Association of Serb-majority Municipalities by the end of year
Kosovo chief negotiator in technical dialogue with Serbia, Avni Arifi, says the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities will be established by the end of this year at latest, if the entire process will be in compliance with the Constitution and applicable laws of Kosovo. Original post Here
EU urges Kosovo to review the Kosovo Liberation Army veterans’ issue
Economic growth was noted as a positive achievement for Kosovo supported by strong export growth and investment, while major structural obstacles to growth and competitiveness were underlined as a challenge, by representatives of the EU Member States, the Western Balkans and Turkey, the European Commission and the European Central Bank, …
Kosovo Police arrests Serbian man wanted by Interpol
The Kosovo Police have arrested on Friday a Kosovo Serb who was in the wanted list of Interpol. Original post Here
EU wants Kosovo-Serbia dialogue to start in June, says Blerim Shala
Blerim Shala, political advisor to Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, said that western powers have agreed on principles of the final phase of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Original post Here
Thaci met Head of EULEX to discuss mission’s mandate
President Hashim Thaci met today head of EULEX, Alexandra Papadopoulou, when they discussed conclusion of the current mandate of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo. Original post Here
Kosovo is wasting time with Association of Serb Municipalities, says chief negotiator
Kosovo chief negotiator in technical talks with Serbia, Avni Arifi, says that establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities should not be among top priorities of Kosovo saying that Kosovo is “wasting time” with the Association. Original post Here
Germany against giving Thaci a leading role in dialogue with Serbia
Germany is opposing Hashim Thaci’s plans to take a leading role in dialogue with Serbia. This was reflected also during a meeting that Thaci had with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on 9 May. Reportedly Merkel was not happy with the way Kosovo authorities have arrested and deported Head …
Kosovo court convicts two people of human trafficking, organised crime
The Basic Court in Pristina has on Thursday convicted urologist Lutfi Dervishi, owner of the Medicus clinic, and anaesthetist Sokol Hajdini, after they were found guilty of carrying out illegal transplant of kidneys. Original post Here
Kosovo hopes to renew bid to join Interpol this year
Veton Elshani, from the Kosovo Ministry of Interior who heads a working group on applying for Interpol membership said on Wednesday that he believes that by November Kosovo will reach an agreement with Europol and join Interpol. Original post Here
Kosovo PM Haradinaj has private audience with Pope Francis, asks Vatican to recognise Kosovo
Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj was at a private audience with His Holiness Pope Francis at the Vatican in Rome on Wednesday. Haradinaj’s cabinet announced that the Prime Minister asked Vatican to recognise Kosovo’s independence. 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 …