�Ekol�vizja� Group Lands in Elbasan

Ekolevizja activists discussed the environmental problems created by "Kurum" steel mills in Elbasan

Representatives and specialists of �Ekolevizja�, a group of environmental NGOs visited Elbasan on September 22, 2005. They met with the Mayor of Elbasan, Ardian Turku, the Rector Jani Dode and the Dean Ziso Themollari from the �Alexander Xhuvani� University. The main purpose of the meeting was to create new collaboration paths with the local government and to provide for the future sustainability of the civil society.

Ardina Turku, the Mayor of Elbasan, said that the situation in Elbasan is truly alarming and welcomed the �Ekolevizja� activists.

�To solve this problem we have to force the Turkish company �Kurum International� to respect the laws. To do that, we need to collaborate with the Ministry of Environment, Water Management and Forestry, the local government, NGO-s and the civil society� he said.

He also asked for concrete collaboration between the Municipality of Elbasan and all the environmental NGOs involved in �Ekolevizja�.

Agron Deliu, �Ekolevizja� specialist on air pollution, suggested that a project should be drafted to provide for an independent monitoring of air quality in Elbasan.

�Ekolevizja� delegation also met with the representatives of the University of Elbasan, who expressed their willingness to assist all efforts designed to improve the situation with the air pollution in the city.

�The University has all the capacities to conduct scientific monitoring and determine the true figures of the air pollution in Elbasan�, said the Rector, Jani Dode.