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Haradinaj is first Kosovo PM to visit US Military Base of Bondsteel

Ramush Haradinaj, is the first Kosovo Prime Minister who visited on Wednesday the US Military camp – Bondsteel, when he met Col. Nick Ducich, commander of the US military presence in Kosovo. Original post Here

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UK removes from the agenda UN Security Council discussion on Kosovo

The United Kingdom (UK) took over the Presidency of the UN Security Council this August and based on the agenda published by the UK mission to the United Nations, the UNMIK’s regular quarterly report on Kosovo discussed by the UNSC has been completely removed. Original post Here

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Serbia needs reconciliation with Kosovo to join the EU, says Albin Kurti

Leader of the opposition party of Vetevendosje, Albin Kurti, has turned down the offer of ruling coalition parties to create a joint team in dialogue with Serbia. Original post Here

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Serbia ‘has no offer’ for Kosovo

Marko Djuric, Director of Serbia’s Office for Kosovo, talking on the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade said that Serbia has no any new offer, adding that there is still no solution for the issue of Kosovo. Original post Here

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Thaci has no comment on Kosovo-Serbia ‘exchange of territories’ idea

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci addressing media on Monday has not commented when asked whether partition or exchange of territories is one of the options for reaching a final legally-binding agreement with Serbia. He called media reports on this topic as “fake news” noting that such reports are confusing public opinion. …

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Mogherini’s Office asks realistic agreement between Kosovo and Serbia, did not comment on partition

The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, said Friday that he was misunderstood when during a televised interview avoided commenting whether partition of Kosovo would be acceptable to Washington, sparking speculations that the US stance on Kosovo issue has changed. The Office of the EU High Representative, Federica Mogherini, who …

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Serbia bans entry of Kosovo's First Deputy Prime Minister, Behgjet Pacolli

Serbia’s authorities have not approved the request of the Kosovo’s Foreign Minister Behgjet Pacolli to visit the Sandzak region in Serbia. Pacolli was invited by the Bosniak National Council (BNV) to attend their debate on regional cooperation in Balkans. Original post Here

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Veseli and Fajon discuss further steps on visa liberalisaiton

Speaker of Parliament Kadri Veseli spoke on the phone on Friday with the European Parliament Rapporteur for visa liberalisation process with Kosovo, Tanja Fajon. Original post Here

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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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Week in Review: Surprises in Store

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week brings some surprises – some good, some less so – while continuing to look back on 20 years of BIRN. Original post Here

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Albania’s Anti-Disinformation Strategy Could Target Critical Media, Opponents Fear

The Albanian parliament has adopted a national strategy to combat foreign interference and disinformation – but the opposition claims it could be used against domestic media that expose government failings. Original post Here

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Veliaj in Legal and Political Limbo: High Court Confirms Detention, Rule-of-Law in Question

Tirana Times, TIRANA July 9, 2025— Albania’s High Court on Tuesday upheld the pretrial detention of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, marking a decisive moment in both the judicial handling of the high-profile case and in Veliaj’s political unraveling. The ruling, which confirms the March 13 decision of the Court of …

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Greece Inaugurates New Consulate in Korça to Boost Bilateral Ties

By Tirana Time staff KORÇA, Albania ,Tirana Times,  July 9 , 2025 — Greece inaugurated a new building for its Consulate General in the southeastern Albanian city of Korça on Sunday, in a ceremony that highlighted the deepening diplomatic ties between the two neighboring countries and renewed Athens’ focus on …

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Albania’s Youth Exodus: Emigration as a Security Threat

Tirana Times. July 8, 2025. Albania is shrinking—demographically, economically, and institutionally. A once-youthful country on the edge of Europe is now in the grip of a mass exodus that analysts warn is no longer just a social or economic crisis, but a growing threat to national security. In a nation …

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Vidovdan: A Dangerous Myth Turned Political Weapon

By Syle Ukshini For more than a century, the Serbian state and Church have mythologized the Battle of Kosovo of 1389 as a defining moment of Serbian identity—a narrative culminating each year in the celebration of Vidovdan, Serbia’s national and religious holiday observed on June 28. Originally linked to the …

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One Man’s Rule: Governance by Ultimatum

by Vilson Blloshmi From the way it was announced to its substance, Prime Minister Edi Rama’s latest ultimatum to “clear public spaces within 2 weeks” is neither a law, nor a public policy, nor a government decision. It is a personal order, a voice over the phone that, in any …

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“Wherever I travel, Greece wounds me.”

