Family members of one of the arrested Gulenists in Kosovo, seek asylum in Germany
Family members of one of the six arrested Turkish nationals who were arrested by the Kosovo Police and deported to Turkey suspected of their links with Fetullah Gulen’s movement, have left Kosovo and reportedly applied for asylum in Germany. Original post Here
Djuric visiting Kosovo today
Director of Serbia’s Government Office for Kosovo, Marko Djuric, is expected to visit Kosovo today. According to Kosovo Serb online media KoSSev he is expected to attend a solemn meeting of Srpska List, set to be held today in Mitrovica North. Original post Here
EULEX with a new role in Kosovo
The EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo will keep limited responsibilities, even after the end of its current mandate on 14 June. Original post Here
Pacolli announces new ‘qualitative’ recognitions for Kosovo
Kosovo Minister of Foreign Affairs, Behgjet Pacolli, said that Kosovo will get new “qualitative” recognitions this year. Original post Here
Austria supports visa liberalisation for Kosovo
Speaker of Kosovo Parliament, Kadri Veseli, during a visit to Vienna met on Thursday his Austrian counterpart, Wolfgang Sobotoka. According to Veseli’s Office Austria will support visa liberalisation for Kosovo Original post Here
EU Office condemns recent interethnic incidents in Kosovo
The EU Office in Kosovo has condemned recent interethnic incidents in Kosovo. In an answer to Gaeta Express it is stated that the EU deplores any action that would seek to intimidate or injure. The incidents targeting Kosovo Serbs have been condemned also by the Government, Presidnt’s Office and embassies. …
EU: There’s no date for Thaci-Vucic meeting
Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, who facilitated Kosovo-Serbia high level dialogue, said that there is no date for the next meeting between presidents of Kosovo Hashim Thaci and Serbia Aleksandar Vucic. Original post Here
Kosovo lobbying to EU governments on visas
Speaker of Kosovo Parliament, Kadri Veseli, accompanied by ruling and opposition MPs, has started on Thursday a visit to Vienna, when he will met his Austrian counterpart, Wolfgang Sobotka. Parliament’s press service announced that one of the topics expected to be discussed is visa liberalization for Kosovo. Original post Here
Serbs protest unification of Kosovo-Albania customs
The Parliament of Kosovo ratified on Wednesday the agreement on unification of customs between Kosovo and Albania. But Kosovo Serb political representatives are protesting the decision of Parliament saying that customs unification is unacceptable. Original post Here
Petrit Selimi: Border with Serbia will be part of legally-binding agreement
Petrit Selimi, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and national coordinator of the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in Kosovo, believes the demarcation of Kosovo-Serbia border will be part of the final agreement between the two countries. Original post Here
By Genc Pollo The European Union’s stance on democracy in the Balkans is increasingly difficult to defend. The recent visit of EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos to Albania is a glaring example of Brussels’ selective engagement, where stability appears to take precedence over genuine democratic governance. Despite mounting evidence of …
By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania Venesday March 12th—A special appeals court in Albania has upheld the pretrial detention of Tirana Mayor Erion Veliaj, rejecting his request for a more lenient security measure. The ruling, reaffirmed on Monday by Judge Engert Pëllumbi, has sparked significant controversy, with Veliaj’s legal team and …
The Holy Synod of the Albanian Orthodox Church has elected Metropolitan Joan Pelushi of Korça as the new Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania. The 69-year-old cleric succeeds Archbishop Anastasios Yannoulatos, marking a historic transition for the Church after more than three decades of leadership under the Greek- born …
By Tirana Times TIRANA, Albania (Tirana Times ) The Albanian government has nearly doubled the projected cost of its “Smart City” initiative, now expected to cost $118.5 million—up from the initially planned $60 million—raising concerns over transparency, lack of competition, and the protection of personal data. The government announced the …
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
Appeals court dismisses plea to release the mayor of Tirana, Erion Veliaj, who is in detention as charges of corruption and money laundering are investigated. Original post Here
Albania’s communist-era military bunkers – now a tourist attraction but also a reource for experimental artists – are dotted everywhere, from beaches to mountain tops. Original post Here
By Lutfi Dervishi Sweden remains a steadfast supporter of Albania’s European Union accession, citing the importance of enlargement in the wake of geopolitical shifts following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Minister for European Union Affairs and Nordic Cooperation Jessica Rosencrantz, who vizited today (March 10th) Albania,highlighted Sweden’s commitment to a merit-based …
By Valentina Leskaj Ollga, the woman with deep black eyes, who appears so elegant in an old photograph wearing a hat, often comes to my mind whenever we discuss the Women’s Movement. Her portrait, as she spoke to me in that simple but beautiful house on Rruga e Kavajës, …
This article was produced as part of the Thematic Networks of PULSE, a European initiative that supports transnational journalistic collaborations The woodlands of Albania are a verdant expanse that once covered nearly half of the country’s rugged and mountainous terrain. In these past 25 years, however, they have been …