Op/Ed: NATO Summit in Vilnius: Full of Drama, but Few Surprises
By JONATHAN TERRA Will anything that happened in Vilnius really matter in the foreseeable future? After all, in terms of diplomatic and material support, training, logistics, intel-sharing, and coordinated strategic goals, Ukraine is already a de facto member of the alliance. The 2023 NATO summit in Vilnius is over. In …
Reduction of police forces resumes in Northern Kosovo
Kosovo Police has started to reduce its troops in municipal facilities in the north of the country, after accepting the Government’s decision, as reported this Thursday. Reduction of police forces happened before midnight last night, while these movements were developed in parallel by the municipalities of Leposaviq, Zveçan and Zubin …
Former mayor of Fushe-Arrez arrested for abuse of duty
Former mayor of Fushë-Arrëz Municipality, Fran Tuci, has been arrested by order of the Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) this Thursday. He is accused of the criminal offense of “abuse of duty”, after he allowed some residents to clean a road of about 1 kilometer in a …
Kosovo’s PM attacked in parliament by opposition MPs
Physical clashes happen in the Assembly of Kosovo during the session of this Thursday, at the moment when Prime Minister Albin Kurti was talking about the recent situation in the North. The opposition MPs threw water at the Prime Minister. At that moment, the majority deputies and ministers surrounded Kurti …
Police checked Fushe-Kruja suspected killer’s house
Police conducted by order of the Tirana prosecutor’s office, a search in the apartment of Valter Bami in Nikla village, who was arrested after the assassination attempt on Gentian Bejtja in the courtyard of the apartment, where his brother-in-law Ramazan Sino was killed and his two minor sons were injured. …
Clashes in the Assembly of Kosovo, Rama stands in solidarity with Kurti
Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, has condemned today’s clash in the Assembly of Kosovo. He stated that such act degrade the country’s image in the international arena. The head of the Albanian government says that he hopes that the opposition of Kosovo will discuss with ideas and not violence. …
Begaj in Slovenia: Communication between the two countries is at a high level
The President of the Republic, Bajram Begaj was in Slovenia for an official visit. The head of state said that the relations between the two states are good and that the political dialogue is at a high level. He said that Albania considers Slovenia as a partner, not only regionally, …
‘Brother, Tiger!’ SMS Exchanges Reveal Disgraced Albanian Politician’s Ties to Fugitive Businessman
Data from the investigation file obtained by BIRN shows Albania’s former Deputy PM Arben Ahmetaj – charged with corruption and money laundering – had a close relationship with Mirel Mërtiri, a controversial businessman now on the run, at least since 2012. Original post Here
AIIS hosts Foreign Policy Forum with UAE Ambassador
TIRANA – On July 6, 2023, the Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) organized its signature Foreign Policy Forum welcoming as a keynote speaker H.E. Sulaiman Hamed Salem Almazroui, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to the Hellenic Republic and nonresident ambassador to Albania. The forum, entitled “The UAE between the …
Former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj leaves Albania ahead of approval of arrest request on corruption charges
TIRANA, July 12, 2023 – Representatives of the ruling Socialist Party and the opposition in the Council of Mandates of Albania’s parliament reached an agreement on Wednesday to open the way for the Special Prosecutor’s request to arrest former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj on corruption charges. However, the Socialists …
TIRANA, May 16 – British daily The Times highlights Albania among emerging Mediterranean tourism destinations this summer. The newspaper says travellers increasingly search for more affordable holiday destinations across the Mediterranean region. It adds that demand for holidays in Italy, Spain and Greece has increased this year. However, the report …
TIRANA, May 16 – The Eurovision Song Contest 2026 Grand Final takes place tonight at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, where Albania will perform fifth among 25 competing countries. Albania’s representative Alis Kallaçi will take the stage with Nân after Denmark, Germany, Israel and Belgium open the show. In recent hours, the …
TIRANA, May 16 – Albanian singer Alis Kallaçi sent a video message from Vienna to the RTSH1 programme “Në Kohë Reale” [In Real Time] after qualifying for the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 final. He thanked supporters and said the competition had not ended yet. Alis invited viewers to vote for …
TIRANA, May 16 – Europe’s attention turns to Vienna this Saturday as the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 grand final takes place at the Wiener Stadthalle arena in Austria. Albania will perform fifth among the 25 competing countries with singer Alis Kallaçi and the song “Nân” [Mother]. Alis qualified for the …
Silvio Gonzato met with Albania’s Prosecutor General Olsian Çela to discuss stronger institutional cooperation in delivering justice and fighting crime. During the meeting, the parties reaffirmed support for Albania’s prosecution system at all levels. They also highlighted assistance for the Case Management System. Moreover, both sides agreed that justice and …
Albana Koçiu attended the UN80 initiative conference and highlighted the importance of reforming and modernizing the United Nations system. First, Koçiu said global challenges require stronger international cooperation. Therefore, she stressed that reforms within the UN are essential for supporting Albania’s European aspirations. Moreover, Koçiu reaffirmed Albania’s commitment to stronger …
Edi Rama said U.S. President Donald Trump pushed Europe to recognize its weaknesses and rethink its future security strategy. He made the remarks during the Lennart Meri Conference in Estonia. First, Rama argued that Europe should take Trump seriously, even if not every statement should be interpreted literally. According to …
Edi Rama warned that Europe risks weakening its economic priorities if security concerns dominate political decision-making. He delivered the remarks during the Lennart Meri Conference in Estonia. First, Rama reaffirmed Albania’s strong commitment to NATO. He described Albanians as “Western Taliban,” explaining that Albania remains fully loyal to the transatlantic …
Representatives of the diplomatic corps and senior Albanian government officials gathered in Tirana to discuss how United Nations reform can deliver concrete improvements at the national level. During the discussions, participants highlighted the important role of the UN both globally and in Albania. Moreover, Silvio Gonzato stressed that the European …
Bajram Begaj visited the Mediterranean University of Albania, where he met with academics, professors, and students. He also toured classrooms, IT laboratories, and medical science facilities. During the visit, Begaj encouraged public and private universities to face modern challenges and prepare students for a rapidly changing world. Moreover, he said …