All News on Politics in Albania
The anatomy of a Kafkaesque drama
For the past nine months, Kathimerini has been drawing attention to the judicial odyssey of Fredi Beleri, the mayor-elect of the predominantly ethnic Greek city of Himare in southern Albania, and to the violations of human rights, the rule of law and the principles of democracy entailed in his persecution.
Man found in possession of arms stash remanded in custody
A 54-year-old from the northern city of Florina who was founded in possession of an extensive arsenal of military-grade firearms, ammunition and hand grenades last week has been remanded in custody pending trial.
FM wraps up Balkan tour with focus on Gaza
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan concluded his three-day Balkan tour in Romania on Jan. 31, rounding off his diplomatic mission with a call for international action regarding the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
The focus of the conference remained on Israel's actions in Gaza, echoing Fidan's earlier statements during his visit to Albania and Bulgaria.
Albania’s top court allows Italy migrant pact
Albania's top court gave the green light on Monday to a deal letting Italy build migrant processing centers on Albanian territory, a scheme that has faced criticism from opposition and rights groups.
North Macedonia parliament OKs caretaker cabinet with first-ever ethnic Albanian PM
North Macedonia's parliament on Sunday approved a caretaker government with a mandate to organize a general election in May.
The government of the small Balkan country of 1.8 million people will be headed by the country's first-ever ethnic Albanian prime minister, current parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi, 61.
Foreign minister embarks on Balkan tour
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan commenced a four-day diplomatic tour of the Balkans today, aiming to address regional and global issues of mutual concern.
The tour, scheduled from Jan. 28 to 31, will see Fidan engaging with officials in Albania, Bulgaria and Romania, according to a statement released by the Turkish ministry.
UN rights chief voices concerns over Italy-Albania migrant pact
A deal allowing Italy to build reception camps in Albania for thousands of migrants arriving by sea raises concerns about arbitrary detention and living conditions, the UN human rights chief said on Thursday.
Tourism minister meets with foreign ambassadors over joint ventures
Tourism Minister Olga Kefalogianni held consecutive meetings with the ambassadors of Switzerland and Albania on Friday.
During her meeting with Swiss Ambassador Stefan Estermann, they discussed the planning of joint actions between the two countries, and jointly promoting sustainability and innovation in tourism.
Athens blocking EU-Tirana defense pact
Athens is standing in the way of an EU-Tirana Defense and Security Agreement over the Albanian government's intransigent stance regarding the incarceration of the ethnic Greek mayor of Himare, Fredi Beleri.
The EU is in the process of speeding up the procedures for signing agreements with third countries outside the Union with a view to better defense cooperation.
International Outcry: Mariya Gabriel and 46 Foreign Ministers Condemn North Korea's Missile Export to Russia
Bulgaria's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mariya Gabriel, alongside 46 foreign ministers, have collectively denounced the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) export of ballistic missiles to Russia.
Beleri granted leave to attend funeral
Fredi Beleri, the ethnic-Greek elected mayor of Himare, western Albania, was granted a six-hour leave from prison to attend his grandmother's funeral on Sunday.
According to state broadcaster ERT, the funeral was scheduled for Sunday at 2.30 p.m. in Himare.
Athens faces a demanding foreign policy agenda in 2024
Substantial developments are anticipated in foreign policy and defense issues in 2024. Not least among them are the contacts between Greece and Turkey, which will be dominated by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' meetings with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara (or Istanbul) in April and on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Washington in July.
Gov’t spokesman reiterates Greek stance on Beleri case
Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis has defended Greece's stance on the case of Fredi Beleri, the ethnic Greek mayor-elect in the southern Albanian town of Himare, who has been in pre-trial detention since May on vote-buying charges.
Letter to Rama: Beleri challenges interim appointment plans
Fredi Beleri, the incarcerated ethnic Greek elected mayor of the Albanian region of Himare, penned a letter to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Sunday. This action followed the resignation of defeated mayor Gjergji Goro, who, having lost to Beleri in the elections, assumed mayoral duties amid his imprisonment.
Fredi Beleri’s opponent resigns
Albanian mayoral candidate Gjergj Goro, who assumed office amid the incarceration of opponent Fredi Beleri in the Albanian region of Himare, reportedly resigned on Saturday.
Beleri, an ethnic Greek, has been incarcerated pending trial since May on vote-buying charges after his arrest on the eve of municipal elections which he won against Socialist candidate Jorgo Goro.