Frozen Courtesies: Albania–Greece Relations Between Rhetoric and Reality

Strategic ambitions, unresolved disputes, and a relationship caught between political narratives and diplomatic inertia. Tirana Times, May 02,

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Albania’s EU bid faces IBAR delay

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Tirana Times, April 11, 2026 – Albania’s path toward European Union membership has entered a more uncertain phase

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Iran could target Albania?

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U.S. Embassy warns of possible Iran-linked attacks against MEK and public locations. Tirana Times, April 01, 2026 – The U.S.

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Albania Opposition Protest Deepens Political Crisis

Headline

Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha targeted during demonstration. Tirana Times, March 22, 2026 — Albania’s latest national opposition protest in

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Europe’s Next Enlargement: Why Berlin, Paris and The Hague Could Decide the Fate of the Western Balkans

Headline

TIRANA TIMES, March 19, 2026 – The European Union’s enlargement debate has entered a new and unusually sensitive phase. What

1 month ago

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Parliament Blocks Balluku Arrest and Puts Justice on Trial

Headline

TIRANA, March 12, 2026 – Albania’s Parliament, dominated by Prime Minister Edi Rama’s Socialist Party, has refused to authorize the

2 months ago

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Headline

Frozen Courtesies: Albania–Greece Relations Between Rhetoric and Reality

6 minutes ago

Strategic ambitions, unresolved disputes, and a relationship caught between political narratives and diplomatic inertia. Tirana Times, May 02, 2026 – The latest encounter between

Headline

Albania’s EU bid faces IBAR delay

3 weeks ago

Tirana Times, April 11, 2026 – Albania’s path toward European Union membership has entered a more uncertain phase as discussions over a key assessment

EU Integration as Compass: Albania’s Foreign Policy Vision in a Shifting World

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On Autocracy, Hungary, and the Cost of Crying Wolf

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A US Kosovo Pull-Out? The Wrong Move at a Bad Time

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Dirty Money in the Skyline: Albania’s Tower Boom and the Laundering of Criminal Wealth

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EU Integration as Compass: Albania’s Foreign Policy Vision in a Shifting World

Op-Ed

By Ferit Hoxha Anyone who knows even a little about Albania is aware that the cornerstone of Albanian foreign policy in the post-communist period has been a clear orientation toward the Euro-Atlantic world, as a guarantee of democracy, security, and the country’s development, and as an expression of our aspiration

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On Autocracy, Hungary, and the Cost of Crying Wolf

Op-Ed

by Nikola Kedhi Tirana Times, April 20, 2026 – On the evening of April 12, 2026, Viktor Orbán, Europe’s most scrutinized, most condemned, most exhaustively theorized leader, conceded defeat in a parliamentary election. Péter Magyar’s Tisza party had won over 53 percent of the vote. The man whom the European

2 weeks ago

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A US Kosovo Pull-Out? The Wrong Move at a Bad Time

Op-Ed

Reports say Washington is considering the withdrawal of US forces from the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR), sparking pushback in Washington and across Europe. By David J. Kostelancik Lawmakers from both parties in Congress, NATO allies, and regional governments responded to the report by warning that a premature withdrawal could destabilize the fragile

2 weeks ago

6 mins read

Dirty Money in the Skyline: Albania’s Tower Boom and the Laundering of Criminal Wealth

News

From towers to “new pyramids”: how money from organized crime, international drug trafficking and entrenched corruption is reshaping Tirana while leaving behind empty buildings, distorted prices and a deeper threat to Albania’s future. Tirana Times, April 11, 2026 – The forest of cranes and high rise towers that now dominates

3 weeks ago

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Serbia Faces Mounting Scrutiny as Democratic Backsliding Deepens

Western Balkans

Serbia could lose €1.36 billion from the EU Growth Plan over rule of law and democratic concerns, according to the European Movement in Serbia. Tirana Times, April 11, 2026 – Serbia’s path toward European Union membership is facing renewed uncertainty amid growing concerns over democratic backsliding, rule of law deficiencies,

3 weeks ago

3 mins read

Corruption Has Already Killed the Economy

Op-Ed

By Gjergj Erebara Tirana Times, April 11, 2026 – Prime Minister Edi Rama recently declared that he feels offended by the widespread assumption that his government is systemically corrupt, offering as a counterargument that this “cannot be true” because the country is experiencing economic growth. This is an unconvincing argument.

