Nikolla

Bulgaria's commitment to Albania's EU aspirations and bilateral cooperation took center stage during a meeting between Rosen Zhelyazkov, Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria, and Lindita Nikolla, Speaker of the National Assembly of Albania, in Tirana.

Bulgaria has received assurances from Albania regarding the protection of the rights of the Bulgarian minority within its borders, alongside a commitment to ensure transparency in the upcoming census.

Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday axed seven of his 14 ministers after a year of popular protests against government policies.

Rama summoned the National Assembly of his governing Socialist Party in Tirana and insisted that the changes were "not the result of failures".

Albania's opposition centre-right Democratic Party has referred the Ministry of Education and the Prime Minister to prosecutors for what it calls a brazen attempt to use schools to collect voter information for election-related purposes.

Turkish and Albanian Education Ministers on Wednesday attended a first Albanian class in the village of Halil Beyli at the Alija Izetbegovic Middle School near Izmir, where a significant portion of the residents have Balkan origins.

Some Albanian teachers and professors have criticised a government initiative to include religious education and history as a compulsory course in secondary and high schools.

Prime Minister Edi Rama on Friday announced the move at a ceremony commemorating the birthday of the Prophet Muhammed and the Minister of Education, Lindita Nikolla, confirmed the plan on Monday.

Greece is mulling over introducing Albanian languages classes for second-generation Albanian students in the country, Kathimerini understands.

The issue was discussed during a meeting between Greek Education Minister Andreas Loverdos and his Albanian counterpart Lindita Nikolla in Tirana earlier this week.