Latest News from Albania
Greece makes it clear: Albania’s EU hopes hinge on Beleri case
On Wednesday Greece filed a written statement with the Council of the European Union stating it will not support Albania's EU accession process as long as the case of the imprisoned ethnic Greek mayor elect of Himare, Fredi Beleri, remains unresolved.
Southeast European FMs sign statement on fight against corruption
SKOPJE, Nov 30 (Tanjug) - The FMs of Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania signed on Thursday in Skopje a joint statement on the fight against corruption.
This is how Kissinger spoke about Kosovo and Metohija ​
During his rich career, he also spoke a lot about the Western Balkans, judging that Kosovo and Metohija are a "national temple" for Serbs.
Kissinger thus questioned American policy in the Balkans, saying that "there is no clear definition of US interests in the Balkans".
"Europeans should deal with events in their own backyard," Kissinger said, the Guardian recalls.
Beleri’s continued detention threatens Albania’s accession process, Greece tells EU
Greece will not further support Albania's EU accession process if the latter does not free ethnic Greek Fredi Beleri, mayor-elect of Himare, it said on Wednesday.
Albania’s EU hopes hinge on Beleri case, Athens says
Greece is adopting a firmer stance concerning the conditions for Albania's entry into the European Union over the case of Fredi Beleri, an ethnic Greek elected as the mayor of Himare in southern Albania during the municipal elections on May 14 though prevented from being sworn in due to an arrest on alleged vote-buying two days earlier.
Beleri oath request ruling next week
The decision on the request by incarcerated ethnic Greek Fredi Beleri to be sworn as mayor of Himare in southern Albania will be made by the neighboring country's Special Court on December 4, "after six months of procrastination," he told Skai Radio in an interview on Tuesday.
Athens under EU pressure over Albania
Intense diplomatic consultations are reportedly taking place to get Greece to agree to send a letter on behalf of the European Council to Tirana so that Albania can begin negotiations on its first batch of EU accession chapters.
No rule of law in Albania, says Beleri
The "rule of law does not function in Albania," the ethnic Greek mayor-elect of the Albanian city of Himare Fredi Beleri has said.
Beleri was detained in May on suspicion of voter fraud. All his appeals to be released in order to be sworn in as mayor have been turned down by the Albanian courts.
Turkish top diplomat in Brussels for talks with allies
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan is visiting Brussels to attend the NATO foreign ministerial meetings and hold talks with allies on regional and international issues, including the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, as well as on the alliance's prospected expansion with Sweden.
Serbian President: Bulgarians are Resentful because We are More Popular in North Macedonia
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told "Pink" television that "Bulgarians" resent Serbia because it is more popular in North Macedonia.
In the interview, Bulgaria was mentioned on a number of topics in the context of relations with its neighbors.
What's coming at us?! Everything is already calculated; We will be hit hard PHOTO
The worst cold of the season will hit those parts of Europe, bringing a powerful winter storm that will hit the Balkan Peninsula the most, with huge amounts of snow from Romania to Ukraine.
This cold wave is forecast to move towards eastern and central Europe by Saturday and Sunday, spreading further south across the Balkan Peninsula on Sunday and early next week.
Protest note presented to Albanian embassy over burning of Serbian flag inTirana
BELGRADE - The Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday it had presented a note of protest to the Albanian embassy in Belgrade, condemning in the strongest terms the unacceptable act of the burning of the Serbian state flag on Tirana's central Skanderbeg square, shown in footage published by internet media portals on November 20.
Vucic: Open Balkan an affirmed peace platform
BELGRADE - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said at the opening of the 2nd Wine Vision by Open Balkan fair in Belgrade that achievements made in just a year were almost incredible and noted that the Open Balkan initiative was an affirmed peace platform.
Euractiv: Greece Blocks Albania's Negotiations with the EU
The road to Albania's EU membership negotiations faces an unexpected halt due to Greece's recent action, reported EurActiv. Greece has wielded its influence within the Council of the EU to obstruct the opening of the initial five chapters necessary for Albania's EU membership negotiations to commence.
USAID signs partnership with Greece to improve energy security in western Balkans
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Greek government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Monday to improve energy security and cooperation in the Western Balkans.