TIRANA, Aug. 28 /ATA/ – Albanian government will intervene to save, restore and protect homes designated as cultural monuments that are at risk of deterioration or loss, starting with the historic city of Gjirokastër, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja said on Friday.

The state will take responsibility for carrying out the restoration work, providing significant assistance to property owners while requiring them to cover a reasonable share of the associated costs, Gonxhja said.

Gjirokastër, a UNESCO World Heritage site in southern Albania, has about 390 homes classified as cultural monuments, around 90 of which are currently considered at risk, according to the Minister.

“There will be no more: it collapsed because it was left to its fate,”

Gonxhja said.

Technical and administrative preparations have begun, with the first restoration sites expected to open early next year. Projects will follow official restoration guidelines and require approval from the National Council for Territorial Planning and Cultural Heritage (KKTKM).

Regional cultural heritage directorates and the National Institute of Cultural Heritage will oversee the process and coordinate with property owners, Gonxhja said.

The initiative will receive annual budget support and will be implemented by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports as part of efforts to preserve Albania’s architectural and ethnographic heritage and its cultural and tourism value.

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