Full Coverage: Albania

30.11.2005 The Municipality of Tirana organized the “Bright Night”, a party where no one sleeps. Lighting the night, Tirana enlivened its quarters, streets, public and historical spaces, cinemas, museums and theatres with activities that brought a new perspective to the city’s spaces, streets and squares, creating an unusual climate and a party environment.

24.11.2005 Although Prime Minister Berisha declared publicly that the Government has given up on the plans to built Oil Refinery in Vlora, the environmentalists gathered in the Citizens Alliance (CA) for Protection of the Bay of Vlora organized protests at the ‘Flamurtari’ sports hall, on Monday, October 21. The protest rally was organized under the slogan “Vlora in danger, lets save it”.

23.11.2005 According to the studies of the Public Health Institute (PHI), six homosexuals and two persons from the Roma community were infected with HIV/AIDS in 2005.

21.11.2005 George Soros, prominent businessman and philanthropist, was named honorary citizen of Tirana last week, during his visit the Albanian capital. The honorary citizenship was presented by Edi Rama, the Mayor of Tirana, in gratitude for the contribution the OSF-Albania provided for the improvement of education system in Tirana.

21.11.2005 The admissions in the universities have the maximum attention of the public opinion. Almost every year, we have seen worried parents and students, staying sleepless all night in front of the faculties of the University of Tirana (UT), waiting for the results of the admission exams. But the problem of one side, is sometimes the benefits of the other side.

17.11.2005 Under the framework of the "Assistance in Drafting of the Environmental Laws in SEE" CARDS Project, the Regional Environmental Centre (REC) - Country office Albania, in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Management (MEFWM), and with the support of the EU, organised a national meeting "Law on Noise Pollution, in harmony with the EU legislation". The meeting was held yesterday, at the International Hotel, Tirana.

14.11.2005 On Wednesday, November 9, 2005, the MJAFT! Movement launched the “Herald TV”, a TV station with greatest ratings among viewers that lack electricity.

11.11.2005 The European Commissioner for Enlargement Issues, said in Brusselles that the elections in Albania were free and fair, in a considerably way. Also the peaceful transfer of power has fulfilled the critical condition to reach completion of the Stabilisation and Association negotiations in near future.

10.11.2005 Sixty percent of Albanian citizens live in poverty and, to make matters worse, majority of them are young under the age of 21. Keeping in mind these numbers, reported by UNDP, the Chairman of “Albanian Society for All Ages” (ASAG), Nora Malaj addressed all government institutions in her statement for the media, with a demand to take all necessary steps to reduce this phenomenon.

09.11.2005 During the last decade, the necessary funds for scientific research have not been allocated to the Albanian Universities, which results in the deteriorating academic quality and the fact that Albanian diplomas can’t be unified with the degrees granted by European Universities and ratified in Europe.

07.11.2005 Last Thursday, Montenegro transferred the presidency of the SEE Inter-Academic Union to Albania. The Albanian Academy of Sciences was represented in the meeting by its Chairman prof. Ylli Popa and three Vice Chairmen, prof.dr. Faraudin Hoxha, prof.dr. Eduard Sulstarova, and prof.dr. Luan Omari.

03.11.2005 The Albanian Energy Corporation postponed the announced electricity price hike, originally planned to take place in January 2006. The current pricy for household consumers is 5.59 Lek/kWh, and AEC plans an 8% increase. AEC has decided to take postpone the price-change to the Summer of 2006.

02.11.2005 The United Nations have started an investigation of trafficking of children in Albania. The children are often victims of trafficking for prostitution. Huan Miguel Pettitt, the UN Special Reporter, held a meeting with the Minister of Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, Koco Barka, to discuss this issue. The investigation will also include Greece.

01.11.2005 On Friday, October 28, the Environmental Legislation and Planning Albania (ELPA) organized the “Environmental Action” meeting in Tirana. The “Action Group for the Environment” (AGE) was established over the course of the meeting.