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Kosovo’s President expects accountable decisions be taken in coming days

President of Kosovo, Hashim Thaci, took Facebook on Thursday evening revealing details of a meeting he and other institutional leaders of the country, held with the US Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip S. Kosnett. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s President, US National Security Advisor, speak by phone

Kosovo’s President, Hashim Thaci, spoke today with US National Security Advisor John Bolton by phone, Thaci confirmed in social media. Original post Here

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US Ambassador urges Kosovo to suspend tax

US Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett, keeps insisting the tax on Serbian goods should be suspended, noting however the US gave no ultimatum to Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj to rescind the tariffs on goods imported from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Original post Here

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NATO reminds Kosovo leaders no KSF deployment in north

Admiral James Foggo, the commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and the Allied Joint Forces Command Naples who visited Kosovo Thursday met President Hashim Thaci, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and Minister for Communities to discuss current security situation in Kosovo. Original post Here

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Kosovo Serb minister in Haradinaj’s Government to be dismissed on Saturday

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj is expected to dismiss this week minister of Agriculture, Nenad Rikalo, who is member of Srpska List, a partner in his Government. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s PM Haradinaj announces dramatic developments this week

US Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett, met on Thursday Kosovo’s President, Prime Minister and leaders of ruling coalition, amidst debate on suspending 100 percent tax on Serbian imports. The US Ambassador called on authorities in Pristina to suspend tax and resume EU-facilitated dialogue with Belgrade. Original post Here

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Partition in Kosovo will lead to violence south of Iber, according to expert

Partitioning Kosovo in which Serb-majority northern Kosovo is united with Serbia, as part of arrangements of a final agreement with Serbia, would bring bloodshed, says legal expert Enver Hasani. Original post Here

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US Ambassador criticises government on failing to fight corruption

US Ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Kosnett, commenting findings of the Transparency International’s new report on perceived levels of public-sector corruption, said ranking of Kosovo should concern every citizen. Original post Here

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Kosovo Government ‘stable and functional’ after urgent meeting of coalition leaders

The Government of Kosovo issued a press release, after an urgent meeting of coalition leaders confirming the coalition is “stable and functional” and pledged to continue work in fulfilling its program. Original post Here

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Idea on unification of Mitrovica aimed at intimidating Kosovo Serbs, says Rakic

Kosovo Serb political leader, Goran Rakic, said recent initiative of Mitrovica South mayor Agim Bathiri to unify this ethnically-divided town is a provocation and aimed at destabilizing the region. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

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BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

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Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

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NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

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Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

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Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

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Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

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Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

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The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …

News

Week in Review: Boom and Bust

From politics to the media business, high expectations often go hand-in-hand with disappointments big and small, as our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Battling Graft Charges, Tirana Mayor Stages Online Charm Offensive

When Tirana mayor and Socialist Party rising star Erion Veliaj was arrested on corruption charges, he lashed out against the judiciary. Now he’s running a social media PR campaign to charm the public. Can it work? Original post Here

News

BIRN Reality Check: Albanian Prosecutors Still Can’t Identify ‘Hazardous Waste’ Cargo

In October 2024, a shipment of containers with suspected hazardous waste was returned to Albania. But prosecutors haven’t yet managed to analyse their contents because they say they’re unable to find the necessary laboratory services. Original post Here

News

Expensive Lesson: Italy Weighs Costs of Offshore Migrant Centres in Albania

Already repurposed due to legal challenges, Italy’s asylum centres in Albania cost more than originally planned and much more than similar facilities in Italy itself, offering a potential lesson for other European governments tempted to take the same route. Original post Here

News

NATO Summit in The Hague Reaffirms Alliance Unity

Tirana announced as host city for 2027 NATO Summit The Hague, June 25, 2025 — NATO leaders convened today in The Hague for a pivotal summit that reaffirmed the Alliance’s unity amid intensifying global security threats and adopted a transformative new commitment to defense investment, resilience, and innovation. In a …

News

Activists Condemn Secret Migrant Deportations from Albania

Activists have condemned as “illegal” the deportation back to Egypt of five people from an Italian-run migrant holding camp in Albania. Original post Here

News

Albania Aligns Firmly with U.S. in Iran Standoff, Reflecting Decades-Long Strategic Alliance

June 23, 2025 – Tirana Albania has expressed unequivocal support for the United States following its militar.y strikes on three key nuclear sites in Iran, marking a rare moment of bipartisan consensus among the ruling Socialist majority and the opposition Democratic Party. Prime Minister Edi Rama and former Prime Minister …

News

Iran Hacks Tirana Municipality in Retaliation Over MEK

By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania  20 June, 2025— A sophisticated Iranian cyber group has claimed responsibility for a major attack on the official website of Tirana Municipality, disabling online services and disrupting the city’s public registration system for kindergartens and nurseries, authorities confirmed Friday. The hacking group “Homeland Justice,” believed …

News

Week in Review: SLAPPs, Surveillance and Smuggling Networks

Our selection of Premium stories this week takes a look at the region’s slow-burning political crises, smuggling networks, digital surveillance and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

The Israel – Iran conflict in our perspective

by Genc Pollo President of the Pan-Europe Albania   Former Minister and MP 18 June 2025 In the Albanian public debate on the armed conflict between Israel and Iran, a prevailing notion has been the contrast between Israel, a democracy where state power is under constitutional constraints and accountable to …