During the hearing, Ferizi stated that he aims to advocate for Albania’s global interests with dignity, while elevating its standing as a trusted and constructive international partner.

“I see this role through a dual lens: representing Albania’s political and security interests, and leveraging concrete opportunities from Vienna-based organizations to support our national development,” Ferizi said.

He emphasized that integration into the European Union remains Albania’s strategic goal. According to him, work within the OSCE and UN agencies should serve to advance the European integration process.

Speaking about Albania’s role in the OSCE, Ferizi noted that the country already holds a consolidated profile within the organization. He described Albania’s 2020 OSCE chairmanship as a significant moment for Albanian diplomacy, particularly given the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to him, the Western Balkans region—with a special focus on Kosovo—will also be a natural priority for the mission in Vienna.

“We will be attentive to the stance of the Republic of Kosovo and to coordination with Albania’s institutions,” the ambassador-designate emphasized.

Armand Skapi, Secretary General of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, praised Ferizi as a scientist and analyst with a distinguished international profile.

Skapi noted that Ferizi currently serves as the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to the United Kingdom and to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Uran Ferizi is a graduate of the University of Oxford, where he completed an integrated degree in mathematics. He holds a PhD in engineering from University College London, specializing in mathematical modeling and advanced data analysis. /p.s./

Berisha said that the negotiating group consists of Flamur Noka, Belind Këlliçi and Ilir Alimehmeti. They will negotiate with other parties inside and outside the coalition.

Berisha said that the meetings will start today, while adding that for the other 5 municipalities, the opposition already has the candidates, but didn’t provide details on the names.

“I have assigned a group of 3 people who will negotiate with other parties for the names. It will be Flamur Noka, Belind Këlliçi and Ilir Alimehmeti. They will be our representatives who will negotiate with the other parties”, said Berisha. /j.p/p.s./

“Erion Veliaj is being asked in an ultimate manner not to address the Constitutional Court in order to get out of prison, to be tried while being free and and so he will have facilities”, said Berisha.

Berisha stated that the option is unconstitutional.

“What does Edi Rama intend to tell the Albanians today? I did not dismiss him, he says. I notarized the decision. But, the executive power is never notarizing”, stated Berisha, referring to the process of dismissing the mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj.

Regarding the opposition candidate to run in the early by-elections in the municipality of Tirana, Berisha spoke about consultations with allies and the entire opposition spectrum.

“There will definitely be an agreement with allies and with the opposition spectrum, there will definitely be one,” Berisha said. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./

Xhoga, with her novel “Misinterpretation”, is on the long list of contenders for this prestigious award.

Ledia Xhoga is the second Albanian writer to be nominated for the Booker Prize after Ismail Kadare, who won the award in 2005.

This year’s winner of the Booker Prize will be announced on November 10, 2025.

The Booker Prize aims to encourage greater reading of quality fiction from around the world and has already had an impact, according to statistics. /r.e/p.s./

“I fully support the opposition parties coming up with one candidate. But, for an apolitical person to be elected mayor of the capital, I have never heard of such a thing. Because he should at least have a program in which he dismantles the entire mess based on the politics of the narco-state in Tirana,” Berisha said.

During the press conference with journalists, Berisha focused again on the opposition’s denunciations of the “electoral farce” of the May 11 Parliamentary elections.

Berisha published several images where he emphasized that, “There were citizens provided with two ballot papers.”

“Flagrant evidence of illegal acts from the polling stations confirms that the elections were a complete farce and not an electoral process. I will present the threats made to the commissioners at the voting centers,” said Berisha. /m.q/ /a.g/p.s./

Announcing officially his candidacy on Thursday, the main opposition Democratic Party lawmaker Ina Zhupa said that “Gjikuria is a model citizen who offers hard work, solutions and democracy.”

“On August 4, Himara residents will vote for a candidate who will decently represent Himara. The vote is about  a model against corruption, a mayor who doesn’t steal the citizens’ properties for powerful individuals in office, and the vote is about a mayor who knows how to govern and receive citizens regardless of their political affiliations or their ethnicity,” she said.

The OMONOIA organization and the Unity for Human Rights Party have confirmed their support for Petro Gjikuria’s candidacy.

Gjikuria will run against Vangjel Tavos from the Socialist Party. The mayoral elections in Himara were decided after the Central Electoral Commission revoked earlier this month the mandate of Fredi Beleri, who was convicted of vote-buying and subsequently sentenced to two years in prison.

/u.sh/

Presenting the priorities of her program, Kumbe appreciated that the relations between the two states are strong and consolidated.

Kumbe focused on the agreements signed between the two countries in the field of cyber security, education and culture as well as in the field of the media, the agreement signed between ATA and the counterpart agency in Israel.

According to her, “The achievements so far are the fruit of the excellent work of the two governments”.

“In case I will have the honor to be the representative of Albania to Israel, the objective will be the promotion of cooperation in cyber protection, business, agriculture and tourism”, said Kumbe.

She also emphasized that there will be a special focus on the increase of Israeli investments in Albania and the promotion of our country.

Kumbe singled out the example that Albania gave to the whole world with the protection of the Jews during the Second World War.

“Albania has asked Israel to include in school curricula the fact that Albania protected the lives of Israelis in World War II,” she added. /m.m/p.s./

Alibeaj and the mayoral candidate Roland Bejko revealed their program for Tirana in the next four years.

“The importance of the local elections for the Democratic Party and Tirana in particular has been clearly stated. Although I acknowledge the situation is complicated for the DP in the May 14 elections. This is the moment for the Albanian decisions to make the difference,” Alibeaj said.

He expressed confidence that DP will definitely be a governing alternative in a near future.

/r.e/u.sh/

Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Albin Kurti gave the news after a meeting he had with President of the Olympic Committee of Kosovo Ismet Krasniqi.

Kurti said that this candidacy will mark a historical moment in the development of sports in Kosovo.

He also announced that an agreement has been reached with Albania for this sports event to take place on the Albanian coast.

“We have agreed with Albania that these games will take place on the Albanian coast. Meanwhile, we have increased support for sports by 200 percent,” said Kurti./KosovaPress/p.s./

Speaking to reporters, Bogdani said that, “Unfortunately, over the years and especially during the last 8 years, Tirana has suffered a severe deformity and has experienced not only a destruction of heritage and identity, but also a significant deterioration of our daily lives as residents of the capital. There is not a single resident of Tirana who does not suffer today from the consequences of the city’s mismanagement”.

“Let’s start with the children; their green spaces and playgrounds have been taken away from them and turned into buildings of concrete. The constructions have been without criteria and are taking the breath away more and more from every resident of this city. The heavy traffic makes the citizens lose money and time. We breathe polluted air every day and suffer the noise pollution from the trucks and concrete mixers that have invaded the city”, underlined Bogdani.

Bogadani added that, “There is a total lack of attention for rural areas, for infrastructure, for services and for the well-being of the residents of these areas only because they are far from the objective of cameras and propaganda”.

According to him, every one of us experiences everyday problems and troubles in this city.

“So the time has come for these problems to be solved. Now, it’s the time for a real alternative for the good governance of our city, for a different model and vision”, said Bogdani./k.s/p.s./