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Boss of cryptocurrency to be extradited

The Supreme Court has allowed the extradition to Turkey of citizen Faruk Ozer, arrested for fraud with cryptocurrencies. He was detained in August last year following an arrest warrant issued by Turkish authorities. Farukt Ozer was arrested in Albania on August 30. He was found in a restaurant in Palasa, …

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The European Parliament agree on EU visa liberalization with Kosovo

This Tuesday, the European Parliament said yes to the liberalization of visas for citizens of Kosovo. The members of the European Parliament voted in favor of visa liberalization for Kosovo, and on April 19, the ceremony for signing the legal act is expected. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta …

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Electronic voting is tested, head of CEC: The device is 100% safe

In three municipalities, namely in Kamëz, Vorë and Elbasan, voting will be done electronically in the May 14 elections. The head of the CEC, Ilirjan Celibashi, guaranteed from Elbasan that the device ensures 100% secrecy of the vote, so he invited the citizens not to hesitate to vote on May 14. …

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Q&A: Emigration is a regional issue and long-term effort is needed to address it, says Croatian Ambassador to Albania Zlatko Kramaric

Tirana Times interviews the Ambassador of Croatia to Albania, Zlatko Kramaric, on Croatia’s decade in the EU, relations with Albania and Western Balkans integration prospects. Q: Albania and Croatia enjoy a very good bilateral relation with collaboration in many fields. How do you find the relations at the moment of …

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Albanian court rules Turkish crypto scam kingpin can be extradited to his homeland to face trial 

TIRANA, Apr. 18, 2022 – Albania’s High Court has court ruled to allow the extradition of Fatih Ozer to face a trial in his homeland of Turkey, where he is wanted for allegedly scamming nearly 400,000 people out of millions dollars through a cryptocurrency exchange.  Ozer was arrested last year …

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Albania Economists Slate PM’s ‘New Salaries’ Pledge as ‘Unrealistic’

PM Rama’s promise to hike wages, starting in the public sector, has been deemed totally unrealistic by a range of economic experts. Original post Here

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Confidence Tricks: Tirana’s Place in an International ‘Investment’ Scam

Fake ‘call centres’ across Albania were part of a lucrative stock market investment scam operating across Europe; the suspects include an Albanian man with significant political connections. Original post Here

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Svetlana Timofeeva: ‘My Passion for Ruins Landed me in Albanian Prison’

Through a written interview from her cell in the Ali Demi prison in Tirana, the Russian blogger accused of espionage tells about her ill-fated adventure in Gramsh, her months spent in isolation – and her fear of possible extradition to Putin’s Russia. Original post Here

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How Fear of Albanians Went Mainstream in 1990s Italy

The anti-Albanian campaigns in the British media today are all too reminiscent of the targeting of Albanians in Italy and Greece 30 years ago – and need to be fought, not indulged. Original post Here

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Society for Albanian Studies calls for nominations for the annual Stavro Skendi Book Prize

TIRANA, April 12, 2023 – Nominations are being sought for the Stavro Skendi Book Prize for Achievement in Albanian Studies, the organization that governs the award said in a statement. Awarded by the Society for Albanian Studies  – an affiliate organization of the Association for Slavic, East European, and Eurasian …

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Viroi Park in Gjirokastër attracts camper travellers in spring

TIRANA, April 27 – Spring has increased visitor numbers at Viroi Park in Gjirokastër. Camper travellers now stop there during trips in southern Albania. The park offers a quiet setting, clean air, and open space. It attracts visitors who seek nature and calm conditions. Meanwhile, Jolanda and Frans Koopman from …

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Kosova ratifies agreement with Albania for Prishtina 2030 Mediterranean Games

TIRANA, April 27 – Kosovo’s parliament approved the draft law ratifying an agreement with Albania for the Mediterranean Games “Prishtina 2030”. Lawmakers voted 93 in favour, with no votes against and no abstentions. The agreement formalises cooperation between the two countries for the organisation of the Games. Opposition parties, including …

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Justice institutions agree on unified statistics system

TIRANA, April 27 – Justice institutions signed an agreement to standardise statistics across the justice system. The Ministry of Justice, judicial and prosecutorial bodies, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the High Inspectorate of Justice, and the School of Magistrates took part. The EU Delegation in Albania attended the signing. Justice Minister …

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Cooperation with Germany seen as key step for Albanian agriculture toward EU standards

TIRANA, April 27 – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Fatmir Guri described the cooperation protocol with Germany as an important and concrete step for aligning Albanian agriculture with European Union standards. He said the timing of the agreement matches Albania’s progress in the EU integration process. He also …

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Government and SP parliamentary group review EU agenda and legislative work

TIRANA, April 27 – The government and the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party held their expanded end-of-month meeting. Prime Minister Edi Rama chaired the meeting, which also included members of the cabinet. PM Rama said the discussion focused on communication with party structures under the framework of “Affairs of …

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Gjekmarkaj Meets Sottanelli to Strengthen Albania–Italy Friendship Relations

