3 GeoFroggy

Country Name

Conventional long form: Republic of Albania

Conventional short form: Albania

Local short form: Shqiperia

Former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Local long form: Republika e Shqiperise

Administrative Divisions

12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores

Independence

28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Constitution

A 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 Alfred MOISIU (since 24 July 2002)

Head of government: Prime Minister Fatos NANO (since 31 July 2002)

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 June 2002 (next to be held NA June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president

Election results: Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19

Legislative Branch

Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; 100 are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms)

Elections: last held 24 June with subsequent rounds on 8 July, 22 July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next to be held NA June 2005)

Election results: percent of vote by party - PS 41.5%, PD and coalition allies 36.8%, NDP 5.2%, PSD 3.6%, PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH 2.6%, PAD 2.5%; seats by party - PS 73, PD and coalition allies 46, NDP 6, PSD 4, PBDNJ 3, PASH 3, PAD 3, independents 2

Judicial Branch

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

Political Parties and Leaders

Agrarian Party or PASH [Lufter XHUVELI]; Albanian National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Shptim ROQI]; Albanian Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO, chairman]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI]; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Nerltan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Group of Reformist Democrats [Leonard NDOKA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [Teodor LACO]; New Democratic Party or NDP [Genc POLLO]; OMONIA [Vagjelis DULES]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO, chairman]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

NA

Flag Description

Red with a black two-headed eagle in the center

National Anthem

Year

Government Type

  • Emerging democracy

Capital

    Tirana

Diplomatic Representation in the US

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

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador James F. JEFFREY
  • Embassy
    Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
  • Mailing Address
    U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Washington, DC 20521-9510
  • Telephone
    [355] (4) 247285
  • FAX
    [355] (4) 232222

International Organization Participation

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