Albania

Albania’s opposition parties have accused the newly elected president Bujar Nishani of bowing to Prime Minister Sali Berisha with the nomination of the new head of the State Security Agency.In a Twitter post, the opposition leader Edi Rama said that the nomination would have a negative effect on Albania’s political …

Prime Minister Sali Berisha asked his cabinet on Wednesday to send medical staff to Turkey and Jordan in order to help refugees fleeing the Syrian civil war.“We should help these refugees and send our doctors, nurses, surgeons or even a field hospital as an offer of our solidarity,” Berisha said.

Tirana’s District Court issued a not guilty verdict on Thursday to Armando Kasaj, former head of IT in the Prime Minister’s office, who was accused of wiping the server containing footage of the January 21, 2011 riots.Based on scientific evidence produced in cooperation with US Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, …

Although all parties agree on the need to change the constitution to lift the immunity of high state officials, they remain divided on when the vote should taker place.Albania’s Council of Legislation, a parliamentary body tasked with drafting amending the constitution, on Tuesday approved a draft reform agreed by both …

Tirana. Albania’s new President Bujar Nishani, who is due to be sworn in later on Tuesday, wants to tackle stalled legal reforms and the ongoing political crisis which threatens the country’s EU integration, AFP reported. “The justice system will be my priority. I have decided to fully engage in favour …

Italy’s Customs Agency said on Thursday that it had stopped 21 tons of non-hazardous waste from being illegally shipped to Albania.“In the course of controls against illegal trafficking, the customs office in Bari has sequestered 21 tons of special non-hazardous waste,” the Italian customs agency said. “The shipment collected in …

New Central Bank data show that consumer confidence has fallen to its lowest level in seven years.According to the bank, consumer confidence in the economy slid by 1.3 point in the second quarter of 2012, compared with its last estimate. The index registered the outlook of Albanian consumers towards the …

Albanian parties reached an agreement on Wednesday as the mandate of the parliamentary commission tasked with improving the electoral code was due to expire.The agreement covers a series of divisive issues, including the re-election of the members of the Central Electoral Commission, CEC, the use of technology in the electoral …

The head of the Army’s Secret Service, Colonel Ylli Zyla, resigned on Thursday following media reports linking his wife to arms traders.“I am resigning to protect my integrity, the integrity of my family and the integrity of the army’s secret service as an institution part of NATO member state,” Zyla …

New Minister of Interior Flamur Noka on Thursday admitted that stopping the cultivation of drugs was a challenge – but promised a war without tolerance or compromise.“The cultivation of narcotics in the country remains one of the key challenges facing the state police and the community,” Minister Noka told the …