Albania

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Democratic lawmakers throw a flare during a parliament session in Tirana, Albania, Monday, Nov. 20, 2023. Albanian opposition lawmakers disrupted the Parliament's session again on Monday to protest against what they say, is increasingly authoritarian rule by the governing Socialists. (AP Photo/Florian Abazi)

The Albanian opposition disrupts a Parliament vote on the budget with flares and piled-up chairs

By Llazar Semini - Associated Press

A truck exits from the port of Shengjin, northwestern Albania, on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni announced that Albania had agreed to give temporary shelter to thousands of migrants who try to reach Italian shores while their asylum bids are being processed. Albania will offer two facilities, a quarantine area at the port of Shengjin and an accommodation center for those who will be deported at a former military airport in Gjader. (AP Photo/Armando Babani)

Albania’s deal with Italy on migrants has been welcomed by many. But others are confused and angry

By Llazar Semini - Associated Press

Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, right, and Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama, left, shake hands during a meeting in Rome, Italy, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)

Migration experts say Italy’s deal to have Albania house asylum-seekers violates international law

By Colleen Barry and Trisha Thomas - Associated Press

Italy's Premier Giorgia Meloni, right, and Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama, left, shake hands after the signing of a memorandum of understanding on migrant management centres during a meeting in Rome, Italy, Monday, Nov. 6, 2023. (Roberto Monaldo/LaPresse via AP)

Albania agrees to temporarily house migrants who reach Italy while their asylum bids are processed

By Frances D'Emilio - Associated Press

People make their way on a flooded street in Campi di Bisenzio, in the central Italian Tuscany region, Friday, Nov. 3, 2023. Record-breaking rain provoked floods in a vast swath of Tuscany as storm Ciaran pushed into Italy overnight Friday, trapping people in their homes, inundating hospitals and overturning cars. At least three people were killed, and four were missing. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

Storm Ciaran brings record rainfall to Italy with at least 6 killed. European death toll rises to 14

By Colleen Barry - Associated Press

A coloured smoke bomb lighten by Ervin Salianji an opposition lawmaker is seen during a parliament session in Tirana, Albania, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2023. Albanian opposition has tried to disrupt the parliamentary session in protest to what they called the authoritarian rule from the governing Socialist party. (AP Photo)

Albania’s opposition tries to disrupt a parliament session in protest against ruling Socialists

By Llazar Semini - Associated Press

FILE - European Union and Western Balkan leaders watch a performance after a group photo at the EU-Western Balkans Summit, in Tirana, Albania, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2022. Leaders from the European Union and the Western Balkans are holding an annual summit in Albania’s capital to discuss the six countries’ path to membership in the bloc. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru, File)

European Union offers a new growth plan to Western Balkans that partly opens access to single market

By Llazar Semini - Associated Press

A view of a statue honoring 23 Kosovo Albanians who rescued Jews from the Holocaust during World War II, after an inauguration, in the capital, Pristina, Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. The “Wall of Honor” statue was placed in a park in Pristina in the presence of some of the rescuers' descendants, political leaders, and the U.S. and German ambassadors. (AP Photo/Sylejman Kllokoqi)

Kosovo inaugurates ‘Wall of Honor’ statue for 23 Albanians who rescued Jews during the Holocaust

By Sylejman Kllokoqi and Llazar Semini - Associated Press

Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis looks on during the arrival of Moldova's President Maia Sandu before their meeting at Maximou mansion in Athens Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Petros Giannakouris)

Albanian leader makes conciliatory comments after not being invited by Greece to regional meeting

By Llazar Semini - Associated Press

Former Economy Minister of Albania, Arben Ahmetaj speaks in Tirana on Friday, Feb. 5, 2016. Arben Ahmetaj was nominated by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama as the new finance minister to replace Shkelqim Cani, giving no reason for the move on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016. Ahmetaj needs to give better results in lowering the country’s public debt reaching more than 73 percent from 62 percent of GDP in 2013 and also better money collection in taxation and customs. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) **FILE**

