this reason, we used to go to "Sami Frashëri" with book bags to school. And today in Tirana we talk about having a security perimeter in our schools, where those who distribute drugs don't even have to think of going to Rruga e Barricadave and where the one who once had a betting point and billiards at "17 Nõntori" doesn't even imagine have it anymore. We are like two different worlds. It is unanimously accepted by everyone that Tirana today is the safest capital in terms of what is called 'street crime'. It's been a long time since a theft of a wallet, a yanking of a chain from the neck, or the theft of a mobile phone has been reported in the media," said Veliaj.
He underlined that Tirana has challenges and things that can be done better, but it does not face situations like those that happen in London with stabbings for Tik-Tok sticks or problems with mice like in New York. "I'm not saying we're better than New York, but we don't have problems of people sleeping on the streets or security problems like in London, when there is a 'pandemic' of stabbings. These do not exist in Tirana. Tirana has several challenges, which we will face. But, in terms of security, Tirana is a model", added Veliaj.
