Albania

Albania (ⁱ/ælˈbeɪniə/, al-BAY-nee-ə, or sometimes /ɔːlˈbeɪniə/, awl-BAY-nee-ə; Albanian: Shqipëri/Shqipëria; Gheg Albanian: Shqipni/Shqipnia, Shqypni/Shqypnia^[6]), officially known as the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë; Albanian pronunciation: [ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs]), is a country in Southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast,^{[lower-alpha 1]} the Republic of Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west and on the Ionian Sea to the southwest. It is less than 72 km (45 mi) from Italy, across the Strait of Otranto which connects the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea.

The modern-day territory of Albania was at various points in history part of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia (southern Illyricum), Macedonia (particularly Epirus Nova), and Moesia Superior. The modern Republic became independent after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in Europe following the Balkan Wars.^[7] Albania declared independence in 1912 and was recognized the following year. It then became a Principality, Republic, and Kingdom until being invaded by Italy in 1939, which formed Greater Albania. The latter eventually turned into a Nazi German protectorate in 1943.^[8] The following year, a socialist People's Republic was established under the leadership of Enver Hoxha and the Party of Labour. Albania experienced widespread social and political transformations during the communist era, as well as isolationism from much of the international community. In 1991, the Socialist Republic was dissolved and the Republic of Albania was established.

Albania is a parliamentary republic. The country's capital, Tirana, represents its financial and industrial heartland, with a metropolitan population of almost 800,000 people out of around 2.9 million Albanians.^[1]^[9] Free-market reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of energy and transportation infrastructure.^[10]^[11]^[12] Albania has a high HDI and provides a universal health care system and free primary and secondary education.^[5] Albania is an upper-middle income economy with the service sector dominating the country's economy, followed by the industrial sector and agriculture.^[13]

Albania is a member of the United Nations, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, the Council of Europe and the World Trade Organization. It is one of the founding members of the Energy Community, Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and the Union for the Mediterranean. It is also an official candidate for membership in the European Union.^[14]

Etymology

Albania is the Medieval Latin name of the country, from the Medieval Greek Ἀλβανία Albania. The country is called Shqipëri by its people. The name may be derived from the Illyrian tribe of the Albani recorded by Ptolemy, the geographer and astronomer from Alexandria who drafted a map in 150 AD that shows the city of Albanopolis located northeast of Durrës.^[15]^[16]

The name may have a continuation in the name of a medieval settlement called Albanon and Arbanon, although it is not certain this was the same place.^[17] In his History written in 1079–1080, the Byzantine historian Michael Attaliates was the first to refer to Albanoi as having taken part in a revolt against Constantinople in 1043 and to the Arbanitai as subjects of the Duke of Dyrrachium.^[18] During the Middle Ages, the Albanians called their country Arbëri or Arbëni and referred to themselves as Arbëresh or Arbënesh.^[19]^[20]

As early as the 17th century the placename Shqipëria and the ethnic demonym Shqiptarë gradually replaced Arbëria and Arbëresh. The two terms are popularly interpreted as "Land of the Eagles" and "Children of the Eagles".^[21]^[22]

History

Main article: History of Albania

The history of Albania emerged from the prehistoric stage from the 4th century BC, with early records of Illyria in Greco-Roman historiography. The modern territory of Albania has no counterpart in antiquity, comprising parts of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia (southern Illyricum) and Macedonia (particularly Epirus Nova).

Prehistory

The first traces of human presence in Albania, dating to the Middle Paleolithic and Upper Paleolithic eras, were found in the village of Xarrë, near Sarandë and Mount Dajt near Tiranë.^[23] The objects found in a cave near Xarrë include flint and jasper objects and fossilized animal bones, while those found at Mount Dajt comprise bone and stone tools similar to those of the Aurignacian culture. The Paleolithic finds of Albania show great similarities with objects of the same era found at Crvena Stijena in Montenegro and north-western Greece.^[23]

Antiquity

Queen Teuta of the Ardiaei 231–227 BC

Kingdom of Illyria and Dardania in the 3rd century BC

In ancient times, the territory of modern Albania was mainly inhabited by a number of Illyrian tribes. This territory was known as Illyria, corresponding roughly to the area east of the Adriatic sea to the mouth of the Vjosë river in the south.^[24]^[25] The first account of the Illyrian groups comes from Periplus, an ancient Greek text written in the middle of the 4th century BCE.^[26]

One of the most powerful tribes that ruled over modern Albania was the Ardiaei. The Ardiaen Kingdom reached it's greatest extent under Agron of Illyria, son of Pleuratus II. Agron extended his rule over other neighboring tribes as well.^[27] After Agron's death in 230 BC, his wife Teuta inherited the Ardiaean kingdom. Teuta's forces extended their operations further southward into the Ionian Sea, defeating the combined Achaean and Aetolian fleet in the Battle of Paxos and capturing the island of Corcyra, which put them in position to breach the important trade routes between the mainland of Greece and the Greek cities in Italy.^[28] In 229 BC, Rome declared war^[29] on Illyria for extensively plundering Roman ships. The war ended in Illyrian defeat in 227 BC. Teuta was eventually succeeded by Gentius in 181 BC.^[30] Gentius clashed with the Romans in 168 BC, initiating the Third Illyrian war. The conflict resulted in Roman victory and the end of Illyrian independence by 167 BC. After his defeat, the Romans split the region into three administrative divisions.^[31]

Middle Ages

Main article: Albania in the Middle Ages

Principality of Arbanon (11th–12th century AD)

Charles I of Naples established Regnum Albaniae (Kingdom of Albania) after he conquered a part the Despotate of Epirus.

Albanian principalities in the 14th century.

The territory now known as Albania remained under Roman (Byzantine) control until the Slavs began to overrun it from 548 and onward,^[32] and was captured by Bulgarian Empire in the 9th century. After the weakening of the Byzantine Empire and the Bulgarian Empire in the middle and late 13th century, some of the territory of modern-day Albania was captured by the Serbian Principality. In general, the invaders destroyed or weakened Roman and Byzantine cultural centers in the lands that would become Albania.^[33]

The territorial nucleus of the Albanian state formed in the Middle Ages, as the Principality of Arbër and the Kingdom of Albania. The Principality of Arbër or Albanon (Albanian): Arbër or Arbëria, was the first Albanian state during the Middle Ages , it was established by archon Progon in the region of Kruja, in c. 1190. Progon, the founder, was succeeded by his sons Gjin and Demetrius, the latter which attained the height of the realm. After the death of Dhimiter, the last of the Progon family, the principality came under Gregory Kamonas, and later Golem. The Principality was dissolved in 1255.^[34]^[35]^[36] Pipa and Repishti conclude that Arbanon was the first sketch of an "Albanian state", and that it retained semi-autonomous status as the western extremity of an empire (under the Doukai of Epirus or the Laskarids of Nicaea).^[37] The Kingdom of Albania was established by Charles of Anjou in the Albanian territory he conquered from the Despotate of Epirus in 1271. He took the title of "King of Albania" in February 1272. The kingdom extended from the region of Durrës (then known as Dyrrhachium) south along the coast to Butrint. After the creation of the kingdom, a Catholic political structure was a good basis for the papal plans of spreading Catholicism in the Balkans. This plan found also the support of Helen of Anjou, a cousin of Charles of Anjou, who was at that time ruling territories in North Albania. Around 30 Catholic churches and monasteries were built during her rule in North Albania and in Serbia.^[38] During 1331–55, the Serbian empire wrestled control over Albania. After the dissolution of the Serbian empire, several Albanian principalities were created, and among the most powerful were the Balsha, Thopia, Kastrioti, Muzaka and Arianiti. In the first half of the 14th century, the Ottoman Empire invaded most of Albania. But in 1444, the Albanian principalities were united under George Castrioti Skanderbeg, the national hero of Albania.

Ottoman Albania

Main article: Ottoman Albania

Sanjak of Albania 1431

After serving the Ottoman Empire for 20 years Skanderbeg deserted and began a rebellion that halted Ottoman advance into Europe for 25 years.

At the dawn of the establishment of the Ottoman Empire in Southeast Europe, the geopolitical landscape was marked by scattered kingdoms of small principalities. The Ottomans erected their garrisons throughout southern Albania by 1415 and occupied most of Albania by 1431.^[39] However, in 1443 a great and longstanding revolt broke out under the lead of the Albanian national hero Skanderbeg, which lasted until 1479, many times defeating major Ottoman armies led by the sultans Murad II and Mehmed II. Skanderbeg united initially the Albanian princes, and later on established a centralized authority over most of the non-conquered territories, becoming the ruling Lord of Albania. He also tried relentlessly but rather unsuccessfully to create a European coalition against the Ottomans. He thwarted every attempt by the Turks to regain Albania, which they envisioned as a springboard for the invasion of Italy and western Europe. His unequal fight against the mightiest power of the time won the esteem of Europe as well as some support in the form of money and military aid from Naples, the Papacy, Venice, and Ragusa.^[40]

With the arrival of the Turks, Islam was introduced in Albania as a third religion. This conversion caused a massive emigration of Albanians to the Christian European countries.^[41] Along with the Bosniaks, Muslim Albanians occupied an outstanding position in the Ottoman Empire, and were the main pillars of Ottoman Porte's policy in the Balkans.^[42]

Köprülü Mehmed Pasha was the most effective and influential Ottoman Grand Vizier of Albanian origin.^[43]

Enjoying this privileged position in the empire, Muslim Albanians held various high administrative positions, with over two dozen Grand Viziers of Albanian origin, such as Gen. Köprülü Mehmed Pasha, who commanded the Ottoman forces during the Ottoman-Persian Wars; Gen. Köprülü Fazıl Ahmed, who led the Ottoman armies during the Austro-Turkish War (1663–1664); and, later, Muhammad Ali Pasha of Egypt.^[44]

Ali Pasha of Tepelena was notably one of the most powerful Muslim Albanian rulers.He ruled over the Pashalik of Yanina from 1788 to 1822

In the 15th century, when the Ottomans were gaining a firm foothold in the region, Albanian towns were organised into four principal sanjaks. The government fostered trade by settling a sizeable Jewish colony of refugees fleeing persecution in Spain (at the end of the 15th century). Vlorë saw passing through its ports imported merchandise from Europe such as velvets, cotton goods, mohairs, carpets, spices and leather from Bursa and Constantinople. Some citizens of Vlorë even had business associates in Europe.^[44]

Albanians could also be found throughout the empire in Iraq, Egypt, Algeria and across the Maghreb, as vital military and administrative retainers.^[45] This was partly due to the Devşirme system. The process of Islamization was an incremental one, commencing from the arrival of the Ottomans in the 14th century (to this day, a minority of Albanians are Catholic or Orthodox Christians, though the vast majority became Muslim). Timar holders, the bedrock of early Ottoman control in Southeast Europe, were not necessarily converts to Islam, and occasionally rebelled; the most famous of these rebels is Skanderbeg (his figure would rise up later on, in the 19th century, as a central component of the Albanian national identity). The most significant impact on the Albanians was the gradual Islamisation process of a large majority of the population, although it became widespread only in the 17th century.^[46]

Mainly Catholics converted in the 17th century, while the Orthodox Albanians followed suit mainly in the following century. Initially confined to the main city centres of Elbasan and Shkoder, by this period the countryside was also embracing the new religion.^[46] The motives for conversion according to some scholars were diverse, depending on the context. The lack of source material does not help when investigating such issues.^[47]

Albania remained under Ottoman control as part of the Rumelia province until 1912, when independent Albania was declared.

