Edi Rama

The leaders of both Albania and North Macedonia say they believe that the European Union will decide in June to open membership talks with them.
North Macedonias Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who on Wednesday was in Tirana to meet with his counterpart Edi Rama, said they expect "the EU to take a positive stand on our two countries ... so that we fulfil this strategic goal."

Mass protests have covered the Balkans. What is the cause of the people's dissatisfaction in Albania, Serbia and Montenegro, and is there any chance the stability of the Balkans to be threatened, Albania and Kosovo's former ambassador to Bulgaria Bobby Bobev commented in the morning block of the Bulgarian National Television.

Leader of the Democratic Party in opposition speaks to his supporters during a protest in Tirana on 5 March 2019. Photo: Gjergj Erebara/BIRN

Luigi Soreca, EU Delegation Ambassador in Tirana (front) and Knut Fleckenstein, rapporteur for Albania in the European Parliament, after meeting opposition leaders in Tirana on 28 February 2019. Photo: Malton Dibra/LSA

Knut Fleckenstein, the German rapporteur for Albania, said quitting parliament was wrong.

Opposition protesters throw flares while police officers protect Albania's parliament on 21 February 2019. Photo: Gjergj Erebara/BIRN

Opposition parties summoned their protesters on Thursday morning to near the parliament in Tirana, where police deployed about 1,000 officers, equipped with gas masks and some in full anti-riot gear.

Albanian opposition protesters attack the offices of Prime Minister Edi Rama on February 16, 2019. Photo: Armand Shkullaku/LSA.

Police said they planned to deploy about 1,200 officers in Tirana to deal with fears of violence, and warned journalists to wear gas masks to avoid tear gas inhalation.

Thousands of Albanians went to the streets on Saturday to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.

Demonstrators clashed with the police as they tried to enter the prime minister's office in the capital Tirana.

Four demonstrators and two police officers were injured during the clash, according to the Albanian Ministry of Health and Social Protection.

The land border between Greece and Albania is not among the issues being discussed between the two countries, sources from the Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday, in response to suggestions to that effect on Thursday by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

The land border between Greece and Albania is not among the issues discussed between the two countries, sources from the Greek foreign ministry said in a statement on Friday, responding to remarks by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Thursday night.

Greece's conservative opposition has reacted to comments by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in which he appeared to suggest that  Athens and Tirana are in talks over potential border changes.