Eurovision final 2026: Votes from abroad crucial for Albania’s No. 05, Alis urges support
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 …
Gonzato: Cooperation with General Prosecution Important for EU Membership Priorities
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 …
Koçiu: Albania Committed to Stronger Institutions Through UN80 Initiative
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 …
Rama: Trump Forced Europe to Face Its Weaknesses
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 …
Rama: Europe Risks Distorting Economic Priorities Under Security Pressure
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 …
Gonzato: EU Remains Committed to Multilateralism and International Order
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 …
Begaj: Albania Needs People Who Think Freely
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 …
VanHorn Hosts Family of Former Embassy Employee Who Died Under Communist Regime
Nancy VanHorn welcomed the family of Loni Adami at the U.S. Embassy in Tirana. She honored his courage and sacrifice as symbols of the struggle for freedom. Loni Adami and his colleague Kol Kuqali worked for the American embassy during Albania’s communist regime. Moreover, both men faced imprisonment and torture …
Beja at UNCTAD: Albanian Customs Moving Toward Full EU Standards Alignment
Besmir Beja held an official meeting at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in Geneva to discuss the modernization of Albania’s customs systems and their alignment with European Union standards. During the meetings with ASYCUDA program officials, participants highlighted the progress made by the Albanian customs administration in …
Albanian Film Artist Shyqyri Sako Passes Away at 89
Shyqyri Sako, one of Albania’s most respected film artists, passed away at the age of 89. During a career that lasted more than 50 years, Sako worked extensively in Albanian cinema and contributed to the visual identity of many films. First, he studied film painting for three years at the …
A wave of student protests have swept Albania over the last week and escalated into clashes with police. BIRN spoke with some of the protesters to hear what brought them into the streets. Original post Here
Albania is expanding its contribution to NATO operations. For the first time, a helicopter contingent will join the KFOR mission in Kosova. Thirteen members of the Albanian Armed Forces will serve at the US military base of Camp Bondsteel. A farewell ceremony at Farka Air Base marked their departure. Defence …
Bank of Albania Governor Gent Sejko has assured the public that deposits in the country’s banking system remain safe. He also pledged that the central bank would continue operating professionally and responsibly to meet the needs of citizens and the economy. Sejko spoke at a meeting in Tirana between Prime …
Prime Minister Edi Rama said that the ongoing protests in Albania should not be compared to the unrest of 1997, arguing that the country is facing an entirely different situation. Speaking at a meeting with banking sector executives on Wednesday, Rama said the current developments were linked to the radicalization …
Prime Minister Edi Rama described the acts of violence during the eight days of protests in Albania as being orchestrated by domestic and foreign elements seeking to destabilize Albania and other European countries. During a meeting with representatives of Albania’s banking sector, Rama announced that the government would soon introduce …
Bedri Hamza has resigned as leader of the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK). He has also informed the party’s leadership of his decision. During a press conference, Hamza said that people must know when it is their responsibility to take on a leadership role and when it is time to …
The United Nations Security Council discussed Kosova on Tuesday, focusing on political developments, security and dialogue with Serbia. Peter Due, head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova (UNMIK), presented the Secretary-General’s report covering March 16 to September 15, 2026. The report described overall security as stable but …
The Albanian Lek strengthened against foreign currencies on the domestic exchange market on Tuesday, according to the Bank of Albania’s official exchange rates. The euro fell by 0.33 ALL to 90.77 ALL, while the US dollar lost 0.38 ALL to trade at 80.90 ALL. The British pound and Swiss franc …
The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with the Order of Psychologists, has made a team of more than 20 psychologists available to support people emotionally affected by recent events. The service targets citizens, young people, minors and school students exposed to various forms of violent language and acts. Psychologists will …
Kosova’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Glauk Konjufca accused Serbia of continuing threats against Kosova at a United Nations Security Council meeting. He described a United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosova (UNMIK) report as selective and influenced by Serbian propaganda. Konjufca said Serbia had killed 12,000 unarmed Albanian …