Tirana has undergone a major transformation since the 2000s, becoming one of the most visited destinations by foreign tourists and being in the focus of the most important international media.

In a post on social media, Prime Minister Edi Rama shared a video of the radical changes that Tirana has undergone over the years, since he was mayor.

"Anyone born in the '90s or who was a child in the early 2000s should watch this video reminder of the unparalleled fight for European Tirana," Rama writes.

Edi Rama was elected mayor of Tirana in the local elections on October 1, 2000, a position he held until 2011, ATSH writes.

In his speech upon assuming office as mayor of Tirana, Rama said that "the citizens of Tirana ask us to turn the page on the last ten years that transformed Tirana into a city of total abuse and unparalleled cynicism. Tirana cannot survive any longer through chaos and anarchy. Tirana must live."

The video presents the changes that Tirana has undergone, from Lana, the facades of the buildings, the Grand Ring Road, "Skënderbej" Square, the Artificial Lake, the New Bazaar, the Small Ring Road and the Olympic Park, new schools, sports facilities, etc.

"I am convinced that the return to identity will continue, just as I am even more convinced that the citizens of Tirana see every day that Tirana is changing, they see every day that Tirana is showing signs of recovery and hope. I do not deal with words, I have actions through which I speak," Rama said.

Rama said that "everything must be done for all these children who are here to at least create sports fields, where they can play and where they can spend their free day with more dignity and not in holes and dust."

In the video published by Rama, there is also a chronicle from 2002, which states that "the democrats will no longer delay the request for the establishment of a special parliamentary commission to investigate Tirana Mayor Edi Rama."

At that time, DP leader Sali Berisha said that Edi Rama had transformed the Tirana municipality into a construction company for the Balkan mafia.

In June 2003, at the Special Parliamentary Commission, Rama said that "I want to explain to you why this is not a collective battle and why you are the ones who have brought all these people, all these free citizens, all these honest professionals to this dock. These people who are here with me are honest professionals."

Through this video, Prime Minister Rama brought to attention the statements of the Mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, regarding some of the strategic investments that have been made in the capital.

"Skënderbej" Square is considered one of the main investments for the capital, where 50% of the entire territory is green, while 50% is stone slabs, with stones brought from all over Albania.

In 2016, regarding the "Skënderbej" Square project, Veliaj stated that like every difficult beginning, this project is also subject to debate.

"50% of the entire territory of "Skënderbej" Square will be greenery, it will be filled with decorative trees and shrubs and only 50% will be stone slabs, which will bring stones from all Albanian regions to really have an extremely representative square. I know that like every difficult beginning there is debate. I remember the debates about the toy corner, but when all the work was finished it was a fantastic project and today Tirana is enjoying it", said Veliaj.

The toy corner at the Artificial Lake, the New Bazaar, the Small Ring Road and the Olympic Park are some of the other important investments made in the capital.

In another statement in 2017, the mayor of Tirana said: "I have heard the noise about the toy corner, the New Bazaar, the Small Ring Road, and the Olympic Park, but I can tell you that the Albania that wins is the Albania of work, not the Albania of noise. I have a public appeal to everyone, left and right, of noise and work. The time has come for Tirana to be beyond the noise, for Albania to be beyond the quarrels, and for our great nation, the Albanian nation, to be beyond the quarrels."

The Tirana Pyramid is another iconic building that, thanks to the project of Winy Maas of MVRDV from the Netherlands, has been revived as the largest digital center in the Balkan region.

Meanwhile, in 2020, Veliaj said: "We have decided to turn Tirana's most iconic building into an alternative school center. After several years of conceptual projects, we reached a final conclusion, the project by Winy Maas of MVRDV from the Netherlands is the winning project to guide a two-year work and construction site that will end in the revival of the Pyramid as the largest digital center in the Balkan region."

Some of the main projects and investments in Tirana:

In Tirana, 74 kilometers of roads have been paved in residential blocks. 100 residential blocks have been rehabilitated, and 49 neighborhoods have been completely redeveloped. 110 thousand interventions have been carried out in the maintenance and repair of sidewalks, roads, lighting and sewage systems.

Over 9890 interventions have also been carried out to free up space from informal constructions and 950 interventions to pave the way for new projects and roads.

The network of dedicated bus lanes has doubled, and the number of urban lines has increased by 17, adding 469 to the number of stations.

The bus rapid transit project is launching soon, while the Grand Ring Road has eased traffic.

Meanwhile, 5 underground parking lots and 9 public parking lots have been built.

The Reconstruction Program is one of the most successful programs, benefiting 25 families affected by the 100 earthquake. 2019 grants were awarded for light and moderate damage, and 11 families benefited from the repair of 8 buildings. There are 526 families benefiting from major damage.

3337 families have immediately benefited from the rental bonus.

708 individual homes have been reconstructed and two new urban neighborhoods, Kombinati and “5 Maji”, have been inaugurated. Meanwhile, there are 202 families benefiting from the new neighborhoods in 5 rural areas: Zall-Herr, Vaqarr, Baldushk, Ndroq and Pezë.

Social housing programs have helped 6127 families through 3651 soft loans, 2057 housing bonuses and 419 social rental apartments.

Also, 8 social centers have been transformed into community centers, where 3500 people benefit from services.

2720 9-year and high school students receive the excellence scholarship.