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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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Speaker signs Laws on transition of KSF into Army of Kosovo

Kosovo’s Parliament Speaker Kadri Veseli has signed today the laws on transition of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army. On 14 December, the Parliament of Kosovo passed three laws with overwhelming numbers that it would form an army. Original post Here

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Kosovo Prime Minister expects visa liberalization soon

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj expects the European Union will liberalize visas for Kosovo soon adding that the decision has nothing to do with Kosovo Government’s decision to impose tariffs on goods from Serbia countering Belgrade’s aggressive campaign against Kosovo statehood. Original post Here

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Kosovo Government approves its offer in dialogue with Serbia

The Government of Kosovo has approved on Tuesday a draft of the Comprehensive and Legally-Binding Agreement between the Republic of Kosovo and Serbia. Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister’s Office, Avni Arifi, presenting the draft said the main objectives is that Kosovo and Serbia respect sovereignty and territorial integrity …

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EU seeks to bypass Kosovo Government wants President Thaci in dialogue with Serbia

The European Union sent a letter to Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj reminding him that President Hashim Thaci will continue leading the high level dialogue with Serbia in Brussels. The letter was written after Kosovo Parliament approved a new negotiation team in dialogue with Belgrade. Original post Here

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Situation calm in the north after Kosovo Parliament vote on Army

The Kosovo Police Deputy Director of Mitrovica North station, Besim Hoti, told Gazeta Express the situation in northern part of Kosovo is calm and the police is acting based on an operational plan drafted earlier. Kosovo Serbs gathered in Mitrovica North to protest Pristina’s decision on transforming the Kosovo Security …

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EU regrets Kosovo’s move to form an army

The European Union’s foreign policy chief has expressed regret over Kosovo’s move to form a new army. The Parliament of Kosovo has passed on Friday legislation on transition of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army. Original post Here

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Government congratulates citizens on Kosovo Army

The Government of Kosovo has congratulated citizens after the Parliament passed a package of laws enabling transition of the Kosovo Security Force (KSF) into an army stating that the army is the final step on consolidating country’s statehood ten years after declaration of independence. Original post Here

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Kosovo Army serving to peace, President Thaci

President of Kosovo Hashim Thaci says newly established Kosovo Army will contribute to peace in the region and in peaceful operations all over the world. The Parliament of Kosovo voted on Friday a package of laws enabling transition of the Kosovo Security Force into an army. Original post Here

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Kosovo Army will serve to all, says PM Haradinaj

Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj addressing media after Parliament’s vote on transition of the KSF into an army said that Kosovo Army will never be used against its people either it in the north or anywhere else and pledged that the newly established armed force of Kosovo will serve to all …

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Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

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Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here

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Albanian Special Court Suspends Deputy Prime Minister: Source

The special anti-corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation for violating tender procedures, and barred her from travelling abroad, a source told BIRN. Original post Here

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Deputy PM Balluku Suspended as SPAK Probe Widens

By Tirana Times Staff Tirana 20, November 2025.The suspension of Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime marks one of the most consequential judicial interventions against a senior government official since the creation of SPAK. The court accepted the Special Prosecution’s request …

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Saudi Crown Prince’s Washington Visit Signals a New Middle East Order

By Dr. Arben Ramkaj The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington may emerge as one of the defining diplomatic moments of this decade. Nothing about this trip was improvised. For weeks, senior Saudi officials travelled to the U.S. capital to prepare the ground, defense …

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Digital Rights Review: Journalists and LGBTQ+ Groups Targeted Online

BIRN’s monitors registered a series of digital attacks on media content, online harassment of journalists and threats against LGBTQ+ groups across the Balkans and Southeast Europe in September and October. Original post Here

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Albania Opens Last Negotiation Cluster With EU

As Albania begins its last cluster of topics in its EU accession talks in Brussels – only one year after starting negotiations – Prime Minister Edi Rama expresses pride in his country’s achievement. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Stuck in the Status Quo

Whether it’s political crises, corruption or political monopolies, our Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlight the stalemates that so often hold the region back. Original post Here

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Opposition Aghast at Albanian PM’s Public Backing for Indicted Deputy

Analysts and opposition MPs say Prime Minister Edi Rama’s public backing for his indicted deputy is a direct challenge to the fight against organised crime and corruption. Original post Here

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Tirana Mayor Set to Run Albanian Capital from Prison Cell

Mayor Erion Veliaj looks on course to continue governing the city from his jail cell – after the Constitutional Court annulled his dismissal and PM Edi Rama said he will not call early elections in Tirana. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: TikTokcracy, Labyrinths and an Anniversary

New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here

News

Albanian PM Condemns Deputy’s Suspension by Court as ‘Brutal Interference’

Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here

News

Albanian Special Court Suspends Deputy Prime Minister: Source

The special anti-corruption court suspended Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku, who is under investigation for violating tender procedures, and barred her from travelling abroad, a source told BIRN. Original post Here

News

Deputy PM Balluku Suspended as SPAK Probe Widens

By Tirana Times Staff Tirana 20, November 2025.The suspension of Albania’s Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by the Special Court Against Corruption and Organized Crime marks one of the most consequential judicial interventions against a senior government official since the creation of SPAK. The court accepted the Special Prosecution’s request …

News

Saudi Crown Prince’s Washington Visit Signals a New Middle East Order

By Dr. Arben Ramkaj The recent visit of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington may emerge as one of the defining diplomatic moments of this decade. Nothing about this trip was improvised. For weeks, senior Saudi officials travelled to the U.S. capital to prepare the ground, defense …

News

Digital Rights Review: Journalists and LGBTQ+ Groups Targeted Online

BIRN’s monitors registered a series of digital attacks on media content, online harassment of journalists and threats against LGBTQ+ groups across the Balkans and Southeast Europe in September and October. Original post Here

News

Albania Opens Last Negotiation Cluster With EU

As Albania begins its last cluster of topics in its EU accession talks in Brussels – only one year after starting negotiations – Prime Minister Edi Rama expresses pride in his country’s achievement. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Stuck in the Status Quo

Whether it’s political crises, corruption or political monopolies, our Balkan Insight Premium stories this week highlight the stalemates that so often hold the region back. Original post Here

News

Opposition Aghast at Albanian PM’s Public Backing for Indicted Deputy

Analysts and opposition MPs say Prime Minister Edi Rama’s public backing for his indicted deputy is a direct challenge to the fight against organised crime and corruption. Original post Here

News

Tirana Mayor Set to Run Albanian Capital from Prison Cell

Mayor Erion Veliaj looks on course to continue governing the city from his jail cell – after the Constitutional Court annulled his dismissal and PM Edi Rama said he will not call early elections in Tirana. Original post Here