Document of Ambassadorial Nominee: Eric Wendt on Business Influence and Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
An ethics agreement signed on March 17, 2026, by the nominee for United States Ambassador to Albania, Eric Wendt, outlines the measures he will take to avoid conflicts of interest while carrying out his duties. The document specifies that Wendt will not participate in decision-making processes directly related to his …
President Haxhiu Signs Decree to Open Kosovo Consulate in Texas
The President of Kosovo, Albulena Haxhiu, signed on Monday a decree for the opening of the Consular Mission of the Republic of Kosovo in Texas. According to a statement from the Presidency, Haxhiu emphasized that this is an important step. She noted that with this mission, Kosovo becomes closer to …
Monday Briefing from the Balkans: May 4, 2026
Catch up on the weekend’s most important developments with Balkan Insight’s digest of news from countries across the region. Original post Here
PM Rama joins leaders’ meetings in Yerevan, appears in family photo and holds talks on security and economic connectivity summit
TIRANA, May 4 – Prime Minister Edi Rama is attending the 8th European Political Community Summit in Yerevan, Armenia. He shared a family photo with the participating leaders. Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan welcomed Rama and the Albanian delegation. This reception marked the start of the summit activities. The …
FM Hoxha meets new Turkish ambassador to Albania
TIRANA, May 4 – Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha met the newly appointed Turkish ambassador to Albania, Barıs Erciyes, in Tirana. He said later on social media that the meeting reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the two countries. He also highlighted excellent relations developed over the years. …
Albanian weightlifter Samoel Rrasa wins silver at World Youth Championships in Egypt
TIRANA, May 4 – Albanian weightlifting continues to achieve strong international results. Young athlete Samoel Rrasa won the silver medal at the World Youth Championships held in Egypt. The Albanian National Olympic Committee (KOKSH) said the 18-year-old competed in the 65 kg category. He secured second place in the snatch …
Tirana Launches First Chocolate and Sweets Festival
Tirana hosts the first Chocolate and Sweets Festival and brings together producers, artisans, and visitors in a celebration of flavor and creativity. The event takes place at “Tirana Moons” and receives support from the Municipality of Tirana, with organizers aiming to turn it into an annual tradition. Tourism director Ketrina …
20-year government bond auction opens today in Albania
TIRANA, May 4 – The Ministry of Finance published the calendar of government securities auctions for May. It invited citizens and investors to take part in the process. Finance Minister Petrit Malaj said participation in government securities auctions offers an attractive investment opportunity. He highlighted competitive interest rates and a …
Albania wins gold and silver at 2026 European Fitness and Bodybuilding Championships
TIRANA, May 4 – The Albanian national fitness and bodybuilding team won one gold and one silver medal at the 2026 European Championships. The competition took place in Santa Susana, Spain, from April 29 to May 3. The Albanian National Olympic Committee (KOKSH) confirmed that the team included five athletes. …
Rama Highlights Kelmendi as Top Tourism Destination in Northern Albania
Prime Minister Edi Rama shares images from a meadow in Kelmendi and highlights the area as a major tourism destination in northern Albania. Kelmendi, especially Tamara, stands out as one of the most beautiful regions in the Albanian Alps. The area attracts tourists due to its mountain landscapes and natural …
Taulant Balla supports Albanian students protesting in North Macedonia. He posts on social media. He backs their demand. Students want the bar exam in Albanian. Balla says the request is legitimate. He says the constitution already recognizes this right. Yet, it is not applied in practice. He calls for action. …
Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha met today Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi. They first met in Tirana. Later, they continued talks in Durrës. Both sides confirmed strong relations. They also confirmed mutual trust and a strong partnership. Hoxha said both …
Opposition MPs Ina Zhupa and Ivi Kaso meet today with Scott Bates. They discuss with the National Democratic Institute director for Europe. Zhupa leads the discussion. She focuses on transparency. She pushes for inclusion. She demands stronger Parliament oversight. The MPs raise concerns. They highlight challenges facing the opposition. They …
The Embassy of the United States in Albania honors 13 Albanian employees who retire after more than 25 years of service. The embassy holds a ceremony. It invites colleagues and family members. It recognizes long service and dedication. Nancy VanHorn presents U.S. flags to the retirees. She thanks them for …
Speaker of Parliament Niko Peleshi meets today with Scott Bates. They discuss cooperation between the Assembly of Albania and the National Democratic Institute. Peleshi focuses on transparency. He emphasizes accountability. He pushes for modernization of parliamentary processes. Both sides highlight long-term cooperation. They strengthen the Parliamentary Institute as a success …
Prime Minister Edi Rama is on an official visit to the Republic of South Korea (May 17–21). His wife, Linda Rama, and an official delegation accompany him. The visit aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. It also seeks to expand partnership in development, technology, and innovation. Rama arrives …
President Bajram Begaj met today with Qatar’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi. They discussed relations between Albania and Qatar. Begaj praised strong ties between the two countries. He highlighted good cooperation and called for stronger political and economic relations. He also supported increased Qatari …
The European Union supports Albania and Kosovo in improving plant production and plant health monitoring through the “EU4Trade” project. As part of the initiative, inspectors from the General Directorate of Plant Protection and regional veterinary and plant protection authorities from both countries met in Prizren over the weekend. They attend …
President Bajram Begaj meets today participants of the High Course on Security and Defence at the Albanian Armed Forces College. Representatives from security institutions and allied countries attend the meeting. These include Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Italy, Hungary, Croatia, Kosovo, Poland, and Jordan. Begaj praises the course. He highlights cooperation among …
Socialist Party MP Pirro Vengu supports Albanian students protesting in North Macedonia. He praises the protest. He calls it peaceful and civic. He describes it as a European example. Vengu says students defend the Albanian language in professional exams. He says they show strong civic energy. He states that the …