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Kosovo Minister of Environment resigns

Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning, Albena Reshitaj, has offered her resignation to Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj on Wednesday. Media report that Reshitaj’s resignation came after disagreements within her party AKR headed by Behgjet Pacolli who is first deputy prime minister and foreign minister in Haradinaj’s Government. Original post Here

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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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Saudi Cultural Week to Bring a Taste of Arabia to Tirana

Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …

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Iranian Opposition Group’s Stay in Albania Turns Sour

Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here

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Week in Review: Tricks and Surprises

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and other turbulent issues across the region. Original post Here

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Years After Discovery, Albania’s Roman-Era Mosaics Remain Hidden to Public View

The city of Durres on Albania’s Adriatic coast boasts a fine selection of Roman-era mosaics. But due to a lack of initiative by the local authorities, progress has been slow to preserve them and make them available for the public to view. Original post Here

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After Major Wildfires, Albania Warned to Boost Preparedness Urgently

As Mediterranean fire seasons grow in intensity, Albania’s government faces calls to invest in firefighting and reforestation. Original post Here

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“Challenges of Academic Integrity in Albanian Universities: An Interview with Migen Qiraxhi”

Interview with Migen Qiraxhi, Project Manager at Qëndresa Qytetare, July 17 In Albania, where higher education is often portrayed as a bridge to opportunity and European integration, the reality on the ground tells a darker story. Behind university gates, corruption, nepotism, and political interference have quietly hollowed out institutions that …

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Week in Review: Influence, Repression and Revival

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News
Digital Rights Review: Privacy and Freedom of Expression Threatened

From data leaks and criminal hacks to smear campaigns, BIRN’s digital rights monitoring team documented widespread privacy violations and assaults on freedom of speech across Southeast Europe in July. Original post Here

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Money to Burn: Albania’s Nexus of Organised Crime and Rubbish Collection

As fires rage at overflowing and often illegal landfills in Albania, companies with criminal connections keep securing waste management contracts with the state. Original post Here

News
Week in Review: Alarm Bells and Struggles

Across the region, our selection of this week’s Balkan Insight Premium stories suggests that alarm bells are going off in many countries – and not only because of the wildfires. Original post Here

News

Saudi Cultural Week to Bring a Taste of Arabia to Tirana

Tirana will soon open its doors to the sights, sounds, and flavors of Arabia. From 16 to 20 September 2025, the Palace of Congresses will transform into a vibrant stage for Saudi Cultural Week, a five-day celebration of art, heritage, and creativity hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture. The festival promises to be more …

News

Iranian Opposition Group’s Stay in Albania Turns Sour

Albania’s hosting of an exiled Iranian opposition group was never likely to be easy. Now it’s under criminal investigation. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Tricks and Surprises

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and other turbulent issues across the region. Original post Here

News

Years After Discovery, Albania’s Roman-Era Mosaics Remain Hidden to Public View

The city of Durres on Albania’s Adriatic coast boasts a fine selection of Roman-era mosaics. But due to a lack of initiative by the local authorities, progress has been slow to preserve them and make them available for the public to view. Original post Here

News

After Major Wildfires, Albania Warned to Boost Preparedness Urgently

As Mediterranean fire seasons grow in intensity, Albania’s government faces calls to invest in firefighting and reforestation. Original post Here

News

“Challenges of Academic Integrity in Albanian Universities: An Interview with Migen Qiraxhi”

Interview with Migen Qiraxhi, Project Manager at Qëndresa Qytetare, July 17 In Albania, where higher education is often portrayed as a bridge to opportunity and European integration, the reality on the ground tells a darker story. Behind university gates, corruption, nepotism, and political interference have quietly hollowed out institutions that …

News

Week in Review: Influence, Repression and Revival

Our selection of Balkan Insight Premium stories this week sheds light on police brutality, hidden influence, strained bilateral relations and a whole lot more. Original post Here

News

Digital Rights Review: Privacy and Freedom of Expression Threatened

From data leaks and criminal hacks to smear campaigns, BIRN’s digital rights monitoring team documented widespread privacy violations and assaults on freedom of speech across Southeast Europe in July. Original post Here

News

Money to Burn: Albania’s Nexus of Organised Crime and Rubbish Collection

As fires rage at overflowing and often illegal landfills in Albania, companies with criminal connections keep securing waste management contracts with the state. Original post Here

News

Week in Review: Alarm Bells and Struggles

Across the region, our selection of this week’s Balkan Insight Premium stories suggests that alarm bells are going off in many countries – and not only because of the wildfires. Original post Here