Latest Interviews from Albania
Albania Ready to Face Czech Power Giant in Court
The head of Energy Regulatory Agency, Sokol Ramadani, tells Balkan Insight that CEZ damaged Albania to the tune of nearly €600 million through mismanagement.
Albania Mayor Vows to Revive Riviera Pearl’s Glory
Despite a wildcat construction boom that is choking the town with its own phenomenal growth, Mayor Stefan Cipa says the battle to preserve Saranda is not lost.
Cover-Up of Protestor Deaths 'Blow to Albania’s Reputation'
Gabriel Partos, an analyst with the Economist Intelligence Unit, tells Balkan Insight that allegations of a high-level conspiracy to cover-up the murder of protestors during the January 21 riots is a further blow to Albania’s already tarnished reputation.
Filmmaker Vladimir Blazevski Says Punk’s Not Dead
Macedonian producer Darko Popov reflects on the acclaimed black comedy of Vladimir Blazevski, "Punk’s not Dead" and the struggle to produce and promote films in the Balkans.
Albania Needs Action, Not Words, on Europe
At the start of a new political season, Albania needs to get serious on addressing the 12 priorities drawn up by Brussels in 2010, says tthe Dutch ambassador to Tirana, Henk G.C. van den Dool.
Alfred Moisiu: It’s Time Albania’s Democracy Grew Up
Albania’s former president tells Balkan Insight that the political class needs to show more maturity in the May elections if they are not to throw away the country’s EU accession hopes.
Marty: Document is “Not a Report Against Kosovo”
Council of Europe Rapporteur, Dick Marty, tells Michael Montgomery that the emphasis placed on organ trafficking is obscuring the fact that “hundreds of people disappeared and were killed”. His report is not anti- Kosovo but merely a search for the truth, Marty says.
Albania: We Back Probe Into ‘Biased’ Marty Report
Ex-foreign minister and member of Albania’s delegation in the Council of Europe, Kastriot Islami says Albania will back a probe into organ trafficking claims, though it considers them baseless and the Dick Marty report as biased.
Talat Xhaferi: Marty Report Vilifies All Albanians
Key member of Macedonia’s governing ethnic Albanian Democratic Union for Integration says Marty report besmirches all Albanians but this should not stop a competent investigation.
Del Ponte Calls for Kosovo Organs Trade Inquiry
The former ICTY prosecutor says the International Criminal Court or a special tribunal should investigate allegations of murder and organ trafficking by Kosovo politicians.
Escape From Communism Opened Albanian Artist’s Eyes
Two decades after the fall of the rigid Stalinist regime, Ilirjan Xhixha reminisces over his journey from Albanian migrant to renowned international master.
'Albania could be the next China'
Economy minister Dritan Prifti says a combination of fast growth rates, low labour costs and favourable tax rates could turn his small country into an Asian-style economic tiger.
Albania 'Stalling' Probe into Organ Trade Claims
UN Rapporteur Philip Alston says Tirana is not doing itself any favours by not cooperating with an impartial, international, investigation into Serbian claims.
Unlocking the Dark Secrets of the KLA's Camps
Michael Montgomery retraces the journey that led him to discover KLA detention camps in Albania and discusses the ICTY’s destruction of crucial evidence of possible organ trafficking in Burrel.
Albania Sigurimi Files 'Will Never Be Opened'
The prominent former political dissident, Maks Velo – jailed in 1978 for eight years for ‘modernist tendencies’ in his artwork – tells Besar Likmeta that communist police files will never be opened while the current elite is in power.
