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Kosovo President insists on ‘adjustment of borders’

President Hashim Thaci reiterated on Monday that border adjustment is his proposal for a peaceful solution with Serbia. He made the comments after Speaker of Parliament and chairman of biggest ruling party, PDK, Kadri Veseli, opposed the idea of correction of borders. Original post Here

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Kosovo PM: Change of borders is in Putin’s favour

Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, says that change of borders in Balkans suits only to Russian President, Vladimir Putin. Original post Here

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Political parties against Thaci’s idea on ‘correction’ of borders

Senior officials of ruling coalition parties AAK and Nisma are against the idea proposed by Kosovo President Hashim Thaci on correction of border, which is interpreted as a position on exchange of territory with Serbia. Against Thaci’s proposal are Nisma leader Fatmir Limaj and AAK senior official and MP Daut …

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Kosovo ready to react to provocations, says PM Haradinaj

Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj said Friday that Pristina is ready to respond to any provocation and anyone acting against the law, adding that he did not have indication that something might happen. Original post Here

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Thaci: No partition of Kosovo or autonomy for Serbs

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci reiterated Friday that there will be no partition or autonomy for Kosovo Serbs, adding however that he is working only for “a correction” of the border with Serbia, and eventual inclusion of Presheva Valley into Kosovo. Original post Here

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Serbia’s president tells Kosovo Serbs to remain calm

President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic in an open letter on Friday urged Kosovo Serbs to remain calm and pledged that as long as he held the office, Serbia would not allow their exodus or any organised criminal activities against them and their sanctities. Original post Here

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EU’s Mogherini reminds to Thaci and Vucic the Agreement on avoiding tensions

Office of High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini said on Friday that the drafting process of the Statute of Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) is still ongoing, adding that both Pristina and Belgrade have agreed on clear guidelines and deadlines. Original post Here

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Kosovo President sacks deputy head of Intelligence Agency

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci and Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj took a decision on Friday to dismiss deputy head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (KIA), Latif Merovci. Original post Here

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US Ambassador: EU statement should help us enjoy a nice weekend

US Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, said he is happy to see the EU statement that the draft statute of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities will be discussed in the next meeting in Brussels between Kosovo and Serbia. Original post Here

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US to deploy 125 troops to Kosovo

In September more than 125 Soldiers of the US Tennessee National Guard assigned to the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion will begin an 11 month deployment to Kosovo in support of Operation Joint Guardian, the NATO-led international peacekeeping force which is responsible for establishing a secure environment in Kosovo. Original post …

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Forum of Alumni from Saudi Universities in the Balkans

Saudi Ambassador  Faisal Ghazi  Ismail Hifzi, Highlights Kingdom’s Commitment to Global Educational Ties through Balkan Alumni Gathering Tirana Times Sunday, July 6, 2025,  The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania Faisal Ghazi  Ismail Hifzi, announced that on Monday, July 7, Tirana will …

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Toxic Smoke and Broken Promises: Albania’s Waste Crisis Exposes Deep Rot in Governance

ELBASAN, Albania, July 5,— For days, thick plumes of toxic smoke have risen from the burning landfill on the outskirts of Elbasan, one of Albania’s largest industrial cities. The stench of melting plastic, rotting waste, and scorched earth now hangs over entire neighborhoods. But this is not an isolated accident. …

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Serbia on Edge as Vučić’s Legitimacy Crumbles

As Serbia grapples with one of its most volatile moments in recent political history, the warning signs of regime decay are hard to ignore. The recent student-led protests, marred by repression, nationalist hijacking, and social unrest, are more than a youth revolt—they are a reckoning. Sonja Biserko, the longtime chair …

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Albanian MPs Adopt National Anti-Disinformation Strategy Amidst Opposition

Opposition parties and media unions condemn new strategy adopted by parliament, claiming the government wants to use it to exert more control over the media. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Anniversaries, Challenges and Conflicts

As BIRN celebrates two decades of work, there never seems to be a dull moment in the region, as our selection of Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

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Arrests at Bankers Petroleum Spark Questions Over Albania’s Oil Industry and Accountability

By Tirana Times Staff FIER/TIRANA, July 2, 2025 — In a stunning development that has shaken Albania’s oil sector, police arrested the current CEO of Bankers Petroleum, Chinese national Hongping Xiao, and the company’s former director, Leonidha Çobo, during a surprise raid on the company’s headquarters in Fier on Tuesday. …

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Massive Fraud Uncovered: Bankers Petroleum Under Fire for Decades of Tax Evasion and Billions in Untaxed Oil Revenues

