Latest News from Albania
Albanian President Claims Country Avoided ‘Soros Destabilisation Plot’
Albania President Ilir Meta at a press conference in Tirana on Tuesday. Photo: Gent Shkullaku/LSA
The Albanian president accused billionaire investor and philanthropist George Soros of being responsible for what he called "a conspiracy aimed at totally capturing the state".
Ekaterina Zaharieva: The Western Balkans Remain High on the EU Agenda
The question of the Western Balkans is still high up on the agenda of the EU, said Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva during the discussion of the priorities of the Finnish Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Bulgarians Can Visit 168 Countries in the World without Visas
Bulgarians can visit 168 countries without visas in the world. This is shown by the passport index data, which is compiled by the Swiss consulting company Henley & Partners.
Angela Merkel: We Are Firmly Behind the European Perspective For the Western Balkans
EU postpones decision to start accession talks with Albania and northern Macedonia mid-month, writes NOVA TV.
,,Germany firmly stands behind the European perspective for the Western Balkans and supports the countries in the region in their reform efforts.'' This was announced by the German Chancellor Angela Merkel's cabinet.
Observers’ Mission Criticizes Albania’s One-Party Elections
Ambassador Audrey Glover, head of the observers mission, during a press conference in Tirana on July 1. Photo: Gjergj Erebara/BIRN
In a preliminary report presented in Tirana on Monday, the mission said the elections were held "with little regard for the interests of the electorate".
Non-historical day for Edi Rama
The elections were held in the tense atmosphere due to the fear of potential incidents, that were avoided.
Apart from the low turnout, those elections will be remembered by the boycott of the opposition that happened for the first time after the fall of the Communist regime in the country back in 1990, Macedonian web portal a1on reports.
Cheaper Roaming From Today Between the Western Balkan Countries
From July 2021, charges will be completely eliminated, writes NOVA TV.
Prices for roaming services between Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina will be down by 27% today, and by July 2021, they will be completely eliminated.
Albania Avoids Violence in Contested Local Elections
Fears of violence receded in Albania on Sunday in contested local elections that most of the opposition parties boycotted. However, a low turnout by mid-afternoon suggested that the Socialist-led government would struggle to present the election results as democratically legitimate.
Albania Braces for Elections Amid Fears of Violence
An unknown number of Albanians will go to the polls this Sunday to elect 61 Mayors and 1,590 members of local councils in the most contested elections held in the country since the collapse of Communism almost three decades ago.
Albanian Police Injured in Attack on Election Centre
Albania opposition supporters protesting against Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana on June 21 2019. Photo: Gjergj Erebara/BIRN
The attack occurred on Thursday evening when about 200 people assembled at the election centre of the Municipality of Vau i Dejws, an opposition Democratic Party stronghold.
Dangerous Illusions and Unholy Alliances
Unholy Ties
The new Moldovan government led by Maia Sandu seems to be one of contradictions. It is in the rather rare position of being both pro-EU and pro-Russian at once by virtue of the parties which comprise it.
Hungary Refuses to Extradite Gruevski to North Macedonia
A court in Hungary has rejected a demand from North Macedonia for former prime minister Nikola Gruevski to be extradited to start serving his two-year prison sentence for illegally soliciting the secret purchase of a 580,000-euro Mercedes in 2012.
Why Isn’t Albania Cashing in on Renewable Energy?
In this impoverished, struggling country, there is wealth lying just about everywhere you look, and yet no one is earning a cent from it. Even the most obvious no-brainer - solar thermal energy - is found on rooftops only sporadically in the north and not at all in the south. The contrast to Italy and Greece, where rooftop solar thermal systems are common, is glaring.
Cheaper Roaming for the Countries of the Western Balkans
Roaming charges between Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Albania, Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina in July will be reduced by 27% and will have to be dropped completely in 2021, according to the recently signed Regional Roaming Treaty between the Western Balkan countries.
Albania Orthodox Church Condemns ‘Sacrilegious’ Electioneering in Churches
Mayor of Tepelena Termet Peci (centre) addressing supporters in the Church of St Nicolas in the village of Lekel. Photo: Termet Peci Facebook
"The use of sacred churches for political activity insults religious and institutional feelings," a statement issued on Monday reads.