Latest News from Albania
ForMin Melescanu: We count on Finland to endorse our cause in terms of joining Schengen
Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu told a news conference on Thursday, occasioned by the launching of the Finnish Presidency at the EU Council, that Romania counts on Finland's support in terms of joining Schengen. "The decision to allow Romania and Bulgaria to join the Schengen Area should be taken into account.
Balkan Activists Plan Week of Protests Against Hydro-Power
Starting from this Saturday until July 16, protests against the damage done to the environment by hydro-power plants will be staged in several Balkan capitals, under the umbrella name Action Weeks for Balkan Rivers, a joint action of several environmental non-government organisations.
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov Will Take Part in the The Berlin Process Summit
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov will take part in the The Berlin Process to The 2019 Western Balkans Summit in Poznań, Poland on July 5th. The Heads of State and Government will discuss the achievements and challenges facing the Western Balkan countries.
Ekaterina Zaharieva: Bulgaria and northern Macedonia are Likely to Receive a Joint Presidency of the Berlin Process Next Year
,,Bulgaria and northern Macedonia are likely to receive a joint presidency of the Berlin process next year'', Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva confirmed at the Poznań summit.
Zaharieva reminded that our country is not formally part of the Berlin process since the initiative in 2014 by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
"Prishtina's decision - unprecedented move and a slap in EU's face"
He added that this decision is yet another slap not to Belgrade but to European Union and international community, as they remain shamefully silent to the years of violation of all civilizational norms in the years behind, conveyed by Ramush Haradinaj and Hashim Thaci.
Kosovo Liberation Army Ex-Guerrilla Convicted of War Crime
The court in Prizren on Wednesday sentenced Remzi Shala, a former Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA unit commander known during wartime as 'The Red Apple', to 14 years in prison for committing a war crime.
Shala was convicted of the kidnapping of Haxhi Perteshi from Duhel, a village in the Suhareka/Suva Reka area in 1998. Days after he was seized, Perteshi was found dead.
Tsipras seeks quid pro quo for Greece's support of EU candidates
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras demanded assurances from Europe's socialist leaders, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in particular, on a series of issues in exchange for Greece's support for their candidates for the bloc's top jobs, government sources said on Wednesday.
Kosovo and Albania Agree to Run Joint Foreign Policy
Kosovo and Albania have signed an agreement on unifying and coordinating their foreign policy, which will include joint embassies.
Kosovo Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli visited his counterpart Gent Vakaj in Albania and they together signed the agreement on Tuesday.
Albanian President Claims Country Avoided ‘Soros Destabilisation Plot’
Albania President Ilir Meta at a press conference in Tirana on Tuesday. Photo: Gent Shkullaku/LSA
The Albanian president accused billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros of being responsible for what he called "a conspiracy aimed at totally capturing the state".
Ekaterina Zaharieva: The Western Balkans Remain High on the EU Agenda
The question of the Western Balkans is still high up on the agenda of the EU, said Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva during the discussion of the priorities of the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Bulgarians Can Visit 168 Countries in the World without Visas
Bulgarians can visit 168 countries without visas in the world. This is shown by the passport index data, which is compiled by the Swiss consulting company Henley & Partners.
Angela Merkel: We Are Firmly Behind the European Perspective For the Western Balkans
EU postpones decision to start accession talks with Albania and northern Macedonia mid-month, writes NOVA TV.
,,Germany firmly stands behind the European perspective for the Western Balkans and supports the countries in the region in their reform efforts.'' This was announced by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet.
Observers’ Mission Criticizes Albania’s One-Party Elections
Ambassador Audrey Glover, head of the observers mission, during a press conference in Tirana on July 1. Photo: Gjergj Erebara/BIRN
In a preliminary report presented in Tirana on Monday, the mission said the elections were held "with little regard for the interests of the electorate".
Non-historical day for Edi Rama
The elections were held in the tense atmosphere due to the fear of potential incidents, that were avoided.
Apart from the low turnout, those elections will be remembered by the boycott of the opposition that happened for the first time after the fall of the Communist regime in the country back in 1990, Macedonian web portal a1on reports.
Cheaper Roaming From Today Between the Western Balkan Countries
From July 2021, charges will be completely eliminated, writes NOVA TV.
Prices for roaming services between Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be down by 27% today, and by July 2021, they will be completely eliminated.