January 2019 — Tirana Echo - South East Europe from Tirana

Albania – Leaked prosecutor investigation by VOA reveals criminal gangs were involved in vote buying in 2017

January 31, 2019 0

Tirana, Albania | 31 Jan 2019 (Tirana Echo) – Leaked documents from an ongoing investigation by Albania’s prosecutors has revealed criminal gangs were involved in vote buying during the 2017 electoral campaign – according to […]

Balkan ‘Bad Boys’ top global corruption index, despite European integration efforts

January 31, 2019 0

Tirana, Albania | 31 Jan 2019 (Tirana Echo) – Western Balkan countries lead the list of Europe’s most corrupt countries despite efforts by the EU to welcome them into the club, scoring better than Russia […]

IMF praises Albania on economic growth but warns against mounting PPP fiscal risks

January 31, 2019 0

Tirana, Albania | 31 Jan 2019 (Tirana Echo) – The International Monetary Fund has praised Albania’s GDP growth and monetary policy performance but warns the small Balkan country against mounting fiscal risks stemming from public-private […]

Weak Checks and Balances Threaten Anti-Corruption Efforts across Eastern Europe & Central Asia – Transparency International Report

January 30, 2019 0

This year’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) paints a bleak picture of anti-corruption efforts in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In a region where only one country scores over 50 out of 100 and all other […]

UAE aim at taking over main sea port of Montenegro

January 30, 2019 0

Podgorica, Montenegro | 30 Jan 2019 (Tirana Echo) – The United Arab Emirates are looking to acquire Montenegro’s largest port of Bar, as representatives of companies run by the ruling Al Nahyan family plan to […]

aleksandar vusis shen bo serbia china crendentials

Vucic: Serbia – China relations are at historic high

January 29, 2019 0

Belgrade, Serbia | 29 Jan 2019 (Tirana Echo) – Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has confirmed Serbia’s relations with China are at a historic high and expressed the hope he would this year have an opportunity […]

The Independent claims Albania has turned into ‘Columbia of Europe’ – but Brussels says the country is on track for EU membership

January 29, 2019 0

Tirana, Albania | 29 Jan 2019 (Tirana Echo) – UK based daily The Independent claims Albania has become the continent’s drug trafficking headquarters turning into the “Columbia of Europe”. The special investigation by the UK’s […]

Albania Recognizes Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s New President

January 25, 2019 0

Tirana, Albania | 25 jan 2019 (Tirana Echo) – Albania becomes the second European country after the UK to rally behind US President Donald Trump in recognizing Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s acting President, joining the […]

Prime Ministers Alexis Tsipras and Zoran Zaev

Greek Parliament ratifies North Macedonia name, ending a 28 year old dispute with its northern neighbor

January 25, 2019 0

Athens, Greece | 25 Jan 2019 (Tirana Echo) – The Greek Parliament has voted today in favor of an historic agreement between Greece and Macedonia, under which the Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) will be renamed […]

Albanian PM transfers Foreign Minister portfolio to Deputy Minister turned down by President

January 24, 2019 0

Tirana, Albania | 24 Jan 2019 (Tirana Echo) – Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has transferred the European & Foreign Affairs portfolio to the Deputy Minister Gent Cakaj who was earlier turned down by the […]

di Rama and Hashim Thaci during a Press Conference

Kosovo’s President Thaçi tells Albania’s PM Rama that Kosovo can speak for itself

Kosovo

October 20, 2016 0

Tirana, Oct 20 (Tirana Echo) – Kosovo’s newly elected President Hashim Thaçi tells Albania’s prime Minister Edi Rama that he can talk about Kosovo but not on its behalf. Thaçi made his comments during an […]

Macedonia Goes Ballistic at US Congressman Who Says Macedonia ‘Is Not a Country’

Macedonia

February 10, 2017 0

It’s not your run-of-the-mill diplomatic snafu. The Macedonian government is furious at Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) for saying Macedonia is not a country, when it is in fact a country. “This is gonna make everybody […]

Serbia’s chief EU negotiator: EU Will Compel Serbia to Revise Trade Deals

Serbia

February 27, 2017 0

As Serbia opens new EU chapters, Serbia’s chief EU negotiator, Tanja Miscevic, warns that Belgrade will eventually have to revise all its current bilateral trade agreements, including with Russia. Serbia is expected to open two […]

Balkans must join the EU eventually, European leaders say

Albania’s PM Rama Says ‘Political Temperature’ Rising in Balkans: Paper

Albania

March 31, 2017 0

ZURICH (Reuters) – The “political temperature” in the Balkans has risen significantly, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama told a Swiss newspaper, citing tensions in Macedonia over the country’s ethnic Albanian minority. Balkan states Albania, Macedonia, […]