3 weeks ago

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Latest

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EU Integration as Compass: Albania’s Foreign Policy Vision in a Shifting World

Op-Ed

By Ferit Hoxha Anyone who knows even a little about Albania is aware that the cornerstone of Albanian foreign policy in the post-communist period

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On Autocracy, Hungary, and the Cost of Crying Wolf

Op-Ed

by Nikola Kedhi Tirana Times, April 20, 2026 – On the evening of April 12, 2026, Viktor Orbán, Europe’s most scrutinized, most condemned, most

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The Illusionists of Brussels

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Foreign Interference and Election Observation in Hungary’s 2026 Parliamentary Vote

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The 5Ps of Service Excellence: A Practical Roadmap for Albanian and Western Balkan Service Providers

4 weeks ago

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AIIS Honors Ilir Ikonomi with “Jorgji Qirjako” Translation Prize

1 month ago

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Business and Economy

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Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

Business & Economy·Features

by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet

2 months ago

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Property prices on Albanian coast soar, partially driven by foreign buyers

Turkish consortium bids to build Vlora airport as Albania prepares to launch national carrier

Albania joins SEPA, marking tangible step in economic integration with the EU

Kushner granted ‘strategic investor’ status for Sazan development ahead of Trump’s inauguration

Qatar Square to serve as Tirana’s newest hub and vital part of New Boulevard project

Albania’s TikTok ban draws debate

Albania faces international scrutiny over suspected toxic waste trafficking

Albania’s Food Safety Scandal Highlights Rule of Law Deficiencies Amid EU Accession Talks

From exile, Albania’s ex deputy PM alleges massive corruption at top of SP leadership

Trump’s son-in-law plans major investment in Sazan, Albanian gov’t confirms

OP-ED

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Op-Ed

EU Integration as Compass: Albania’s Foreign Policy Vision in a Shifting World

By Ferit Hoxha Anyone who knows even a little about

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Op-Ed

On Autocracy, Hungary, and the Cost of Crying Wolf

by Nikola Kedhi Tirana Times, April 20, 2026 – On

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Op-Ed

A US Kosovo Pull-Out? The Wrong Move at a Bad Time

Reports say Washington is considering the withdrawal of US forces

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Op-Ed

Corruption Has Already Killed the Economy

By Gjergj Erebara Tirana Times, April 11, 2026 – Prime

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Op-Ed

The Illusionists of Brussels

by Genc Pollo, President of Paneuropa-Albania On March 30, at

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Op-Ed

Foreign Interference and Election Observation in Hungary’s 2026 Parliamentary Vote

by David J. Kostelancik Tirana Times, April 09, 2026 –

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Marx on the Beach

By Zef Preci Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – Two

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Op-Ed

The Biblical Dog and our chances for full EU membership

by Genc Pollo Let’s start with the dog. “As a

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OP-ED

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EU Integration as Compass: Albania’s Foreign Policy Vision in a Shifting World

Op-Ed

By Ferit Hoxha Anyone who knows even a little about Albania is aware that the cornerstone of Albanian foreign policy in the post-communist period

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On Autocracy, Hungary, and the Cost of Crying Wolf

Op-Ed

by Nikola Kedhi Tirana Times, April 20, 2026 – On the evening of April 12, 2026, Viktor Orbán, Europe’s most scrutinized, most condemned, most

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Albania Must Not Mirror Serbia’s EU Rejection

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The War in Iran and Albania in a Fragmenting International Order

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Shielding Power from Justice

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Is A Storm Gathering Over Justice in Albania?

