Latest News from Albania
Independent Media in Central and Southeast Europe Under ‘Assault’ – Report
The report, Fighting Words: Journalism Under Assault in Central and Eastern Europe, issued on Wednesday by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism and the University of Oxford evaluates the situation of the media in the region by drawing on interviews with about a hundred journalists in 16 countries during 2019.
Romania takes over BSEC chairmanship-in-office
On January 1, 2020 Romania took over the chairmanship-in-office of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation (BSEC), with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Romania (CCIR) taking over the chairmanship-in-office of the BSEC Business Council for six months.
Albania ‘Held Mentally Ill Man in Prison Illegally’
The European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg said on Tuesday that it had found in favour of Arben Strazimiri, who was detained in a prison hospital because Albania does not have specialist healthcare institutions for people who have been ordered to undergo compulsory treatment for mental illness.
Albania Opposition Claims New Justice Inspector is ‘PM’s Servant’
Artur Metani, Albania's High Inspector of Justice, at parliament on January 20. Photo: Malton Dibra/LSA
Metani, 46, has had a career in state administration, including stints working for the cabinet of Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama.
He has also previously served as adviser to two presidents and is the brother of Socialist MP Eglantina Gjermeni.
EU Has Turned Enlargement into a Hamster Wheel
Never-ending accession
French President Emmanuel Macron, 2019. Photo: EPA-EFE/MICHEL EULER / POOL MAXPPP OUT
Leaders Hail Restoration of Belgrade-Pristina Air Link
Serbian, Kosovo and NATO leaders on Monday welcomed the signing of an agreement to reopen the air link between Pristina and Belgrade that was broken 21 years ago.
US diplomats oversaw the signing of the agreement in Berlin, which will mean flights being operated by Lufthansa's budget carrier, Eurowings.
Micunovic: The boycott of the election is meaningless
Micunovic also points out that he could only consider the elections delegitimized if 50 percent of the voters did not turn out, which, he added, would not happen.
Sofia in the Top 300 for the Most Expensive Cities in the World
Sofia is ranked 297th among the 4440 cities the list of the most expensive cities in the world. Our maritime capital Varna ranks 333rd, Plovdiv - 339th and Burgas - 358th.
"I was offered the partition of Macedonia"
He added that he promptly rejected it.
Skopje based portal Plus info writes that Ahmeti underlined that any partition of North Macedonia would be detrimental to both Albanians and Macedonians in that country.
"Next months crucial, EU faces risk if it doesn't send a clear signal to Serbia"
He also warned of the risks that the Union could face if it did not send a clear signal to the region.
"It is necessary to find a new consensus on opening accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia, to improve enlargement policy and to prepare the EU-Western Balkans Summit in May", Lajcak said.
Kosovo PM Dismisses Rama’s Libel Charge as ‘Decoy’
Albania Prime Minister Edi Rama (left) and Kosovo's Ramush Haradinaj at a reception in Tirana on September 27, 2017. Photo: Gent Shkullaku/LSA
"The suit of the Prime Minister Rama is totally baseless and a political diversion conducted by him to hide himself after new media soap operas, and so avoid responsibilities," Haradinaj wrote.
Rama filed a lawsuit against Haradinaj
In a lawsuit more than 30 pages long, as Gazeta Express reports, Rama claims compensation, noting that his honor, reputation and dignity have been violated due to public appearances and defamation of Kosovo's Prime Minister, Kosovo online confirmed.
Albanian Quake Probe Hones in on Sub-Standard Concrete
Three independent construction engineers consulted by BIRN, however, advised caution when drawing any definitive conclusions on the reasons why particular buildings collapsed.
'Not construction grade'
Scenes from the Albanian coastal city of Durres after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake. Photo: BIRN/Geri Emiri
EU official: North Macedonia ready for membership talks
The European Union's top enlargement official on Wednesday held out new hope that the block will start accession talks within months with North Macedonia and Albania, whose bids were frustrated last year.
Albania Expels Two More Iranian Diplomats
Acting Foreign Minister of Albania Gent Cakaj, December 13, 2019. Photo: LSA
Cakaj said both has been declared "persona non grata for conducting activities not related to their status and to the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations". They had been requested to leave Albania immediately, Cakaj added.