Fresh Suspicions over Albania Airport after Turkish Partner Pulls Out
Environmentalists and the European Commission were already alarmed by Albanian plans to build an airport in a coastal region rich in biodiversity. Now one of the partners in the project has pulled out, taking its airport expertise with it. Original post Here
ODIHR starts monitoring mission for Albania’s May 14 administrative elections
TIRANA, March 8, 2023 – International observers of ODIHR, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, have started the mission of monitoring Albania’s local elections of May 14 with a press conference. The mission will be led by Ambassador Audry Glover, who has been in charge of international …
PM pitches large public sector wage increases, leading to concern over costs, political use
TIRANA, April 8 – Albania’s government is preparing to approve large wage increases in the public sector that could lead to the average salary going up 60 percent by 2024, Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced. According to the government, the new system of public sector wages will bring the …
Albanian PM Threatens to Quit International Arbitration Body
Premier Edi Rama reacted angrily to a decision by a World Bank-funded international arbitration body to grant around 110 million euros in compensation to an Italian businessman who claimed he was politically persecuted in Albania. Original post Here
Op/Ed: The Quad: Searching for purpose in yet another new regional constellation
By ALBA CELA Last week, the Foreign Affairs ministers of Albania, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Kosovo launched the “Western Balkans Quad – 100% alignment with EU Common Foreign Security Policy” as a platform to address CFSP in the sensitive geopolitical context brought about by Russian aggression in Ukraine. All countries …
CEC introduces electronic platform on political parties’ funding monitoring
Central Elections Commission (CEC) has introduced Wednesday the Electronic Platform for Financial Reporting, which aims at strengthening the monitoring of the financing of political parties and the transparency of campaign funds. During the working table, the Head of the CEC, Ilirjan Celibashi, said that this platform will contribute to efficient …
Colombian woman busted with drugs in Rinas airport
A Colombian citizen has been arrested this Wednesday at Rinas airport, after a quantity of cannabis was found in her handbag. Law enforcement revealed that the citizen with the initials C.J, 26 years old, who was traveling from Colombia to Albania was discovered during the control at the second line. …
Two arrested and two wanted as drugs group dismantled in Fier
Police of Fier have finalized this Thursday the coded operation “Unique”, where quantities of narcotics heroin, cocaine and cannabis were seized. During this operation, the citizens, Klejdi Çela and Zhanri Hajdari, were arrested, while the citizens, Marsel Korreshi, previously convicted for the same criminal offense, and Selim Koçi were declared …
Assets of Fushe-Kruja brothers seized by SPAK order
Special Prosecution against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) seized this Thursday 5 assets of two brothers from Fushë-Kruja, Bardhok and Kastriot Shota, residents in the village of Derven. These two citizens have been investigated and are being tried by the Belgian authorities, as within a structured criminal group they have …
PM promises dignified salaries for armed forces representatives
Prime Minister Edi Rama has vowed this Thursday morning that representatives of Albania’s Armed Forces will have dignified salaries and a pension in accordance with their ranks, as he invited the youths to join the army. During the military promotion ceremony of the Olympic champions, the head of the government …
Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama joined the Socialist Party’s 35th anniversary celebration in Korça on Wednesday. He highlighted Albania’s latest step toward European Union membership after the recent intergovernmental conference with the EU. Rama said the Socialist Party moved Albania one step higher on its path to …
The Albanian government launched the “Smart City” program to support the development of smarter cities across the country. State Minister for Local Government Ervin Demo presented the initiative on Wednesday. He said the program will connect different systems already used by municipalities. The goal is to improve urban management and …
General secretaries from the parliaments of the Western Balkans, Austria and Slovenia met in Tirana on Wednesday. The forum focused on regional cooperation, parliamentary diplomacy and European Union integration. Deputy Speaker of Parliament Agron Gjekmarkaj and Secretary General Genci Gjonçaj opened the meeting. They stressed the importance of parliamentary cooperation …
Korça is moving closer to becoming a regional center for festivals and cultural events. Prime Minister Edi Rama visited the construction site of the new Festival and Creative Industry Center on Wednesday. The project covers 18 hectares and aims to create a modern space for festivals, concerts and artistic events …
Prime Minister and Socialist Party leader Edi Rama marked the party’s 35th anniversary in Korça on Wednesday. In his speech, Rama reflected on May 26, 1996, and described it as a difficult moment in Albania’s democratic history. He said Socialist Party members faced violence and brutality during the parliamentary elections …
Albania’s State Police Director General Skënder Hita met Dutch Ambassador Reinout Vos in Tirana on Wednesday. During the meeting, Hita received a congratulatory letter from Dutch Police Chief Janny Knol. In her message, Knol praised cooperation between Albanian and Dutch police and wished Hita success in his new role. She …
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha on Wednesday shared the reaction of Albania’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Ferit Hoxha, after Russia called on diplomatic staff and foreign citizens to leave Kyiv ahead of planned attacks. Sybiha said Ukraine highly values Albania’s principled and strong position. “We appreciate Albania’s principled …
President of the European Council António Costa will visit six Western Balkan countries ahead of the EU–Western Balkans Summit. The diplomatic tour starts on 1 June in Sarajevo. Costa will meet members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the country’s Council of Ministers. On 2 June, he will …
Chairman of the Socialist Party parliamentary group Taulant Balla met Bulgarian philanthropist Milen Vrabevski in Tirana on Wednesday. Vrabevski is the founder of the Bulgarian Memory Foundation. The two discussed cultural, educational and youth initiatives in the Western Balkans. They focused on strengthening regional cooperation and building mutual understanding between …
LDK’s candidate for prime minister, Lumir Abdixhiku, together with presidential candidate Vjosa Osmani, held a rally with citizens in Lugu i Baranit, delivering messages of change and political mobilization. Abdixhiku emphasized that the unity of citizens transforms hope into a movement that cannot be stopped. Full post: “From Lugu i …