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Kosovo Police operation has nothing to do with political developments, Haradinaj says

Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj says operation of the Kosovo Police Special Units in Mitrovica North on Friday morning when four Serbs were arrested suspected of their involvement in assassination of the Kosovo Serb leader Oliver Ivanovic in January 2018, has nothing to do with the current political developments, Gazeta Express …

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Kosovo Police arrests four people in Mitrovica North involved in Ivanovic’s case

Kosovo Police have arrested three Serbs in Mitrovica North early on Friday suspected of their involvement in murder of Kosovo Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic, and one for resisting police. Two of the arrested persons are police officers. Original post Here

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KFOR refutes Serbia’s President: We have not stopped Kosovo Police to enter the north

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic during a meeting with Kosovo Serb political representatives in Belgrade stated that he had information that Pristina’s police and special forces were heading toward the north of Kosovo, mostly populated by the Serbs, and that they were allegedly stopped by KFOR. Original post Here

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Serbia’s goods that did not address Kosovo by its constitutional name removed from shelves

Municipalities of Mitrovica South, Vushtrri, Skenderaj, and Drenas have started implementation of the Government’s decision on removing from shelves all Serbia’s goods that did not address Kosovo by its constitutional name. Original post Here

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Serbia’s President Midnight Message to Kosovo

Serbia’s President, Aleksandar Vucic, appearing late on Wednesday before media in Belgrade has opposed the 100 percent tax imposed by Kosovo, asking the customs tariffs be reversed. Original post Here

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Kosovo announces reciprocity measures on Serbia’s car plates

Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister, Fatmir Limaj, says that in addition to 100 percent customs tariffs in Serbia’s goods, authorities in Pristina are considering application of reciprocity measure with Serbia also on vehicle plates. Original post Here

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Kosovo’s EU Minister wants EU Council to vote on visas

Kosovo’s Minister of the EU Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, says she is working intensively in order for the visa liberalisation issue be included in the agenda of the EU Council meeting set to be held at the beginning of December. Hoxha currently is in Brussels, when she met senior officials of …

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EU calls on Kosovo to revoke tariffs on Serbia’s goods

EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini, called on Kosovo government to immediately revoke the decision on imposing a 100 percent tax on products from Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina in a move the government said is aimed at defending the country’s vital interests. Original post Here

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UNMIK concerned after Kosovo announced duty on Serbia’s goods

UNMIK chief, Zahir Tanin, expressed his concern with the decision of the Government of Kosovo to impose a 100 per cent duty on Serbian and Bosnian goods. Original post Here

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Final Meeting of the Joint Rule of Law Coordination Board

EULEX Head of Mission Alexandra Papadopoulou hosted the final meeting of the Joint Rule of Law Coordination Board (JRCB) at the EULEX premises today. She also presented the Compact Progress Report, covering the JRCB activities from July 2017 to June 2018 and tracking the progress made by Kosovo rule of …

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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 …