Ditmir Bushati

Balkan countries strengthen military co-operation through US-Adriatic Charter

Kosovo will continue to participate in the Charter as an observer.

Representatives from the US-Adriatic Charter countries met in Tirana last month. [Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania]

In Serbia, local people including journalists spontaneously gathered on Wednesday night in front of the French embassy in Belgrade to honour the staff of Charlie Hebdo - the satirical magazine at the centre of the bloodbath in Paris.

About 40 people lighted candles paying respect to the 12 victims of the attack who included eight journalists and two policemen.

BELGRADE - Albania's Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati said on Thursday that the programme of Prime Minister Edi Rama's visit to Serbia would be drawn up in coordination with the Serbian authorities, with mutual respect, trust and by taking advantage of the best practices out there.

TIRANA - Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama will pay a visit to Belgrade on October 22, which will be the first visit of the Albanian prime minister to Serbia in 68 years, Albanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ditmir Bushati stated on Friday.

The Albanian minister's visit was announced earlier by Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.

Greece’s hopes of agreeing an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the Ionian Sea with Albania have been dealt another blow after the prosecutor’s office in Tirana launched an investigation into the agreement between the two countries.

Albania's main opposition party has slated plans to drastically cut the number of rural and urban municipalities from 350 to 61, three of which will be ethnic minority municipalities.

If the law is passed on July 31, it will be Albania’s first territorial administrative reform since 1992, following the collapse of the Communist regime.

Ukraine crisis spurs Balkan countries to co-operate

Regional countries sign agreements and plan joint projects to improve security and mutual trust.

Albania Foreign Minister Ditmir Bushati and his Croatia counterpart Vesna Pusic sign a European Partnership agreement in Zagreb on March 21st. [Albania Ministry of Foreign Affairs]

Albania arrests alleged jihad recruiting group

Officials are trying to prevent imams and others from recruiting Muslims to fight in foreign conflicts.

Muslims arrive at a Tirana mosque whose imam, Genci Balla, and six others were arrested on charges of recruiting believers to join the Syria conflict. [AFP]