Analysis: Himara by-election raises concerns over 2025 national vote, relations with Greece

Analysis: Himara by-election raises concerns over 2025 national vote, relations with Greece

TIRANA, Aug. 6, 2024 – Vangjel Tavo, the Socialist Party candidate, won the race for mayor of Himara in by-elections held on Sunday, defeating his rival Petraq Gjikuria of the opposition coalition by about 1,500 votes. The results mark a

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Analysis: Bells toll for Albania’s demographics as census results confirm corrosive effects of massive emigration

Analysis: Bells toll for Albania’s demographics as census results confirm corrosive effects of massive emigration

TIRANA, July 4, 2024 – The much anticipated and much delayed results of the 2023 Census are out in Albania, confirming a massive population decline in 12 years and a worsening of all demographic indicators.  Albania’s population shrank by almost

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Op/Ed: A lesson for a new world politics

Op/Ed: A lesson for a new world politics

The UN has recognized the Srebrenica massacre as genocide by a majority vote. With this decision, the international community gives a warning signal against any form of genocide. And the role of Mrs. Del Ponte for hiding the truth. By

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Interview, Ismail Kadare: All Totalitarian Regimes Are Mad

Interview, Ismail Kadare: All Totalitarian Regimes Are Mad

May 31, 2008 Ismail Kadare wrote for decades under Enver Hoxha’s brutal communist regime in Albania, was suspected of spying and threatened with punishment for subversive writing. Despite all this, at 72 he is serene. Sitting on a cream sofa

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Diplomatic Realities: Lessons for Kosovo from the UN Vote on Srebrenica

Diplomatic Realities: Lessons for Kosovo from the UN Vote on Srebrenica

By Muhamet Brajshori   In a significant move, the United Nations General Assembly has passed a resolution establishing an annual International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide on July 11. This decision carries immense moral weight, serving

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A lost geopolitical case

A lost geopolitical case

by Veton Surroi In the race between convention and geopolitics, Europe chose neither. It has shown that it can simultaneously talk about global challenges in Ukraine, Gaza, US-China relations, artificial intelligence and the like, and not act geopolitically with a

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Serbia between Tito and Enver Hoxha?

Serbia between Tito and Enver Hoxha?

Veton Suroi Tito and Enver Hoxha, in different ways and with some delays (in the case of Albania) committed themselves to Russia not entering their countries, or to their countries not committing to Russia’s interests. This cannot be said as

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Analysis: Albania’s parliament undermines Constitutional Court in Xhaçka ruling

Analysis: Albania’s parliament undermines Constitutional Court in Xhaçka ruling

Albania’s parliament, under the control of the Socialist Party, has overturned a decision made by the Constitutional Court that would see to the expulsion of MP Olta Xhaçka from parliament. Xhaçka is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs as well

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Has the United States’ foreign policy failed in the Western Balkans?

Has the United States’ foreign policy failed in the Western Balkans?

Agim Nesho The establishment of Serbia’s new government and the emergence of ultra-nationalist pro-Russian figures like Vulin deal a heavy blow to Western policy and its strategy to bring Serbia closer to the EU. Despite Ambassador Hill’s assertion that “Serbia

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The Empty Seat in Strasbourg

The Empty Seat in Strasbourg

When the newly elected European Parliament convenes this year on July 16 there will be an empty seat in the plenary hall within the Louise Weiss building in Strasbourg. Fredi Beleri, a dual Albanian and Greek national, who will surely

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