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The 5Ps of Service Excellence: A Practical Roadmap for Albanian and Western Balkan Service Providers

By Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, April 07, 2026 – In my earlier article for Tirana Times, I described Albania as a country that moves from being visited to being remembered. Having since deepened my engagement with the Albanian health tourism and hospitality ecosystem, and having had the privilege of …

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Deputy Speaker Spahiu visits Arbëresh community in Italy

TIRANA, April 7 – Deputy Speaker of the Albanian Parliament Klodiana Spahiu visited Italy, stopping in Hora e Arbëreshëvet, a key center of the Arbëresh community and Albanian cultural heritage. During her visit, Spahiu met with the town mayor, Rosario Petta. They discussed ways to strengthen institutional cooperation and preserve …

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Tourism in Gjirokastër shows positive trend but service improvements needed

TIRANA, April 7 – Tourism in Gjirokastër is showing strong growth this season, with increased interest from domestic and international visitors. Tour operators report satisfactory bookings and expect visitor numbers to rise further in the summer months. Despite this growth, several challenges persist that require urgent attention. One major concern …

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New road to Ksamil nearing completion ahead of summer season

TIRANA, April 7 – Ksamil, a top tourist destination in southern Albania, is preparing for the summer season with improved access and infrastructure. Visitor numbers have risen in recent years, prompting upgrades to support tourism. The new road connects Ksamil to the Pulëbardha beach junction. It features panoramic sidewalks and …

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Austria ranks fifth-largest investor in Albania in 2025

Austria ranked as the fifth-largest investor in Albania in 2025. Austrian investments reached €146 million, up 22.7% from 2024, according to the Bank of Albania. Austrian capital flows target key sectors. They focus on insurance, energy, and hospitality services. Businesses see strong growth potential in these areas. Austria’s total investments …

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From Emigration to Agritourism: Reçi Urges Return to Albania

Esat Reçi spent years working in Greece. Then, he returned to his hometown in Kurbin. Before, he worked in construction. Now, he invests in agritourism. He turned his grandparents’ house into a guesthouse. Today, it attracts both local and foreign visitors. “Lahuta e Vjetër” sits among green hills. Moreover, it …

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Driloni: A Peaceful Oasis That Attracts Tourists

Driloni Natural Park lies just 6 km from Pogradec. It ranks among Albania’s most beautiful tourist spots. Recent investments transformed the park into an eco-tourism hub. They also increased its appeal for visitors from Korçë. The infrastructure now includes about 4,000 meters of walking paths. In addition, the park area …

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Kosova’s PM Kurti sees no progress on presidential deal after Democratic League talks

TIRANA, April 7 – Prime Minister Albin Kurti of Kosova said after a two-hour meeting with Democratic League of Kosova leader Lumir Abdixhiku that the discussions produced no new developments. Kurti remained optimistic that talks could eventually lead to an agreement but stressed that today’s meeting did not yield results. …

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Vaçe Zela, Albania’s queen of song

TIRANA, April 7 – Today marks the birthday of Vaçe Zela, one of Albania’s most beloved musical icons. Her powerful and emotive voice shaped the country’s musical identity and continues to inspire generations. Born in Lushnjë in 1939, Zela rose to national fame through her performances on RTSH and as …

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Justice Minister Gogu meets students in Elbasan: European integration guides daily justice

TIRANA, April 7 – Justice Minister Toni Gogu met students in Elbasan to discuss European Union integration and judicial reform. Gogu emphasized on social media that “Europe is not just a political destination. It is a daily standard of operation.” He highlighted concrete results from judicial reform, including new institutions, …

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Gashi: Despite Verdict, KLA Leaders Remain Kosovo’s Liberators

North Macedonia’s Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi said that, despite the convictions, the four former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders “remain Kosovo’s liberators.” “Today’s verdict is a first-instance decision, while the battle for justice continues,” Gashi wrote on social media. Gashi called for calm. He also said that Thaçi, Krasniqi, Veseli …

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Grenell: Kurti Must Act Quickly to Dissolve the Specialist Chambers

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Richard Grenell, reacted following the guilty verdict issued by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague against the KLA leaders. Grenell said that Albin Kurti must act quickly to dissolve this foreign court. “The sentence handed down by The Hague court against Hashim Thaçi, …

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“We Should Not Celebrate,” Vučić: Ruling on Former KLA Leaders Could Change

During a press conference in Belgrade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić commented on the decision to sentence the former KLA leaders to a combined 81 years in prison, urging Serbs not to consider the process over and not to celebrate. He continued to insist that the judgment did not include what …

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Serwer: Americans and Europeans Should Be Ashamed; They Have Criminalized a Liberation Movement They Supported

American professor and Balkan affairs expert Daniel Serwer has reacted following the guilty verdict issued by the Specialist Chambers against four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army. In an opinion piece published on his website, “Peacefare.net,” Serwer said that Americans and Europeans should be ashamed for criminalizing a liberation …

News
Amnesty International: Convictions of Thaçi and Others Show Senior Officials Are Not Above the Law