Era of nationalism and League of Prizren

League of Prizren delegates 1878

Map outlining the Albanian Vilayet requested by the League of Prizren

The League of Prizren was formed on 1 June 1878, in Prizren, Kosovo Vilayet of Ottoman Empire. At first the Ottoman authorities supported the League of Prizren, whose initial position was based on the religious solidarity of Muslim landlords and people connected with the Ottoman administration. The Ottomans favoured and protected Muslim solidarity, and called for defense of Muslim lands, including present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. This was the reason for naming the league The Committee of the Real Muslims (Albanian: Komiteti i Myslimanëve të Vërtetë).^[48] The League issued a decree known as Kararname. Its text contained a proclamation that the people from "northern Albania, Epirus and Bosnia" are willing to defend the "territorial integrity" of the Ottoman Empire "by all possible means" from the troops of the Bulgaria, Serbia and Montenegro. It was signed by 47 Muslim deputies of the League on 18 June 1878.^[49] Around 300 Muslims participated in the assembly, including delegates from Bosnia and mutasarrif (sanjakbey) of the Sanjak of Prizren as representatives of the central authorities, and no delegates from Scutari Vilayet.^[50]

The Ottomans cancelled their support when the League, under the influence of Abdyl bey Frashëri, became focused on working toward Albanian autonomy and requested merging of four Ottoman vilayets (Kosovo, Scutari, Monastir and Ioannina) into a new vilayet of the Ottoman Empire (the Albanian Vilayet). The League used military force to prevent the annexing areas of Plav and Gusinje assigned to Montenegro by the Congress of Berlin. After several successful battles with Montenegrin troops such as in Novsice,under the pressure of the great powers,the League of Prizren was forced to retreat from their contested regions of Plav and Gusinje and later on,the league was defeated by the Ottoman army sent by the Sultan.^[51] The Albanian uprising of 1912, the Ottoman defeat in the Balkan Wars and the advance of Montenegrin, Serbian and Greek forces into territories claimed as Albanian, led to the proclamation of independence by Ismail Qemali in Vlora, on 28 November 1912.

Independence

Main article: Albanian declaration of independence

Further information: Albanian Revolt of 1912, Independent Albania, Treaty of London (1913), Principality of Albania, Peasant Revolt in Albania, Albania during the Balkan Wars and Albania during World War I

Skopje after being captured by Albanian revolutionaries in August, 1912 after defeating the Ottoman forces holding the city. This led to the proclamation of independence shortly after.

At the All-Albanian Congress in Vlorë on 28 November 1912^[52] Congress participants constituted the Assembly of Vlorë.^[53] The assembly of eighty-three leaders meeting in Vlorë in November 1912 declared Albania an independent country and set up a provisional government. The Provisional Government of Albania was established on the second session of the assembly held on 4 December 1912. It was a government of ten members, led by Ismail Qemali until his resignation on 22 January 1914.^[54] The Assembly also established the Senate (Albanian: Pleqësi) with an advisory role to the government, consisting of 18 members of the Assembly.^[55]

Ismail Qemali and his cabinet during the celebration of the first anniversary of independence in Vlorë on 28 November 1913.

Albania's independence was recognized by the Conference of London on 29 July 1913, but the drawing of the borders of the newly established Principality of Albania ignored the demographic realities of the time. The International Commission of Control was established on 15 October 1913 to take care of the administration of newly established Albania until its own political institutions were in order.^[56] Its headquarters were in Vlorë.^[57] The International Gendarmerie was established as the first law enforcement agency of the Principality of Albania. At the beginning of November the first gendarmerie members arrived in Albania. Wilhelm of Wied was selected as the first prince.^[58]

In November 1913 the Albanian pro-Ottoman forces had offered the throne of Albania to the Ottoman war minister of Albanian origin, Izzet Pasha.^[59] The pro-Ottoman peasants believed that the new regime of the Principality of Albania was a tool of the six Christian Great Powers and local landowners that owned half of the arable land.^[60]

In February 28, 1914, the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus was proclaimed in Gjirokastër by the local Greek population against incorporation to Albania. This initiative was short lived and in 1921 the southern provinces were finally incorporated to the Albanian Principality.^[61]^[62] Meanwhile, the revolt of Albanian peasants against the new Albanian regime erupted under the leadership of the group of Muslim clerics gathered around Essad Pasha Toptani, who proclaimed himself the savior of Albania and Islam.^[63]^[64] In order to gain support of the Mirdita Catholic volunteers from the northern mountains, Prince of Wied appointed their leader, Prênk Bibë Doda, to be the foreign minister of the Principality of Albania. In May and June 1914 the International Gendarmerie joined by Isa Boletini and his men, mostly from Kosovo,^[65] and northern Mirdita Catholics were defeated by the rebels who captured most of Central Albania by the end of August 1914.^[66] The regime of Prince of Wied collapsed and he left the country on 3 September 1914.^[67]

Republic and Monarchy

Main articles: Albanian Republic and Kingdom of Albania (1928–39)

Zog I,King of Albania

The short-lived monarchy (1914–1925) was succeeded by the first Albanian Republic (1925–1928). In 1925 the four-member Regency was abolished and Ahmed Zogu was elected president of the newly declared republic. Tirana was endorsed officially as the country's permanent capital.^[68] Zogu led an authoritarian and conservative regime, the primary aim of which was the maintenance of stability and order. Zogu was forced to adopt a policy of cooperation with Italy. A pact had been signed between Italy and Albania on 20 January 1925 whereby Italy gained a monopoly on shipping and trade concessions.^[69]

The Albanian republic was eventually replaced by another monarchy in 1928. In order to extend his direct control throughout the entire country, Zogu placed great emphasis on the construction of roads. Every male Albanian over the age of 16 years was legally bound to give ten days of free labor each year to the state.^[69] King Zogu remained a conservative, but initiated reforms. For example, in an attempt at social modernization, the custom of adding one's region to one's name was dropped. Zogu also made donations of land to international organisations for the building of schools and hospitals. The armed forces were trained and supervised by Italian instructors. As a counterweight, Zogu kept British officers in the Gendarmerie despite strong Italian pressure to remove them. The kingdom was supported by the fascist regime in Italy and the two countries maintained close relations until Italy's sudden invasion of the country in 1939. Albania was occupied by Fascist Italy and then by Nazi Germany during World War II.

World War II

Main articles: Albanian Kingdom (1939–43) and Albanian resistance during World War II

Kingdom of Albania during World War II

Flag of the Albanian Kingdom (1939-1943)

After being militarily occupied by Italy, from 1939 until 1943 the Albanian Kingdom was a protectorate and a dependency of Italy governed by the Italian King Victor Emmanuel III and his government. After the Axis' invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, territories of Yugoslavia with substantial Albanian population were annexed to Albania: most of Kosovo,^{[lower-alpha 1]} as well as Western Macedonia, the town of Tutin in Central Serbia and a strip of Eastern Montenegro.^[70] In November 1941, the small Albanian Communist groups established an Albanian Communist Party in Tirana of 130 members under the leadership of Enver Hoxha and an eleven-man Central Committee. The party at first had little mass appeal, and even its youth organization netted few recruits. After March 1943, the National Liberation Movement formed its first and second regular battalions, which subsequently became brigades, to operate along with existing smaller and irregular units. Resistance to the occupation grew rapidly as signs of Italian weakness became apparent. At the end of 1942, guerrilla forces numbered no more than 8,000 to 10,000. By the summer of 1943, when the Italian effort collapsed, almost all of the mountainous interior was controlled by resistance units.^[71]

Albanian partisans march in Tirana 29 November 1944

After the capitulation of Italy in 1943, Nazi Germany occupied Albania too. The nationalist Balli Kombetar, which had fought against Italy, formed a "neutral" government in Tirana, and side by side with the Germans fought against the communist-led National Liberation Movement of Albania.^[72] The Center for Relief to Civilian Populations (Geneva) reported that Albania was one of the most devastated countries in Europe. 60,000 houses were destroyed and about 10% of the population was left homeless.The communist partisans had regrouped and gained control of much of southern Albania in January 1944. However, they were subject to German attacks driving them out of certain areas. In the Congress of Përmet, the NLF formed an Anti-Fascist Council of National Liberation to act as Albania's administration and legislature. By the last year in WWII Albania fell into a civil war-like state between the communists and nationalists. The communist partisans however defeated the last Balli Kombëtar forces in southern Albania by mid-summer 1944. Before the end of November, the main German troops had withdrawn from Tirana, and the communists took control by attacking it. The partisans entirely liberated Albania from German occupation on 29 November 1944. A provisional government, which the communists had formed at Berat in October, administered Albania with Enver Hoxha as prime minister.

Communist Albania

Main article: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Enver Hoxha in 1971

By the end of World War II, the main military and political force in the country, the Communist party, sent forces to northern Albania against the nationalists to eliminate its rivals. They faced open resistance in Nikaj-Mertur, Dukagjin and Kelmend (Kelmendi was led by Prek Cali).^[73] On 15 January 1945, a clash took place between partisans of the first Brigade and nationalist forces at the Tamara Bridge, resulting in the defeat of the nationalist forces . About 150 Kelmendi^[74] people were killed or tortured. This event was the starting point of many other issues which took place during Enver Hoxha's dictatorship. Class struggle was strictly applied, human freedom and human rights were denied. Kelmend region was isolated both by the border and by lack of roads for another 20 years, the institution of agricultural cooperative brought about economic decline. Many Kelmendi people fled, some were executed trying to cross the border.

Symbol of the Labour Party of Albania.

After the liberation of Albania from Nazi occupation, the country became a Communist state, the People's Republic of Albania (renamed "the People's Socialist Republic of Albania" in 1976), which was led by Enver Hoxha and the Labour Party of Albania.

The socialist reconstruction of Albania was launched immediately after the annulling of the monarchy and the establishment of a "People's Republic". In 1947, Albania's first railway line was completed, with the second completed eight months later. New land reform laws were passed granting the land to the workers and peasants who tilled it. Agriculture became cooperative, and production increased significantly, leading to Albania's becoming agriculturally self-sufficient. By 1955, illiteracy was eliminated among Albania's adult population.^[75]

An old communist bunker overlooking the spectacular peaks of Valbona Valley. An estimated 700,000 concrete bunkers were built by Hoxha's government.

During this period Albania became industrialized and saw rapid economic growth, as well as unprecedented progress in the areas of education and health. The average annual rate of Albania's national income was 29% higher than the world average and 56% higher than the European average.^[76] Albania's Communist constitution did not allow taxes on individuals; instead, taxes were imposed on cooperatives and other organizations, with much the same effect.^[77]

Religious freedoms were severely curtailed during the Communist period, with all forms of worship being outlawed. In August 1945, the Agrarian Reform Law meant that large swaths of property owned by religious groups (mostly Islamic waqfs) were nationalized, along with the estates of monasteries and dioceses. Many believers, with the ulema, and many priests were arrested, tortured and executed. In 1949, a new Decree on Religious Communities required that all their activities be sanctioned by the state alone.^[78]

In 1967 Hoxha proclaimed Albania the 'world's first atheist state'. Hundreds of mosques and dozens of Islamic libraries — containing priceless manuscripts — were destroyed.^[79] Churches were not spared either, and many were converted into cultural centers for young people. The new law banned all "fascist, religious, warmongerish, antisocialist activity and propaganda." Preaching religion carried a three to ten years prison sentence. Nonetheless, many Albanians continued to practice their beliefs secretly.

Hoxha's political successor Ramiz Alia oversaw the dismemberment of the "Hoxhaist" state during the breakup of the Eastern Bloc in the later 1980s.

Post-Communist Albania

Main article: Fall of communism in Albania

After protests beginning in 1989 and reforms made by the communist government in 1990, the People's Republic was dissolved in 1991–92 and the Republic of Albania was founded. The communists retained a stronghold in parliament after popular support in the elections of 1991. However, in March 1992, amid liberalization policies resulting in economic collapse and social unrest, a new front led by the new Democratic Party took power.

Albanian T-59 tanks near Kosovo border, May 1999 during the Kosovo war

In the following years, much of the accumulated wealth of the country was invested in Ponzi pyramid banking schemes, which were widely supported by government officials. The schemes swept up somewhere between one-sixth to one-third of the country's population.^[80]^[81] Despite IMF warnings in late 1996, then president Sali Berisha defended the schemes as large investment firms, leading more people to redirect their remittances and sell their homes and cattle for cash to deposit in the schemes.^[82] The schemes began to collapse in late 1996, leading many of the investors into initially peaceful protests against the government, requesting their money back. The protests turned violent in February as government forces responded with fire. In March the police and Republican Guard deserted, leaving their armories open. They were promptly emptied by militias and criminal gangs. The resulting crisis caused a wave of evacuations of foreign nationals^[83]^[84] and of refugees.^[85]

The crisis led Prime Minister Aleksandër Meksi to resign on 11 March 1997, followed by President Sali Berisha in July in the wake of the June General Election. In April 1997, Operation Alba, a UN peacekeeping force led by Italy, entered the country with two goals: assistance in evacuation of expatriates and to secure the ground for international organizations. This was primarily WEU MAPE, who worked with the government in restructuring the judicial system and police. The Socialist Party won the elections in 1997, and a degree of political stabilization followed.

In 1999, the country was affected by the Kosovo War, when a great number of Albanians from Kosovo found refuge in Albania.

