Latest News from Albania
Airlines see strong demand amid reopening
Turkey plans to resume international flights to 40 countries gradually as of June 10, the transport and infrastructure minister said on June 4.
The international flights from Turkey will carry passengers firstly to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Qatar, and Greece, Adil Karaismailoğlu said in a statement.
‘Mini Schengen’: A Balkan Breakthrough or Political Stunt?
As the EU's refusal to open accession talks with Albania and North Macedonia reverberated throughout the Western Balkans, the "mini Schengen" scheme launched in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad took on extra significance.
America’s Never Been Less Likely to Help the Balkans
Twenty years on, the situation in the region looks bleaker. A glance at the state of play in the countries from the Balkans confirms this. Kosovo faces further political turbulence after its Constitutional Court ruled that a new government can be formed without holding early elections first.
Media: Empty border crossings from Serbia to Montenegro, many additional dilemmas
The Jabuka border crossing between Serbia and Montenegro has been almost deserted since this morning, according to an RTS reporter.
Montenegro has opened all borders with neighboring countries and Serbia since midnight, but Serbia is still not on the list of countries whose citizens can enter without quarantine or a PC test.
Albania Parties Fail to Agree on Flagship Electoral Reform
Socialist Party MP Damian Gjiknuri speaking to journalists after failure to agree on electoral reform on May 31 2020. Photo: LSA
Germany only one of Greece’s big tourist markets on list of approved flights
Greece announced on Friday that it would be opening its borders to tourists from 29 countries on June 15, although Germany is the only country from the list of the five key markets for Greece's tourism sector, as the UK, Italy, France and the US continue to have high rates of coronavirus infections.
US Embassy in Athens issues notice on continued flight ban
The US Embassy in Athens has issued a notice advising Americans that travel to Greece remains banned until July 1 at least, after the Greek government on Friday announced the list of countries from which it will be accepting flights as of June 15.
Germany, China included in Greek list of accepted countries for tourists in June
Greece announced the list of 29 countries from which it will accept tourist when international flights resume Athens and Thessaloniki on June 15.
Tall Story: Stashed Cash but No Crime in Albanian Court
After a short visit to serious crime prosecutors, Rizzatto left Albania the same day, mission accomplished:
Within the year, money-laundering charges against Vladi and four others had been dropped, as one of Albania's most sensational criminal cases of recent years unraveled.
UN Concerned About Albanian Deportations of Turkish ‘Gulenists’
Alleged Gulenist Selami Simsek in Court in Tirana. Photo: LSA
Both men are alleged by Turkish authorities to be members of exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen's movement, which Ankara alleges is a terrorist organisation responsible for a failed coup plot in Turkey in 2016.
Montenegro Accused of Anti-Serb Bias for Continued Border Closure
Police and custom officers on Montenegrin border. Photo: Government of Montenegro
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic described the decision as a "ridiculous and senseless move", N1 TV reported.
Montenegro opens its borders on June 1, except towards Serbia
At the press conference in Podgorica, Markovic said that the criterion would be at least 25 patients per 100.000 inhabitants, RT CG reports.
He announced that Montenegro would open its borders with Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Albania and Greece on June 1st.
"Western Balkans belong to Europe"
He told the Croatian Express that the integration of the Western Balkans into the EU is a process based on merit and that as such, it is in the true interest of the EU.
"It's about 'exporting stability instead of importing instability,'" Hahn, a former commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and enlargement negotiations, had pointed out.
Big Source of Illicit Cannabis, Albania Mulls Legalising Medical Use
Yet, even with 22 countries in Europe already allowing the use of cannabis for medical purposes, Albania's announcement has raised eyebrows.
Why a Theatre’s Demolition Has Sparked Outrage in Albania
Critics say the demolition of the National Theatre is an old project of Prime Minister Edi Rama, since the time when he was Culture Minister in 1998 and proposed to build a tower in its place and incorporate the theatre inside.
The renewed bid to demolish the theatre divided artists and activists, and raised concerns among anti-corruption and heritage watchdogs.