Albania Condemns Houthi Attack on Saudi Arabia, Minister Hoxha Calls for Accountability
Albania has condemned the latest attack by the Houthi group against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which resulted in casualties, expressing solidarity with the Saudi people and authorities. The statement was made by Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha in a post on the social media platform X. …
Rama Condemns Houthi Attacks on Saudi Arabia: Tehran and Sponsors of Terror Must Be Held Accountable
Prime Minister Edi Rama has condemned the Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, including the deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh. In a statement published on the social media platform X on Sunday, Rama expressed Albania’s solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people, calling for …
President Begaj in Dibër: “Oda Dibrane” Unites Albanians Across Borders
President of the Republic Bajram Begaj visited Dibër, where he attended the closing ceremony of the 32nd edition of the “Oda Dibrane” festival. During his speech, the head of state praised the festival’s role in preserving national identity and strengthening ties between Albanians at home and abroad. During his visit, …
Saudi Arabia and the New Strategic Balance in the Middle East
The Middle East faces a historic choice: to remain trapped in rivalries that define security through the weakening of adversaries, or to build a regional order based on sovereignty, cooperation and diplomacy. By Dr. Arben Ramkaj Tirana Times, October 09, 2026 – The greatest danger facing the Middle East today …
Europe Needs Proof, Not Promises
By Enrico Letta Delivery as the defining challenge Thank you. I am genuinely pleased to be here, and I will tell you why I rearranged my agenda to make it. When I saw the title of this event — “Proof, Not Promises”, I understood immediately that this is the title …
EU Ambassador: Energy and Transport Links Bring Albania Closer to EU Market
EU Ambassador to Albania Sofia Moreira de Sousa said energy and transport links play a key role in economic growth and Albania’s integration with the European market. She made the remarks after meeting Infrastructure and Energy Minister Enea Karakaçi. Moreira de Sousa reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Albania in …
EU Approves October 13 Conference to Advance Albania’s Accession Talks
EU member states have approved an intergovernmental conference with Albania on October 13 in Luxembourg, paving the way for the provisional closure of Chapter 20 on Enterprise and Industrial Policy. The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) approved the meeting after reviewing Albania’s progress on business development and industrial reforms. Chapter …
Rama: Countdown Begins Toward Albania’s Historic EU Membership Goal
Prime Minister Edi Rama said Albania has moved closer to its historic goal of joining the European Union after the bloc gave the green light to close negotiations on Chapter 20, which covers Enterprise and Industrial Policy. In a social media post, Rama said the latest development strengthens Albania’s prospects …
SEPA Cuts Transfer Costs as Albania Records €8.7 Billion in Transactions
Albania recorded around 788,000 euro transfers worth €8.7 billion during its first 11 months in the Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA). The system has significantly reduced cross-border payment costs for individuals and businesses since it began operating in Albania on October 7, 2025. Bank of Albania data show that individuals …
Nufi Meets Albanian Medical Students in Ankara
Defense Minister Ermal Nufi met Albanian students studying at Gülhane Faculty of Medicine, part of the University of Health Sciences in Ankara, Türkiye. They discussed student life, their experiences abroad, the challenges and opportunities ahead, and their vision for Albania’s future. Nufi said the students’ presence at the Turkish university …
The prime minister accuses Russia and Iran of fueling protests as allegations of state capture, police violence and dissent from Socialist figures deepen Albania’s political crisis. Tirana Times, October 19, 2026 – Parts of central Tirana have taken on the appearance of a conflict zone: burning debris, damaged buildings and …
Proposed fiscal concessions would benefit private partners of the state defence company KAYO as an arms-trafficking investigation puts the sector under scrutiny. Tirana Times, October 19, 2026 – Albania’s government is proposing additional tax privileges for the defence industry while the state company at the centre of its expansion, KAYO, …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has once again commented on the protests that have been taking place in Tirana for the past seven days. In a post on his Facebook page, Rama reiterated that he is ready for dialogue with anyone, “except those engaging in violence and political parties that fail …
Prime Minister Edi Rama and Interior Minister Ervin Demo held a meeting with senior State Police officials following last night’s violent protest. During the meeting, Rama condemned attacks on police officers and announced significant salary increases for police personnel starting January 1, as well as financial support of €2,500 for …
The Chair of the European Parliament’s Delegation for Relations with Albania, Marco Tarquinio, and the European Parliament’s Standing Rapporteur for Albania, Andreas Schieder, have expressed concern over the escalation of protests in Tirana. In a joint statement, they condemned violence, attacks on institutions and the destruction of property, while calling …
Prime Minister Edi Rama has renewed his call for dialogue with protesters, urging them to distance themselves from acts of violence, stone-throwing and arson attacks against institutions. Rama stressed that the government is ready to hold talks at any time and without preconditions, while calling on protest organisers to set …
Interior Minister Ervin Demo has once again responded to the protests of recent days, stressing that the right to protest is guaranteed by the Constitution and that the State Police have a duty to ensure demonstrations take place peacefully. Demo emphasised that police intervention will only take place when necessary …
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has reacted to the wave of protests sweeping several European countries in a post on the social media platform X. In his statement, Berset also mentioned Albania, highlighting the causes of social discontent as well as the violent incidents that …
Albania has been featured in a US State Department report on the security of digital infrastructure in developing countries, in which Washington acknowledges the progress made following the Iran-backed cyberattack in 2022. In the document submitted to the US Congress, the State Department states that the United States responded to …
Montenegro has taken steps to resolve disputes with Croatia that could hinder Podgorica’s ambition to become the 28th member of the European Union by 2028. Last week, Zagreb circulated an eight-point list to other EU member states, outlining issues it wants resolved before Montenegro joins the bloc. Most of the …