Albania

Kelmend Balili in court. Photo: LSA

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama speaking at his party headquarters on 30 June 2019. Photo: Gent Shkullaku/LSA

The Commission statement came after the final report of the Commission, expected to be published on Monday, was partially leaked to the Albanian media.

Parliament has adopted a statement supporting Northern Macedonia and Albania to open EU accession talks. Deputies approved the Cabinet's Framework Position, which sets out a number of conditions for both countries.

Parliament adopted the statement by 129 votes in favor, 4 against, one abstaining. 

The facts that the EU is incapacitated by the drama surrounding Brexit, and that the discredited US administration no longer acts as an anchor of stability in the Balkans, make the victory of Albanian nationalists in Pristina even more explosive and meaningful, Lendvai said.

A total of 103 boxes containing more than a ton of cannabis were found by Hellenic Coast Guard sniffer dogs and divers in a cave on the islet of Piperi off the coast of the central Aegean island of Alonissos, authorities said Monday.

Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok says Skopje and Tirana need to be evaluated separately as regards the start of accession talks with the European Union, according to MIA, citing Albanian Top Channel television.

One of the most popular Albanian-language singers in recent decades is surprised his songs remain such huge hits - decades after they were composed.

The ethnic Albanian vice-president of the Montenegrin parliament, Genci Nimanbegu, has claimed that Albanians, who make up about 5 per cent of the  country's population, remain discriminated against in the public sector, pointing as an example to the small multi-ethnic municipalities of Plav and Gusinje.

Some student activists, however, say they will not rest, seeing in the demand for change in education a thirst for broader societal change in Albania and in the way the country is run.

"Things won't change overnight," said Mema, a member of the left-wing pressure group Movement for the University.

The Montenegrin government says it will ask Albania for more information on the planned construction of mini-hydro power plants on the Cijevna River at a meeting of the joint commission for water management on September 19.