Albania became a full member of NATO in 2009, and has applied to join the European Union. In 2013, the Socialist Party won the national elections. In June 2014, the Republic of Albania became an official candidate for accession to the European Union.

Government

Main articles: Politics of Albania and Law of Albania

The Albanian republic is a parliamentary democracy established under a constitution renewed in 1998.^[86] Elections are held every four years to the 140-seat unicameral Assembly of the Republic of Albania. In June 2002, a compromise candidate, Alfred Moisiu, former Army General, was elected to succeed President Rexhep Meidani. After parliamentary elections in July 2005, Sali Berisha, the leader of the Democratic Party, became prime minister, while on 20 July 2007 Bamir Topi became president. The current Albanian president Bujar Nishani was elected by Parliament in July 2012.

The Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania has been the ultimate goal of the post-communist governments. Albania's EU membership bid has been set as a priority by the European Commission.

Albania, along with Croatia, joined NATO on 1 April 2009, becoming the 27th and 28th members of the alliance.^[87]

Executive branch

Cabinet of Albania Logo

The head of state in Albania is the President of the Republic. The President is elected to a 5-year term by the Assembly by secret ballot, requiring a 50%+1 majority of the votes of all deputies. The current President of the Republic is Bujar Nishani elected in July 2012.

The President has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, act as commander in chief of the armed forces, exercise the duties of the Assembly of the Republic of Albania when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister).

Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Chairman of the Council (prime minister) is appointed by the president; ministers are nominated by the president on the basis of the prime minister's recommendation. The People's Assembly must give final approval of the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs.

President	Bujar Nishani	PD	24 July 2012
Prime Minister	Edi Rama	PS	15 September 2013

Legislative branch

Main article: Assembly of the Republic of Albania

Parliament offices in Tirana

The Assembly of the Republic of Albania (Kuvendi i Republikës së Shqipërisë) is the lawmaking body in Albania. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, which are elected through a party-list proportional representation system. The President of the Assembly (or Speaker), who has two deputies, chairs the Assembly. There are 15 permanent commissions, or committees. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years.

The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or annul international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court, and the Attorney General and his or her deputies; and control the activity of state radio and television, state news agency and other official information media.

Armed forces

Main article: Military of Albania

Albanian infantry units in a NATO joint live excersise in Italy, 2015.

Patrol boat Iliria of the Albanian Navy.

The Albanian Armed Forces (Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë) were first formed after the country declared its independence in 1912. Albania reduced the number of active troops from 65,000 in 1988 to 14,500 in 2009.^[88]^[89] The military now consists mainly of a small fleet of aircraft and sea vessels. In the 1990s, the country scrapped enormous amounts of obsolete hardware from China, such as tanks and SAM systems.

The armed forces currently include the General Staff, the Albanian Land Force, the Albanian Air Force and the Albanian Naval Force. Increasing the military budget was one of the most important conditions for NATO integration. Military spending has generally been lower than 1.5% since 1996, only to peak in 2009 at 2% and fall again to 1.5%.^[90] Since February 2008, Albania has participated officially in NATO's Operation Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean Sea.^[91] It was invited to join NATO on 3 April 2008, and it became a full member on 2 April 2009.^[92]

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of Albania

Albania is divided into 12 administrative counties (Albanian: qark or prefekturë). Since June 2015, these counties are divided into 61 municipalities (Albanian: bashki). These counties were further divided in 36 districts (Albanian: rreth) which became defunct in 2000.^[93] The government introduced a new administrative division to be implemented in 2015 whereby municipalities are reduced to 61 in total, while rural ones called komuna are abolished. The defunct municipalities will be known as Neighborhoods or Villages (Albanian: Lagje / Fshat).^[94]^[95] There are overall 2980 villages/communities (Albanian: fshat) in all Albania, formerly known as localities (Albanian: lokalitete). The municipalities are the first level of local governance, responsible for local needs and law enforcement.^[96]

As part of the reform, major town centers in Albania are being physically redesigned and façades painted to reflect a more Mediterranean look.^[97]^[98]

Geography

Main article: Geography of Albania

A satellite image of Albania

Osum Canyon in Skrapar

Albania has a total area of 28,748 square kilometres (11,100 square miles). It lies between latitudes 39° and 43° N, and mostly between longitudes 19° and 21° E (a small area lies east of 21°). Albania's coastline length is 476 km (296 mi)^[99]^:240 and extends along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The lowlands of the west face the Adriatic Sea.

The 70% of the country that is mountainous is rugged and often inaccessible from the outside. The highest mountain is Korab situated in the district of Dibër, reaching up to 2,764 metres (9,068 ft). The climate on the coast is typically Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and warm, sunny, and rather dry summers.

Inland conditions vary depending on elevation, but the higher areas above 1,500 m/5,000 ft are rather cold and frequently snowy in winter; here cold conditions with snow may linger into spring. Besides the capital city of Tirana, which has 420,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are Durrës, Korçë, Elbasan, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, Vlorë and Kukës. In Albanian grammar, a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: both Tiranë and Tirana, Shkodër and Shkodra are used.

The three largest and deepest tectonic lakes of the Balkan Peninsula are partly located in Albania. Lake Shkodër in the country's northwest has a surface which can vary between 370 km² (140 sq mi) and 530 km², out of which one third belongs to Albania and rest to Montenegro. The Albanian shoreline of the lake is 57 km (35 mi). Ohrid Lake is situated in the country's southeast and is shared between Albania and Republic of Macedonia. It has a maximal depth of 289 meters and a variety of unique flora and fauna can be found there, including "living fossils" and many endemic species. Because of its natural and historical value, Ohrid Lake is under the protection of UNESCO. There is also Butrinti Lake which is a small tectonic lake. It is located in the national park of Butrint.

Climate

Albanian Riviera as seen from Llogora Pass along SH8

With its coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons, Albania has a high number of climatic regions relative to its landmass. The coastal lowlands have typically Mediterranean climate; the highlands have a Mediterranean continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies markedly from north to south.

The lowlands have mild winters, averaging about 7 °C (45 °F). Summer temperatures average 24 °C (75 °F). In the southern lowlands, temperatures average about 5 °C (9 °F) higher throughout the year. The difference is greater than 5 °C (9 °F) during the summer and somewhat less during the winter.

Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation than by latitude or any other factor. Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and river valleys are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.

Average precipitation is heavy, a result of the convergence of the prevailing airflow from the Mediterranean Sea and the continental air mass. Because they usually meet at the point where the terrain rises, the heaviest rain falls in the central uplands. Vertical currents initiated when the Mediterranean air is uplifted also cause frequent thunderstorms. Many of these storms are accompanied by high local winds and torrential downpours.

Landscape of Albanian countryside

When the continental air mass is weak, Mediterranean winds drop their moisture farther inland. When there is a dominant continental air mass, cold air spills onto the lowland areas, which occurs most frequently in the winter. Because the season's lower temperatures damage olive trees and citrus fruits, groves and orchards are restricted to sheltered places with southern and western exposures, even in areas with high average winter temperatures.

Lowland rainfall averages from 1,000 millimeters (39.4 in) to more than 1,500 millimeters (59.1 in) annually, with the higher levels in the north. Nearly 95% of the rain falls in the winter.

Rainfall in the upland mountain ranges is heavier. Adequate records are not available, and estimates vary widely, but annual averages are probably about 1,800 millimeters (70.9 in) and are as high as 2,550 millimeters (100.4 in) in some northern areas. The western Albanian Alps (valley of Boga) are among the wettest areas in Europe, receiving some 3,100 mm (122.0 in) of rain annually.^[100] The seasonal variation is not quite as great in the coastal area.

The higher inland mountains receive less precipitation than the intermediate uplands. Terrain differences cause wide local variations, but the seasonal distribution is the most consistent of any area.

In 2009, an expedition from University of Colorado discovered four small glaciers in the "Cursed" mountains in North Albania. The glaciers are at the relatively low level of 2,000 metres (6,600 ft), almost unique for such a southerly latitude.^[101]

Flora and fauna

The lynx still survives in Albania.^[102]

Although a small country, Albania is distinguished for its rich biological diversity. The variation of geomorphology, climate and terrain create favorable conditions for a number of endemic and sub-endemic species with 27 endemic and 160 subendemic vascular plants present in the country. The total number of plants is over 3250 species, approximately 30% of the entire flora species found in Europe.

Over a third of the territory of Albania – about 10,000 square kilometres (3,861 square miles);– is forested and the country is very rich in flora. About 3,000 different species of plants grow in Albania, many of which are used for medicinal purposes. Phytogeographically, Albania belongs to the Boreal Kingdom, the Mediterranean Region and the Illyrian province of the Circumboreal Region. Coastal regions and lowlands have typical Mediterranean macchia vegetation, whereas oak forests and vegetation are found on higher elevations. Vast forests of black pine, beech and fir are found on higher mountains and alpine grasslands grow at elevations above 1800 meters.^[103]

Golden eagle–the national symbol of Albania.^[104]

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the European Environment Agency, the territory of Albania can be subdivided into three ecoregions: the Illyrian deciduous forests, Pindus Mountains mixed forests and Dinaric Alpine mixed forests. The forests are home to a wide range of mammals, including wolves, bears, wild boars and chamois. Lynx, wildcats, pine martens and polecats are rare, but survive in some parts of the country.

There are around 760 vertebrate species found so far in Albania. Among these there are over 350 bird species, 330 freshwater and marine fish and 80 mammal species. There are some 91 globally threatened species found within the country, among which the Dalmatian pelican, pygmy cormorant, and the European sea sturgeon. Rocky coastal regions in the south provide good habitats for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal.

Some of the most significant bird species found in the country include the golden eagle – known as the national symbol of Albania^[104] – vulture species, capercaillie and numerous waterfowl. The Albanian forests still maintain significant communities of large mammals such as the brown bear, gray wolf, chamois and wild boar.^[103] The north and eastern mountains of the country are home to the last remaining Balkan lynx – a critically endangered population of the Eurasian lynx.^[105]

Economy

Main article: Economy of Albania

Tourism

Main article: Tourism in Albania

Seaside town of Saranda across from Corfu

Golem beach near Durrës

Beach in Himarë on the Albanian Riviera

Lake Koman Ferry

A large part of Albania's national income comes from tourism. Tourism - as of 2013 - funds 10% of its gross domestical product, and this is expected to increase. Albania welcomed around 4.2 million visitors in 2012, mostly from neighbouring countries and the European Union. In 2011, Albania was recommended as a top travel destination, by Lonely Planet.^[120] In 2014, Albania was nominated number 4 global touristic destination by the New York Times.^[121] The number of tourists has increased by 20% for 2014 as well.

The bulk of the tourist industry is concentrated along the Adriatic and the Ionian Sea coast. The latter has the most beautiful and pristine beaches, and is often called the Albanian Riviera. Albanian seaside has a considerable length of 360 km, including even the lagoon area which you find within. The seaside has a particular character because it is rich in varieties of sandy beaches, capes, coves, covered bays, lagoons, small gravel beaches, sea caves etc. Some parts of this seaside are very clean ecologically, which represent in this prospective unexplored areas, very rare in Mediterranean area.^[122]

The increase in foreign visitors is dramatic, Albania had only 500,000 visitors in 2005, while in 2012 had an estimated 4.2 million tourists, an increase of 740% in only 7 years. Several of the country's main cities are situated along the pristine seashores of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. An important gateway to the Balkan Peninsula, Albania's ever-growing road network provides juncture to reach its neighbors in north south, east, and west. Albania is within close proximity to all the major European capitals with short two or three hour flights that are available daily. Tourists can see and experience Albania's ancient past and traditional culture.^[123]

Seventy percent of Albania's terrain is mountainous and there are valleys that spread in a beautiful mosaic of forests, pastures, springs framed by high peaks capped by snow until late summer spreads across them.^[124]

Albanian Alps, part of the Prokletije or Accursed Mountains range in Northern Albania bearing the highest mountain peak. The most beautiful mountainous regions that can be easily visited by tourists are Dajti Mountain, Thethi, Voskopoja, Valbona, Kelmend, Prespa, Lake Koman, Dukat and Shkrel.

National parks and World Heritage Sites

Gjirokastër,the city of stone — a UNESCO World heritage Site

Valbona valley in autumn, part of the Albanian Alps

UNESCO World Heritage Site of Berat

UNESCO World Heritage Site of the ancient city of Butrint

Ruins of Apollonia

Albania offers many places for hiking, the most spectacular landscapes being those of the national parks.

