Latest News from Albania

Vucic, Rama: Kosovo must not be obstacle to cooperation

Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama agreed on a number of issues as they took part in a television program.

Their stands remained distant only with regard to Kosovo, Tanjug said in its report about the broadcast, called "Okruzenje".

Two Killed in Albania Mine Collapse

The two men, Miftar Losha, 54, and Albert Losha, 35, died in hospital on Sunday after they were severely injured in the collapse at the abandoned mine.

The Ministry of Economy and Industry said on Monday that the mine belonged to a company that had ceased operating more than three years ago.

Europe to Fund Balkan Transport, Energy Projects

After the Western Balkans summit, which took place in Vienna on August 27, it has been announced that European institutions will grant around 200 million euro for 10 transport and energy infrastructure projects in six Western Balkans countries.

Vienna Summit Binds Balkan States to Broad Reforms

The six Balkan nations meeting in Vienna obliged themselves in the final declaration of the Western Balkans Summit, issued on Thursday, to refrain from "misusing outstanding issues in the EU accession process" and welcomed the EU pledge to support them in resolving bilateral disputes.

Greek foreign ministry: Destruction of chapel in Albania reminiscent of IS jihadis

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama continued to add fuel to the fire in terms of his socialist government’s relations with Athens, this time speaking in an interview to Albanian site Blakaned.

“They are hilarious to the point of tears, considering a garage-like structure to be a church and protesting because we are restoring our national heritage,” said the Albanian PM.

Albanian Church Demolition Angers Greece

Albanian police have demolished a contested church dedicated to St Athanas in the southern village of Dhermi, angering the Orthodox Church and neighbouring Greece, which supports the Church's mission.

The Orthodox Church called it a vandalistic act of desecration and a violation of church property. Greece said the Albanians were behaving like Islamist extremists.

Refugee Crisis to Overshadow Balkan Summit

The refugee crisis threatens to effectively hijack a high-level conference on the economic prospects and European perspectives of the Western Balkan states that opens in Vienna on Thursday.

The summit includes senior politicians from the EU and the Balkans under the patronage of the German and Austrian chancellors, Angela Merkel and Werner Faymann.

Albanian PM Edi Rama provokes Greeks in tweet

Albania’s socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama seems to be inflaming the relations between Greece and his country, after posting a provocative tweet on his account regarding Greece’s official complaint about the demolition of a Greek-Orthodox Church and skirmishes between locals and Albanian authorities.

Bulgaria Pledges Support for Macedonia's Integration into EU, NATO

Bulgaria is ready to help neighbouring Macedonia meet the requirements for joining the European Union and NATO, Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said on Monday.   

He also said that increased migrant influx to Macedonia highlights the need to strengthen considerably the European integration of the countries of the western Balkans.

Albania, Greece Row Over Village Church

The Greek Foreign Ministry on Sunday condemned what it called a "violent incident" at the church of Saint Athanas in the Albanian village of Dhermi, describing what happened as "unacceptable and contemptible".

Construction police from the local Himara Municipality went to Dhermi on Friday to remove the concrete roof of the church, claiming it was an illegal build.

Asylum Claims from Balkans Surge in Germany

Germany faced another increase in the number of asylum requests from citizens of the six Western Balkans Countries in July, despite repeated efforts by German and local authorities to halt the phenomenon.

Albania Police Uproot Cannabis Plantations in North

Albania's police launched yet another massive operation aiming to the curb the marijuana trade as the harvest season nears. 

"We have engaged about 450 officers from the police and the Rapid Intervention Force for the operation carried in the Dukagjin area. We encountered no incidents," a police statement on Tuesday said.

Russia Says It Destroyed Nearly 600 T of Imported Food in 10 Days

Russia has destroyed some 597 tonnes of food products illegally imported from blacklisted countries since August 6, statistics show.

A message dated August 15 and available on the website of Rosselkhoznadzor, the country's food safety watchdog, reads [RU] that "to date" some 550 tons of agricultural products have been detained and liquidated.

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