Tirana

Islamic community disavows terrorism, extremist organisations

Muslims increasingly perceive ISIL and Boko Haram as criminal rather than religious organisations.

Many Muslims are increasingly critical of the Islamic state -- formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Levant (ISIL) -- Boko Haram and other Islamic extremist groups, experts said.

Rental rates of class A office space in Sofia have reached EUR 13 per sq.m. in Q1 2014, according to the recent data provided by Colliers International.

The increase is 8.3% compared to the previous six months and on an annual basis, Investor.bg informs citing the company report.

Security experts from Belgrade, Pristina and Tirana work to improve co-operation

BELGRADE - The key to stability in the Western Balkans is to promote Serbian-Albanian relations, and stability has been reached in Kosovo-Metohija, it was stated on Friday at a conference dubbed "Safety aspects of normalization of relations between Belgrade, Pristina and Tirana", which saw the presentation of the report on the integration of police in north Kosovo.

“The issue of organized crime is delicate as it affects the image that politicians and the public have of Albania in EU member states," Gledis Gjipali, director of the European Movement in Albania, a Tirana-based think tank, said.

Serbian patriarch visits Albania, nationalist protest

TIRANA -- Leaders of Orthodox Christian churches - including a delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) headed by Patriarch Irinej - were in Albania on Sunday.

They consecrated the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in the country's capital, Tirana.

TIRANA - Leaders of Orthodox churches - including a delegation of the Serbian Orthodox Church headed by Patriarch Irinej - consecrated the Resurrection of Christ Cathedral in Tirana on Sunday.

The consecration service - a major event for all Orthodox churches - was led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Albania's Balkanweb reports.

EU supports improvements to Balkan railroads

2 tons of cannabis seized in Albania

VLORE -- The Albanian police on Thursday confiscated two tons of cannabis and arrested two suspects.

The drugs were seized in the port town of Vlore, and were meant to be sold in Italy.

According to the police, the shipment was hidden inside a vehicle that was to be transported to Italy in a dinghy.

VIENNA - Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Didier Burkhalter expressed satisfaction with his two-day visit to the Western Balkan region and the meetings he had with officials in Belgrade, Pristina and Tirana.