One of the most impressive mountain national parks is the 4,000-hectare (9,900-acre) Tomorr National Park, established south of the Shkumbin river in the Tomorr Range just east of the beautiful museum-city of Berat, and overlooking the city of Polican. Other important mountain national parks are: Theth (Thethi) National Park in the Shale basin around Theth (2630 hectares)^[125] Dajti (Daiti) National Park, 3300 hectares of the mountain overlooking the capital, Tirana and Valbona Valley National Park, in the Valbona Gorge from the gorge entrance through to Rrogam and the surrounding mountains.^[126]

Although relatively small, Albania is home to a large number of lakes. Three of the largest lakes are Shkodra, Ohrid and Prespa.^[127]

There are a number of associations of the tourism industry such as ATA, Unioni, etc.^[128]^[129]

Albania is home to two World Heritage Sites (Berat and Gjirokastër are listed together)

Butrint, an ancient Greek and Roman city
Gjirokastër, a well-preserved Ottoman medieval town
Berat, the 'town of a thousand and one windows'

The following is the UNESCO Tentative List of Albania:^[130]

Gashi River and Rrajca (latter part of Shebenik-Jabllanica National Park) under primeval beech forests of the Carpathians and the ancient beech forests of Germany
Durrës Amphitheatre
Ancient Tombs of Lower Selca
Natural and Cultural Heritage of the Ohrid Region
Ancient City of Apollonia

Most of the international tourists going to Albania are from Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Greece, and Italy.^[131] Foreign tourists mostly come from Eastern Europe, particularly from Poland, and the Czech Republic, but also from Western European countries such as Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France, Scandinavia, and others.^[132]

Crime and law enforcement

Albanian Police Logo

RENEA exhibition ALMEX 2010

Law enforcement in Albania is primarily the responsibility of the Albanian Police. Albania also has a counter-terrorism unit called RENEA. On a list of 43 European countries, Albania listed at 4th highest crime rate next to Russia, France and Moldova.^[133] Homicide is a problem in the country, especially blood feuds in rural areas of the north and domestic crime.^[134] In 2014 about 3000 Albanian families were estimated to be involved in blood feuds and this had since the fall of Communism led to the deaths of 10,000 people.^[135]

Science and technology

Main article: Science and technology in Albania

From 1993 human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased. Various surveys show that during 1991–2005, approximately 50% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated.^[136]

However, in 2009 the government approved the "National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania"^[137] covering the period 2009–2015. It aims to triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP and augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union's Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending, among others.

Transport

Main article: Transport in Albania

Highways

Main article: Highways in Albania

A1 Highway connecting Albania with Kosovo

Currently there are three main motorways in Albania: the dual carriageway connecting Durrës with Vlorë, the Albania–Kosovo Highway, and the Tirana–Elbasan Highway.

The A1 Albania–Kosovo Highway links Kosovo to Albania's Adriatic coast: the Albanian side was completed in June 2009,^[138] and now it takes only two hours and a half to go from the Kosovo border to Durrës. Overall the highway will be around 250 km (155 mi) when it reaches Prishtina. The project was the biggest and most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in Albania. The cost of the highway appears to have breached €800 million, although the exact cost for the total highway has yet to be confirmed by the government.

Two additional highways will be built in Albania in the near future: Corridor VIII, which will link Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria, and the north-south highway, which corresponds to the Albanian side of the Adriatic–Ionian motorway, a larger regional highway connecting Croatia with Greece along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts. When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with all its neighboring countries: Kosovo, the Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Greece.

Aviation

Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza

The civil air transport in Albania marked its beginnings in November 1924, when the Republic of Albania signed a governmental agreement with German air company Deutsche Luft Hansa. On the basis of a ten-year concession agreement, the Albanian Airlines Company Adria Aero Lloyd was established. In the spring of 1925, the first domestic flights from Tirana to Shkodër and Vlorë began.

In August 1927, the office of Civil Aviation of Air Traffic Ministry of Italy purchased Adria Aero Lloyd. The company, now in Italian hands, expanded its flights to other cities, such as Elbasan, Korçë, Kukës, Peshkopi and Gjirokastër, and opened up international lines to Rome, Milan, Thessaloniki, Sofia, Belgrade, and Podgorica.

The construction of a more modern airport in Laprakë started in 1934 and was completed by the end of 1935. This new airport, which was later officially named "Airport of Tirana", was constructed in conformity with optimal technological parameters of that time, with a reinforced concrete runway of 2,700 m (8,858 ft), and complemented with technical equipment and appropriate buildings.

During 1955–1957, the Rinasi Airport was constructed for military purposes. Later, its administration was shifted to the Ministry of Transport. On 25 January 1957 the State-owned Enterprise of International Air Transport (Albtransport) established its headquarters in Tirana. Aeroflot, Jat Airways, Malév, TAROM and Interflug were the air companies that started to have flights with Albania until 1960.^[139]

During 1960–1978, several airlines ceased to operate in Albania due to the impact of the politics, resulting in a decrease of influx of flights and passengers. In 1977 Albania's government signed an agreement with Greece to open the country's first air links with non-communist Europe. As a result, Olympic Airways was the first non-communist airline to commercially fly into Albania after World War II. By 1991 Albania had air links with many major European cities, including Paris, Rome, Zürich, Vienna and Budapest, but no regular domestic air service.^[139]

A French-Albanian joint venture Ada Air, was launched in Albania as the first private airline, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days a week between Tirana and Bari, Italy and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.^[139]

From 1989 to 1991, because of political changes in the Eastern European countries, Albania adhered to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), opened its air space to international flights, and had its duties of Air Traffic Control defined. As a result of these developments, conditions were created to separate the activities of air traffic control from Albtransport. Instead, the National Agency of Air Traffic (NATA) was established as an independent enterprise. In addition, during these years, governmental agreements of civil air transport were established with countries such as Bulgaria, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Russia, Austria, the UK and Macedonia.

The Directory General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was established on 3 February 1991, to cope with the development required by the time. Albania has one international airport, Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza, which is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s.

Railways

Main articles: Rail transport in Albania and Hekurudha Shqiptare

Newly painted T-669 Locomotive of the Albanian Railways at Kashar transit stop

The railways in Albania are administered by the national railway company Hekurudha Shqiptare (HSH) (which means Albanian Railways). It operates a 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) gauge (standard gauge) rail system in Albania. All trains are hauled by Czech-built ČKD diesel-electric locomotives.

The railway system was extensively promoted by the totalitarian regime of Enver Hoxha, during which time the use of private transport was effectively prohibited. Since the collapse of the former regime, there has been a considerable increase in car ownership and bus usage. Whilst some of the country's roads are still in very poor condition, there have been other developments (such as the construction of a motorway between Tirana and Durrës) which have taken much traffic away from the railways.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Albania

Regions with a traditional presence of ethnic groups other than Albanian.

Representation of the distribution of ethnic groups within the Republic of Albania, as according to the 2011 census. Districts colored gray are those where a majority of people did not declare an ethnicity (the question was optional).

According to the 2011 Census results, the total population of Albania is 2,821,977 with a low Fertility rate of 1.49 children born per woman.^[140]^[141] The fall of the Communist regime in 1990 Albania was accompanied with massive migration. External migration was prohibited in Communist Albania while internal one was quite limited, hence this was a new phenomenon. Between 1991 and 2004, roughly 900,000 people have migrated out of Albania, about 600,000 of them settling in Greece.^[142] Migration greatly affected Albania's internal population distribution. Population decreased mainly in the North and South of the country while it increased in Tirana and Durrës center districts. According to the Albanian Institute of Statistics, the population of Albania is 2,893,005 as of 1 January 2015.^[1]

Issues of ethnicity are a delicate topic and subject to debate. "Although official statistics have suggested that Albania is one of the most homogenous countries in the region (with an over 97 per cent Albanian majority) minority groups (such as Greeks, Macedonians, Montenegrins, Roma and Vlachs/Aromanians) have often questioned the official data, claiming a larger share in the country's population."^[143] The last census that contained ethnographic data (before the 2011 one) was conducted in 1989.^[144]

Albanian schoolchildren

Albania recognizes three national minorities, Greeks, Macedonians and Montenegrins, and two cultural minorities, Aromanians and Romani people.^[145] Other Albanian minorities are Bulgarians, Gorani, Serbs, Balkan Egyptians, Bosniaks and Jews. Regarding the Greeks, "it is difficult to know how many Greeks there are in Albania. The Greek government, it is typically claimed, says that there are around 300,000 ethnic Greeks in Albania, but most western estimates are around 200,000 mark (although EEN puts the number at a probable 100,000)."^[146]^[147]^[148]^[149]^[150] The Albanian government puts the number at only 24,243."^[151] The CIA World Factbook estimates the Greek minority at 0.9%^[152] of the total population and the US State Department uses 1.17% for Greeks and 0.23% for other minorities.^[153] However, the latter questions the validity of the data about the Greek minority, due to the fact that measurements have been affected by boycott.^[154]

According to the 2011 census the population of Albania declared the following ethnic affiliation: Albanians 2,312,356 (82.6% of the total), Greeks 24,243 (0.9%), Macedonians 5,512 (0.2%), Montenegrins 366 (0.01%), Aromanians 8,266 (0.30%), Romani 8,301 (0.3%), Balkan Egyptians 3,368 (0.1%), other ethnicities 2,644 (0.1%), no declared ethnicity 390,938 (14.0%), and not relevant 44,144 (1.6%).^[2]

Macedonian and some Greek minority groups have sharply criticized Article 20 of the Census law, according to which a $1,000 fine will be imposed on anyone who will declare an ethnicity other than what is stated on his or her birth certificate. This is claimed to be an attempt to intimidate minorities into declaring Albanian ethnicity, according to them the Albanian government has stated that it will jail anyone who does not participate in the census or refuse to declare his or her ethnicity.^[155] Genc Pollo, the minister in charge has declared that: "Albanian citizens will be able to freely express their ethnic and religious affiliation and mother tongue. However, they are not forced to answer these sensitive questions".^[156] The amendments criticized do not include jailing or forced declaration of ethnicity or religion; only a fine is envisioned which can be overthrown by court.^[157]^[158]

Greek representatives form part of the Albanian parliament and the government has invited Albanian Greeks to register, as the only way to improve their status.^[143] On the other hand, nationalists, various intellectuals organizations and political parties in Albania have expressed their concern that the census might artificially increase the number of Greek minority, which might be then exploited by Greece to threaten Albania's territorial integrity.^[143]^[143]^[159]^[159]^[160]^[161]^[162]^[163]^[164]

Language

Main article: Languages of Albania

Map showing the various dialects of Albanian in Albania and all surrounding states

Albanian is the official language of Albania. Its standard spoken and written form is revised and merged from the two main dialects, Gheg and Tosk, though it is notably based more on the Tosk dialect. Shkumbin river is the rough dividing line between the two dialects. Also a dialect of Greek that preserves features now lost in standard modern Greek is spoken in areas inhabited by the Greek minority. Other languages spoken by ethnic minorities in Albania include Vlach, Serbian, Macedonian, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Gorani, and Roma.^[165] Macedonian is official in the Pustec Municipality in East Albania.

Albanians are considered a polyglot nation and people. Due to immigration and past colonialism, Albanians generally speak more than 2 languages. English, Italian and Greek are by far the most widely spoken foreign languages, which are increasing due to migration return, and new Greek and Italian communities in the country. La Francophonie states 320,000 French speakers can be found in Albania. Other spoken languages include Serbian, Romanian, German, Turkish and Aromanian. Albanians in neighbouring Kosovo and Macedonia are often fluent in Albanian and Serbian, Turkish, Slavic Macedonian, and other former Yugoslav languages.