Human rights organization Amnesty International said that the war crimes convictions of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and three other former senior officials of the Kosovo Liberation Army give hope to victims who have waited for justice “for more than two decades.” Esther Major, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for …

News
Kosovo’s Hague Verdict: Heavy Sentences, Troubling Questions and a Test for International Justice

The convictions of Hashim Thaçi and three other former KLA leaders have shaken Kosovo. But beyond the sentences, the verdict has intensified scrutiny of how the Specialist Chambers were created, how the trial was conducted and whether an institution established under strong Western pressure can command the legitimacy international justice …

News
Kosovo Slams ‘Unjust’ Conviction of Hashim Thaci; Serbian Minister Applauds

Top politicians in Kosovo said the Hague judgment finding ex-President Thaci and three other Kosovo Liberation Army ex-leaders guilty of war crimes was unjust – but a Serbian minister said it proved the KLA was ‘criminal’. Original post Here

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US: We Respect Verdict Against Former KLA Leaders

The United States said it respects the verdict issued by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi. Washington also called on all sides to respect the court’s decision. “We respect today’s verdict of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson told …

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Rama: Larger Administrative Units Could Improve Access to EU Funds

Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Korçë today to attend a public consultation meeting on the new Administrative-Territorial Reform. Rama said larger administrative units could improve access to another category of European Union funds. He also said the reform could bring more investment to local communities. “What we are doing today …

News
Kurti: Verdict Is an Unacceptable Injustice, It Must Not Be Confused with the Will of the People

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the convictions and sentences against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi an “unacceptable injustice.” “The convictions and heavy sentences against four former KLA leaders represent an unacceptable injustice. They also represent a serious and harmful punishment,” Kurti said. Kurti also challenged …

News

Gashi: Despite Verdict, KLA Leaders Remain Kosovo’s Liberators

North Macedonia’s Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi said that, despite the convictions, the four former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders “remain Kosovo’s liberators.” “Today’s verdict is a first-instance decision, while the battle for justice continues,” Gashi wrote on social media. Gashi called for calm. He also said that Thaçi, Krasniqi, Veseli …

News

Grenell: Kurti Must Act Quickly to Dissolve the Specialist Chambers

Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy, Richard Grenell, reacted following the guilty verdict issued by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers in The Hague against the KLA leaders. Grenell said that Albin Kurti must act quickly to dissolve this foreign court. “The sentence handed down by The Hague court against Hashim Thaçi, …

News

“We Should Not Celebrate,” Vučić: Ruling on Former KLA Leaders Could Change

During a press conference in Belgrade, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić commented on the decision to sentence the former KLA leaders to a combined 81 years in prison, urging Serbs not to consider the process over and not to celebrate. He continued to insist that the judgment did not include what …

News

Serwer: Americans and Europeans Should Be Ashamed; They Have Criminalized a Liberation Movement They Supported

American professor and Balkan affairs expert Daniel Serwer has reacted following the guilty verdict issued by the Specialist Chambers against four former leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army. In an opinion piece published on his website, “Peacefare.net,” Serwer said that Americans and Europeans should be ashamed for criminalizing a liberation …

News

Amnesty International: Convictions of Thaçi and Others Show Senior Officials Are Not Above the Law

Human rights organization Amnesty International said that the war crimes convictions of former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and three other former senior officials of the Kosovo Liberation Army give hope to victims who have waited for justice “for more than two decades.” Esther Major, Amnesty International’s Deputy Regional Director for …

News

Kosovo’s Hague Verdict: Heavy Sentences, Troubling Questions and a Test for International Justice

The convictions of Hashim Thaçi and three other former KLA leaders have shaken Kosovo. But beyond the sentences, the verdict has intensified scrutiny of how the Specialist Chambers were created, how the trial was conducted and whether an institution established under strong Western pressure can command the legitimacy international justice …

News

Kosovo Slams ‘Unjust’ Conviction of Hashim Thaci; Serbian Minister Applauds

Top politicians in Kosovo said the Hague judgment finding ex-President Thaci and three other Kosovo Liberation Army ex-leaders guilty of war crimes was unjust – but a Serbian minister said it proved the KLA was ‘criminal’. Original post Here

News

US: We Respect Verdict Against Former KLA Leaders

The United States said it respects the verdict issued by the Kosovo Specialist Chambers against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi. Washington also called on all sides to respect the court’s decision. “We respect today’s verdict of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers,” a U.S. State Department spokesperson told …

News

Rama: Larger Administrative Units Could Improve Access to EU Funds

Prime Minister Edi Rama visited Korçë today to attend a public consultation meeting on the new Administrative-Territorial Reform. Rama said larger administrative units could improve access to another category of European Union funds. He also said the reform could bring more investment to local communities. “What we are doing today …

News

Kurti: Verdict Is an Unacceptable Injustice, It Must Not Be Confused with the Will of the People

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the convictions and sentences against Hashim Thaçi, Kadri Veseli, Rexhep Selimi and Jakup Krasniqi an “unacceptable injustice.” “The convictions and heavy sentences against four former KLA leaders represent an unacceptable injustice. They also represent a serious and harmful punishment,” Kurti said. Kurti also challenged …