Capital: Tirana Official language(s): Albanian Location: Southeastern Europe Government Parliamentary republic President Bamir Topi Prime Minister Sali Berisha |
Flag Description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center |
 |
L'etandard Sanglant (The Bloody Flag) cultural, political, social, and cross-cultural commentary written by students free speech, human rights, political freedom, social equality, student rights, nonviolence |
|
|
|
|
|
Albania |
Background: Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government. The election, and particularly the orderly transition of power, was considered an important step forward. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU. Albania, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a strong supporter of the global war on terrorism. |
Back to Flag Page |
Tirana, Albania |
Featured Author |
Featured Music & DVDs |
Albania Ali Pasha Castle |
Albania Petrela Castle |
Additional Information |
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt,
timber, hydropower |
Administrative divisions: 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster,
Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore |
Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower |
Diplomatic representation in the US: Ambassador Aleksander SALLABANDA chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342 Diplomatic representation from the US: Ambassador Dr. John L. WITHERS, II embassy: Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 247285 FAX: [355] (4) 232222 |
HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES |
From Wikipedia: Ismail Kadare (born January 28, 1936) is a world-renowned Albanian writer. In 1992, he was awarded
the Prix mondial Cino Del Duca; in 2005, he won the inaugural Booker International
Prize. He has divided his time between France and Albania since 1990.
Ismail Kadare was born in Gjirokastėr, Albania in 1936. In the 1960s,
his works reflected the Albanian literature of Socialist Realism and post-communist
Albania. In 1990, immediately before the fall of communism in Albania, Kadare
sought asylum in France. |