Albanian prosecutors demand arrest of lawmaker and former deputy premier on corruption charges

By Llazar Semini - Associated Press

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, center, listens to the national anthem as the army commander Gen. Abdolrahim Mousavi, right, and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces Gen. Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, left, salute during the Army Day parade in front of the mausoleum of the late revolutionary founder Ayatollah Khomeini just outside Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. President Raisi reiterated threats against Israel while though he stayed away from criticizing Saudi Arabia as Tehran seeks a détente with the kingdom. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

U.S. accused of ignoring crackdown on Iranian exiles to appease Tehran

By Guy Taylor - The Washington Times

The State Department seal is seen on the briefing room lectern at the State Department in Washington, Jan. 31, 2022. (Mandel Ngan, Pool via AP, File)

Balkans ‘poisoned’ by Russian disinformation: U.S. envoy

By Konstantin Testorides - Associated Press

Protesters raise their mobile phones flashlights during an anti-government rally in Tirana, Albania, on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. Thousands of Albanian opposition supporters protested against the center-left government's alleged corruption and this year's significant rise of prices due to the cost-of-living crisis. (AP Photo/Franc Zhurda)

Anti-government protest held in Albania over rising costs

By Llazar Semini - Associated Press

A policeman stands guard outside the Iranian Embassy in Tirana, Albania, Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2022. Albania cut diplomatic ties with Iran and expelled the country's embassy staff over a major cyberattack nearly two months ago that was allegedly carried out by Tehran on Albanian government websites, the prime minister said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Franc Zhurda)

Albanian police force open Iranian Embassy after expulsions

By Llazar Semini - Associated Press

In this photo released by the official website of the office of the Iranian Presidency, President Ebrahim Raisi sits under a portrait of the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a press conference in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Aug. 29, 2022. In a rare news conference Monday marking his first year in office, Raisi warned that any roadmap to restore Tehran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers must see international inspectors end their probe on man-made uranium particles found at undeclared sites in the country. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP)

White House condemns Iran’s cyberattack against Albania

By Mica Soellner - The Washington Times

In this file photo, people attend a protest rally in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, July 10, 2021 as part of the 'Free Iran World Summit 2021'. The 2022 summit in Albania has been abruptly called off owing to a terror threat, organizers said.(AP Photo/Michael Sohn) **FILE**

Iranian exile dissident group calls off summit after terror threat

By David R. Sands - The Washington Times

FILE - The third flight with evacuated citizens from Afghanistan arrives at the International Airport in Tirana, Albania, early Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021. A group of people evacuated from Afghanistan as the Taliban returned to power last year have held a protest Wednesday, June 1, 2022 in Albania over the failure to expedite their move to the United States. A small group of families in a resort town located 45 miles northwest of Albania’s capital, Tirana, called on the U.S. to speed up the process of their transfer.(AP Photo/Franc Zhurda, file)

Afghans evacuated to Albania protest for faster move to U.S.

Associated Press

Roma manager Jose Mourinho reacts during the Europa Conference League semi final match between Leicester City and Roma at the King Power Stadium in Leicester, England, Thursday, April 28, 2022. (AP Photo/Rui Vieira)

Albania declares holiday for Europa Conference League final

By Llazar Semini - Associated Press

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks about modernizing American diplomacy during a speech at the Department of State's Foreign Service Institute in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2021. (Leah Millis/Pool via AP)

Paris court to hear defamation lawsuit against Blinken

By Guy Taylor and Joseph Clark - The Washington Times

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a meeting with the foreign ministers of Mexico and Central American Integration System (SICA) member states at Intercontinental Hotel Costa Rica, in San Jose, Costa Rica, Tuesday, June 1, 2021. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool via AP) **FILE**

Blinken pressed on alleged Soros link to U.S. moves in Balkans

By Joseph Clark and Guy Taylor - The Washington Times