Latest News from Albania
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.
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.