Redrawing borders returns tragedies, says Kosovo’s PM Haradinaj
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj says he hopes a peace treaty will end disputes between Kosovo and Serbia, noting that discussion of borders returns the region into the past and tragedies. He made the comments addressing EU-Kosovo Parliament’s Committee on Stabilisation-Association Agreement (SAA). Original post Here
Albania introduces Durres-Kukes road toll fees
Albanian authorities have introduced today the toll fees on the National Road between Durres and Kukes, which also links Albania to Kosovo. Original post Here
Region to benefit from Kosovo Army, says deputy minister
Kosovo Government approved last week a decision to transform the Kosovo Security Force (KSF), a lightly armed civilian force, into Army of Kosovo. The Government is expected to amend current law on KSF in order to give additional competencies to this force. The move is seen with scepticism by internationals …
Kosovo’s PM thanks MEPs on their vote on visas
Kosovo Prime Minister, Ramush Haradinaj, met on Monday a delegation of the European Parliament, headed by Tonino Picula. During the meeting they discussed recommendations deriving from the Stabilisation-Association Agreement (SAA), namely fulfilling of obligations from thew first phase of the European Reform Agenda (ERA) and preperations for implementation of the …
Avni Arifi to be appointed new Kosovo Ambassador to United Arab Emirates
Avni Arifi, chief of cabinet to Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj and head of Kosovo’s delegation in technical dialogue with Serbia, is expected to be appointed as new Kosovo Ambassador to United Arab Emirates. Original post Here
Council's decision on visas in December, says Kosovo EU Minister
Kosovo Minister of the European Integration, Dhurata Hoxha, told media on Friday that the final decision of the European Council on lifting visas for Kosovo will not be taken before December. She warned authorities to be cautious in managing expectations noting that there are still procedures within the EU institutions …
KSF Commander: Kosovo Army within months
Kosovo Security Force (KSF) General Commander, Rrahman Rama, commenting the Government’s initiative on transformation of this force into army, said that he believes the creation of Kosovo Army will happen within months. Original post Here
US Ambassador welcomes filing of pension fraud indictment
The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Greg Delawie, commenting on filing of the indictment against former members of the Government’s commission on verification of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) veterans’ status, said he is “proud of Kosovo for taking this important step to fight corruption.” Original post Here
Ex-KLA commanders indicted of faking war veterans' lists
Special Prosecution of Kosovo has filed on Friday an indictment against 11 former members of the Government’s commission on verification of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) veterans’ status. The indictment which was filed in August by ex-prosecutor Elez Blakaj, who resigned citing threats and intimidation for investigating alleged wrongdoings during …
European Parliament approves visa liberalisation talks with Kosovo
The European Parliament approved on Thursday, with 420 votes against 186, the opening of talks on visa liberalisation for citizens of Kosovo. The vote came after the European Commission in July confirmed that the country had fulfilled all the criteria. Kosovars are the only Balkan citizens to still need a …
By Zef Preçi What kind of political system are we living in today? Even though we have a weak state, authoritarian tendencies in governance have become more pronounced, and in a synthesized way this is reflected in the increasing number of MPs of the ruling party from one mandate to …
As the year draws towards its end, our Balkan Insight Premium stories show that there is no shortage of political surprises, unexpected twists and new standoffs across the region. Original post Here
Albanian-American writer Fron Nahzi’s new book explains how the Albanian diaspora used its newfound freedom in the United States to campaign for a range of nationalist causes. Original post Here
The earthquake that hit Albania in November 2019 left many families homeless. But a rural housing estate built to accommodate some of them remains almost empty due to problems with infrastructure and insecure terrain. Original post Here
O tempora, o mores. After Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku faced criminal charges, and after the court suspended her from office and banned her from leaving the country, what one would normally expect is either her immediate resignation or her immediate dismissal by Prime …
The clash between Edi Rama and Shabana Mahmood over the fate of 700 Albanian families in the UK exposes a deeper truth about modern diplomacy: visibility is not the same as influence. When the Home Secretary singled out Albanian families while announcing sweeping asylum reforms, she was not improvising. She …
Elez Biberaj Thirty-five years after Albania’s emergence from one of Europe’s most repressive communist regimes, the country’s democratic trajectory remains emblematic of post-authoritarian transformation, reflecting the promise of political renewal while exposing the challenges of durable consolidation. In this context, the May 2025 parliamentary elections stand out as a test …
By Tirana Times Staff TIRANA, Albania , November 22, (Tirana Times). Albania’s main opposition party sharply criticized European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos for describing the country’s May 11 parliamentary elections as “free and fair,” arguing that her assessment contradicts the findings of international election monitors. In a statement delivered …
New leaders, old challenges, the threat of ‘TikTokracy’ and – not least – a look at the Dayton Peace Accords thirty years later, are all themes that preoccupy our selection of Premium stories this week. Original post Here
Edi Rama slated the court decision suspending Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku while she faces a graft probe – and threatened to take the matter to the Constitutional Court. Original post Here