3 GeoFroggy

Albania

Continent:

Geography

People &
Society

Government

Economy

Energy

Communications

Military &
Security

Transportation

Terrorism

Transnational Issues
View Large Map

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

12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore

Independence

28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 28 November (1912)

Constitution

Approved by parliament on 21 October 1998; adopted by popular referendum on 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998

Legal System

has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens

International Law Organization Participation

Citizenship

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Executive Branch

Chief of state: President of the Republic Bamir TOPI (since 24 July 2007)

Head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005)

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

Elections: president elected by the Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); four election rounds held between 8 and 20 July 2007 (next election to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president

Election results: Bamir TOPI elected president; Assembly vote, fourth round (three-fifths majority, 84 votes, required)

Legislative Branch

Unicameral National Assembly or Kuvendi (140 deputies; 100 deputies elected directly in single member electoral zones with an approximate number of voters; 40 deputies elected from multi-name lists of parties or party coalitions according to their respective order) elections: last held on 28 June 2009 (next to be held in 2013) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 68, PS 65, LSI 4, other 3

Judicial Branch

Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term) and multiple appeals and district courts

Political Parties and Leaders

Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Party for Justice and Integration or PDI [Tahir MUCHEDINI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Unity for Humen Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement [Elton KACIDHJA]; Omonia [Ligorag KARAMELO]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]

Flag Description

Red with a black two-headed eagle in the center; the design is claimed to be that of 15th-century hero George Castriota SKANDERBERG, who led a successful uprising against the Turks that resulted in a short-lived independence for some Albanian regions (1443-1478); an unsubstantiated explanation for the eagle symbol is the tradition that Albanians see themselves as descendants of the eagle; they refer to themselves as "Shkypetars," which translates as "sons of the eagle"

National Anthem

Lyrics:

Note: adopted 1912

Year

Government Type

  • Republic

Capital

  • Name
    Tirana (Tirane)
  • Geographic Coordinates
    41 19 N, 19 49 E
  • Time Difference
    UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
  • Daylight Saving Time
    +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Diplomatic Representation in the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Gilbert GALANXHI
  • Chancery
    2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
  • Telephone
    [1] (202) 223-4942
  • FAX
    [1] (202) 628-7342
  • Consulate(s) General
    New York

Diplomatic Representation from the US

  • Chief Of Mission
    Ambassador Alexander ARVIZU
  • Embassy
    Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
  • Mailing Address
    US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510
  • Telephone
    [355] (4) 2247285
  • FAX
    [355] (4) 2232222

International Organization Participation

  • BSEC
  • CE
  • CEI
  • EAPC
  • EBRD
  • FAO
  • IAEA
  • IBRD
  • ICAO
  • ICCt
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IDB
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • IPU
  • ISO (correspondent)
  • ITU
  • ITUC
  • MIGA
  • NATO
  • OIC
  • OIF
  • OPCW
  • OSCE
  • SECI
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNIDO
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • WCO
  • WFTU
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO
Lorem Ipsum has been the industry's standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took.
Product
Company
Resources
Contact
mail@geofroggy.com