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Features and Culture

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The 5Ps of Service Excellence: A Practical Roadmap for Albanian and Western Balkan Service Providers

Features

By Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, April 07, 2026 – In my earlier article for Tirana Times, I described Albania as a country that moves from being visited to being remembered. Having since deepened my engagement with the Albanian health tourism and hospitality ecosystem, and having had the privilege of

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AIIS Honors Ilir Ikonomi with “Jorgji Qirjako” Translation Prize

Culture

Tirana Times, March 26 , 2026 – The Albanian Institute for International Studies (AIIS) has awarded its prestigious annual “Jorgji Qirjako” Translation Prize for 2025 to historian and translator Ilir Ikonomi, recognizing his outstanding contribution to bringing major works of international scholarship to the Albanian audience. Ilir Ikonomi received the award

1 month ago

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Building a Trusted Health Tourism Ecosystem: Albania’s Next Competitive Advantage

Business & Economy·Features

by Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, March 17, 2026 – There are countries you visit, and there are countries you remember. Albania is rapidly becoming the latter. I began writing this article before travelling to Albania, drawing on the country’s remarkable tourism growth and the strategic opportunities it presents. Yet

2 months ago

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The Kurum Case and the Collapse of Environmental Oversight in Albania

Business & Economy·Features

Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – The Kurum waste file has exposed one of the most serious environmental and governance scandals in Albania in recent years, revealing not only the illegal export of hazardous waste but also the disappearance of tens of thousands of tons of industrial byproducts inside the

3 months ago

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Ivanka Trump Visit Reignites Property Dispute in Zvërnec

Business & Economy·Features

Plans by relatives of U.S. President Donald Trump to build a luxury resort in the scenic coastal area of Zvërnec have sidelined local residents and their property claims, while intersecting with a long-running court battle involving controversial real estate businessman Artur Shehu. By Vladimir Karaj Tirana Times, 02 February 2026

3 months ago

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Elbasan County Council Honors Saudi Ambassador for Humanitarian Contributions

Culture·International

Tirana Times, January 29, 2026 – This Tuesday, the Elbasan County Council has formally honored the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Albania, Faisal Ghazi Al-Hafthi, in recognition of his humanitarian engagement and his contribution to strengthening bilateral relations at the local level. The ceremony, held in Elbasan,

3 months ago

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Features and Culture

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The 5Ps of Service Excellence: A Practical Roadmap for Albanian and Western Balkan Service Providers

Features

By Professor Alaa Garad Tirana Times, April 07, 2026 – In my earlier article for Tirana Times, I described Albania as a country that moves from being visited to being remembered. Having since deepened my engagement with the Albanian health tourism and hospitality ecosystem, and having had the privilege of

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Why the world calls us ‘Albania’ and the origin of ‘Shqiperi’

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Qatar Square to serve as Tirana’s newest hub and vital part of New Boulevard project

1980s icon Simaku returns to the spotlight after decades of emigration hardship

Privatization of Butrint: How Albania is Selling Off Its Archaeological Heritage

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Roman tales: RUN, BABY, RUN

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Western Balkans

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Serbia Faces Mounting Scrutiny as Democratic Backsliding Deepens

Western Balkans

Serbia could lose €1.36 billion from the EU Growth Plan over rule of law and democratic concerns, according to the European Movement in Serbia.

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Do the Balkans really want EU membership?

Western Balkans

By Daniel Serwer Tirana Times, March 06, 2026 – While all eyes are on the Iran war, subtle but important changes are taking place

2 months ago

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Strategic-Sector Governance Under Strain:The Bankers Petroleum Case and China-Linked Risk Exposure in Albania

Western Balkans

Tirana Times, February 25 2026 – Domestic governance gaps are the primary entry points through which foreign actors can generate corrosive outcomes in strategic

2 months ago

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Russian Propaganda in North Macedonia

News·Western Balkans

by Agron Vrangalla Tirana Times, 08 February 2026 – Moscow systematically uses information manipulation as an instrument of foreign policy. In North Macedonia, Russian

3 months ago

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NATO Values as Security Infrastructure: Evidence From Student Conversations

Western Balkans

In the Western Balkans, “security” is rarely an abstract concept. It is encountered as a lived condition, shaped by memory, geography and a persistent

4 months ago

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Stability Has a Schedule: What NATO’s Hague Pledge Means for the Western Balkans

Western Balkans

In late August 2022, Montenegro’s government digital infrastructure was hit by what officials called an “unprecedented” cyberattack. The disruption was serious enough that parts

5 months ago

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Kremlin Echoes in Balkan Clickbait: How Fake Baba Vanga Prophecies Spread Across Albanian Media

Western Balkans

TIRANA, Tirana Times, December 16, 2025. Each December, apocalyptic headlines resurface across Albanian media warning of global collapse, Europe’s disappearance or the rise of

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PM Rama’s Misguided Diplomacy on Kosovo

Op-Ed·Western Balkans

The Albanian Prime Minister’s suggestions have largely and consistently proven not to be in Kosovo’s best interest October 29, 2025 By Veton Suroi Last

6 months ago

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Republic of Prosecutors or Republic of Corruption?

