Albania

Documents obtained by the Forum for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, a watchdog based in Tirana, show that 1,360 hectares of land inside the park were restored to property claimants in 2006.

“Albania’s future is in the EU… but the political parties need to work together and efficiently,” Stefan Fule said in a joint press conference with Albania's centre-left Prime Minister, Edi Rama, on Thursday.

“The culture of confrontation does not help Albania’s EU integration process,” he added, referring to the country's history of fierce political disputes.

IMF to help Albania make reforms

A loan from the IMF will help Albania undertake economic reforms. Also in business news: Turkey wants to increase its 20 percent stake in the Trans-Anatolia Gas Pipeline project to 30 percent by April.

The pension system in Albania will be reformed with the help of an IMF loan. [AFP]

Kosovo, Albania sign employment deal

The bilateral agreement establishes a common labour market between the two countries.

Erion Veliaj, Albania minister of youth and social welfare (left) and Nenad Rasic, Kosovo minister of labour and social welfare, sign a memorandum of co-operation in Tirana. [Albania Ministry of Youth and Social Welfare]

The amendment initiated by the ministry of justice follows reports that a growing number of Albanian citizens have joined radical Islamist groups fighting in the Syrian civil war.

“It’s a step in the right direction,” Arjan Dyrmishi, a security expert with the Albanian Institute of Democracy and Mediation told Balkan Insight.  

Addressing the rally, the Democratic Party head, Lulzim Basha, said Thursday’s March, held on the 23rd anniversary of the overthrow of the commuist regime, was only the start of a broader protest campaign.

Announcing the rally in Tirana, Albania's former Democratic Party Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, said Edi Rama's new left-of-centre government had based "everything on deception, falsity and violence against the opposition and the people”.

“The fraud committed by Edi Rama in turning his electoral platform upside down is quickly making his government illegitimate,” he added.

Albania ranks second in Europe for smoking rate