In blunt speech, Albania urged to deal with graft in the judiciary

In blunt speech, Albania urged to deal with graft in the judiciary

TIRANA, Dec. 15 – Taking a blunt approach trying to convince Albanians of the need for justice system reform to address widespread graft concerns, U.S. Ambassador Lu told a judges’ a conference this week that the corrupt among them should

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Anger over economy, governance yield violent opposition protest ➦

Anger over economy, governance yield violent opposition protest ➦

TIRANA, Dec. 9 – Aiming to capitalize on the public’s growing unease with the Socialist-led government over the state of the economy and mounting accusations of corruption and mismanagement, Albania’s main opposition Democratic Party held Tuesday a large protest rally

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Fuel prices likely to rise after sharp increase in gas station licence fees

Fuel prices likely to rise after sharp increase in gas station licence fees

TIRANA, Dec. 9 – Fuel prices in Albania will likely rise, following an announcement that the Albanian government has decided to increase licence fees on fuel and gas stations by a staggering 50-fold compared to current rates. The rates are

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Exports extend decline as oil, base metal prices remain at record lows

Exports extend decline as oil, base metal prices remain at record lows

TIRANA, Nov. 30 – Albania’s exports extended their decline to 4.3 percent in the first ten months of this year on a sharp drop in international oil and base metal prices which is having negative effects on the country’s economy

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Lending remains at negative growth rates for third month in row

Lending remains at negative growth rates for third month in row

TIRANA, Dec. 2 – Lending to the economy slightly recovered last October but continued remaining at negative growth rates for the third month in a row, according to data published by the country’s central bank. Data shows lending contracted by

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Albania committed to address climate change issues, Nishani tells UN conference

Albania committed to address climate change issues, Nishani tells UN conference

TIRANA, Dec. 2 – Albania will do its modest part to protect the planet from climate change, the negative effects of which are already felt by the country, President Bujar Nishani has told a large UN conference on the topic

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Rama pitches Albania to Chinese investors as a jumping point to Europe

Rama pitches Albania to Chinese investors as a jumping point to Europe

TIRANA, Nov. 29 – Vying to attract Chinese investments, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama made a three-day visit to China pitching the Albanian market as a good transit point for doing business with the rest of Europe. Rama appeared to

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HIV/AIDS cases register sharp increase in past few years

TIRANA, Dec. 2 – The number of HIV/AIDS infected people in Albania has seen a sharp increase in the past three years, according to a report published by the Public Health Institute on Dec. 1, the World Aids Day. Some

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CONFERENCE REPORT: Albania 25 years after the fall of communism: Rebuilding the state and society

How has Albania fared in the past quarter century? The Albanian Institute for International Studies with the support of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation and the U.S. Embassy in Tirana tried to give detailed answers to that question organized last week

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Elez Biberaj: Albania at a democratic crossroad

By Dr. Elez Biberaj* Twenty-five years after the demise of Hoxha’s totalitarian, communist regime, Albanians have reason to be proud of the political and economic progress that their country has made. Albania is a nation transformed. It has held eight

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