According to the 2011 population census, 2,765,610 or 98.767% of the population declared Albanian as their mother tongue ("mother tongue is defined as the first or main language spoken at home during childhood").^[2]

Religion

Main article: Religion in Albania

Albanian census 2011

Islam			57%
Bektashi Islam			2%
Eastern Orthodox Christianity			7%
Catholic Christianity			10%
Other Christian			0.2%
Others			5.5%
Undeclared			14%
Atheism			2.5%

According to 2011 census, 58.79% of Albania adheres to Islam; Christianity is practiced by 17.06% of the population, making it the 2nd largest religion in the country; and 24.29% of the total population is either irreligious, belongs to other religious groups, or are 'undeclared'.^[166] The Albanian Orthodox church refused to recognize the 2011 census results regarding faith, saying that 24% of the total population are Albanian Orthodox Christians rather than just 6.75%.^[167] Before World War II, 70% of the population were Muslims, 20% Eastern Orthodox, and 10% Roman Catholics.^[7] According to a 2010 survey, religion today plays an important role in the lives of only 39% of Albanians, and Albania is ranked among the least religious countries in the world.^[168] A 2012 Pew Research Center study found that 65% of Albanian Muslims are non-denominational Muslims.^[169]

Resurection of Christ cathedral in Korçë

The Albanians first appear in the historical record in Byzantine sources of the late 11th century. At this point, they were already fully Christianized. Islam later emerged as the majority religion during the centuries of Ottoman rule, though a significant Christian minority remained. After independence (1912) from the Ottoman Empire, the Albanian republican, monarchic and later Communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom. In the 20th century, the clergy of all faiths was weakened under the monarchy, and ultimately eradicated during the 1950s and 1960s, under the state policy of obliterating all organized religion from Albanian territories.

The Communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II persecuted and suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first atheist state. Religious freedom has returned to Albania since the regime's change in 1992. Albania joined the Organisation of the Islamic Conference in 1992, following the fall of the communist government, but will not be attending the 2014 conference due a dispute regarding the fact that its parliament never ratified the country's membership.^[170] Albanian Muslim populations (mainly secular and of the Sunni branch) are found throughout the country whereas Albanian Orthodox Christians as well as Bektashis are concentrated in the south and Roman Catholics are found in the north of the country.^[171]

Leaders of Albania's four main denominations in Paris,France after the Charlie Hebdo attacks, 2015. From left to right: Sunni, Orthodox, Bektashi, and Catholic

Et'hem bey mosque in Tirana

Orthodox Cathedral of Tirana

The first recorded Albanian Protestant was Said Toptani, who traveled around Europe, and in 1853 returned to Tirana and preached Protestantism. He was arrested and imprisoned by the Ottoman authorities in 1864. Mainline evangelical Protestants date back to the work of Congregational and later Methodist missionaries and the work of the British and Foreign Bible Society in the 19th century. The Evangelical Alliance, which is known as VUSh, was founded in 1892. Today VUSh has about 160 member congregations from different Protestant denominations. VUSh organizes marches in Tirana including one against blood feuds in 2010. Bibles are provided by the Interconfessional Bible Society of Albania. The first full Albanian Bible to be printed was the Filipaj translation printed in 1990.

Seventh-day Adventist Church,^[172]^[173] The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,^[174] and Jehovah's Witnesses^[175] also have a number of adherents in Albania.

Albania was the only country in Europe where Jewish population experienced growth during the Holocaust.^[176] After the mass emigration to Israel since the fall of Communist regime, only 200 Albanian Jews are left in the country today.^[177]^[178]

According to 2008 statistics from the religious communities in Albania, there are 1119 churches and 638 mosques in the country. The Roman Catholic mission declared 694 Catholic churches. The Christian Orthodox community, 425 Orthodox churches. The Muslim community, 568 mosques and 70 Bektashi tekkes.^[179]^[180]

Catholic Cathedral of Shkodër

Franciscan Church,Shkodër

Ardenica Monastery in Ardenicë, Albania.
Muradie Mosque in Vlorë is a cultural monument.
Bektashi center in Vlorë.
St.Mary's Orthodox Church in Apollonia, Albania.
Catholic Church of Thethi, Albania
6th century Dormition of the Theotokos Church
13th century Byzantine church of Berat
Et'hem Bej Mosque & Clock tower
St. Nicholas Monastery Church
Lead mosque of Shkodër
Catholic basilica of Tirana
Mosque of Iljaz Bey Mirahor, Korçë
Lead mosque of Berat
Great Mosque of Durrës

Largest cities

Largest cities or towns in Albania http://www.geonames.org/AL/largest-cities-in-albania.html
	Rank	Name	County	Pop.
Tirana Durrës	1	Tirana	Tirana	610,070	Vlorë Elbasan
	2	Durrës	Durrës	299,989
	3	Vlorë	Vlorë	194,147
	4	Elbasan	Elbasan	120,703
	5	Shkodër	Shkodër	77,075
	6	Fier	Fier	55,845
	7	Korçë	Korçë	51,152
	8	Berat	Berat	32,606
	9	Lushnjë	Fier	31,105
	10	Kavajë	Tirana	20,192

Culture

Main article: Culture of Albania

Art

"The Resurrection of Lazarus." Byzantine icon painted by Onufri (Onouphrios). 16th century. Museum of Mediaeval Art in Korça.

Motra Tone by Kolë Idromeno

Albanian art has a long and eventful history. Albania, a country of southeastern Europe, has a unique culture from that of other European countries. The Ottoman Empire ruled over Albania for nearly five centuries, which greatly affected the country's artwork and artistic forms. After Albania's joining with the Ottoman Empire in 1478, Ottoman influenced art forms such as mosaics and muralpaintings became prevalent, and no real artistic change occurred until Albanian Liberation in 1912.

Following mosaics and murals of antiquity and the Middle Ages, the first paintings were icons Byzantine Orthodox tradition . Albanian earliest icons date from the late thirteenth century and generally estimated that their artistic peak reached in the eighteenth century . Among the most prominent representatives of the Albanian iconographic art were Onufri and David Selenica . The museums of Berat, Korca and Tirana good collections remaining icons . By the end of the Ottoman period, the painting was limited mostly to folk art and ornate mosques.^[181]

Paintings and sculpture arose in the first half of the twentieth century and reached a modest peak in the 1930s and 1940s, when the first organized art exhibitions at national level.^[181] Contemporary Albanian artwork captures the struggle of everyday Albanians, however new artists are utilizing different artistic styles to convey this message. Albanian artists continue to move art forward, while their art still remains distinctively Albanian in content.Though among Albanian artist post-modernism was fairly recently introduced, there is a number of artists and works known internationally. Among most famous Albanian post-modernist are considered Anri Sala, Sislej Xhafa, and Helidon Gjergji.

Music and folklore

Main articles: Music of Albania and Albanian traditional clothing

Albanian Peasants costumes - illustration by Percy Anderson for Costume Fanciful, Historical and Theatrical, 1906

Southern Albanian fustanella

Albanian folk music falls into three stylistic groups, with other important music areas around Shkodër and Tirana; the major groupings are the Ghegs of the north and southern Labs and Tosks. The northern and southern traditions are contrasted by the "rugged and heroic" tone of the north and the "relaxed" form of the south.Southern instrumental music includes the sedate kaba, an ensemble-driven by a clarinet or violin alongside accordions and llautës. The kaba is an improvised and melancholic style with melodies that Kim Burton describes as "both fresh and ancient", "ornamented with swoops, glides and growls of an almost vocal quality", exemplifying the "combination of passion with restraint that is the hallmark of Albanian culture."

These disparate styles are unified by "the intensity that both performers and listeners give to their music as a medium for patriotic expression and as a vehicle carrying the narrative of oral history", as well as certain characteristics like the use of rhythms such as 3/8, 5/8 and 10/8.^[182] The first compilation of Albanian folk music was made by Pjetër Dungu in 1940.

Albanian folk songs can be divided into major groups, the heroic epics of the north, and the sweetly melodic lullabies, love songs, wedding music, work songs and other kinds of song. The music of various festivals and holidays is also an important part of Albanian folk song, especially those that celebrate St. Lazarus Day, which inaugurates the springtime. Lullabies and vajtims are very important kinds of Albanian folk song, and are generally performed by solo women.^[183]

Albanian language and literature

Main articles: Albanian language, Albanian literature and List of Albanian writers

Excerpt from Meshari by Gjon Buzuku 1555

Frontispiece of Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis 1508

Ismail Kadare at a reading, 2007

Albanian was proved to be an Indo-European language in 1854 by the German philologist Franz Bopp. The Albanian language comprises its own branch of the Indo-European language family.

Most scholars argue that Albanian derives from Illyrian^[184] while some others^[185] claim that it derives from Daco-Thracian. (Illyrian and Daco-Thracian, however, might have been closely related languages; see Thraco-Illyrian.)

MeshariEstablishing longer relations, Albanian is often compared to Balto-Slavic on the one hand and Germanic on the other, both of which share a number of isoglosses with Albanian. Moreover, Albanian has undergone a vowel shift in which stressed, long o has fallen to a, much like in the former and opposite the latter. Likewise, Albanian has taken the old relative jos and innovatively used it exclusively to qualify adjectives, much in the way Balto-Slavic has used this word to provide the definite ending of adjectives.

The cultural renaissance was first of all expressed through the development of the Albanian language in the area of church texts and publications, mainly of the Catholic region in the North, but also of the Orthodox in the South. The Protestant reforms invigorated hopes for the development of the local language and literary tradition when cleric Gjon Buzuku brought into the Albanian language the Catholic liturgy, trying to do for the Albanian language what Luther did for German.

(The Missal) by Gjon Buzuku, published in 1555, is considered the first literary work of written Albanian. The refined level of the language and the stabilised orthography must be the result of an earlier tradition of written Albanian, a tradition that is not well understood. However, there is some fragmented evidence, pre-dating Buzuku, which indicates that Albanian was written from at least the 14th century.

Pantheist and Romanticist writer Naim Frasheri

The earliest evidence dates from 1332 AD with a Latin report from the French Dominican Guillelmus Adae, Archbishop of Antivari, who wrote that Albanians used Latin letters in their books although their language was quite different from Latin. Other significant examples include: a baptism formula (Unte paghesont premenit Atit et Birit et spertit senit) from 1462, written in Albanian within a Latin text by the Bishop of Durrës, Pal Engjëlli; a glossary of Albanian words of 1497 by Arnold von Harff, a German who had travelled through Albania, and a 15th-century fragment of the Bible from the Gospel of Matthew, also in Albanian, but written in Greek letters.

Albanian writings from these centuries must not have been religious texts only, but historical chronicles too. They are mentioned by the humanist Marin Barleti, who, in his book Rrethimi i Shkodrës (The Siege of Shkodër) (1504), confirms that he leafed through such chronicles written in the language of the people (in vernacula lingua) as well as his famous biography of Skanderbeg Historia de vita et gestis Scanderbegi Epirotarum principis (History of Skanderbeg) (1508).The History of Skanderbeg is still the foundation of Scanderbeg studies and is considered an Albanian cultural treasure, vital to the formation of Albanian national self-consciousness.

During the 16th to 17th centuries, the catechism E mbësuame krishterë (Christian Teachings) (1592) by Lekë Matrënga, Doktrina e krishterë (The Christian Doctrine) (1618) and Rituale romanum (1621) by Pjetër Budi, the first writer of original Albanian prose and poetry, an apology for George Castriot (1636) by Frang Bardhi, who also published a dictionary and folklore creations, the theological-philosophical treaty Cuneus Prophetarum (The Band of Prophets) (1685) by Pjetër Bogdani, the most universal personality of Albanian Middle Ages, were published in Albanian. The most famous Albanian writer is probably Ismail Kadare.

Education

University of Tirana was established in 1957

Main article: Education in Albania

Before the establishment of the People's Republic, Albania's illiteracy rate was as high as 85%. Schools were scarce between World War I and World War II. When the People's Republic was established in 1945, the Party gave high priority to wiping out illiteracy. As part of a vast social campaign, anyone between the ages of 12 and 40 who could not read or write was mandated to attend classes to learn. By 1955, illiteracy was virtually eliminated among Albania's adult population.^[186]

Today the overall literacy rate in Albania is 98.7%; the male literacy rate is 99.2% and female literacy rate is 98.3%.^[7] With large population movements in the 1990s to urban areas, the provision of education has undergone transformation as well. The University of Tirana is the oldest university in Albania, having been founded in October 1957.

Sport

Panoramic view of Elbasan Arena

Sport is a very important part of the Albanian people's life and culture. The most popular sports in Albania include Football, basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, rugby union, and gymnastics. Football is the most popular sport in Albania, both at a participatory and spectator level. The sport is governed by the Football Association of Albania (Albanian: Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit, F.SH.F.), created in 1930, member of FIFA and a founding member of UEFA. Other sports played include basketball, volleyball, tennis, swimming, rugby union, and gymnastics.

Entertainment

RTSH Headquarters in Tirana

Main article: Radio Televizioni Shqiptar

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar is the public broadcaster of Albania.

