All the fun of the Tirana book fair

the economist
Books in Albania
Nov 15th 2011, 11:15 by T.J.

TIRANA
IN RECENT years the news from Albania has been dominated by the endless political struggle between Sali Berisha, the prime minister, and Edi Rama, the leader of the opposition. But suddenly, the clouds seem to have lifted. Mr Rama’s Socialists are back in parliament, talking to Mr Berisha’s people, and a resolution has been found to a disputed mayoral election in Tirana. Relieved Albanians are now talking about something else: books....more...
read more: the economist
http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2011/11/books-albania

Ramiz Alia

guardian
Albania's last communist ruler and the architect of his country's perestroika

Miranda Vickers

guardian.co.uk, Friday 7 October 2011 16.49 BST

Ramiz Alia, who has died aged 85, was Albania's last communist ruler and the architect of his country's perestroika. He became leader of the tiny, impoverished Balkan state – with a population of 3 million people – following the death in 1985 of the dictator Enver Hoxha, who had been in office since the end of the second world war....more...
read more: guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/07/ramiz-alia

Palestine and Israel Court Albania’s UN Vote

balkan insight
21 SEP 2011 / 09:52

Ahead of a tight vote in the UN on whether to recognize a Palestinian state, both sides are bidding for Albania's favour.

Besar Likmeta Tirana

The deputy head of the Palestinian embassy in Tirana, Hani Hussein, told Balkan Insight that after contact with Albanian authorities, they remain confident that Tirana will support the Palestinian proposal. ...more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/palestinians-and-israelis-vie-for-albania-s-un-vote

The protracted death of democratic Albania

waz eu observer.com
08.09.11 @ 09:22

BY DIMITAR BECHEV

Last year, Albania was hailed as "one of this year's most intriguing prospects" by the Financial Times. Two decades after the collapse of one of the most repressive and introverted regimes in the Communist bloc, and following millions of euros spent in assistance by the European Union, the country seemed to be in rude health, having been accepted into Nato in 2008 and with EU membership apparently moving into view....more...
read more: waz eu observer.com
http://euobserver.com/7/113555

Thaci and Berisha Dine in The Big Apple

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 14:27

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci attended a working dinner in New York together last night ahead of the 66th general assembly meeting of the United Nations.

Maryrose Fison London...more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/thaci-and-berisha-dine-in-the-big-apple

Israeli Architect Warns Albania against Damaging Heritage

balkan insight
20 SEP 2011 / 12:45

An ongoing road development project in southern Albania could threaten archaeological heritage sites, a member of the International Council of Monuments and Sites, ICMS, has warned.

Besar Likmeta Tirana

Giora Solar, an Israeli perseveration architect who led a joint fact-finding mission with UNESCO last year aimed at identifying the impact a road expansion would have on Albania’s Butrint Archeological Park, said ongoing road developments along the coast could have a detrimental affect on heritage sites....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-road-project-poses-threat-to-world-heritage-site

Attacks on Albanian Courts 'Putting Judges at Risk'

balkan insight
19 SEP 2011 / 08:37

The murder last week of a district court judge prompts claims that repeated political attacks on the courts are making judges more vulnerable to criminal acts
Besar Likmeta Tirana

While politicians have united to condemn last week's killing, routine vilification of the justice system is being blamed for creating a climate of insecurity in the judiciary. ...more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/political-attacks-on-courts-set-albania-judges-at-risk

Albania opposition ends boycott of parliament

xinhua
English.news.cn 2011-09-06 02:52:17 FeedbackPrintRSS

TIRANA, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- Albania's main opposition party decided on Monday to come in from the political cold by announcing it is ending its months-long boycott of the parliament.
Edi Rama, leader of the Socialist Party, told the party's lawmakers that to end the boycott is to unblock the way for the tiny western Balkan country to join the European Union (EU)....more...
read more: xinhua
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-09/06/c_131100904.htm

Asylum should include witness protection

guardian

Edmond Demiraj's testimony against an Albanian criminal put his family at risk of reprisal, yet the US still plans to deport them

Sarah Wildman

guardian.co.uk, Saturday 20 August 2011 17.00 BST

In Houston, Texas, a family is deeply worried that a mother and her son will be deported. They are even more worried about what will happen if they are sent back to Albania.

The American asylum system is dysfunctional. Should 33-year-old Rudina Demiraj and her teenage son Rediol be forced to return to Albania, they will likely be kidnapped, trafficked into prostitution, and maybe even killed. And the US authorities know it....more...
read more: guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/aug/20/demiraj-asylum-deportation

Witness Feels Betrayed as U.S. Plans to Divide Family

ny times
SIDEBAR
By ADAM LIPTAK

Published: August 8, 2011

WASHINGTON — About a decade ago, a federal prosecutor in Texas asked Edmond Demiraj to testify against an Albanian mobster charged with human smuggling.

Mr. Demiraj had information: He had worked with the mobster, Bill Bedini, in a construction business and had sent money abroad for him. The prosecutor had leverage: Mr. Demiraj, an Albanian citizen, was in the United States illegally.

