Albania

PRISTINA, Kosovo Many problems remain unaddressed in Kosovo 18 months after the country declared its independence, according to analysis by the German foundation Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. Local media reports Tuesday (July 28th) quoted the assessment, which described Kosovo as an “unfinished” state with limited sovereignty and a de facto split …

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha’s alliance has won enough seats to form a government, though it fell one seat short of a majority, officials say.The result means Mr Berisha’s centre-right alliance will be forced to govern with a small left-wing party. Election officials announced final results from the 28 June …

STRASBOURG The Partial Agreement of the Council of Europe Eurimages is pleased to welcome a new member state, Albania, as of 1st September 2009, the Council of Europe says in a press release. As a result, co-production projects involving a co-producer from Albania can be submitted to Eurimages for examination …

TIRANA, Albania The Central Election Commission (CEC) is ready to deliver the final results of the June 28th general elections, having reviewed all complaints from political parties through the Election Council, local media reported on Sunday (July 26th). But various parties still have another week to file complaints related to …

Macedonia will follow directions given by the European Commission, EC, in deciding whether to establish a visa regime for citizens of Kosovo and Albania. According to Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry, this issue has yet to be discussed. Until now, citizens of Albania and Kosovo have travelled freely into Macedonia. “It is …

TIRANA, Albania A heat wave across the Balkans took its first victim Saturday (July 25th), an elderly man found near the Durres-Tirana highway. In neighbouring Greece, temperatures skyrocketed to 42 degrees Celsius in district of Attica on Saturday. Elsewhere, a fire raged in the eastern part of Crete, forcing the …

TIRANA, Albania Authorities have decided to remove concrete bunkers that were built during the Cold War to defend the country from an attack that never happened, Sotir Zarka, mayor of the coastal municipality of Seman, said on Friday (July 24th). The bunkers have caused five deaths, including two children, and …

Albania’s Council of Ministers decided on Wednesday to freeze all investments, from August 3, due to weakening revenue streams and higher expenditures in the run-up to the recent national elections. With the June 28 parliamentary polls behind them, experts say Albania’s politicians must initiate a candid debate on the local …

Facing a tight EU reform schedule, Macedonia’s prime minister will seek consensus on speeding the neccessary changes in a meeting with political party leaders on Friday. Hoping to promote the rapid passage of related legislation, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has summoned the head of the opposition, Social Democrat’s leader Branko …

ROME, Italy The European Commission (EC) will approve Albania’s request for EU candidate status this summer, Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini was quoted as saying by Albanian media on Wednesday (July 22nd). Tirana applied for candidate status in late April. “Albania’s early request cannot stay locked in a drawer … …