At the event for the launch of the Report of the Institute for War Crimes in Kosovo, Kurti said that only during the period March-June 1999, there were killed about 9 thousand people.

“Without a record, there is no memory, no justice, and no lasting peace,” Kurti said.

He stressed that the list is preliminary and will continue to be supplemented with new evidence.

The acting prime minister also took the opportunity to point at Serbia for, as he put it, the failure to implement the Declaration on Missing Persons agreed on May 2, 2023 in Brussels and the refusal to open military archives. /KosovaPress/p.s./

The minibus was travelling on the Berat-Tirana route left the road and overturned on the Tirana-Durrës highway, police said.

Police, firefighters and ambulance crews were dispatched to the scene and the injured were taken to the University Trauma Hospital in Tirana

The cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed. Early reports suggest the driver may have lost control before the bus left the road and overturned. Police are investigating.

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In a social media post, Begaj conveyed his “deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery to the injured.”

“Albania stands in solidarity with the Canadian people and condemns any act of violence that takes human lives,” Begaj said.

Ten people, including the suspected gunman, were killed on Tuesday in a shooting in the town of Tumbler Ridge in the western Canadian province of British Columbia.

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While referring to the international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, Ulliri said that more funding and attention is needed towards reintegration policies for victims of gender-based violence.

“This campaign is a message in itself that must be conveyed not only through us as MPs, but by every institution and citizen of Albania to make it clear that violence in any form is unacceptable,” she said.

Ulliri emphasized that, “They have not yet managed to address the main issues and guarantee a protected environment, whether by local police authorities or those in schools. I have received information about the social centers. And they are not at the right level, they do not have the capacity to offer the real assistance that is needed to abused persons. I would add that there is a need for more attention and adequate funding to address and reintegrate women and girls or anyone into work and society”.

“I have often been part of panels where I have suggested that there is a need for a consultation with experts to create a strategy at all levels, which should react and address these issues. It all starts with the will to achieve the best, a system that protects its citizens”, emphasized Ulliri.

The DP MP also pointed at the mentality that needs to change in the approach to this phenomenon. “In many areas of Albania I see that there is still a distortion in mentality, a problem that makes it difficult to put the mechanisms into operation. There are cases when violence is addressed and not taken into account by the police, and also cases when the police are ready to intervene, but it is not reported. I believe that from this point of view there is still work to be done by all of us.

I think that providing of inspiring models, as well as supportive policies, gradually increases the strength of women and girls in society. Each of us today must do our best to provide the right model”, said Ulliri.

She said that there are also positive initiatives in the Assembly in this regard. “Of course, today there is a voluntary grouping of parliamentary women, the “Alliance of Women MPs” where the opposition leads and where there is will and cooperation, better policies can be achieved and produced”, emphasized Ulliri. /a.f/r.e/p.s./

The commemorative event, organized by the Authority for Information on Former State Security Files and the National Book and Reading Centre, brought together officials, Parliament Speaker Elisa Spiropali, the Head of the Authority for Information on Former State Security Files, Genta Sula,the Director of the National Book and Reading Centre, Alda Bardhyli, survivors, officials, and citizens to honor those who suffered under oppressive regimes on the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of all Totalitarian and Authoritarian Regimes, declared by the European Parliament, the European Commission and the Council of Europe.

Now a tourist attraction, Porto Palermo, a small triangular fortress by the sea, once served as a concentration and internment camp for the hundreds of dissidents during Albania’s communist era. The site has also served as a detention center during the fascist occupation in the 1940s and this is the reason why it was chosen for its symbolic representation of suffering across three distinct periods in Albanian history.

The Director of the National Book and Reading Centre, Alda Bardhyli, focused on significance of promoting the literature of remembrance and the authors who were jailed and interned in the communist prisons and concentration camps.

Parliament Speaker Spiropali described August 23 as the day of remembrance and tributes to millions of human lives cut short.

“Those personal dramas and tragedies of all human society caused by two extreme sides of regimes and ideologies. Two sides of the same abyss. Two sides of the same criminal coin, which were Nazi-fascism and communism,” Spiropali said in her remarks.

