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Reports of a change in US policy on partition of Kosovo are simply wrong, says Daniel Serwer

Daniel Serwer, a former State Department official who served as a U.S. special envoy in the Balkans, analysing the statements of the US Ambassador Greg Delawie, who was asked whether Washington supports partition of Kosovo, said that the Ambassador in his interview with Kosovo TV channel KTV did not mention …

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Pacolli to visit Sandzak as Kosovo Foreign Minister

Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli received an official invitation to visit Sandzak in western Serbia. But Serbian Minister of Interior, Nebojsa Stefanovic, said that Pacolli has been informed that his visit has not been granted by authorities in Belgrade. However Jetlir Zyberi, advisor to Foreign Minister, says Pacolli will visit …

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Kosovo deserves visa-free regime, says President Thaci

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci says the European Commission (EC) positive recommendation on lifting visas for Kosovo is not a gift and was well-deserved by Kosovo. He made the comments during a joint press conference with the EU Commissioner on Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos in Brussels, who announced …

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It’s official: Avramopoulos confirms Kosovo fulfils all visa liberalisation benchmarks

The EU Commissioner on Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos says Kosovo has met all visa liberalisation benchmarks. He made the statements during a joint press conference with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in Brussels. Original post Here

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Commissioner Avramopoulos confirms: Kosovo has fulfilled visa liberalization benchamrks

Dimitris Avramopoulos, European Commissioner on Home Affairs and Statehood, in an op.ed sent to the Kosovo daily Koha Ditore, which will be published on Thursday, has stated that Kosovo marked progress and fulfilled all visa liberalization benchmarks. Original post Here

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Kosovo leaders united on dialogue with Serbia, says PM Haradinaj after meeting Mogherini

Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, who is visiting Brussels as part of Kosovo high level delegation, said that they confirmed to the EU’s High Representative, Federica Mogherini, that Kosovo institutions are united when it comes to the dialogue with Serbia. Original post Here

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Mogherini: Thaci and Vucic agreed to reconvene in a few weeks' time

Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, hosted a meeting of the High Level Dialogue with President Hashim Thaci of Kosovo and President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia. Original post Here

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Kosovo expects today ‘great news’ on visas, says Veseli

Parliament Speaker, Kadri Veseli, said after meeting the EU foreign policy chief, Federica Mogherini in Brussels, that Kosovo citizens today will hear “a very good news” related to visa liberalization with the EU Schengen area. Original post Here

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Kosovo President had ‘short but difficult’ meeting with Serbian counterpart

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci addressing media after meeting his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels said today’s round of dialogue was short but the most difficult one since he started negotiations with Vucic six years ago. Original post Here

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Kosovo leaders in Brussels without platform on dialogue with Serbia

Kosovo institutional leaders headed by President Hashim Thaci have travelled in Brussels today to meet with Serbian delegation in the frame of the final phase of dialogue with Serbia. The leaders are in Brussels without a clear platform on talks with Belgrade and without reaching an internal consensus on who …

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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

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 …

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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 …

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 …

News
Korça Revives Historic Ties with France Through Culture and Vision

By Tirana Times  As the cobblestone streets of Korça echo with French music, scent of Alpine cuisine, and the laughter of children discovering animated French classics, the southeastern Albanian city reaffirms a timeless connection with France—one rooted in history, education, and enduring cultural admiration. From June 14 to 24, Korça …

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 …

News

Korça Revives Historic Ties with France Through Culture and Vision

By Tirana Times  As the cobblestone streets of Korça echo with French music, scent of Alpine cuisine, and the laughter of children discovering animated French classics, the southeastern Albanian city reaffirms a timeless connection with France—one rooted in history, education, and enduring cultural admiration. From June 14 to 24, Korça …