U.S. ambassador, chief prosecutor exchange accusations over justice reform

TIRANA, Feb. 2 – Albania’s prosecutor general is obstructing efforts to implement the country’s justice reform, U.S. Ambassador Donald Lu said Thursday. Addressing a conference in Tirana, Ambassador Lu said Prosecutor General Adriatik Llalla had been against the justice reform

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Police offer cash reward for suspected drug kingpin’s arrest

Police offer cash reward for suspected drug kingpin’s arrest

TIRANA, Feb.1 – Albania’s State Police is offering about $40,000 in a cash reward for anyone who can give reliable information leading to the arrest of Klement Balili, former local government official suspected of running an international drug trafficking organization.

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Prosecutors to reopen case against Tirana’s Appeals Court judge

Prosecutors to reopen case against Tirana’s Appeals Court judge

ELBASAN, Feb. 1 – Prosecutors have decided to reopen the case against Gjin Gjoni, a judge in Tirana’s Appeals Court who in 2015 was accused of hiding his wealth and falsifying documents. His spouse, Elona Caushi, is also under investigation,

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Many communist-era files have disappeared, former archives director says

Many communist-era files have disappeared, former archives director says

TIRANA, Jan. 30 – The main institution assigned to implement the law on opening up communist-era secret police files has pledged to publish the first results by Feb. 10. The body which has the authority to check up on political

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Ruling coalition allies sticking together — for now

Ruling coalition allies sticking together — for now

TIRANA, Feb. 1 – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and his biggest parliamentary ally, Ilir Meta, don’t see eye to eye on the next parliamentary elections. During a meeting of the chairmanship of the Socialist Party, Prime Minister Rama said

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Spoiling for a fight?

Spoiling for a fight?

By Alan Andoni* Warren Anderson’s article last week in support of trump (The beginning of a new, stronger, prouder America) was a litany of insults, threats and generalisations. Whether you support Donald Trump or not you certainly should be concerned

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Reexamining the concepts and philosophy of Robert Schuman for the EU future

Reexamining the concepts and philosophy of Robert Schuman for the EU future

Comments by AIIS Executive Director Albert Rakipi for the DW on the occasion of the publication of Robert Schuman’s book in Albanian.   What puts today at risk the political European project as envisaged by Robert Schuman?   The European

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Ousted minister says accusing gov’t of corruption led to sacking

Ousted minister says accusing gov’t of corruption led to sacking

TIRANA, Jan. 31 – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has sacked Justice Minister Ylli Manjani, a maverick representative of the junior coalition partner who had made direct accusations of ties between government officials and the widespread cultivation of marijuana as

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New party representing those persecuted under communism formed

New party representing those persecuted under communism formed

TIRANA, Jan. 30 – A new political party – Popular Alliance for Justice — which has pledged to represent those who were politically persecuted under Albania’s brutal communist regime was launched in Albania this week, ahead of early general elections.

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Key rate to remain at historic low until late 2017, cbank says

Key rate to remain at historic low until late 2017, cbank says

TIRANA, Feb. 2 – Albania’s central bank says it will continue keeping the key rate at its historic low of 1.25 percent at least until late 2017, governor Gent Sejko has said. Speaking on Wednesday after the central bank decided

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