3 GeoFroggy

Albania

Continent:

Geography

People &
Society

Government

Economy

Energy

Communications

Military &
Security

Transportation

Terrorism

Transnational Issues
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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) also known as Flag Day

Constitution

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

Legal System

civil law system except in the northern rural areas where customary law known as the "Code of Leke" prevails

International Law Organization Participation

Has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

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 three-fifths 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 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; elected for a 4-year term) 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 consists of 9 members appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly who serve 9-year terms (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term); the High Court members appointed by the president with the consent of the Assembly for a 9-year term; note - there are also courts of appeal and courts of first instance

Political Parties and Leaders

Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; New Democracy Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party for Justice and Integration or PDI [Shpetim IDRIZ]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskel MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]

Political Pressure Groups and Leaders

Red and Black Alliance [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement [Elton KACIDHJA]; Omonia [Vasil BOLLANO]; 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 SKANDERBEG, 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 Symbols

Double-headed eagle

National Anthem

: undefined

Lyrics:

Note: adopted 1912

Year

Government Type

  • Parliamentary democracy

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
  • ICRM
  • IDA
  • IDB
  • IFAD
  • IFC
  • IFRCS
  • ILO
  • IMF
  • IMO
  • Interpol
  • IOC
  • IOM
  • IPU
  • ISO (correspondent)
  • ITU
  • ITUC
  • MIGA
  • NATO
  • OAS (observer)
  • OIC
  • OIF
  • OPCW
  • OSCE
  • SECI
  • UN
  • UNCTAD
  • UNESCO
  • UNIDO
  • UNWTO
  • UPU
  • WCO
  • WFTU
  • WHO
  • WIPO
  • WMO
  • WTO
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