Divjaka Albania resort proposal inside Karavasta National Park (Mabetex, 2017)
Status: Proposal (2017). No permit or outcome found in sources reviewed.
Summary
In March 2017 Exit reported on a proposed tourist resort called 'Divjaka Albania' inside Karavasta National Park in Divjakë, to be developed by the Mabetex Group, which was headed by businessman Behgjet Pacolli. Eleven environmental organisations wrote to the Minister of Environment, arguing the project breaches public-hearing requirements for strategic environmental assessment (Law 91/2013, VKM 219/2015), protected-area rules under the Law on Protected Areas, the park's management plan approved in 2016, and international conventions (Bern, Ramsar, Natura 2000).
The article does not report that any permit was granted, and it contains no response from the Ministry, the government or Mabetex. The sources reviewed do not show a later approval or demolition decision for this project. A later Karavasta solar park is covered by the existing dataset records.
Key facts
- Proposed resort 'Divjaka Albania' inside Karavasta National Park (Exit, 2017-03-28).
- Developer named as Mabetex Group, headed by Behgjet Pacolli (as reported).
- 11 environmental organisations objected in a letter to the Minister of Environment.
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (1)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- The NGO letter and objections were made, as reported by Exit.
What is alleged (1)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat the proposal would urbanise a protected national park in violation of the management plan.
Allegations and who made them (1)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationThe NGOs argue the project breaches public-hearing requirements, protected-area rules, the park's management plan and international conventions.
Open questions (2)
- Did the Ministry of Environment respond, and was any strategic environmental assessment carried out?
- What became of the project after 2017?
Responses (1)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- No response from the Ministry of Environment, the government or Mabetex is reported in the article (Exit, 2017).
Timeline
Full timeline →Other
11 NGOs object to Divjaka Albania resort in Karavasta park
Environmental organisations sent a letter to the Minister of Environment objecting to the proposed Mabetex resort inside Karavasta National Park (Exit, 2017).
Connections
Mabetex Group proposed the Divjaka resort
Evidence: Exit (2017-03-28) names Mabetex Group, headed by Behgjet Pacolli, as the proposed developer.
Hypotheses
Possible explanations that connect this record with other findings. They are not findings; each lists the evidence for and against.
- Source label: Unverified
Strategic-investment status is being used to move projects into protected parks, reducing the protection of park land
Sazan's 45 ha of strategic status fall inside the Karaburun-Sazan Marine National Park (AOS, 2025). The 2017 Divjaka resort in Karavasta park and the 2017 Butrint Acropolis construction show the same pattern of projects in protected areas without public permit information. Existing dataset cases on Zvernec, Tomorr and Vjosa-Narta point the same way.
Evidence for
- AOS (2025-01-20): Sazan strategic status covers 45 ha inside a marine national park declared in 2022.
- Exit (2017): Divjaka resort proposal inside Karavasta park, NGO objection citing protected-area rules and the 2016 management plan.
- Exit (2017): Butrint construction inside national park with no public permit information.
Evidence against
- The Strategic Investment Committee acts under a published law (Law 55/2025 as titled), so the status may be lawful even if controversial.
- The Prime Minister said the Divjakë masterplan was completed without harming the protected area (as reported in secondary report, not confirmed in the original source).
- The Divjaka and Butrint items are from 2017 and have no follow-up found, so they may not reflect current policy.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 1 source.
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 1 source
- Publisher
- Exit.al
- Date
- 28 Mar 2017