3 GeoFroggy

Country Name

Conventional long form: Republic of Albania

Conventional short form: Albania

Local long form: Republika e Shqiperise

Local short form: Shqiperia

Former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Administrative Divisions

administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the administrative center name following in parentheses)

Independence

28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Constitution

A new constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote

Legal System

has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal and compulsory

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since 24 July 1997)

Head of government: Prime Minister Ilir META (since 29 October 1999)

Cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the president

Elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1997 (next to be held NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president

Election results: Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 122, for 110, against 3, abstained 2, invalid 7

Legislative Branch

Elections: last held 29 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2001)

Election results: percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK 1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1, independents 3

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term

Political Parties and Leaders

Albanian Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEHDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Albanian United Right or DBSH (includes PBK, Albanian Republican Party or PRS, AND PDD) [Abaz ERMENJI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Democratic Party of the Right or PDD [Petrit KALAKULA]; Liberal Union Party [Teodor LACO]; Movement of Legality Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA]; National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Abaz ERMENJI]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Right National Front [Hysni SELFO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO, chairman]; note - Teodar LACO of the Liberal Union Party was leader of the Social Democratic Union of Albania or PBSD

Flag Description

Red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

National Anthem

Year

Government Type

  • Emerging democracy

Data Code

  • AL

Capital

    Tirana

Diplomatic Representation in the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI
  • Chancery
    2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Telephone
    [1] (202) 223-4942
  • FAX
    [1] (202) 628-7342

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Joseph LIMPRECHT
  • Embassy
    Rruga Elbasanit 103, Tirana
  • Mailing Address
    American Embassy, Tirana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-9510
  • Telephone
    [355] (42) 47285 through 47289
  • FAX
    [355] (42) 32222

International Organization Participation

  • BSEC
  • CCC
  • CE
  • CEI
  • EAPC
  • EBRD
  • ECE
  • FAO
  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IDB
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • Intelsat (nonsignatory user)
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • ISO
  • ITU
  • OIC
  • OPCW
  • OSCE
  • PFP
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNIDO
  • UNOMIG
  • UPU
  • WFTU
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WToO
  • WTrO (applicant)