Latest News from Albania
Albania PM Threatens to Block Macedonia's NATO Accession
Albania could impose a veto on the NATO membership candidacy of Macedonia if the country continuously fails to respect the rights of its ethnic Albanian minority, PM Edi Rama has said.
Bulgaria Rejects Russian Allegations of Macedonia's Partitioning
Suggestions that a partitioning of Macedonia between Bulgaria and Albania is allegedly being discussed are "extremely irresponsible", Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov said on Wednesday.
Greece gets 'excellent' rating for bathing waters
By Barbara Lewis
Europe's inland and coastal waters have become cleaner and nations such as heavily-indebted Greece and Cyprus boast some of the most pristine bathing spots, according to this year's EU report on water quality, published on Wednesday.
Albanian Court Jails Central Bank Thieves
A court in Albania has jailed Ardian Bitraj, a former supervisor of cash deposits at the Bank of Albania, for 20 years for the theft of 713 million leks.
He pleaded guilty and said he had lost the proceedings in gambling. Mimoza Bruzia, another bank employee, got 10 years as a collaborator in the crime.
Interior minister: Don't call terrorists "liberators"
"It must not be permitted," Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovic said in Albania on Wednesday, "that terrorist organizations be called liberation movements."
"Such movements must not be a mantle disguising an extremist idea," the Serbian official said, according to Tanjug.
Bulgaria to Cooperate with Greece, Albania, Kosovo in Education, Science, Culture
The Bulgarian government approved the drafts of three bilateral documents for cooperation in the areas of education, science and culture with Greece, Albania and Kosovo for the 2015-2017 period.
Last night at Eurovision: “One Last Breath” to make its way to Finals! (photos + videos)
Maria-Elena Kyriakou drew “One Last Breath” with her throaty voice and was sent to the 60th Eurovision Song Contest 2015 finals in Vienna, Austria.
She stole the show with her dynamic presence, beauty and of course – voice – getting one of the ten coveted tickets to the Saturday finals. Both the audience and critics said “Yes” to another breath for Greece.
Romania's Voltaj band qualifies to Eurovision final
AGERPRES correspondent Oana Ghita reports: The Romanian band Voltaj has qualified to the final of the Eurovision contest, after the first semifinal of the European song contest hosted on Tuesday at the Wiener Stadthalle.
Photo credit: (c) Leonhard Foeger / REUTERS
Five Balkan Countries Competing in Eurovision
Performers from Macedonia, Serbia, Albania and Romania will be taking part in the first semi-final of the Eurovision 2015 song contest on Tuesday in Vienna, while the Montenegrin representative will go onstage at the second semi-final on Thursday.
Albania Ignores Erdogan's Tirade Against Gulen
Albanian officials have made it clear that Albania is not planning to act on demands by Turkey's President for the country to close down the Gulen movement.
President Erdogan made his request in Tirana last week when he called the Gulen movement a terrorist organization.
Greek coast guard rescues 38 migrants off western coast
The Greek coast guard rescued 38 migrants Tuesday found on a small boat off the country's western coast in the Ionian Sea, following a search and rescue operation launched after one of the passengers called authorities for help.
Albania’s latest move disputed Greek sovereign borders
Diplomatic and legal sources are speaking of an attempt from Albania to dispute established borders.
Greece at Eurovision semi-finals on Tuesday (Watch live with us)
The Greek Eurovision team is in Austria about to draw “One Last Breath” with its entry for Greece. There will be a direct link from the Stadthalle in Vienna so that Greek audiences can enjoy Maria Elena Kyriakou at the semi-finals of the 60th Eurovision Song Contest at 11 p.m. on Tuesday with hopes that she’ll make her way to the finals on Saturday.
Albanian demarche raises concerns about possible territorial claims over Greece
A strong-worded demarche delivered by Albania to Greek authorities over energy exploration indicates that Tirana is asserting territorial claims along the land border dividing the two Balkan neighbors, Kathimerini understands.
Albania Students Renew Protest Against University Reform
The students gathered on Monday at the campus of the Polytechnic University and then moved toward the offices of parliament in Tirana's Heroes' of the Nation Boulevard, holding banners and chanting the slogan, "the reform will not pass".