Appearing before the court the previous day, he pleaded not guilty. He maintained that the €172,600 came from family support, noting that the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption had already checked his assets multiple time.

While no official has faced jail time for failing to declare assets, penalties remain lenient. For instance, the Court in Pristina fined Minister of Industry, Entrepreneurship and Trade Rozeta Hajdari just 700 euros in late 2022 for missing the 2020 legal deadline. /p.s./

Through a post on social networks, Vengu praised the figure and role of Ahmeti in Albanian politics in North Macedonia, while emphasizing the importance of the Albanian factor as a force of stability and European orientation.

“During a conversation with him, I felt how important it is that the Albanian factor in North Macedonia continues to be a force of stability, state-forming dignity and European development orientation. There are people who make history and there are others who keep it alive every day. Ali Ahmeti belongs to both categories. Thank you for the hospitality Commander and for inspiring a policy that you pursue,” Vengu wrote in his reaction.

Meanwhile, Ahmeti also shared a reaction after the meeting, describing Vengu as a personality dedicated to the state and national interest. He wrote that during the meeting, they talked on the challenges of Albanians, developments in the region and the importance of nationwide cooperation. /m.q/j.p/p.s./

Ahmeti emphasized that the diaspora has historically contributed to the preservation of the language, culture and national identity.

Ahmeti added that the diaspora can help in professional and cultural advancement. He highlighted the significance of ties between the diaspora and the homeland, emphasizing that Albanian specialists living abroad can contribute to various fields in Albania and Kosovo, bringing knowledge and practices of European standards.

Ahmeti underlined that the summit serves as a step towards peace, stability and European integration of the Balkans. The leader of the DUI called for a Balkans in peace and without state borders, as this is the future of humanity.

Ahmeti considered the summit as an opportunity to unite Albanians from all over the world. /m.q/p.s./

The interlocutors talked on the significant contribution of the Albanian opposition in articulating and advancing Albanian cause and Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

Albania, said Spiropali, will continue to support the constructive engagement of Albanian political subjects, in the government and in opposition, especially in order to maintain stability, good neighborliness and accelerate the progress of the EU integration of our two countries.

/j.p/p.s./

A state ceremony is being held at the Congress Palace in Tirana, attended by senior Albanian officials, family members, friends and citizens.

Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti and North Macedonia’s Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) leader Ali Ahmeti were among those who paid their respects.

Kurti, accompanied by ministers and lawmakers, and Ahmeti both signed the condolence book honouring Nano’s memory. Montenegro’s Deputy Prime Minister also attended the ceremony.

The Albanian government declared November 2 a national day of mourning, lowering flags at half-mast and calling for a minute of silence at noon.

Nano, who served five times as prime minister, is remembered as a historic leader of Albania’s left and one of the most influential political figures of the country’s post-communist transition.

/u.sh/

Veliaj took the opportunity to emphasize the significance of respect for the rights of the Albanians in North Macedonia and the impact of these rights in strengthening the national identity and the European integration of the country.

“We have tried to build bridges of cooperation. I have also tried, with the entire network of municipalities that are part of the B40, this year, to do my best to bring the nations closer together. This means that we are very concerned when there are initiatives to deny the rights that have already been acquired, to deny the rights, such as the Albanian language, that have made North Macedonia better, more Western, more European. We are following with concern all the decision-making of these days. I am aware that a decision of the Constitutional Court is being prepared and our prayer is to understand that great nations are nations without complexes. A language, an ethnicity, a group, a minority, a factor enriches you, it does not impoverish you. North Macedonia has become bigger because Albanians have been respected; it has become bigger because this language has been respected; has become greater in the eyes of the world, because these rights have been recognized”, the mayor of Tirana added further.

Ahmeti praised Veliaj’s contribution and support for peace and democracy in North Macedonia and his commitment to preserving the Ohrid Agreement and the rights of Albanians. Ahmeti stated that Veliaj, with his stance, has offered support for relations between countries and peace in the region.

“It was an extraordinary pleasure that I met my mayor today, because he is also my mayor, as I am an honorary citizen of Tirana. With the support he gives to the Ohrid Agreement, the mayor of Tirana supports peace, supports democracy, supports good interethnic relations in the Republic of North Macedonia. Any change or violation of the Ohrid Agreement, of the Albanian language law, which is one of the main pillars of the Ohrid peace agreement, means that it harms inter-ethnic relations. The support that the mayor of Tirana gives to the Ohrid Agreement was an encouragement to me. The Ohrid Agreement is a document guaranteed by the US, the EU and NATO”, stated Ahmeti.

