Latest News from Albania

Ethnic Greek community targeted in southern Albania

Members of the ethnic Greek minority at the village of Dervicani, in Albania's region of Gjirokaster (Argyrokastro in Greek), were targeted by Albanian nationalists late Tuesday, Kathimerini understands.

State Agency Issues Thousands of Certificates of Bulgarian Origin without Proof

The State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad has issued thousands of certificates of Bulgarian origin to citizens of Albania, Kosovo and Macedonia, without having received any proof of their Bulgarian origins.

This was established after an inspection was carried out by the Supreme Administrative Public Prosecutor's Office at the request of the Ministry of Justice late last year.

"Football should not be used for political messages"

FIFA President Sepp Blatter has condemned the incident during Tuesday's abandoned Euro qualifier between Serbia and Albania,.

According to him, "football should not be used for political messages."

Premeditated political provocation

BELGRADE - Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivica Dacic has said that the incident which took place at the football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on Tuesday was a premeditated political provocation, and added that Serbia bears no responsibility for match abandonment.

Parish house in Serb part of Orahovac attacked

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Unidentified perpetrators attacked the parish house in the Serb part of Orahovac, Kosovo, some fifteen minutes after the soccer match between Serbia and Albania was abandoned late Tuesday.

Olsi: I had nothing to do with incident

TIRANA - The brother of the Albanian prime minister Olsy Rama stated on Wednesday that he has nothing to do with the incident which occurred during the football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade and added that he was not arrested or detained over the event.

Serbia Counts Cost of Albania Football Match Mayhem

The first football match ever held between Albania and Serbia in decades ended in chaos and violence in the 41st minute, after a small drone with a banner embossed with an Albanian flag flew over the pitch and Serbian fans erupted.

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Serbia vs. Albania UEFA qualifier abandoned

BELGRADE -- Serbia's UEFA 2016 qualifying match against Albania was abandoned after a small drone with a flag showing a map of Greater Albania appeared above the pitch.

Serbian footballer Stefan Mitrović caught the flag and two Albanian players rushed to try and snatch it from his hands.

Football incident could have political ramifications

BELGRADE -- The scandal that resulted in the abandoning of a Euro qualifier between Serbia and Albania could have wider implications, the Beta news agency is reporting.

There is now a question mark over the announced visit of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Thousands of supporters greet Albania's team in Tirana

TIRANA - Several thousand supporters greeted Albania's football team at the airport in Tirana early Wednesday morning.

According to the AlbaniaSoccer website, a large number of supporters gathered at the airport to greet the team coached by Gianni De Biasi a few hours after the end of the Euro 2016 qualifier between Serbia and Albania.