Prime Minister Sali Berisha stated that tourism not only protected Albania from the economic crisis, but it is even contributing in the fight against poverty.

For the current months of 2012, compared with the same period of a year ago, the number of foreign tourists enetering Albania is 277 thousands more, stated the PM adding that thanks to tourism 190 thousand new jobs were created, a figure record according to Berisha.

With these figures that he published in the meeting of the government, he refuted the opposition's claims for a decline in the number of tourists that visit the Albanian shores.

'I use this opportunity to tell Mr. Rama that his harbingers who throw mud by citing cities, do not honor niether the SP nor anyone else - because those cities are managed by local administrators who surely are not perfect, but no one can deny the degree of the mobilization that they have shown.'

'Those who attack Vangjush [Dako, the Mayor of Durrësi, elected from the SP ranks,] for the tourism in Durrës, they are malicious. I don't want to protect Mr Dako, for no one is harsher than me on him, but to ring the bells saying that the number of vacationers in beaches has declined, while if you add those who spend their holidays in Hamallaj and the Lalzi Bay in Durres, you'll see that their number has not declined, but, on the contrary, has increased with 50-60%. Of course, this shore remains to be discovered,' PM Berisha stated.

The Prime Minister said that the government he heads won't stop its investment in this sector, while noting that only in this branch of the economy more than ALL 220 million have been invested.

Meanwhile, the head of government spoke very clearly regarding all of those who have erected buildings with no permission in tourist areas, warning their ruin in September through a special decree.

'I'm here to convey a message to those who undertake the wrecking of the country's shores. I give you my word of honor that in September, strict measures against illegal constructions [will be decreed]. They are just greedy people who build in the sand. You better ruin them yourselves, because they will have just one destiny: the law, the law and only the law.'

'Do not spend money in building, my greedy gentlemen, greedy up to the core, because after the passing of the tourist flows, all the strength of law will fall upon your constructions, [which are an evidence] of the rampant greed. You will pay even for their ruin. A special decree shall be prepared by the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Justice for this purpose,' Prime Minister Sali Berisha stated.

Members of the government held a minute of silence to honor the memory of the former chairman of the Democratic Party of Macedonia, Arbën Xhaferri who passed away on Wednesday after suffering a stroke.

According to PM Berisha, Arbën Xhaferri left behind a vision that will inspire the Albanians as a nation on their way to realizing the highest human and national ideals.