As an expression of gratitude and appreciation, Mayor Veliaj gave to Ahmeti the “Clock Tower” as a present. /r.e/a.f/p.s./

In an interview with Radio Free Europe, the leader of the largest ethnic Albanian party in North Macedonia also issued a strong warning against reducing Albanian language rights, stating that any attempt to restrict Albanian’s official use in the country could be highly destabilising, describing it as a potential “powder keg.”

In his capacity as opposition leader, Ahmeti announced of his move to seek legal solution to overcome the dispute over PM Hristijan Mickoski’s decision to include the political group VLEN in the government. He acknowledged that work is underway on a material that would lead to a law aimed at defending legitimacy.

Addressing constitutional amendments to include Bulgarians, Ahmeti reassured that this move poses no threat to Macedonians, instead highlighting the distinction between the Macedonian and Bulgarian communities.

Commenting on the European Commission’s recent report citing North Macedonia’s slow progress on reforms, Ahmeti acknowledged the need for improvement. However, Ahmeti underscored that the responsibility for maintaining agreements, such as the Ohrid Agreement which guarantees ethnic representation and language rights, lies firmly with North Macedonia’s elected leaders.

Recent tensions have arisen as some opposition figures, including Mickoski, have hinted at revisiting the language law in North Macedonia. Ahmeti stated that removing Albanian from official use is dangerous.

/u.sh/

“Extraordinary news from Luxembourg for Albania, Albanians and the whole region of South-Eastern Europe”, Ahmeti said in a reaction.

He congratulated all Albanians, Prime Minister Edi Rama and the entire team that worked tirelessly towards the opening of the 1st Cluster-Fundamentals in the negotiations with the EU.

“I wish that Albania works hard towards achieving the objective of EU membership in 2030,” Ahmeti said.

Democratic Union for Integration leader also expressed his disappointment at the blocking of the North Macedonia European path – as well as not being on Albania’s side today.

“We must do our best to secure and seal the European future for our citizens by demonstrating leadership and determination. We have no other alternative! Europe is our only way,” he stressed. //a.i/

Prime Minister Rama participated in the event of extending to Ali Ahmeti the title “Honorary Citizen of Tirana”.

Rama described Ahmeti, “An Albanian among the best, a warrior who has turned politics and diplomacy into an admirable skill”.

“Ahmeti is a leader who has taken a special place for himself in the history of Albanians and in the hearts and minds of everyone, including the minds of his opponents and enemies,” said Rama.

According to the prime minister, “It is still too early to write the history of this Albanian, among the best”.

“But, it is not at all early to say that among the Albanians of our time of epochal changes for our nation, among which the radical change of the position of the Albanians in the Republic of North Macedonia, Ali Ahmeti is our greatest master in the use of the weapon of diplomacy to globally affirm our national subjectivity”, he said.

The Prime Minister estimated that without Ali Ahmeti, the Albanians of North Macedonia would not be living today their best of times in the history of that country.

“And they wouldn’t even enjoy today such a dynamic democratic pluralism within the scope of the Albanian parties. Also, the Albanians would not ignore the risk of drowning in the teacup of the fight for more power, while underestimating the real possibility of the political weakening of the Albanian factor”, he said.

“This may be the opportunity, but this is not the proper moment for me to elaborate further on what I just said because I do not want in any way that a full expression of my opinion today be read as interference into the election campaign of the neighboring country. We have no intention of influencing the decision-making of the voters of that country, even the Albanians to whom I only say, see the interest of the Republic of North Macedonia”, said Rama.

The prime minister emphasized that, “Present-day North Macedonia is more than ever theirs, living side by side with their fellow Macedonian citizens and with all the minorities in that Republic”./r.e/p.s./

Head of the Democratic Union for Integration in North Macedonia Ali Ahmeti addressed the citizens with a speech calling Sunday a historic day.

“Four years ago from this place I addressed you with the words “everything begins with a dream”, said Ahmeti.

He expressed the belief that North Macedonia will become part of NATO and that the opportunity for membership in the EU will be opened.

“I believe that we will soon join the EU because it is our ideal. Sunday is a historic day. On January 28, we will elect the first Albanian Prime Minister of North Macedonia. This day is historic both for the Albanians and for the Macedonians because we are becoming a state and society of equality and we are overcoming all prejudices. Together, we assume the responsibility of leading the country side by side for a European North Macedonia”, emphasized the DUI head.

“I am grateful for the trust of yours which will be rewarded with a promise kept, a job done and a dream realized. Our country will become stronger and more united. This is just the beginning, we still have a lot of work to do and dreams to realize”, said Ali Ahmeti. /p.s./