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Kosovo’s Special Prosecutor refutes Serbian Minister: We received no new report on Ivanovic’s murder

Kosovo Special prosecutor Syle Hoxhaj has refuted statements of Serbia’s Minister of Justice Nela Kuburovic who said on Wednesday that they have sent the authorities in Pristina a comprehensive report and interrogation records in the investigation of the murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, who was shot dead in …

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EU’s Hahn urges Kosovo to drop tariffs on Serbia’s goods

European Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, Johannes Hahn, says he is waiting for an answer from Pristina after requesting authorities in Kosovo to revoke tariffs on Serbia’s goods. Original post Here

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No land swap with Serbia, says speaker of Kosovo Parliament

Kosovo has no pretentions to expand its territory, or give up parts of its territory, says Kosovo Speaker of Parliament, Kadri Veseli. He said the country needs unity for dialogue with Serbia and criticised the European Union for non-liberlisation of visas for Kosovo citizens, adding however that the EU remains …

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Kosovo’s PM says early election not solution to solving problems

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj says that holding early elections in 2019 is to the detriment of the country. He says 2019 will not be easy because Kosovo will face with dialogue with Serbia and the war crimes court. Original post Here

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Trepca miners entered strike

Miners of the Trepca complex have entered strike on Thursday asking pay rise. Original post Here

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European Parliament's vice president pays homages at Adem Jashari’s memorial

Vice president of the European Parliament, Rainer Wieland, has on Thursday visited the memorial of the founder of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), Adem Jashari, who was killed by Serbian police and military forces with over 50 members of the extended family in March 1998. Original post Here

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Kosovo with special law on dialogue with Serbia

Kosovo team tasked to negotiate with Serbia is expected to submit to Government a special draft law on dialogue. Members of the negotiation team held Wednesday the first meeting and confirmed that they have reached important conclusions. Original post Here

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Kosovo-Serbia dialogue main focus of Mogherini’s meeting with Western Balkan leaders

EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, hosted on Wednesday in Brussels an informal gathering of the Western Balkans leaders when they discussed the support for the Prespa Agreement between Greece and Macedonia and Kosovo-Serbia EU-facilitated dialogue facilitated by Mogherini. Original post Here

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Kosovo fulfilled visa liberalization criteria says, EU Commissioner Avramopoulos

EU Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, confirmed Wednesday that Kosovo has fulfilled all visa liberalization benchmarks. Original post Here

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NATO to review its level of engagement with KSF after Kosovo vote to have its army

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had a phone call today with Kosovo’s Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj related to Kosovo Army. 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 …