UK Asylum Approach to Albanians Ignores Lived Experience, and Facts
The rhetoric, and now the laws, applied to irregular Albanian arrivals in the UK is discriminatory; it also ignores their lived experience in Albania and the UK’s own data. Original post Here
Albania’s Belba Winery featured at VinItaly’s Open Balkan stand
TIRANA, March 3, 2023 – When it comes to good wine, it’s all about the basic ingredient. “We’ve focused on growing the right grapes,” says Bardhi Belba, who learned about wine while living in Italy for many years before returning to his native Albania to start his own family winery …
IMO Slates Albania Judges’ Council’s Plans to Reinstate Fired Prosecutor
European Commission-appointed Monitoring Operation says plan by Albania’s High Council of Prosecutors to return to office a fired former prosecutor would undermine the entire vetting process. Original post Here
Albania Urged to Save Iconic 1920s Bridge From Collapse
Europa Nostra and the European Investment Bank Institute on Monday released a report urging Albania to save the iconic but damaged ‘Zogu Bridge’, considered ‘a masterpiece of civil engineering from the early 20th century in the Balkans’. Original post Here
Albania’s economy grew by 4.8% in Q4, beating expectations
TIRANA, April 1, 2023 – Albania, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increased by 4.84 percent compared to the previous year, the Institute of Statistics said in its publishing of data on economic activity during the last quarter of last year. This increase goes beyond the forecasts of the Albanian authorities …
Q&A: Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán on the war in Ukraine, international cooperation and the economy
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán spoke to the Kossuth Radio programme “Good Morning Hungary” on March 31, 2023. Zsolt Törőcsik: Soon all the Western tanks promised to Ukraine will arrive in that war-torn country. Several countries have already offered fighter planes, and the British have sent munitions containing depleted uranium – …
Strengthening democratic institutions a U.S. priority, says nominee for U.S. ambassador to Albania, David J. Kostelancik
TIRANA, April 2, 2023 – Strengthening democratic institutions in Albania is a U.S. priority, says David J. Kostelancik, a career diplomat appointed by President Biden to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to Albania. He made the comments in his remarks in front of the Committee on Foreign Relations in …
Albania voices support for Thaci as trial starts in The Hague
TIRANA, April 3, 2023 – Albania has voiced support for Kosovo’s former president Hashim Thaci and three other ex-leaders of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), whose trial started on Monday in The Hague on alleged war crimes. All of the defendants firmly deny the accusations and formally entered not-guilty pleas …
Rama introduces salary increase to PM’s office employees
Prime Minister Edi Rama, in a meeting with the employees of the Prime Minister’s Office, communicated the salary increase. He stated that such an increase should have been made a long time ago, but the conditions have caused it to be delayed. “It’s been so many years that we work …
DP’s candidate for local elections in Kruja withdraws
Another Democratic Party (DP) candidate for the May 14 elections has withdrawn from the race. It is about the candidate of the municipality of Krujë, Sabah Sheta, who announced his decision through a post on Facebook. With the withdrawal from the race, Sabah Sheta brings to 6 the number of …
TIRANA, August 10 – Interior Minister Besfort Lamallari and State Police Director General Skënder Hita thanked around 300 police officers, firefighters and Armed Forces personnel involved in the Kruja wildfire operation. Lamallari praised their work in evacuating residents and managing the fire, which strong winds intensified. He said special forces, …
TIRANA, August 10 – Prime Minister Edi Rama expressed his gratitude and respect for Air Force pilots, firefighters, army special forces and police officers who protected residents during the wildfires in Kruja. In a social media post, Rama said the teams had overcome a difficult challenge. He said they had …
TIRANA, August 10 – Albania will experience mostly clear and hot weather on Monday, according to the Military Meteorological Service. Clouds will appear occasionally around midday and in the afternoon, mainly over mountainous areas in the south. Southeastern areas may see brief periods of denser clouds. The sky will clear …
TIRANA, August 10 – Albania’s Defence Ministry reported 8 wildfires across the counties of Tirana, Fier, Durrës and Lezha. Six remain active, while authorities have brought 2 under control or placed them under monitoring. A total of 227 personnel are working on the ground. Authorities have also requested 50 additional …
TIRANA, August 10 – Albin Kurti of the Self-Determination Movement (LVV) asked for more time for political talks on August 8. He did not nominate a candidate for parliament speaker. As a result, the constitutive session did not continue. Tensions rose after Time Kadriaj, an MP from the Alliance for …
TIRANA, August 10 – The Albanian Investment Development Agency (AIDA) has launched a national information and promotion campaign for small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). AIDA is working with 10 municipalities and the Albanian Investment Corporation (AIC) on the campaign. The initiative will provide businesses with information on financing opportunities, exports, …
TIRANA, August 10 – Defence Minister Ermal Nufi visited the Farka Air Base today and met Air Force pilots involved in wildfire operations. The pilots have carried out aerial missions in several areas affected by fires in recent days. Nufi thanked the pilots for their work and commitment. He also …
TIRANA, August 10 – Gjirokastër continues to attract visitors from around the world with its history, architecture, landscape and cuisine. Tourists from the United States, France, Spain and Italy shared their impressions during visits to Gjirokastër Castle. An American tourist praised the castle’s rich history and age. She said the …
TIRANA, August 10 – Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Goncharenko has called President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement on Kosova’s independence a diplomatic mistake. Goncharenko, who initiated a draft law on recognising Kosova in the Ukrainian parliament, reacted to Zelensky’s remarks in Belgrade. Zelensky said Ukraine had no plans to change its position on …
Experts say the government’s move to ditch a controversial concession contract to build Vlora International Airport, at significant cost to taxpayers, highlights structural weaknesses in Albania’s public-private partnership framework. Original post Here