The two sides made a deal, Mr. Demiraj said. In exchange for his testimony, he and his family would be kept safe....more...

read more: ny times

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/09/us/09bar.html?_r=1&ref=albania

Berlin seeks to bridge partisan divide in Albania

deutsche welle

 EASTERN EUROPE

04.08.2011
The EU has called on Albania to put aside partisan differences and work for the common good, but to no avail. Now Berlin wants to take a shot at resolving the political gridlock in this economically troubled nation.

Germany's Development Minister Dirk Niebel is set to arrive in Albania on Thursday in a bid to break the deep political stalemate that has prevented this small southeastern European nation from jumpstarting its stagnant economy.....more...
read more: deutsche welle
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15294864,00.html

OSCE, EU call for end to political stalemate in Albania

se times
21/07/2011

The international organisations are urging the country to reform its electoral system.
(Xinhua, Trend, Albpress - 20/07/11; EurActiv, European Commission website - 19/07/11)
The OSCE on Wednesday (July 20th) joined the EU in calling for the Albanian government and the opposition to return to the dialogue table and make efforts to move ahead with necessary reforms....more....
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/07/21/feature-03

Albanians gamble on "medicine" against cancer

se times

21/07/2011

It's been billed as a cancer fighter, but banned in several countries. Doctors are concerned about "Vidatox".
By Erl Murati for Southeast European Times in Tirana – 21/07/11
As soon as she gets her monthly pension, Jolanda Kena hurries to the drugstore. She is 61 years old and doctors diagnosed her with uterine cancer four months ago. She has decided to cure herself with what she calls "a miraculous medicine", Vidatox....more...
read more: se times
http://www.setimes.com/cocoon/setimes/xhtml/en_GB/features/setimes/features/2011/07/21/feature-05

Seeking the truth in Albania

balkan insight
20 Jul 2011 / 16:50
Elira Çanga in Tirana
Without a full investigation, it is impossible to establish whether there is real substance to allegations that human organs were trafficked in Albanian territory after the war in Kosovo.
It is tough-going as I enter the final stages of my fellowship research topic. Especially if you, as I do, live in the middle of “burning” Tirana, with average temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius that are rising day by day.....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/blog/seeking-the-truth-in-albania

New Ministers Nominated in Albania

balkan insight
20 JUL 2011 / 14:04

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha nominated two new ministers on Tuesday.

Besar Limeta Tirana

Eduard Halimi was named the new minister of justice, and Aldo Bumçi the new minister of culture and tourism.

Both posts had been vacant since their predecessors ran for mayoral slots in the May 8 local elections....more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-pm-nominates-two-new-ministers

EU Gives Albania Election Thumbs Down

balkan insight

20 JUL 2011 / 10:26

Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule on Tuesday in Brussels pronounced Albania’s May 8 local elections for Tirana "not good".

Besar Likmeta Tirana

“The elections in Tirana were not good, as they demonstrated beyond doubt that the electoral framework needs to be reformed,” Fule told a joint press conference with the Albanian foreign and EU integration ministers, after a meeting of the Stabilization and Association council between Albania and the EU. ...more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-disputed-poll-receives-failing-grade-from-the-eu

Heritage Group Says Albanian Patrimony Needs Protection

balkan insight
19 JUL 2011 / 11:58

The South East European Heritage Network has asked the Albanian government to intensify its efforts to combat illegal trafficking in artworks and antiques.

Besar Likmeta Tirana

“We call on decision-markers and political structures, organizations and responsible institutions to use all the necessary legal means to combat these phenomena,” the network said in a statement....more...

read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/heritage-groups-call-in-albania-to-combat-artworks-trafficking

Albania Backs Libya’s Rebel Government

balkan insight
18 JUL 2011 / 16:56

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Monday that Albania formally recognizes Libya’s main opposition group as the country’s legitimate government.

Besar Likmeta Tirana

“Conscious of the aspirations of the Libyan people for democracy and development, the Albanian government backs the activities of the National Transitional Council and its program for a democratic Libya, and considers the council to be the legitimate representative of the Libyan people,” the ministry said in a statement. ...more...
read more: balkan insight
http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/albania-recognizes-libya-s-rebel-government

Albania to raze Hoxha's pyramid for new parliament

reuters
Thu Jul 14, 2011 5:01pm BST

* Built after Hoxha died in 1983
* Some express concern about wisdom of demolition

By Benet Koleka

TIRANA, July 14 (Reuters) - Albania will tear down a pyramid-shaped landmark built as a museum for the late Stalinist dictator Enver Hoxha, opening the way for a new parliament building, according to a new law passed on Thursday....moer....
read more: reuters
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/albania-pyramid-idUKLDE76D0XX20110714

Albania to pull down Hoxha's memorial for new parliament building

xinhua news
English.news.cn 2011-07-15 02:48:17
TIRANA, July 14 (Xinhua) -- Albanian lawmakers voted on Thursday to pull down an old building that served as the country's late leader Enver Hoxha's memorial to build a new parliamentary building in its place.
In the country's 140-seat parliament, 72 lawmakers out of 74 present gave the go-head for the new building. The opposition party, which is still boycotting the parliament after a disputed local election, did not take part in the vote....more....
read more: xinhua news
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-07/15/c_13985893.htm