For the first time, Jared Kushner, son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, has given a lengthy response to the Zvërnec project issue. He commented for " The New Yorker " on all the accusations that have been leveled against him in the American media and beyond.
“The response to my post last week reinforced my instinct to get the facts out there, to trust people to see them fairly, and to let them decide for themselves. I especially appreciated hearing from people who reconsidered things they had previously believed after seeing the facts.
"A recent article brought together many false claims and misconceptions about me that have accumulated and been repeated over the years. Rather than continue to respond to them one by one, I decided to address them all in one place, with supporting documents," Kushner wrote.
The response to my post last week reinforced my instinct to put the facts out there, trust people to look at them fairly, and let them make up their own minds. I especially appreciated hearing from people who reconsidered things they had previously believed after seeing the facts. A recent article brought together many false claims and misperceptions about me that have accumulated and been repeated over the years. Rather than continue responding to them one at a time, I decided to address them all in one place, with supporting documents. For anyone interested in the facts: https://t.co/VuPEG0a1E9 Now, back to work.
— Jared Kushner (@jaredkushner) October 8, 2026
REACTION
Jared Kushner puts an end to speculation: Here's the truth about the Zvërnec project. If it is approved, Albanians will be proud and will enjoy it for generations to come!
In a clarifying response to several articles published in left-wing American media, Jared Kushner puts an end to speculation about the Zvërnec project and shows how he is personally committed to creating something special for the area, ensuring the preservation of biodiversity and the massive development of the country's economy.
He rejects false claims that the land was donated by the Albanian government, explaining that it was purchased through a private transaction under applicable legislation, for the sum of 230 million euros, which ranks this among the highest prices paid in the region for a transaction of this magnitude.
He focuses on the environment and emphasizes that development will be according to the highest standards, leaving this wonderful part of Albania greener and with more biodiversity.
Përgjatë reagimit, Kushner shpreh vlerësim të veçantë për Shqipërinë dhe shqiptarët, duke theksuar besimin e tij në potencialin ekonomik dhe turistik të vendit. Ai e paraqet investimin si një angazhim afatgjatë, që, nëse realizohet me sukses, mund të arrijë në rreth 4 miliardë euro, duke krijuar vende pune, aktivitet ekonomik dhe mundësi të reja zhvillimi.
Më poshtë reagimi i plotë i Jared Kushner:
Pretendimi mediatik: Janë dhënë të drejtat e zhvillimit pa njoftim publik ose pa një proces tenderimi konkurrues dhe se amendamenti për të zhbllokuar tokën e mbrojtur ishte kaluar me nxitim në parlament. Rama madje lejoi ndërtimin e një aeroporti brenda zonës së mbrojtur.
Realiteti: Toka nuk na u dha nga qeveria shqiptare. Partnerët tanë e blenë atë nga një palë private për 230 milionë euro në një transaksion privat, ndër çmimet më të larta të paguara në rajon për një transaksion të këtyre përmasave. Titulli i pronësisë u rishikua nga këshilltarët ligjorë dhe u verifikua.
Ky projekt filloi si një investim i pastër dhe i drejtpërdrejtë privat në pasuri të paluajtshme, bazuar te besimi ynë në potencialin e Shqipërisë si një destinacion në rritje dhe në mundësinë për të krijuar diçka vërtet të veçantë atje.
Ne po investojmë kapital të konsiderueshëm privat në një vend që nuk ka pasur kurrë një projekt të kësaj shkalle, edhe pse nuk ka garanci ne po e ndërmarrim këtë rrezik sepse besojmë te Shqipëria dhe besojmë te shqiptarët. Nëse rezulton i suksesshëm, projekti mund të përfaqësojë rreth 4 miliardë euro investime dhe të krijojë vende domethënëse pune, aktivitet ekonomik dhe vizibilitet ndërkombëtar për Shqipërinë.
Që nga blerja e tokës, ne kemi shpenzuar më shumë se tre vjet dhe dhjetëra miliona dollarë duke studiuar terrenin, mjedisin e tij dhe mundësitë e nevojat e rajonit, ndërkohë që kemi mbledhur arkitektë, dizenjues, inxhinierë, ekspertë mjedisorë dhe partnerë të jashtëzakonshëm për t'i dhënë formë projektit me përgjegjësi. Qëllimi nuk ka qenë kurrë thjesht zhvillimi i tokës, por krijimi i diçkaje që mund të bëhet një platformë për mundësi dhe rritje afatgjatë për Shqipërinë.
Asher Abehsera, një mik i vjetër dhe partner biznesi me një histori të provuar zhvillimi të suksesshëm, u bashkua si partner dhe CEO i projektit dhe ka udhëhequr punën e përditshme gjatë katër viteve të fundit.
Familja Kastrati, një familje e njohur biznesi shqiptare me rrënjë të thella dhe krenari të madhe për vendin e tyre, ishte ajo që fillimisht na e solli në vëmendje oportunitetin e tokës dhe që ndan besimin tonë në potencialin e Shqipërisë.
I first met Ramez and Moutaz Alkhayyat in Doha during the 2022 World Cup and was impressed by their story and skills. They had fled Syria as refugees under the brutal Assad regime, with many of their properties and assets later confiscated by the government, and were given the opportunity to rebuild their lives and businesses in Qatar. Their arrival coincided with Qatar’s extraordinary construction needs ahead of the World Cup, and they became deeply involved in Doha’s transformational construction.
This is an important distinction: this is an investment, not something that was given to us. We bought the land for 230 million euros, are committing significant additional private capital, and are taking the risk of whether the project succeeds. If it does, Albania will benefit through jobs, tourism, economic opportunity, and long-term growth.
My personal focus has been primarily on vision and design, bringing together extraordinary architects, partners, designers and creatives to build a destination unlike anything else in the region. I am a minority partner and have no day-to-day involvement in the project.
The Partnership has engaged extensively with the local community in Vlora. We also understand that people have legitimate questions and concerns. The project will need to go through all relevant Albanian regulatory and environmental processes and obtain the necessary approvals to proceed.
Our ambition is to build to the highest design and environmental standards, and to leave this extraordinary part of Albania greener, more biodiverse and more environmentally sound.
The suggestion that this project was advanced to curry favor with President Trump also turns the chronology upside down. As the article itself notes, our interest began in the summer of 2021, when I was a private citizen and long before President Trump announced his 2024 campaign.
The same goes for the airport. The article implies, but does not fully state, that government officials approved the airport at my request. In fact, the airport had already been approved by the time I first saw the project, and it was one of the factors that attracted me and shaped my vision of what the region could become.
Ultimately, Albania will decide whether the project will proceed. If approved, I hope we can create something that Albanians can be proud of and that families from Albania and around the world can enjoy for generations.