Ὅπου κι ἂν ταξιδέψω, ἡ Ἑλλάδα μὲ πληγώνει. Jerina Zaloshnja This is what Giorgos Seferis wrote — and thus, before I even truly knew who Seferis was, I began to love Greece. That verse — simple, clear, ablaze with love and pain — was, for me, once a gateway to …

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Digital Rights Review: AI-Driven Violations Go Unchecked in South-East Europe

Across south-east Europe last month, BIRN’s digital rights monitors documented how AI is being used for protest surveillance, election manipulation, enabling digital sexual abuse and committing fraud, sparking calls for urgent action. 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

Week in Review: Surprises in Store

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week brings some surprises – some good, some less so – while continuing to look back on 20 years of BIRN. Original post Here

News

Albania’s Anti-Disinformation Strategy Could Target Critical Media, Opponents Fear

The Albanian parliament has adopted a national strategy to combat foreign interference and disinformation – but the opposition claims it could be used against domestic media that expose government failings. Original post Here

News

Veliaj in Legal and Political Limbo: High Court Confirms Detention, Rule-of-Law in Question

Tirana Times, TIRANA July 9, 2025— Albania’s High Court on Tuesday upheld the pretrial detention of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, marking a decisive moment in both the judicial handling of the high-profile case and in Veliaj’s political unraveling. The ruling, which confirms the March 13 decision of the Court of …

News

Greece Inaugurates New Consulate in Korça to Boost Bilateral Ties

By Tirana Time staff KORÇA, Albania ,Tirana Times,  July 9 , 2025 — Greece inaugurated a new building for its Consulate General in the southeastern Albanian city of Korça on Sunday, in a ceremony that highlighted the deepening diplomatic ties between the two neighboring countries and renewed Athens’ focus on …

News

Albania’s Youth Exodus: Emigration as a Security Threat

Tirana Times. July 8, 2025. Albania is shrinking—demographically, economically, and institutionally. A once-youthful country on the edge of Europe is now in the grip of a mass exodus that analysts warn is no longer just a social or economic crisis, but a growing threat to national security. In a nation …

News

Vidovdan: A Dangerous Myth Turned Political Weapon

By Syle Ukshini For more than a century, the Serbian state and Church have mythologized the Battle of Kosovo of 1389 as a defining moment of Serbian identity—a narrative culminating each year in the celebration of Vidovdan, Serbia’s national and religious holiday observed on June 28. Originally linked to the …

News

One Man’s Rule: Governance by Ultimatum

by Vilson Blloshmi From the way it was announced to its substance, Prime Minister Edi Rama’s latest ultimatum to “clear public spaces within 2 weeks” is neither a law, nor a public policy, nor a government decision. It is a personal order, a voice over the phone that, in any …

News

“Wherever I travel, Greece wounds me.”

Ὅπου κι ἂν ταξιδέψω, ἡ Ἑλλάδα μὲ πληγώνει. Jerina Zaloshnja This is what Giorgos Seferis wrote — and thus, before I even truly knew who Seferis was, I began to love Greece. That verse — simple, clear, ablaze with love and pain — was, for me, once a gateway to …

News

Digital Rights Review: AI-Driven Violations Go Unchecked in South-East Europe

Across south-east Europe last month, BIRN’s digital rights monitors documented how AI is being used for protest surveillance, election manipulation, enabling digital sexual abuse and committing fraud, sparking calls for urgent action. 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 …