CEO Arrested, €4 Billion in Oil Sales Revealed, and Zero Profit Tax Paid to the Albanian State FIER/TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) — Albania’s largest oil producer, Bankers Petroleum, is at the center of a sweeping scandal that prosecutors say involves one of the most egregious cases of tax fraud and …

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Rama Rebukes Farage: Albanian PM Slams “One-in-50” Prison Claim as Post-Brexit Scapegoating

 While Turning UK Migration Debate into Personal Stagecraft TIRANA TIMES — July 2, 2025 — A fiery public exchange between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and British right-wing populist Nigel Farage has brought the issue of Albanian migration into the political spotlight once again — but this time with a …

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Skopje Summit Revives EU Enlargement Hopes — But Ignores the Democratic Erosion in the Balkans

The participants of the Growth Plan Summit, 1 July 2025, Skopje; Photo: European Commission By Tirana Times SKOPJE, July 2, 2025 — The European Union’s renewed enthusiasm for enlargement took center stage at this week’s Growth Plan Summit in Skopje, where EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos joined the leaders …

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Albania’s ‘Lads of London’ Create Bigger Problems for Their Home Country

A social media row between British right-winger Nigel Farage and Albania’s premier Edi Rama over the level of crime committed by Albanians in the UK misses the main point. Original post Here

News

Forum of Alumni from Saudi Universities in the Balkans

Saudi Ambassador  Faisal Ghazi  Ismail Hifzi, Highlights Kingdom’s Commitment to Global Educational Ties through Balkan Alumni Gathering Tirana Times Sunday, July 6, 2025,  The Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to the Republic of Albania Faisal Ghazi  Ismail Hifzi, announced that on Monday, July 7, Tirana will …

News

Toxic Smoke and Broken Promises: Albania’s Waste Crisis Exposes Deep Rot in Governance

ELBASAN, Albania, July 5,— For days, thick plumes of toxic smoke have risen from the burning landfill on the outskirts of Elbasan, one of Albania’s largest industrial cities. The stench of melting plastic, rotting waste, and scorched earth now hangs over entire neighborhoods. But this is not an isolated accident. …

News

Serbia on Edge as Vučić’s Legitimacy Crumbles

As Serbia grapples with one of its most volatile moments in recent political history, the warning signs of regime decay are hard to ignore. The recent student-led protests, marred by repression, nationalist hijacking, and social unrest, are more than a youth revolt—they are a reckoning. Sonja Biserko, the longtime chair …

News

Albanian MPs Adopt National Anti-Disinformation Strategy Amidst Opposition

Opposition parties and media unions condemn new strategy adopted by parliament, claiming the government wants to use it to exert more control over the media. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Anniversaries, Challenges and Conflicts

As BIRN celebrates two decades of work, there never seems to be a dull moment in the region, as our selection of Premium stories this week shows. Original post Here

News

Arrests at Bankers Petroleum Spark Questions Over Albania’s Oil Industry and Accountability

By Tirana Times Staff FIER/TIRANA, July 2, 2025 — In a stunning development that has shaken Albania’s oil sector, police arrested the current CEO of Bankers Petroleum, Chinese national Hongping Xiao, and the company’s former director, Leonidha Çobo, during a surprise raid on the company’s headquarters in Fier on Tuesday. …

News

Massive Fraud Uncovered: Bankers Petroleum Under Fire for Decades of Tax Evasion and Billions in Untaxed Oil Revenues

CEO Arrested, €4 Billion in Oil Sales Revealed, and Zero Profit Tax Paid to the Albanian State FIER/TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times) — Albania’s largest oil producer, Bankers Petroleum, is at the center of a sweeping scandal that prosecutors say involves one of the most egregious cases of tax fraud and …

News

Rama Rebukes Farage: Albanian PM Slams “One-in-50” Prison Claim as Post-Brexit Scapegoating

 While Turning UK Migration Debate into Personal Stagecraft TIRANA TIMES — July 2, 2025 — A fiery public exchange between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and British right-wing populist Nigel Farage has brought the issue of Albanian migration into the political spotlight once again — but this time with a …

News

Skopje Summit Revives EU Enlargement Hopes — But Ignores the Democratic Erosion in the Balkans

The participants of the Growth Plan Summit, 1 July 2025, Skopje; Photo: European Commission By Tirana Times SKOPJE, July 2, 2025 — The European Union’s renewed enthusiasm for enlargement took center stage at this week’s Growth Plan Summit in Skopje, where EU Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos joined the leaders …

News

Albania’s ‘Lads of London’ Create Bigger Problems for Their Home Country

A social media row between British right-winger Nigel Farage and Albania’s premier Edi Rama over the level of crime committed by Albanians in the UK misses the main point. Original post Here