“Porto Palermo speaks to us across three different times,” said Gentiana Sula, head of the Authority. “It was a site of oppression during the war, the early years of the communist regime and even during the Cold War This place holds stories of human pain and resilience.”

The ceremony included an exhibition featuring sketches by survivor Lek Pervizi and testimonies from other survivors, namely Lek Mirakaj, Dine Dine, Bibjan Mirakaj and Rudina (Dema) Mane, who were children at the time of their internment.

According to the Authority for Information on Former State Security Files, over 6,000 people were executed during the communist era, many without trial, and thousands more were imprisoned or exiled. The full scale of the repression remains unaddressed, with the burial sites of many victims still unknown.

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Four innocent protestors were killed in front of the government building during an anti-corruption protest against the government of the then Prime Minister, Sali Berisha, on January 21, 2011.

Thirteen years have passed since then, but the families of four protestors still call for justice, so that those responsible for the killings received deserved punishment.

The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights ruled last November that the investigation into the January 21 was marred by numerous shortcomings, which raised suspicions that the authorities had tried to divert it or interfere unjustly.

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“Deeply saddened by the loss of lives and damage caused by the earthquakes in western coast of Japan,” Foreign Minister Hasani said in a statement.

“In these difficult moments, our thoughts and prayers are with the Japanese people and government. Heartfelt condolences to the families who lost their loved ones,” he said.

Central Japan was hit by a series of 21 quakes of above 4 on Richter scale in just 90 minutes, with the strongest of tremors measured at a magnitude of 7.6.

The powerful tremors triggered a tsunami alert, with authorities calling on local residents to evacuate affected coastal areas.

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Assembly Speaker Gramoz Ruçi extended his condolences to the families of Tetovo hospital victims, expressing solidarity with North Macedonia.

“We were deeply saddened to hear this news. I share most profound sympathy and heartfelt condolences to the families of the people who lost their lives, our Tetovo brothers and sisters, Albanians and the North Macedonia people,” Parliament Speaker said.

The Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Olta Xhaçka said in her condolences message “your pain is our pain; your tragedy is our tragedy.”

“Deeply saddened by the tragedy at the COVID hospital in Tetovo. The most heartfelt condolences to the family and the entire Albanian community. Your pain is our pain, your tragedy is our tragedy,” Xhaçka said.

Defence Minister Niko Peleshi sent his condolences over the hospital fire victims in Tetovo, expressing solidarity and readiness to provide any support.

The main opposition Democratic Party leader Lulzim Basha, and the Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj also extended their condolences to the families of Tetovo hospital victims.

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In the last 24 hours, 930 citizens have recovered, bringing the number of recovered to 61,605 since the beginning of the epidemic.

Currently, in COVID hospitals in Tirana and in regional hospitals there are being treated 618 patients, 41 in intensive care of which 12 patients are intubated.

Despite the efforts of the medical staff, 19 citizens lost the battle with COVID-19 aged 52-82.

COVID-19 – Statistics (19 February 2021)

Total tests 432,502

Positive cases 97,909

Cured cases 61,605

Active cases 34,668

Loss of life 1,636

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In the last 24 hours, 569 citizens have been cured, bringing the number of cured people to 51,444 since the beginning of the epidemic.

Currently, in 4 COVID hospitals, there are being treated 437 patients, 31 in intensive therapy of which 12 patients are intubated.

Despite the efforts of the medical staff, 14 citizens lost the battle with COVID-19 in the COVID hospitals. 6 citizens from Tirana, 2 citizens from Durrës, 1 citizen from Berat, 1 citizen from Skrapar, 1 citizen from Kurbin, 1 citizen from Kukës, 1 citizen from Kavaja, 1 citizen from Elbasan, aged 35-86.

COVID-19 – Statistics (7 February 2021)

Total testing 386,195

Positive cases 85,336

Recovered cases 51,444

Active Cases 32,432

Loss of life 1460 /p.s./