Albania

Legislators from Kosovo’s assembly gathered for a special meeting on Wednesday to mark the one-year anniversary of the country’s first constitution as an independent state. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia on February 17 of last year and agreed its first constitution on April 9. The constitution emphasises minority rights and …

Gambia recognized Kosovo last night, becoming the 57 state to do so. Located in Western Africa, the ex British colony’s population is 90 per cent Muslim. According to Kosovo’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Gambia’s recognition follows the latest meeting of Kosovo’s head of diplomacy, Skender Hyseni, with Gambia’s ambassador to …

The International Monetary Fund has slashed its economic growth forecast for Albania. The IMF has revised its prediction of 2 to 3 per cent growth for Albania’s economy to between 0 and 1 per cent for the 2009 fiscal year. The new projection was announced on Tuesday by Gerwin Bell, …

TIRANA, Albania – A four-year-old Albanian boy is among the victims of the earthquake that rocked central Italy early on Monday (April 6th), according to the Albanian Embassy in Rome. Four Macedonian nationals of Albanian ethnicity are also among the victims.

Kosovo’s prime minister has suspended seven officials the day after the publication of a damning report on corruption. A report by Kosovo’s anti-corruption agency revealed on Monday that 113 officials are suspected of corruption. According to the investigation for 2008, employees of the government and the courts head the list …

Kosovo’s Vetevendosje (Self-determination) movement is accusing Kosovo’s government of financially supporting Serbia’s illegal institutions in the newly independent country. Vetevendosje, led by Albin Kurti, a former student leader and war prisoner of the Milosevic regime, claims that the government has no intention to fight the mechanisms of the state of …

In a ceremony held in Brussels on Tuesday the flags of Albania and Croatia were raised at the NATO headquarters. Present at the ceremony headed by NATO General Secretary Japp de Hoop Schefer, were Albania’s Prime Minister Sali Berisha, his Croatian counterpart Ivo Sanader and the foreign ministers of the …

The UN mission in Kosovo is no longer needed, a delegation from the European Parliament said on Monday. Doris Pack, head of the European Parliament’s delegation for the West Balkans, made the comments after a meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. The European mission in Kosovo, EULEX, declared itself …

Kosovo’s exports have almost halved in February 2009 compared to the same period last year. Figures from Kosovo’s statistical institution reveal a drop of 45 per cent in exports and a worsening trade balance. The country’s exports during February 2009 were worth €7.7 million, down from €14.1 million 12 months …

PRISTINA, Kosovo – Italy will neither withdraw its troops from KFOR nor reduce its staff in the mission, local media quoted Italian government officials as saying on Monday (April 6th). Italy will not make any move in that direction without a decision by NATO, Italian Deputy Defence Minister Giuseppe Cossiga …