Latest News from Albania
What comes after the conviction?
Things are judged by results, and in the case of Fredi Beleri, things have not gone at all well. The mayor-elect of the predominantly ethnic Greek town of Himare in southern Albania is to remain in prison until September 12, 2024. Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's goal is for the appeal trial to be finished by September too, so that Beleri can be convicted once and for all and disqualified.
Beleri imbroglio freezes prospects of bilateral deals
Greece's decision to block Albania's EU accession process in the wake of mayor-elect of Himare Fredi Beleri's prosecution and sentencing will inevitably impact Greek plans to reach an agreement on the delimitation of maritime exclusive economic zones that Athens hoped would serve as a blueprint for the more important negotiations with Turkey.
Rama burns bridges with Beleri conviction
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's choice to cut ties with Athens was reflected by Tuesday's ruling of the Special Anti-Corruption Court in Albania sentencing the elected ethnic Greek mayor of Himare, a municipality in southern Albanis, Fredi Beleri, in the first instance, to two years in prison on charges of vote buying.
Albania: Ethnic Greek mayor sentenced to two years for vote buying
An Albanian court on Tuesday convicted a mayor from the country's Greek minority to two years in prison for buying votes, a ruling that was expected to raise tensions with neighboring Greece.
The Special Court on Corruption and Organized Crime also handed Pantelis Kokavesis, Beleri's aide, an 18-month suspended sentence.
Albania turns an old Soviet-era air base into a regional hub of NATO air operations
NATO member Albania on Monday inaugurated a refurbished Soviet-era air base, the alliance's first in the Western Balkan region.
The air base is named after the small town of Kucova, 85 kilometers (52 miles) south of the capital Tirana.
Officials said the new air base will serve as a modern hub of operations, for training and hosting an array of fighter jets.