Former NATO commander shocked by Hague verdict, says world should not forget Kosova war
Former NATO commander in Europe Wesley Clark said today that the world should not forget what happened in Kosova from 1997 to 1999. Clark recalled the repression under Slobodan Milosevic. He said more than 400,000 people were expelled from their villages in the summer of 1998. He also recalled military …
41 Works by Ibrahim Kodra to Feature in “The Sea and Music” Exhibition
Forty-one works by renowned Albanian painter Ibrahim Kodra will be presented together for the first time in many years at the “The Sea and Music” exhibition. The exhibition will open on September 23 at the Bank of Albania. Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja announced the exhibition. He …
Walker on former Kosova Liberation Army leaders’ sentences: Where was the European Union when Serbs mistreated Kosovar Albanians?
US diplomat William Walker has reacted to the verdict by the Kosova Specialist Chambers against four former Kosova Liberation Army leaders. The former ambassador to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe described the sentences as a tragic day for Kosova. Walker questioned the European Union’s response before the …
Gashi: Despite Verdict, KLA Leaders Remain Kosovo’s Liberators
North Macedonia’s Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi said that, despite the convictions, the four former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders “remain Kosovo’s liberators.” “Today’s verdict is a first-instance decision, while the battle for justice continues,” Gashi wrote on social media. Gashi called for calm. He also said that Thaçi, Krasniqi, Veseli …
Grenell: Kurti Must Act Quickly to Dissolve the Specialist Chambers
Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Richard Grenell, reacted following the guilty verdict issued by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague against the KLA leaders. Grenell said that Albin Kurti must act quickly to dissolve this foreign court. “The sentence handed down by The Hague court against Hashim Thaçi, …
“We Should Not Celebrate,” Vučić: Ruling on Former KLA Leaders Could Change
During a press conference in Belgrade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić commented on the decision to sentence the former KLA leaders to a combined 81 years in prison, urging Serbs not to consider the process over and not to celebrate. He continued to insist that the judgment did not include what …
Serwer: Americans and Europeans Should Be Ashamed; They Have Criminalized a Liberation Movement They Supported
American professor and Balkan affairs expert Daniel Serwer has reacted following the guilty verdict issued by the Specialist Chambers against four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army. In an opinion piece published on his website, “Peacefare.net,” Serwer said that Americans and Europeans should be ashamed for criminalizing a liberation …
Amnesty International: Convictions of Thaçi and Others Show Senior Officials Are Not Above the Law
Human rights organization Amnesty International said that the war crimes convictions of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and three other former senior officials of the Kosovo Liberation Army give hope to victims who have waited for justice “for more than two decades.” Esther Major, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for …
Kosovo’s Hague Verdict: Heavy Sentences, Troubling Questions and a Test for International Justice
The convictions of Hashim Thaçi and three other former KLA leaders have shaken Kosovo. But beyond the sentences, the verdict has intensified scrutiny of how the Specialist Chambers were created, how the trial was conducted and whether an institution established under strong Western pressure can command the legitimacy international justice …
Kosovo Slams ‘Unjust’ Conviction of Hashim Thaci; Serbian Minister Applauds
Top politicians in Kosovo said the Hague judgment finding ex-President Thaci and three other Kosovo Liberation Army ex-leaders guilty of war crimes was unjust – but a Serbian minister said it proved the KLA was ‘criminal’. Original post Here
Albania’s 2027 budget will reach €10 billion for the first time, with 30% allocated to social protection, Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said in a television interview. As part of the plan, the government has allocated €250 million to pensions in 2027, including funding for pension indexation. In addition, it plans …
The Port of Vlora Harbour Master’s Office has banned departures by small vessels and fishing boats planning to operate outside the Bay of Vlora from November 11 to 14 due to worsening weather conditions. The forecast warns of southerly to southeasterly winds reaching force 7–8 on the Beaufort scale, with …
The European Film Academy’s Board held its three-day meeting in Albania, bringing leading European producers and filmmakers to Vlora. During their stay, board members met Albanian film professionals and explored the country’s history, culture and filming potential. The visit aimed to create new partnerships and promote Albania as a destination …
U.S. President Donald Trump has nominated Mikhail Bogachek as the next US ambassador to Kosova, submitting his name to the Senate for confirmation. The White House announced the nomination on November 10. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy in Prishtina remains under the leadership of Chargé d’Affaires Anu Prattipati. Former ambassador Jeff …
Albanian Justice Minister Toni Gogu held three meetings in Rome with Italian officials to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the field of justice. During a visit to the Italian Senate, Gogu met Maurizio Gasparri, chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee. He thanked Gasparri for ratifying the …
Albania’s draft 2027 budget allocates around ALL 18 billion to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, a 10% increase on the initial 2026 budget, Agriculture Minister Andis Salla said. Rural development remains the main priority, with ALL 8.4 billion, including ALL 5.3 billion for the national support scheme, up …
Restoration and improvement works have finished at Kanina Castle in Vlora. The historic monument is now ready to welcome visitors with improved infrastructure, Tourism, Culture and Sports Minister Blendi Gonxhja announced. The project included conservation and structural works, alongside infrastructure upgrades, to protect the castle’s historical and cultural heritage. In …
Albania’s national team continued preparations for their upcoming matches against Finland and Belarus with a training session at the House of Football on Wednesday. The Albanian Football Association said all players trained at full intensity and were available to coach Rolando Maran. The team began the session in the gym …
Armand Duka, president of the Albanian Football Association, has honoured Elseid Hysaj for becoming the first Albania player to make over 100 appearances for the national team. At a ceremony on Wednesday, Duka personally presented Hysaj with a medal and a symbolic UEFA cap to mark the milestone. “Congratulations, Elsi! …
Albania’s National Folk Song and Dance Ensemble will travel to Edinburgh, Scotland, for the first time in 70 years to present the country’s cultural heritage to an international audience. The artists will perform “Albania Through Byron’s Eyes”, a production that combines Albanian traditions with the inspiration Albania and its culture …