Albania

MEPs have backed proposals to exempt nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania from visas by the end of 2010, agreeing with the European Commission that these two countries meet the required conditions on document security and combating illegal immigration and crime.

Kosovo government in Priština FM Skender Hyseni claims that ten countries have already set a deadline for recognition of Kosovo. He said that about 60 countries had promised Priština that they would soon consider recognizing Kosovo. 

A contingent of ten Albanian soldiers trained as mine-clearers headed to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) on Monday (October 4th), to help locate and destroy remaining ordnance from the 1990s conflict. “You are part

Albania – The new OSCE head in Tirana, Eugen Wollfarth, has urged the government to start preparing for next spring’s local elections. “It is necessary to start early administrative preparations in line with OSCE recommendations,” Wollfarth said on Wednesday (September 29th) after meeting with Prime Minister Sali Berisha. Wollfarth promised …

Acting Kosovo president Jakup Krasnici says that elections for the assembly in Priština could be held in six months’ time. Fatmir Sejdiu resigned from that position last week. “Until institutions in Kosovo have been formed, negotiations with Serbia should not be entered into,” he said. Krasnici also said he believed …

Bosnia-Hercegovina and Albania edged closer to visa-free travel to the European Union’s Schengen area, a key EU parliamentarian said Tuesday, as her report in favour of the concession was overwhelmingly approved at committee level.

France made serious remarks regarding EC report, which read that Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) have made considerable progress regarding the EU visa liberalization process. Paris raised the question about the efficiency of BiH and Albania in the fight against corruption

Dutch Ambassador to Tirana Henk Van Del Dool urged political leaders Sunday (September 26th) not to block Albania’s European agenda. The longstanding conflict between the government and the opposition is

Albanian President Bamir Topi used the UN General Assembly session to call upon countries which did not recognize Kosovo to do so. At the same time he advocated a dialogue between Belgrade and Priština as, as he said, “two independent countries”.

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha addressed the UN Millennium Development Goals Summit in New York on Wednesday (September 22nd), outlining achievements and Albania’s goals: to turn it into one of the safest places in the world. Berisha recalled his visit to New York in 1992 when Albania, emerging from a …