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Kosovo will not infringe territorial integrity of Serbia, says Kadri Veseli

Speaker of Kosovo Parliament and chairman of the biggest political party in Kosovo – PDK, Kadri Veseli, says he is working on unification of all political leaders to reach a consensus related to dialogue with Serbia. Veseli reiterated that Kosovo is united when it comes to preserving its territorial integrity. …

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Redrawing borders returns tragedies, says Kosovo’s PM Haradinaj

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj says he hopes a peace treaty will end disputes between Kosovo and Serbia, noting that discussion of borders returns the region into the past and tragedies. He made the comments addressing EU-Kosovo Parliament’s Committee on Stabilisation-Association Agreement (SAA). Original post Here

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Albania introduces Durres-Kukes road toll fees

Albanian authorities have introduced today the toll fees on the National Road between Durres and Kukes, which also links Albania to Kosovo. Original post Here

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Region to benefit from Kosovo Army, says deputy minister

Kosovo Government approved last week a decision to transform the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), a lightly armed civilian force, into Army of Kosovo. The Government is expected to amend current law on KSF in order to give additional competencies to this force. The move is seen with scepticism by internationals …

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Kosovo’s PM thanks MEPs on their vote on visas

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, met on Monday a delegation of the European Parliament, headed by Tonino Picula. During the meeting they discussed recommendations deriving from the Stabilisation-Association Agreement (SAA), namely fulfilling of obligations from thew first phase of the European Reform Agenda (ERA) and preperations for implementation of the …

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Avni Arifi to be appointed new Kosovo Ambassador to United Arab Emirates

Avni Arifi, chief of cabinet to Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and head of Kosovo’s delegation in technical dialogue with Serbia, is expected to be appointed as new Kosovo Ambassador to United Arab Emirates. Original post Here

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Council's decision on visas in December, says Kosovo EU Minister

Kosovo Minister of the European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, told media on Friday that the final decision of the European Council on lifting visas for Kosovo will not be taken before December. She warned authorities to be cautious in managing expectations noting that there are still procedures within the EU institutions …

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KSF Commander: Kosovo Army within months

Kosovo Security Force (KSF) General Commander, Rrahman Rama, commenting the Government’s initiative on transformation of this force into army, said that he believes the creation of Kosovo Army will happen within months. Original post Here

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US Ambassador welcomes filing of pension fraud indictment

The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, commenting on filing of the indictment against former members of the Government’s commission on verification of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) veterans’ status, said he is “proud of Kosovo for taking this important step to fight corruption.” Original post Here

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Ex-KLA commanders indicted of faking war veterans' lists

Special Prosecution of Kosovo has filed on Friday an indictment against 11 former members of the Government’s commission on verification of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) veterans’ status. The indictment which was filed in August by ex-prosecutor Elez Blakaj, who resigned citing threats and intimidation for investigating alleged wrongdoings during …

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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 …