Protest against deviation of Radika River in Macedonia
15/02/2014

Hundreds of Dibra residents protested in Shkup (Skopje) against the deviation of the Radika River. Protesters appealed the government to abandon the project for building the hydropower plant in Fushe Lukova.

“We want to say to Gruevski that this is a political project, not an economic one. He should not even start it. The World Bank should not be against the Dibra citizens. No Dibra citizen supports this project”, declared Bashkim Mashkulli, chairman of the Council of the Diber Commune.

The Dibra citizens do not believe the promises made by officials in Shkup and Tirana, saying that the project for the construction of the hydropower plant will not be realized.

“I don’t trust the governments and experts mentioned by the Macedonian government. We will protest until this project ends once and for all”, declared Munir Hoxha, citizen from Peshkopia.

The protests have been also supported by some civil Macedonian organizations in Skopje.

“This is a problem of all Macedonian citizens, because the natural assets of our country should not be destroyed. The protest is important and should have the support of everyone”, declared Branko Gerovski, a journalist.

The Macedonian Prime Minister, Nikolla Gruevski, and some Albanian Ministers of his cabinet, promised that the Fushe Lukova hydropower plant will not be built if it will damage vital environment in Dibra.