A group of former Albanian political prisoners says they are ending their month-long hunger strike because of exhaustion and political pressure. The activists have been protesting delays in government compensation for time they spent in jail under the country’s communist government. Twenty people began the strike last month, but only six strikers were left on […]
Albanian Former Dissidents End Hunger Strike
Posted October 22nd, 2012 at 1:55 pm (UTC-5)
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Second Albanian Ex-Prisoner Sets Himself on Fire
Posted October 10th, 2012 at 1:35 pm (UTC-5)
Albanian authorities say another former political prisoner has set himself on fire to protest delays in government compensation for victims of the country’s communist government. Officials said Wednesday 47-year-old Lirak Bejko was admitted to a hospital after suffering burns to his body. Another man was hospitalized with burns on Monday. The two are among a […]
US Urges Albania to Heed EU Recommendations for Improvement
Posted June 29th, 2012 at 8:00 pm (UTC-5)
A senior U.S. official has urged Albania to heed European Union recommendations on the improvements needed to be in place in the Balkan country before it can start negotiations for a membership in the regional bloc. Philip Reeker, deputy assistant secretary of state for Europe and Eurasia, has told the VOA Albanian Service that the […]
Albania Elects New President
Posted June 11th, 2012 at 2:00 pm (UTC-5)
The Albanian parliament has elected a new president on a fourth try. Former interior minister Bujar Nishani received 73 votes from the 140-seat parliament. The main opposition Socialists boycotted the vote Monday. The three previous attempts failed because parties could not agree on a consensus candidate. Mr. Nishani replaces President Bamir Topi, whose five-year term […]
Albania Condemns Call for Blockade of Serbia
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 5:30 pm (UTC-5)
Albania’s foreign ministry has condemned calls by Kosovo hardliners for Albania to block its border with Serbia. In a statement Thursday, Albania’s foreign ministry said the proposed blockade is “extreme” and would hurt efforts to build a democratic and multi-ethnic state in Kosovo. Kosovar Prime Minister Hashim Thaci criticized the plan to blockade two border […]
Albania Condemns Call for Blockade of Serbia
Posted January 12th, 2012 at 4:20 pm (UTC-5)
Albania’s foreign ministry has condemned calls by Kosovo hardliners for Albania to block its border with Serbia. In a statement Thursday, Albania’s foreign ministry said the proposed blockade is “extreme” and would hurt efforts to build a democratic and multi-ethnic state in Kosovo. Leaders of the Kosovo Self-Determination Party have been urging Albania to block […]
Aspiring Albanian King Dies at 72
Posted November 30th, 2011 at 12:25 pm (UTC-5)
The son of former Albanian King Ahmet Zog, Leka Zogu, has died of a heart attack. He was 72 years old. The aspiring king, who twice failed in attempts to restore the monarchy after communism fell in the early 1990’s, died Wednesday in a Tirana hospital. He spent most of his life in exile in […]
Turkish Merchant Ship Collides With Albanian Ferry, 8 Missing
Posted October 20th, 2011 at 12:35 pm (UTC-5)
A Turkish merchant ship has collided with a ferry off the coast of Albania, leaving eight sailors from the Turkish ship missing. The Maltese-flagged Turkish vessel, the Reina 1, sank immediately after the collision Thursday in the Adriatic Sea, about 30 kilometers off the Albanian port of Durres. Two rescued crew members said the merchant […]