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) is the public radio and TV broadcaster of Albania, founded by King Zog in 1938. RTSH runs three analogue television stations as TVSH Televizioni Shqiptar, four digital thematic stations as RTSH, and three radio stations using the name Radio Tirana. In addition, 4 regional radio stations serve in the four extremities of Albania. The international service broadcasts radio programmes in Albanian and seven other languages via medium wave (AM) and short wave (SW).^[187] The international service has used the theme from the song "Keputa një gjethe dafine" as its signature tune. The international television service via satellite was launched since 1993 and aims at Albanian communities in Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and northern Greece, plus the Albanian diaspora in the rest of Europe. RTSH has a past of being heavily influenced by the ruling party in its reporting, whether that party be left or right wing.

According to the Albanian Media Authority, AMA, Albania has an estimated 257 media outlets, including 66 radio stations and 67 television stations, with three national, 62 local and more than 50 cable TV stations. Last years Albania has organized several shows as a part of worldwide series like Dancing with the Stars, Big Brother Albania, Albanians Got Talent, The Voice of Albania, and X Factor Albania.

Health

Health care has been in a steep decline since the collapse of socialism in the country, but a process of modernization has been taking place since 2000.^[188] In the 2000s, there were 51 hospitals in the country, including a military hospital and specialist facilities.^[188] Albania has successfully eradicated diseases such as malaria.

Life expectancy is estimated at 77.59 years, ranking 51st worldwide, and outperforming a number of European Union countries, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic.^[189] The most common causes of death are circulatory diseases followed by cancerous illnesses. Demographic and Health Surveys completed a survey in April 2009, detailing various health statistics in Albania, including male circumcision, abortion and more.^[190]

The general improvement of health conditions in the country is reflected in the lower mortality rate, down to an estimated 6.49 deaths per 1,000 in 2000, as compared with 17.8 per 1,000 in 1938. In 2000, average life expectancy was estimated at 74 years, compared to 38 years at the end of World War II. Albania's infant mortality rate, estimated at 20 per 1,000 live births in 2000, has also declined over the years since the high rate of 151 per 1,000 live births in 1960. There were 69,802 births in 1999 and the fertility rate in 1999 was 2.5 while the maternal mortality rate was 65 per 100,000 live births in 1993. In addition, in 1997, Albania had high immunization rates for children up to one year old: tuberculosis at 94%; diphtheria, pertussis, and tetanus, 99%; measles, 95%; and polio, 99.5%. In 1996, the incidence of tuberculosis was 23 in 100,000 people. In 1995 there were two reported cases of AIDS and seven cases in 1996. In 2000 the number of people living with HIV/AIDS was estimated at less than 100. The leading causes of death are cardiovascular disease, trauma, cancer, and respiratory disease.

Cuisine

Traditional food showcase in Valbona Valley National Park in the Albanian Alps

Main article: Albanian cuisine

The cuisine of Albania – as with most Mediterranean and Balkan nations – is strongly influenced by its long history. At different times, the territory which is now Albania has been claimed or occupied by Greece, Serbia, Italy and the Ottoman Turks and each group has left its mark on Albanian cuisine. The main meal of Albanians is the midday meal, which is usually accompanied by a salad of fresh vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers and olives with olive oil, vinegar and salt. It also includes a main dish of vegetables and meat. Seafood specialties are also common in the coastal cities of Durrës, Sarandë and Vlorë. In high elevation localities, smoked meat and pickled preserves are common.

Notes

1 2 Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of Serbia. The Republic of Kosovo unilaterally declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. The two governments began to normalise relations in 2013, as part of the Brussels Agreement. Kosovo has been recognised as an independent state by 108 out of 193 United Nations member states.

