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EU Commissioner Hahn to visit Kosovo tomorrow

European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, responsible for European neighbourhood policy and enlargement negotiations, is expected to visit Kosovo on Thursday when he will meet Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, Kosovo’s Government confirms. Original post Here

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US insists: Kosovo to revoke tax on Serbia’s goods

US Embassy to Pristina urged again on Wednesday Kosovo authorities to revoke tax on Serbia’s goods saying that Kosovo benefits nothing from the tax. Original post Here

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Ex-KLA commander questioned by Hague prosecutors as ‘suspected witness’

Former Kosovo Liberation Army, KLA, Rrustem Mustafa, known for his name du guerre as Remi, has briefly addressed media after a two-day questioning by prosecutors of the Specialist Prosecutor’s Office at The Hague. Original post Here

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Kosovo Customs opens office in Albania’s port

The Kosovo Customs opened on Tuesday an office at Albania’s biggest sea port of Durres, marking a further important step towards closer economic cooperation between the two countries. Original post Here

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Kosovo Marks 20th Anniversary of Recak Massacre

Thousands of citizens gathered in the village of Recak on Tuesday to mark the 20th anniversary of the massacre of more than 40 Albanians by Serb security forces, seen by many as crime against humanity that led to NATO intervention in the 1998-99 war with Serbia. Original post Here

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Tax on Serbia’s goods will not be revoked despite US request, says Kosovo PM

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, said Tuesday that the U.S. officially asked revocation of the decision on imposing 2100 percent tax for all goods imported from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. But Haradinaj said the decision on tax will not be revoked until Serbia recognises Kosovo’s independence. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s President Thaci goes to Hague in March, according to journalist

Journalist Vehbi Kajtazi says the President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci most likely will be invited by the Kosovo war crimes court within months. Kajtazi appearing in T7 program ‘Pressing’ says the most sever crimes in Kosovo are committed after the end of war in June 1999. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s Haradinaj denied US visa because of tax on Serbia’s goods, according to Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera Balkans is reporting that Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj was denied a US visa because of the decision to impose 100 percent tax on goods imported from Serbia and Bosna and Herzegovina. Original post Here

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More than 16 thousand signatures collected on petition to unify Mitrovica

More than 16 thousand people have signed a petition launched last week by Mitrovica South mayor, Agim Bahtiri, asking unification of the ethnically divided town of Mitrovica. Bahtiri pledged on Monday that the town of Mitrovica will unite and the mayor’s office will be located in northern part of the …

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Kosovo Customs opens its offices at Albania’s port of Durres

The Kosovo Customs is set to open its offices at the Albania’s port of Durres on Tuesday marking another important step towards closer economic cooperation between the two countries. 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 …