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Agron Gjekmarkaj meets Italian MP Giulio Cesare Sottanelli in the Parliament building. Sottanelli represents the “Azione” party. Gjekmarkaj thanks Italy for its long-standing support to Albania. He highlights Italy as a key and stable partner. He also praises the role of the Italian government, the Chamber …

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Mexhiti Says Albanians in North Macedonia Need Support from Albanian State Institutions

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha meets Izet Mexhiti, leader of the Democratic Movement and mayor of Çair. Mexhiti thanks Hoxha for the invitation. He stresses shared responsibility among Albanian leaders to strengthen ties between Albanians. He says Albanians in North Macedonia are an inseparable part of the …

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Hoxha Meets Mexhiti, Reaffirms Strong Albanian Brotherhood and Cooperation

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha holds a joint press conference with Izet Mexhiti, leader of the Democratic Movement and mayor of Çair. Hoxha responds to media questions about claims of internal communication regarding Albanians in North Macedonia. He says recent debates are already over. He adds that …

News
Former Head of the National Bureau of Investigation Aida Hajnaj Takes New Position in State Police

The former head of the National Bureau of Investigation, Aida Hajnaj, has been appointed as the head of the Information Technology Department in the State Police. Sources indicate that the decision for her appointment was made by the Minister of Interior, Besfort Lamallari. According to the law on the State …

News
Kosovo Assembly Ratifies Agreement with Albania for the Mediterranean Games “Prishtina 2030”

With 93 votes in favor, none against, and no abstentions, the Assembly of Kosovo approved the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania for the Mediterranean Games Prishtina 2030. The Minister of Sports, Blerim Gashani, …

News

Viroi Park in Gjirokastër attracts camper travellers in spring

TIRANA, April 27 – Spring has increased visitor numbers at Viroi Park in Gjirokastër. Camper travellers now stop there during trips in southern Albania. The park offers a quiet setting, clean air, and open space. It attracts visitors who seek nature and calm conditions. Meanwhile, Jolanda and Frans Koopman from …

News

Kosova ratifies agreement with Albania for Prishtina 2030 Mediterranean Games

TIRANA, April 27 – Kosovo’s parliament approved the draft law ratifying an agreement with Albania for the Mediterranean Games “Prishtina 2030”. Lawmakers voted 93 in favour, with no votes against and no abstentions. The agreement formalises cooperation between the two countries for the organisation of the Games. Opposition parties, including …

News

Justice institutions agree on unified statistics system

TIRANA, April 27 – Justice institutions signed an agreement to standardise statistics across the justice system. The Ministry of Justice, judicial and prosecutorial bodies, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the High Inspectorate of Justice, and the School of Magistrates took part. The EU Delegation in Albania attended the signing. Justice Minister …

News

Cooperation with Germany seen as key step for Albanian agriculture toward EU standards

TIRANA, April 27 – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Fatmir Guri described the cooperation protocol with Germany as an important and concrete step for aligning Albanian agriculture with European Union standards. He said the timing of the agreement matches Albania’s progress in the EU integration process. He also …

News

Government and SP parliamentary group review EU agenda and legislative work

TIRANA, April 27 – The government and the parliamentary group of the Socialist Party held their expanded end-of-month meeting. Prime Minister Edi Rama chaired the meeting, which also included members of the cabinet. PM Rama said the discussion focused on communication with party structures under the framework of “Affairs of …

News

Gjekmarkaj Meets Sottanelli to Strengthen Albania–Italy Friendship Relations

Deputy Speaker of Parliament Agron Gjekmarkaj meets Italian MP Giulio Cesare Sottanelli in the Parliament building. Sottanelli represents the “Azione” party. Gjekmarkaj thanks Italy for its long-standing support to Albania. He highlights Italy as a key and stable partner. He also praises the role of the Italian government, the Chamber …

News

Mexhiti Says Albanians in North Macedonia Need Support from Albanian State Institutions

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha meets Izet Mexhiti, leader of the Democratic Movement and mayor of Çair. Mexhiti thanks Hoxha for the invitation. He stresses shared responsibility among Albanian leaders to strengthen ties between Albanians. He says Albanians in North Macedonia are an inseparable part of the …

News

Hoxha Meets Mexhiti, Reaffirms Strong Albanian Brotherhood and Cooperation

Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha holds a joint press conference with Izet Mexhiti, leader of the Democratic Movement and mayor of Çair. Hoxha responds to media questions about claims of internal communication regarding Albanians in North Macedonia. He says recent debates are already over. He adds that …

News

Former Head of the National Bureau of Investigation Aida Hajnaj Takes New Position in State Police

The former head of the National Bureau of Investigation, Aida Hajnaj, has been appointed as the head of the Information Technology Department in the State Police. Sources indicate that the decision for her appointment was made by the Minister of Interior, Besfort Lamallari. According to the law on the State …

News

Kosovo Assembly Ratifies Agreement with Albania for the Mediterranean Games “Prishtina 2030”

With 93 votes in favor, none against, and no abstentions, the Assembly of Kosovo approved the ratification of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Kosovo and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania for the Mediterranean Games Prishtina 2030. The Minister of Sports, Blerim Gashani, …