References

1 2 3 "Population Of Albania 1 January 2015". Republic of Albania Institute of Statistics.
1 2 3 "Population and Housing Census 2011". INSTAT (Albanian Institute of Statistics).
1 2 3 4 "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". Imf.org. 14 September 2006. Retrieved 7 October 2014.
↑ "Income Gini coefficient". World Bank. UNDP. Archived from the original on 23 July 2010. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
1 2 "Human Development Report 2015" (PDF). United Nations. 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
↑ Fialuur i voghel Sccyp e ltinisct (Small Dictionary of Albanian and Latin), 1895, Shkodër
1 2 3 4 5 "The World Factbook: Albania". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
↑ Zolo, D. Invoking Humanity: War, Law and Global Order, Continuum International Publishing Group, 27 August 2002, 224 pages. p. 180
↑ "Population and Housing Census in Albania" (PDF). Institute of Statistics of Albania. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 January 2012.
↑ Reports: Poverty Decreases In Albania After Years Of Growth. Dow Jones Newswires, 201-938-5500 201-938-5500 201-938-5500.Nasdaq.com
↑ Albania plans to build three hydropower plants. People's Daily
↑ Strong GDP growth reduces poverty in Albania-study. Reuters.Forbes.com Archived 17 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
↑ "The world bank". Retrieved 13 September 2014.
↑ "Albania applies for EU membership". BBC News. 28 April 2009. Archived from the original on 30 April 2009. Retrieved 29 April 2009.
↑ Madrugearu A, Gordon M. The wars of the Balkan Peninsula. Rowman & Littlefield, 2007. p. 146.
↑ Richard Talbert, Barrington Atlas of the Greek and Roman World, (ISBN 0-691-03169-X), Map 49 & notes.
↑ The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN 978-0-631-19807-9, page 279,"We cannot be certain that the Arbanon of Anna Comnena is the same as Albanopolis of the Albani, a place located on the map of Ptolemy (3.12)"
↑ Robert Elsei. The Albanian lexicon of Dion Von Kirkman. Earliest reference to the existence of the Albanian language, pp. 113–122.
↑ Pinocacozza.it (Albanian) (Italian)
↑ Casanova. "Radio-Arberesh.eu". Retrieved 13 September 2014.
↑ Kristo Frasheri. History of Albania (A Brief Overview). Tirana, 1964.
↑ Lloshi, Xhevat. "The Albanian Language" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
1 2 The Prehistory of the Balkans; and the Middle East and the Aegean world, tenth to eighth centuries B.C. John Boardman p.189-90
↑ The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes, 1996, ISBN 978-0-631-19807-9, page 92, "Appian's description of the Illyrian territories records a southern boundary with Chaonia and Thesprotia, where ancient Epirus began south of river Aoous (Vjose)" also map
↑ Cambridge University Press. The Cambridge ancient history. 2000. ISBN 0-521-23447-6, page 261,"...down to the mouth of Aous"
↑ The Illyrians (The Peoples of Europe) by John Wilkes,1996,page 94
↑ Hammond, Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière; Walbank, Frank William (1972-01-01). A History of Macedonia: 336-167 B.C. Clarendon Press. ISBN 9780198148159.
↑ Jackson-Laufer, Guida Myrl (1999-01-01). Women Rulers Throughout the Ages: An Illustrated Guide. ABC-CLIO. pp. 382–383. ISBN 9781576070918.
↑ The History of Rome. D. Appleton & Company. 1846-01-01. p. 259.
↑ Wilkes, John (1996-01-09). The Illyrians. Wiley. p. 189. ISBN 9780631198079.
↑ Berranger, Danièle (2007-01-01). Épire, Illyrie, Macédoine: mélanges offerts au professeur Pierre Cabanes (in French). Presses Univ Blaise Pascal. p. 127. ISBN 9782845163515.
↑ Bideleux, Robert; Jeffries, Ian (24 January 2007). Balkans: A Post-Communist History. Routledge. p. 25. ISBN 978-1-134-58328-7. From AD 548 onward, the lands now known as Albania began to be overrun from the north by ever-increasing ...
↑ Raymond Zickel and Walter R. Iwaskiw, editors. (1994). ""The Barbarian Invasions and the Middle Ages," Albania: A Country Study". . Retrieved 9 April 2008. External link in |work= (help)
↑ Clements 1992, p. 31 "By 1190, Byzantium's power had so receded that the archon Progon succeeded in establishing the first Albanian state of the Middle Ages, a principality"
↑ Pickard-Çeliku 2008, p. 16
↑ Norris 1993, p. 35
↑ Pipa-Repishti 1983, pp. 7–8
↑ Etleva, Lala (2008). Regnum Albaniae, the Papal Curia, and the Western Visions of a Borderline Nobility (PDF). Cambridge University Press.
↑ Licursi, Emiddio Pietro (2011). "Empire of Nations: The Consolidation of Albanian and Turkish National Identities in the Late Ottoman Empire, 1878–1913". New York: Columbia University: 19. By 1415, after a chaotic interregnum, Sultan Mehmet I sent the military to erect the first Ottoman garrisons throughout southern Albania, establishing direct military authority in the region ... l jurisdiction over most of Albania ...
↑ "Albania :: The decline of Byzantium -- Encyclopedia Britannica". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
↑ Communism, Health and Lifestyle: The Paradox of Mortality Transition in Albania by Arjan Gjonca. Google Books.au. 31 July 2011. ISBN 978-1-59884-337-8. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
↑ Clayer, Nathalie. " Albania ." Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE. Edited by: Gudrun Krämer, Denis Matringe, Rokovet, John Nawas, Everett Rowson. Brill Online, 2012. Reference. 18 December 2012<http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-3/albania-COM_23054>
↑ Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia. Google Books.au. 31 July 2011. ISBN 978-1-59884-337-8. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
1 2 " Arnawutluḳ." Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition. Brill Online, 2012. Reference. 2 January 2009.
↑ H. T. Norris, Islam in the Balkans: Religion and Society Between Europe and the Arab World, p. 196.
1 2 Clayer, Nathalie. " Albania ." Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE. Edited by: Gudrun Krämer, Denis Matringe, John Nawas, Everett Rowson. Brill Online, 2012. 2 April 2012<http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-3/albania-COM_23054>
↑ Clayer, Nathalie. " Albania ." Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE. Edited by: Gudrun Krämer, Denis Matringe, John Nawas, Everett Rowson. Brill Online, 2012. Reference. 17 April 2012 <http://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-3/albania-COM_23054>
↑ Kopecek, Michal; Ersoy, Ahmed; Gorni, Maciej; Kechriotis, Vangelis; Manchev, Boyan; Trencsenyi, Balazs; Turda, Marius (2006), Discourses of collective identity in Central and Southeast Europe (1770–1945) 1, Budapest, Hungary: Central European University Press, p. 348, ISBN 963-7326-52-9, retrieved 18 January 2011, The position of the League in the beginning was based on religious solidarity. It was even called Komiteti i Myslimanëve të Vërtetë (The Committee of the Real Muslims) ... decisions are taken and supported mostly by landlords and people closely connected with Ottoman administration and religious authorities..
↑ Elsie, Robert. "1878 The Resolutions of the League of Prizren". Archived from the original on 20 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011. On 10 June 1878, ... The League of Prizren, Alb. Lidhja e Prizrenit, ... On 13 June 1878, the League submitted an eighteen-page memorandum to Benjamin Disraeli, the British representative at the Congress of Berlin
↑ Kopeček, Michal; Ersoy, Ahmed; Gorni, Maciej; Kechriotis, Vangelis; Manchev, Boyan; Trencsenyi, Balazs; Turda, Marius (2006), "Program of the Albanian League of Prizren", Discourses of collective identity in Central and Southeast Europe (1770–1945) 1, Budapest, Hungary: Central European University Press, p. 347, ISBN 963-7326-52-9, retrieved 18 January 2011, there were no delegates from Shkodra villayet and a few Bosnian delegates also participated. Present was also mutasarrif (administrator of sandjak) of Prizren as representative of the central authorities
↑ "Albanian League". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 5 January 2012.
↑ Qemali, Ismail. "Ismail Kemal bey Vlora: Memoirs". Retrieved 23 January 2011. ... November 15th–28th, 1912 ...
↑ Qemali, Ismail. "Ismail Kemal bey Vlora: Memoirs". Retrieved 23 January 2011. ... On the resumption of the sitting, I was elected President of the Provisional Government, with a mandate to form a Cabinet ...
↑ Giaro, Tomasz (2007). "The Albanian legal and constitutional system between the World Wars". Modernisierung durch Transfer zwischen den Weltkriegen. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Vittorio Klosterman GmbH. p. 185. ISBN 978-3-465-04017-0. Retrieved 24 January 2011. ... a provisional government, consisting of ten members and led by Vlora, was formed on 4 December.
↑ Giaro, Tomasz (2007). "The Albanian legal and constitutional system between the World Wars". Modernisierung durch Transfer zwischen den Weltkriegen. Frankfurt am Main, Germany: Vittorio Klosterman GmbH. p. 185. ISBN 978-3-465-04017-0. Retrieved 24 January 2011. From its own members congress elected a senate (Pleqësi), composed of 18 members, which assumed advisory role to the government.
↑ Zaharia, Perikli (24 March 2003). "The post - 1989 constitutional course of south east Europe". Athens: Centre for European Constitutional Law. Archived from the original on 22 January 2011. Retrieved 22 January 2011.
↑ Jelavich, Barbara (1999) [1983], "The end of Ottoman rule in Europe", History of the Balkans: Twentieth century 2, Cambridge, United Kingdom: The Press Syndicate of University of Cambridge, p. 101, ISBN 0-521-27459-1, retrieved 21 January 2011, the International Commission ... had headquarters in Vlorë
↑ Seton-Watson, R.W.; J. Dover Wilson, Alfred E. Zimmern, and Arthur Greenwood (10 January 2004) [1915], "III Germany", The War and Democracy, London: MacMillan And Co. Ltd.; 1st Edition, Prince William of Wied, the first Prince of Albania
↑ Elsie, Robert. "Albania under prince Wied". Archived from the original on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011. pro-Ottoman forces ... were opposed to the increasing Western influence ... In November 1913, these forces, ... , had offered the vacant Albanian throne to General Izzet Pasha ... War Minister who was of Albanian origin.
↑ Jelavich, Barbara (1999) [1983], History of the Balkans: Twentieth century 2, Cambridge, United Kingdom: The Press Syndicate of University of Cambridge, p. 103, ISBN 0-521-27459-1, retrieved 25 January 2011, peasants..willing listeners to Ottoman propaganda ... attached the new regime as a tool of the beys and Christian powers
↑ Bowden, William (2003). Epirus Vetus : the archaeology of a late antique province. London: Duckworth. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-7156-3116-4. the Greek Epirote population of the area refused to be incorporated into the new Albanian state and in February 1914 declared the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus ... in 1921 Albania was recognised as an independent sovereign state, with its borders established on their present lines.
↑ ed, Gregory C. Ference, (1994). Chronology of 20th century eastern European history. Detroit [u.a.]: Gale Research. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-8103-8879-6. February 28 George Zographos, a former foreign minister of Greece, proclaims at Gjirokaster the establishment of the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus, with Zographos as president. He notifies the International Commission that his government has been established because the Great Powers have not provided the Greeks in southern Albania any guarantees for the protection of the life, property and religious freedom, and ethnic existence.
↑ "The Efforts to settle amputated Albania state". albaniainbrief.com. Archived from the original on 28 January 2011. Retrieved 28 January 2011. Thousands of muslim peasants, ... were exploited by their leaders Haxhi Qamili, Arif Hiqmeti, Musa Qazimi and Mustafa Ndroqi, ... to rebel
↑ Vickers, Miranda (1999). The Albanians: a modern history. I.B.Tauris. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-86064-541-9. He gathered round him a group of discontented Muslim priests ... and proclaimed himself the savior of Albania and the Champion of Islam.
↑ Elsie, Robert. "Albania under prince Wied". Archived from the original on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011. ... mostly volunteers from Kosova under their leader Isa Boletini
↑ Elsie, Robert. "Albania under prince Wied". Archived from the original on 25 January 2011. Retrieved 25 January 2011. Panic broke out in Durrës, and the royal family sought refuge on an Italian vessel ...
↑ Springer, Elisabeth; Leopold Kammerhofer (1993). Archiv und Forschung. Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag. p. 346. ISBN 3-486-55989-3.
↑ Vickers, Miranda (1999-01-01). The Albanians: A Modern History. I.B.Tauris. p. 118. ISBN 978-1-86064-541-9.
1 2 Vickers, Miranda (1999-01-01). The Albanians: A Modern History. I.B.Tauris. ISBN 978-1-86064-541-9.
↑ Bogdani, Mirela; Loughlin, John (15 March 2007). Albania and the European Union: The Tumultuous Journey Towards Integration and Accession. I.B.Tauris. p. 230. ISBN 978-1-84511-308-7.
↑ "World War II". countrystudies.us. U.S. Library of Congress. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
↑ Morrock, Richard (11 October 2010). The Psychology of Genocide and Violent Oppression: A Study of Mass Cruelty from Nazi Germany to Rwanda. McFarland. p. 55. ISBN 978-0-7864-5628-4. The nationalist Balli Kombetar, which had fought against Italy, made a deal with the German invaders, and formed a "neutral" government in Tirana which ...
↑ The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present - Edwin E. Jacques - Google Books. Books.google.me. 28 November 1912. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
↑ Live to Tell: A True Story of Religious Persecution in Communist Albania - Zef Pllumi - Google Books. Books.google.me. 28 November 1948. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
↑ 40 Years of Socialist Albania, Dhimiter Picani
↑ Dalakoglou, Dimitris. "The Road from Capitalism to Capitalism". Retrieved 11 November 2012.
↑ Pano, Aristotel. "Panorama of the Economic-Social Development of Socialist Albania". Retrieved 11 April 2012.
↑ Library of Congress Country Studies, Albania: Hoxha's Antireligious Campaign
↑ Kombësia dhe feja në Shqipëri, 1920–1944 / Roberto Morocco dela Roka ; e përktheu nga origjinali Luan Omari.
↑ Jarvis, Christopher. 2000. "The Rise and Fall of the Albanian Pyramid Schemes." Finance and Development, Vol 37:1
↑ Bezemer, Dirk. 2001. "Post-socialist Financial Fragility: The Case of Albania." Cambridge Journal of Economics. Vol 25: 1–25.
↑ Musaraj, Smoki. 2011. "Tales from Albarado: The Materiality of Pyramid Schemes in Post-socialist Albania." Cultural Anthropology, Vol 26(1): 84–110.
↑ Operation Libelle
↑ Operation Silver Wake
↑ The mass emigration of Albanians was mostly to Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Germany and North America.
↑ "Albania 1998 (rev. 2008)". Constitute. Retrieved 16 February 2015.
↑ "Nato welcomes Albania and Croatia". BBC News. 1 April 2009. Archived from the original on 4 April 2009. Retrieved 2 April 2009.
↑ "Albania sells off its military hardware". BBC News. 17 April 2002.
↑ "Albania to abolish conscription by 2010". SETimes.com. 21 August 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
↑ "Albanian military expenditure as % of GDP". World Bank.
↑ Archived 30 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
↑ "Albania membership Nato". NATO. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011.
↑ A Brief History of the Administrative-territorial Organization in Albania
↑ http://www.top-channel.tv/lajme/artikull.php?id=292404
↑ http://www.shekulli.com.al/web/p.php?id=38109&kat=88
↑ "On the Organization and Functioning of the Local Government, Republic of Albania, 2000". Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
↑ "Ndarja e re, mbeten 28 bashki, shkrihen komunat | Shekulli Online". Shekulli.com.al. 10 January 2014. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
↑ "Reforma Territoriale - KRYESORE". Reformaterritoriale.al. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ R. Eftimi. "SOME CONSIDERATIONS ON SEAWATER-FRESHWATER RELATIONSHIP IN ALBANIAN COASTAL AREA" (PDF). ITA Consult.
↑ "Tiparet e pergjithshme te klimes". Qendrim.forumotion.net. 20 December 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
↑ "Twenty-first Century Glaciers and Climate in the Prokletije Mountains, Albania Journal Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research Publisher Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of Colorado ISSN 1523-0430 (Print) 1938–4246 (Online) Issue Volume 41, Number 4 / November 2009 DOI 10.1657/1938-4246-41.4.455 Pages 455–459 Online Date: 30 November 2009". Instaar.metapress.com. 30 November 2009. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
↑ "Conservation of the Critically Endangered Balkan Lynx" (PDF). Catsg.org. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
1 2 http://www.cbd.int/doc/world/al/al-nbsap-01-p1-en.pdf
1 2 Streissguth, Thomas (2010). Albania in Pictures. Twenty-First Century Books. ISBN 978-0-7613-4629-6.
↑ "The Balkan Lynx Conservation Compendium". Catsg.org. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
1 2 "Albania". World Diplomacy. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
↑ "Albania's strides to EU accession". BBC News. 11 December 2009.
↑ "GDP per capita in purchasing power standards in 2012" (PDF). Eurostat. Retrieved 14 December 2013.
↑ Business: Albania, Cyprus register economic growth SEtimes.com
↑ Strong economic growth potential puts Albania and Panama top of long term investment list,Propertywire.com
↑ International Monetary Fund (IMF), 9 October 2010. Albania and the IMF
↑ "Albania, Croatia plan nuclear power plant". Balkaninsight.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
1 2 Enel Albanian Joint Venture Introduces Coal In Albania's Power Mix, Business Monitor Online, 24 February 2009 Archived 19 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
↑ "Bankers Petroleum Ltd. | Bankers Petroleum Operational Update for the Second Quarter 2014". Newswire.ca. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ "CIA The World Factbook: Oil producers". Retrieved 23 June 2013.
↑ "INTERVIEW-Albania to auction 13 blocks for oil exploration".
↑ "IPA National Programme 2011 for Albania Project Fiche 7: Support to Agriculture and Rural Development" (PDF). http://ec.europa.eu/. External link in |website= (help)
↑ "Albania Country Profile". Retrieved 13 September 2014.
↑ http://www.factfish.com/statistic-country/albania/sour+cherries,+production+quantity
↑ "Lonely Planet's top 10 countries for 2011 – travel tips and articles – Lonely Planet". Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
↑ "52 Places to Go in 2014". The New York Times. 5 September 2014.
↑ "Coastline | Visit Albania | The Official website of Albanian Tourism". Albania.al. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ "About Albania | Visit Albania | The Official website of Albanian Tourism". Albania.al. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ "Albanian Mountain Tourism". albanian-mountains.com. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ "Theth & Valbonë". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ "Hiking and trekking in Albania | Albania Tourism Information". Albaniatourism.info. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ "Rivers and Lakes | Visit Albania | The Official website of Albanian Tourism". Albania.al. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ "Kryefaqa". Ata.org.al. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ "Tour Operator Albania". Sondor Travel. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/state=al
↑ "Treguesit statistikorë të turizmit". Mtkrs.gov.al. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
↑ "Turizmi ne Shqiperi: Reklama per Evropen Lindore". Retrieved 13 September 2014.
↑ "Crime Index by Country (Europe) 2015". Numbeo.com. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
↑ "Gendercide Watch: "Honour" Killings and Blood Feuds". Gendercide.org. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
↑ "'We'll Get You': An Albanian Boy's Life Ruined by Blood Feuds". Spiegel Online (Spiegel Online GmbH). 6 June 2014. Retrieved 12 June 2014.
↑ "Research for Development". Retrieved 13 September 2014.
↑ "Strategy of Science, Technology and Innovation 2009–2015" (PDF). Retrieved 27 August 2010.
↑ Wynne, Alexandra. "Albania highway: Making the first move". Nce.co.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
1 2 3 "History of the Airport". Tirana International Airport Website. Retrieved 15 January 2011.
↑ Albania: People, CIA World Factbook, 2012. Retrieved on 6 April 2012
↑ Women, Men and shefit's in Albania 2006, Instat, Tirana, 2007 Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
↑ "Albania: Looking Beyond Borders". Migration Policy Institute.
1 2 3 4 "The politics of numbers and identity in Albania". EUDO Observatory on Citizenship.
↑ Kosta Barjarba. "Migration and Ethnicity in Albania: Synergies and Interdependencies" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 August 2013.
↑ United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (11 May 2005). "World Directory of Minorities and Indigenous Peoples — Albania : Overview". Unhcr.org. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
↑ RFE/RL Research Report: Weekly Analyses from the RFE/RL Research Institute. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Incorporated. 1993. Retrieved 22 December 2012. Albanian officials alleged that the priest was promoting irredentist sentiments among Albania's Greek minority – estimated at between 60,000 and 300,000.
↑ Robert Bideleux; Ian Jeffries (15 November 2006). The Balkans: A Post-Communist History. Routledge. p. 49. ISBN 978-0-203-96911-3. Retrieved 6 September 2013. The Albanian government claimed that there were only 60,000, based on the biased 1989 census, whereas the Greek government claimed that there were upwards of 300,000. Most Western estimates were around the 200,000 mark ...
↑ Sabrina P. Ramet (1998). Nihil Obstat: Religion, Politics, and Social Change in East-Central Europe and Russia. Duke University Press. p. 222. ISBN 978-0-8223-2070-8. Retrieved 6 September 2013. that between 250,000 and 300,000 Orthodox Greeks reside in Albania
↑ Ian Jeffries (2002). Eastern Europe at the Turn of the Twenty-first Century: A Guide to the Economies in Transition. Routledge. p. 69. ISBN 978-0-415-23671-3. Retrieved 6 September 2013. It is difficult to know how many ethnic Greeks there are in Albania. The Greek government, it is typically claimed, says that there are around 300,000 ethnic Greeks in Albania, but most Western estimates are around the 200,000 mark.
↑ Europa Publications (24 June 2008). The Europa World Year Book 2008. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-85743-452-1. Retrieved 22 December 2012. ... and Greece formally annulled claims to North Epirus (southern Albania), where there is a sizeable Greek minority. ... strained by concerns relating to the treatment of ethnic Greeks residing in Albania (numbering an estimated 300,000) ...
↑ "Census 2011 Data: Resident population by ethnic and cultural affiliation". The Institute of Statistics of Republic of Albania. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
↑ "Albania". Retrieved 13 September 2014.
↑ "Albania". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
↑ "International Religious Freedom Report for 2014: Albania" (PDF). http://www.state.gov/. United States, Department of State. p. 5. Retrieved 20 October 2015. Ethnic Greek minority groups had encouraged their members to boycott the census, affecting measurements of the Greek ethnic minority and membership in the Greek Orthodox Church. External link in |website= (help)
↑ "Macedonians and Greeks Join Forces against Albanian Census". balkanchronicle. Retrieved 24 September 2011.
↑ "Albania passes census law". MINA.
↑ "Census Legislation".
↑ "ÿþMicrosoft Word — Law Nr 10442 date 07.07.2011.doc" (PDF). Retrieved 25 March 2013.
1 2 Maria Karathanos, Constantine Callaghan. "Ethnic tensions in Albania". Athensnews. Retrieved 7 January 2013. ... in line with Albanian nationalist sentiment alleging that the census poses a threat to Albanian territorial integrity
↑ Likmeta, Besar. "Albania Nationalist Leader Resigns from Top Justice Job". Balkannsight. Retrieved 7 January 2013.
↑ "Census stirs Balkan melting pot". 20 October 2011. ... nationalist critics are up in arms at efforts to provide an accurate picture of Albania's ethnic breakdown, seeing a plot to weaken the state ... The group has denounced the ethnicity section of the national census, and Spahiu warns the results could upset Albania's "good model" of ethnic and religious tolerance ...
↑ "Some Albanians consider changing nationality for profit". SETimes.
↑ "Courts in Albania suspend changing nationality to Greek". SETimes.
↑ "Greek Consul Statement Angers Albanian MPs". BalkanInsight.
↑ "Languages of Albania". Archived from the original on 23 January 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
↑ "Presentation of the main results of the Census of Population and Housing 2011." (PDF). Retrieved 15 August 2014.
↑ http://www.shqiptarja.com/home/1/kisha-ortodokse-censusi-fshehu-17-te-besimtareve-137234.html
↑ "Gallup Global Reports". Gallup.com. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
↑ "Chapter 1: Religious Affiliation". The World's Muslims: Unity and Diversity. Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project. 9 August 2012
↑ Mejdini, Fatjona (17 February 2014). "Shqipëria refuzon Organizatën Islamike, jo pjesë e aktivitetit në Teheran" (in Albanian). Shqip. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
↑ "Albania: International Religious Freedom Report 2007". State.gov. 14 September 2007. Archived from the original on 28 August 2010. Retrieved 27 August 2010.
↑ "Albania". TED Adventist. Retrieved 25 March 2013.
↑ "Famous British celebrity visits ADRA Albania".
↑ "LDS Newsroom-Country Profile-Albania". The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Archived from the original on 25 August 2010.
↑ 2015 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses. Watch Tower Society. p. 178.
↑ ^ Samer, Haroey (1997), "Rescue in Albania: One Hundred Percent of Jews in Albania Rescued from Holocaust", The Jews of Albania, California: Brunswick Press, archived from the original on 2008-05-10, retrieved 21 October 2012
↑ "1st chief rabbi inaugurated in Albania - Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews". Ynetnews.com. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
↑ [By: Ariel Scheib]. "Albania Virtual Jewish Tour". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 15 February 2014.
↑ "Korrieri online - Shqip". 2005-05-23. Archived from the original on 23 May 2005. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
↑ "Në Shqipëri P. ka 1119 kisha dhe 638 xhami". Ateistët. Retrieved 2015-11-17.
1 2 "Robert Elsie: Arti Shqiptar". www.albanianart.net. Retrieved 2015-11-22.
↑ Arbatsky, Yuri, cited in Koco with the footnote Translated and published by Filip Fishta in Shkolla Kombëtare (The National School; No.1, May 1939), 19, and quoted from his Preface to Pjetër Dungu's Lyra Shqiptare (see note 2).
↑ "Albanian Music". Eno Koco at the University of Leeds. Archived from the original on 28 August 2005. Retrieved 28 August 2005.
↑ Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture By J. P. Mallory, Douglas Q. Adams Edition: illustrated Published by Taylor & Francis, 1997 ISBN 978-1-884964-98-5, ISBN 978-1-884964-98-5 ("Although there are some lexical items that appear to be shared between Romanian (and by extension Dacian) and Albanian, by far the strongest connections can be argued between Albanian and Illyrian." page 11) Concise Encyclopedia of Languages of the World By Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Contributor Keith Brown, Sarah Ogilvie Edition: illustrated Published by Elsevier, 2008 ISBN 978-0-08-087774-7, ISBN 978-0-08-087774-7 ("Albanian constitutes a single branch of the Indo-European family of languages. It is often held to be related to Illyrian, a poorly attested language spoken in the Western Balkans in classical times" page 22)
↑ "The Thracian language". The Linguist List. Archived from the original on 3 February 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2008. An ancient language of Southern Balkans, belonging to the Satem group of Indo-European. This language is the most likely ancestor of modern Albanian (which is also a Satem language), though the evidence is scanty. 1st Millennium BC – 500 AD.
↑ Zickel, Iwaskiw, 1994
↑ "Radio Tirana's Broadcasting Schedule as of 2007 – RadioTirana.org". Picasaweb.google.es. 25 October 2008. Retrieved 5 May 2013.
1 2 "Albania-prel.pmd" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 December 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
↑ "CIA – The World Factbook". Retrieved 13 September 2014.
↑ "Albania DHS Surveys". Retrieved 13 September 2014.