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The question posed today is not whether there is corruption in governance, but whether there is any aspect of governance without corruption. by Blendi

2 months ago

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From staunch enemy to strategic partner: Albanian-American relations in transition

Premium

In 1919, Vatra, a pan-Albanian association functioning as something of a shadow Albanian government in the United States, made an unprecedented request to Secretary

11 months ago

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In a depopulating Albania, why is the PM campaigning on a promise to make it easier for young people to leave?

Op-Ed·Premium

If Rama wants to be the prime minister who ushers Albania into the European Union, he must first be the leader who makes Albania

1 year ago

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United Arab Emirates ‘s Expanding Influence in Albania – Financial and Political Concerns

Headline·Op-Ed·Premium

By Tirana Times TIRANA, March 20th (Tirana Times ) The Albanian government has nearly doubled the projected cost of its “Smart City” initiative, now

1 year ago

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News Analysis: A Geopolitical Shift in the Western Balkans?

Op-Ed·Premium·Western Balkans

Trilateral Defense Pact Between Albania, Croatia, and Kosovo Redefines Regional Security Architecture? A new security alignment is taking shape in Southeastern Europe, as three

1 year ago

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Op/Ed: Is Albania slipping into a one-party system?

Features·Op-Ed·Premium

The head of Albania’s opposition, Sali Berisha(1), Albania’s former President and a former two-term Prime Minister, was arrested on Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023. Mr.

2 years ago

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Is Albania’s new dominant-party system here to stay?

Op-Ed·Premium

By ANDI BALLA The ruling Socialist Party scored a sweeping victory in Albania’s May 14, 2023 municipal elections. SP won 54 out of 61

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Why tensions between Serbia and Kosovo are flaring

Op-Ed·Premium

By Veton Surroi The first lesson of the events of these days in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo is that the conflict between

3 years ago

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Republic of Prosecutors or Republic of Corruption?

Premium

The question posed today is not whether there is corruption in governance, but whether there is any aspect of governance without corruption. by Blendi

2 months ago

9 mins read

From staunch enemy to strategic partner: Albanian-American relations in transition

Premium

In 1919, Vatra, a pan-Albanian association functioning as something of a shadow Albanian government in the United States, made an unprecedented request to Secretary

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What do Albania’s upcoming municipal elections mean for foreign investors?

3 years ago

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Concerns raised as Tirana mulls exiting ICSID over Becchetti affair €120-million judgement

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Why Albania’s domestic PR wars are being fought abroad

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Albania’s demographic bill comes due

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Deconstructing myths in Albanian-U.S. relations

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Albanian-Turkish relations: The perils of change

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Books

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Bringing Albania into History: Bernd J. Fischer and World War II

By Ilir Ikonomi One of the most important modern works ever written about Albania’s experience in the Second World War—Bernd Jürgen Fischer’s Albania at War,

5 months ago

5 mins read

Albania in the Second War World : A Forgotten Theater of World War II

By Bernd Fischer It is becoming increasingly difficult to justify yet another book dealing with some aspect of World War II. Of all the

7 months ago

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East–West Encounters in the Novel “Pema e harlisur” by the Saudi Author Umaima al-Khamis

Alban Reli As the translator from Arabic to Albanian of the novel ‘The Leafy Tree’(Albanian: ‘Pema e harlisur’) by the Saudi writer Umaima al-Khamis,

8 months ago

5 mins read

Books

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Bringing Albania into History: Bernd J. Fischer and World War II

By Ilir Ikonomi One of the most important modern works ever written about Albania’s experience in the Second World War—Bernd Jürgen Fischer’s Albania at War,

5 months ago

5 mins read