Latest News from Albania
Bulgaria’s MFA on Kovachevski's words: Any Analogy with the Suffering of the Ukrainian people is Cynical and Inadmissible
In connection with the statement of the Prime Minister of North Macedonia before the Council of Europe, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria emphasizes that it is unacceptable that the statement of concern for the fundamental rights of a given community is used as a pretext for unfounded and caustic attacks on a member state of The European Union.
FM calls for release of Himare mayor
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias reiterated on Wednesday that the newly elected ethnic Greek mayor of Himare in Albania, Fredi Beleris, must be released and that he does not understand the continuation of his detention.
Foreign Ministry secretary-general to visit Albania
The secretary-general of the Foreign Ministry, Ambassador Theocharis Lalakos, is expected to arrive in Albania on Wednesday, acting on the orders of Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, in order to meet with the new mayor of Himara, Dionysis-Fredi Beleri, and his aide Pantelis Kokavessis, who have both been jailed on remand in a Tirana prison, according to diplomatic sources.
Greek-Albanian relations, without blinders
Athens hosted an art exhibition a couple of months ago at its iconic Zappeion Hall venue where Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama was able to express his creative side. Late last year, Kyriakos Mitsotakis paid an official visit to Himare, becoming the first Greek prime minister to visit one of the main ethnic Greek towns in Albania in 30 years.
Albania’s EU prospects depend on respecting the rights of its ethnic Greek minority says PM
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited the Athens suburb of Zografou on Monday, where he sent a stern message that Albania's European prospects are entirely dependent on it respecting the rights of the Greek ethnic minority in that country.
Beleri responds to election victory with unity and equality pledge
Fred Beleri, the Greek minority candidate in the Himara region of southern Albania, has responded to news of his victory in the local elections held on Sunday. Despite his current detention by Albanian authorities on charges of vote-buying, Beleri expressed a commitment to equality and unity.
Beleri wins Himara mayoral race in Albania’s local elections
Fredi Beleri, the candidate representing the Greek minority, emerged victorious over his opponent Jorgo Goro, who had the backing of the Edi Rama government, in the race for the mayor of Himara in Albania's local elections.
The official results were announced Monday after an earlier interruption in the vote counting process.
Joker Out unhappy with result, thrilled by the experience
Slovenian indie pop band Joker Out have finished 21st at the Eurovision song contest, a result the band, though thrilled by the show and the experience, describes as disappointing.
The band got 78 points, 45 from juries and 33 from the televote, to place just ahead of Albania among the 26 entries in Saturday's final.
Albanian FM dismisses Greek protest over minority detainee
The detention of a mayoral candidate belonging to the Greek minority in Albania has raised tensions between the two neighboring countries.
Greece's Foreign Ministry released a statement Saturday demanding the release of Dionysis-Fredi Beleri, a candidate for mayor of the Albanian city of Himare, which has a strong Greek minority presence.
Conditional EU prospects
Greece has made the right choice to encourage the European orientation of its Balkan neighbors, based on the assessment that the prospect of their integration also functions as a guarantee of peace.
Albania: Ethnic Greek politician to remain in jail pending trial
A court in Albania decided on Saturday to detain until his trial an ethnic Greek mayoral candidate in the southern Albanian municipality of Himara, Fredi Beleri, after he was charged with vote-buying.
Crisis over ethnic Greek candidate’s arrest
A crisis in relations between Athens and Tirana has been sparked by the arrest of the candidate for mayor of Himare, Greek expatriate Dionysis-Fredi Beleri, two days before the municipal elections in the neighboring country.
Athens Condemns Alleged Vote-Buying Arrest of Greek Politician in Albania
A Greek expatriate mayoral candidate in the southern Albanian municipality of Himara, Fredi Beleri, was arrested at midnight on Thursday by the Albanian police outside his business premises on suspicion of paying people for their votes, causing strong condemnation from officials in Athens.
In Local Polls, Albania’s Socialists Face Opposition in Disarray
Campaign policies are in short supply ahead of Albania's May 14 local elections, in which the ruling Socialists face a Democratic Party split in two.
Joker Out are in
Slovenian entrants Joker Out made the cut in Thursday's second semi final of the Eurovision song contest alongside Albania, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania and Poland. This will be the first time since 2019 that Slovenia will be in the final.