The meeting focused on strengthening institutional cooperation and supporting joint initiatives to advance scientific research, promote knowledge and deepen academic ties between Kosovo and Albania, the President’s Office said in a statement.

Shiroka Pula stressed the importance of closer institutional links and continued support for initiatives that foster scientific development and cross-border academic cooperation, the statement added.

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The conference, titled “The Role of the Constitutional Court in the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Albania: A Comparative Perspective,” was organized by the Academy of Sciences and Arts of Kosovo, in cooperation with the Academy of Sciences of Albania.

Speaking on behalf of the Academy of Sciences of Albania, Scientific Secretary and Academician Anila Hoda highlighted the importance of discussions on constitutional justice, emphasizing that constitutional courts play a fundamental role in ensuring respect for the Constitution, protecting the freedoms and rights of citizens, and maintaining the balance of power among the branches of government. According to her, despite their different historical experiences in building constitutional institutions, Albania and Kosovo share common objectives: strengthening democracy, consolidating the rule of law and aligning with European standards.

The conference aimed to foster the exchange of professional experience and develop scientific cooperation between the two academies, thereby contributing to the legal discourse on the challenges of constitutional justice and the strengthening of democratic institutions in both countries. /e.xh/r.e/j.p/p.s./

The agreement provides for free access to archival documents for professors and students of the Department of History, including the provision of digital copies of documents at no cost—up to 20,000 images per year.

The agreement was signed in Prishtina by the heads of the two institutions—the General Director of Archives Auron Rrokaj and Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Prof. Dr. Bekim Baliqi—who got committed to producing high-quality publications and mutually enriching their respective libraries. Within the framework of this cooperation, students at the BA, MA, and PhD levels will be given the opportunity to undertake professional internships at the General Directorate of Archives in Tirana, while the parties will also collaborate on organizing seminars, training sessions, courses and joint projects. /a.f/p.s./

A departure ceremony was held at Farka Air Base for 13 members of the Albanian Armed Forces who will serve in the NATO mission at the U.S. military base Camp Bondsteel, marking an important milestone for the Air Force and expanding Albania’s contribution to international operations.

Addressing the ceremony, Defence Minister Ermal Nufi described the deployment as evidence of the professionalism of Albanian military personnel and the responsibilities the country fulfils as a committed NATO ally.

“The contingent we are sending off today is part of this effort. It demonstrates that the Air Force is expanding its role and that our Armed Forces are consolidating their capabilities to carry out increasingly important tasks within NATO,” Nufi said.

The mission is particularly important for Albania, he said, not only because of the historic and brotherly ties between Albania and Kosovo, but also because Kosovo’s security and stability are directly linked to the peace and security of Albania and the wider region.

“Albania’s commitment to KFOR remains unwavering. We are fully committed to continuing to fulfil our responsibilities with seriousness, in close cooperation with our allies and partners, in the service of collective security,” Nufi said.

He added that Albania’s contribution to international security extended beyond KFOR to include operations led by NATO, the European Union and the United Nations.

Those attending the ceremony included Armed Forces Chief of General Staff Lieutenant General Arben Kingji, Air Force Commander Brigadier General Voci, other military commanders and officials, and family members of the personnel deploying on the mission.

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According to foreign trade data, exports to Kosovo rose by 22.5% in September compared with the same month in 2025, while exports to Greece increased by 13.9%.

The National Institute of Statistics, INSTAT, said exports to Italy, by contrast, fell by 4%, while those to Switzerland declined by 3.8%.

On the import side, Türkiye and Greece recorded the largest annual increases, at 6.8% and 3.8%, respectively. Imports from Italy fell by 14.1%, while those from China dropped by 7%.

EU countries continue to represent an important market for Albanian products, INSTAT said.

In September 2026, 68.7% of Albania’s total exports went to EU countries, while 48.9% of imports came from the bloc.

Overall, trade with the European Union accounted for 54.6% of Albania’s total foreign trade during the month.

Foreign trade data also showed an increase in the value of exports.

Exports reached 31.2 billion leks in September, up 14.8% year on year and 52.1% from August.

Imports totalled 78.6 billion leks, up 4.8% annually, while the trade deficit narrowed by 0.9% year on year and 13.9% month on month to 47.3 billion leks.

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A statement from the President’s Office read that Ambassador Malaj congratulated the President on her election and expressed hope that bilateral relations between the two states would be further intensified during her term.

Meanwhile, Shiroka-Pula emphasized that Kosovo and Albania must continue to move forward together and support one another.

“She underscored that, in addition to closer diplomatic coordination, Kosovo expects strong support from Albania regarding its Euro-Atlantic journey and the process of joining international organizations,” the statement read.

