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Bosnia asks Kosovo temporary suspension of tax

Bosnia-Herzegovina authorities asked Kosovo to temporary suspend the decision on imposing 100 percent tax on all imported goods from this country. This was stated during a meeting held on Thursday in Sarajevo between the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations of BiH and the Ministry of Trade and Industry …

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Kosovo’s dialogue team to meet EU’s Mogherini on Tuesday

Kosovo’s state delegation in dialogue with Serbia is set to meet next Tuesday in Brussels EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, Gazeta Express reports. Original post Here

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EU’s Hahn met Kosovo President in Davos

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci is attending World Economic Forum in Davos where he met on the sidelines of the forum EU Enlargement Commissioner, Johannes Hahn. Original post Here

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Kosovo recognises Venezuela opposition leader as president

Kosovo has joined the US and other Western countries recognising on Wednesday Juan Guaidó as the Interim President of Venezuela. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s opposition leader says tax on Serbia’s goods should not be rescinded

Leader of the Vetevendosje party in opposition, Albin Kurti, said the tax imposed in all Serbian imports should not be revoked. Regardless calls of the US and EU to rescind the tax, Kurti says the Government should not revoke its decision. Original post Here

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Hague prosecutors interviewed another ex-KLA member in Pristina

Prosecutors of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office dealing with alleged crimes committed by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), have interviewed for the second day in a row ex-KLA commander, Nazif Mehmeti, for his role during the war in Kosovo. Original post Here

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Serbia’s FM with Milosevic’s mentality towards Kosovo, according to Pacolli’s advisor

Jetlir Zyberaj, advisor to Kosovo’s Foreign Minister, Behgjet Pacolli, called as “lack of creativity” Serbia’s media performance presenting countries which allegedly withdrawn decision to recognise Kosovo. Original post Here

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No documents proving Kosovo, Serbia presidents agreed on redrawing borders, says Ahmeti

Head of Social Democratic Party of Kosovo, PSD, Shpend Ahmeti, who co-heads state delegation in dialogue with Serbia, said he believes the President Hashim Thaci has handed over to the state delegation all documents of what he has discussed so far with his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic. Original post Here

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Tax on Serbian good as long as needed, says Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister

Deputy Prime Minister, Enver Hoxhaj, told media in Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH) the tax imposed for imported goods from Serbia and BiH is about foreign policy these two countries have towards Kosovo and has nothing to do with the economy. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s President backs unification of Mitrovica

Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci has supported Tuesday the initiative of Mitrovica South mayor, Agim Bahtiri, on unification of this town divided into ethnic lines between Albanians living in the south and Serbs in the north. 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 …