The President’s Office also said that the two officials agreed to promote cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. /Kosovapress/p.s./

Speaking ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Oct. 12, Kos criticised changes to the legal framework while judicial proceedings are still under way.

“I want to be clear that amendments to the Law on the Specialist Chambers run counter to Kosovo’s fundamental obligations towards the EU. This is unacceptable,” Kos stated.

Changing the rules while court proceedings are ongoing runs counter to international rule-of-law standards, she added.

“My message is very simple. European enlargement is moving forward. If candidate countries take steps backwards, they are not on the right track and will not be able to become EU members,” she added.

Kos’s remarks came after Kosovo’s parliament approved amendments last week to the law governing the functioning of the Specialist Chambers in The Hague, commonly known as the Kosovo Specialist Court.

The amendments were proposed by the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) just five days after a Sept. 16 verdict in which the Specialist Chambers sentenced former Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and three other former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leaders – Kadri Veseli, Jakup Krasniqi and Rexhep Selimi – to a combined 81 years in prison for war crimes.

All four pleaded not guilty throughout the trial.

The amendments seek to narrow the jurisdiction of the Specialist Chambers by restricting the period covered by the court’s mandate and the categories of criminal offences it can try.

Among other provisions, they would cap prison sentences at 15 years, allow appeals to Kosovo’s Supreme Court and permit sentences to be served in Kosovo.

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Meidani outlined his diplomatic priorities across various sectors, focusing on economic cooperation and noting that Kosovo is the second-largest market for Albanian exports. According to him, over 1,600 businesses with Kosovar capital currently operate in Albania, with their investments in the country reaching 550 million euros.

Regarding security, Meidani highlighted that Albania’s Armed Forces have 128 troops deployed with KFOR, organized into four contingents in Peja. “We are part of a trilateral defense declaration with Croatia and have initiated cooperation in the defense industry,” he added.

As Albania advances on its path toward EU membership, Meidani emphasized that, “Our experience on the road to membership should become a shared experience.”

According to him, Albania will encourage dialogue and cooperation among all political forces, particularly regarding issues of national interest and Euro-Atlantic integration.

Meidani also identified the recognition of Kosovo’s independence by five EU member states—Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain—as another challenge during his term.

He expressed the need for more joint projects with clear timelines and results that Albanians can see and feel.

According to him, the creation of an economic area free of barriers will be a priority. In this regard, Meidani highlighted that Durrës-Pristina railway remains a strategic project.

“This is a connection we have long dreamed of and must now turn into a concrete plan. The first step was a joint study within the European transport network. Albania’s EU accession will introduce new rules at our shared border,” he said.

Meidani proposed the concept of a joint tourism strategy, featuring the shared promotion of offers specifically tailored to families from Kosovo. Meidani also addressed cooperation in the fields of culture and innovation, proposing initiatives for mandatory school field trips between Albania and Kosovo.

Meidani proposed the production of a new film about Skanderbeg as part of cultural projects aimed at promoting national identity and values.

Furthermore, he proposed new partnerships between the universities and Academies of Sciences of both countries, as well as a joint health fund. /p.s./

“We call on Kosovo to abide by its international obligations to guarantee the judicial independence of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, as well as its commitment to ensuring accountability and delivering justice to victims and their families from all communities in Kosovo,” an EU spokesperson told Radio Free Europe.

The law was approved late on Tuesday, shortly before parliament elected Justina Shiroka Pula as Kosovo’s new president, a move welcomed by Brussels.

The EU said the Chambers’ current mandate and independence must be fully respected, stressing that the court delivers justice based on individual criminal responsibility.

Brussels also welcomed an end to the institutional deadlock that had gripped Kosovo since 2025, saying renewed stability should allow the country to advance on its European path.

The EU said Kosovo must also press ahead with reforms linked to its Growth and Reform Facility, implementation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement, regional cooperation and gradual integration into the EU Single Market.

The amendments, initiated by the opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK), were approved in second reading before parliament elected Shiroka Pula in the early hours of Oct. 7.

The Specialist Chambers are based in The Hague but form part of Kosovo’s judicial system. They were established under a 2014 exchange of letters between then-President Atifete Jahjaga and former EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and have received nearly 400 million euros in EU funding.

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Shiroka Pula begins a five-year term after receiving 81 votes in an extraordinary session of Kosovo’s parliament on Tuesday evening.

She was nominated by the parliamentary group of the ruling Vetevendosje (Self-Determination) movement, while the Democratic Party of Kosovo (PDK) nominated Eliza Hoxha as her rival candidate.

At 73, Shiroka Pula is Kosovo’s third woman president, following Atifete Jahjaga and Vjosa Osmani.

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