External links

The Wikibook Wikijunior:Countries A-Z has a page on the topic of: Albania

Official website
Albanian Tourism Official Portal
Albania entry at The World Factbook
Albania from UCB Libraries GovPubs
Wikimedia Atlas of Albania
Albania at DMOZ
Guide To Albania
Geographic data related to Albania at OpenStreetMap
Key Development Forecasts for Albania from International Futures

Montenegro

Kosovo

Adriatic Sea

Macedonia

Albania

Ionian Sea

Greece

Coordinates: 41°N 20°E / 41°N 20°E / 41; 20

Society

Albanians Demographics Education Language Religion

Culture	Architecture Art Cinema Clans Coat of arms Costume Cuisine Emigration Flag Languages Literature Music Mythology Nationalism Public holidays Radio Sports Smoking Television

Book
Category
Portal
WikiProject

Geographic locale

Balkan Peninsula countries

Geographically fully located	Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Greece Kosovo¹ Macedonia Montenegro

Significantly located	Croatia Serbia

Mostly outside of the peninsula	Italy Romania Slovenia Turkey

See also	Balkans Southeast Europe History of the Balkans Balkan languages (Sprachbund) Balkanization

¹ Declared independence from Serbia on 17 February 2008 and is recognised by 108 United Nations member states.

Sovereign states and dependencies of Europe

Sovereign states

States with limited
recognition

Dependencies and
other territories

Denmark	Faroe Islands constituent country

Finland	Åland Islands autonomous region

Norway	Jan Mayen Svalbard unincorporated areas

United Kingdom	Akrotiri and Dhekelia¹ sovereign base areas Gibraltar overseas territory Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey crown dependencies

¹ Partially in Asia, or entirely in Asia with cultural links to Europe.

Countries and territories of the Mediterranean Sea

Sovereign states	Albania Algeria Bosnia-Herzegovina Croatia Cyprus Egypt France Greece Israel Italy Lebanon Libya Malta Monaco Montenegro Morocco Slovenia Spain Syria Tunisia Turkey

States with limited recognition	Northern Cyprus Palestine

Dependencies and other territories	Akrotiri and Dhekelia (UK) Gibraltar (UK)

Within Albania

Counties of Albania

(12)	Berat Dibër Durrës Elbasan Fier Gjirokastër Korçë Kukës Lezhë Shkodër Tiranë Vlorë

Cities and towns in Albania

Bajram Curri Bajzë Ballsh Berat Bilisht Bulqizë Burrel Cërrik Çorovodë Delvinë Divjakë Durrës Elbasan Ersekë Fier Fierzë Finiq Fushë-Arrëz Fushë-Krujë Gjirokastër Gramsh Himarë Kamëz Kavajë Këlcyrë Klos Konispol Koplik Korçë Krastë Krrabë Krujë Krumë Kuçovë Kukës Kurbnesh Laç Leskovik Lezhë Libohovë Librazhd Lushnjë Maliq Mamurras Manëz Memaliaj Milot Orikum Patos Peqin Përmet Peshkopi Pogradec Poliçan Prrenjas Pukë Reps Roskovec Rrëshen Rrogozhinë Rubik Sarandë Selenicë Shëngjin Shijak Shkodër Sukth Tepelenë Tirana Ulëz Ura Vajgurore Vau i Dejës Vlorë Vorë

World Heritage Sites in Albania

Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastër Butrint

International membership

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

History	North Atlantic Treaty Summit Operations Enlargement

Structure	Council Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe Allied Command Transformation Parliamentary Assembly

People	Secretary General Chairman of the Military Committee Supreme Allied Commander Europe Supreme Allied Commander Transformation

Members	Albania Belgium Bulgaria Canada Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Turkey United Kingdom United States

Multilateral relations	Atlantic Treaty Association Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council Mediterranean Dialogue Istanbul Cooperation Initiative Partnership for Peace

Council of Europe

Institutions	Secretary General Committee of Ministers Parliamentary Assembly Congress Court of Human Rights Commissioner for Human Rights Commission for the Efficiency of Justice Commission against Racism and Intolerance

Members	Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia¹ Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom

Observers	Canada Israel Japan Mexico United States Sovereign Military Order of Malta Holy See

Former Members	Czechoslovakia (1991–1992) Saar (assoc. 1950–1956)

¹ Provisionally referred to by the Council of Europe as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"; see Macedonia naming dispute.

Enlargement and partners of the European Union

Previous enlargements

Negotiating

Candidate status

Albania (status)
Macedonia (status)

Potential candidates

Bosnia and Herzegovina (status)
Kosovo * (under the Belgrade–Pristina agreement) (status)

Partnerships

Free trade agreements	Iceland (relations) Liechtenstein (relations) Norway (relations) Switzerland (relations)

Eastern Partnership	Armenia (relations) Azerbaijan (relations) Belarus (relations) Georgia (relations) Moldova (relations) Ukraine (relations)

Northern Dimension	Russia (relations) Norway (relations)

Union for the Mediterranean	Algeria Egypt Israel (relations) Jordan (relations) Lebanon (relations) Mauritania Monaco Morocco (relations) Palestine (relations) Syria Tunisia

Members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement

Albania Bosnia and Herzegovina Kosovo/UNMIK Macedonia Moldova Montenegro Serbia

Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)

La Francophonie

Category

Membership

Members	Albania Andorra Armenia Belgium French Community Benin Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada New Brunswick Quebec Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Cyprus¹ Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Djibouti Dominica Egypt Equatorial Guinea France French Guiana Guadeloupe Martinique St. Pierre and Miquelon Gabon Ghana¹ Greece Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haïti Ivory Coast Laos Luxembourg Lebanon Macedonia² Madagascar Mali Mauritania Mauritius Moldova Monaco Morocco Niger Qatar Romania Rwanda St. Lucia São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Switzerland Togo Tunisia Vanuatu Vietnam

Observers	Austria Bosnia and Herzegovina Croatia Czech Republic Dominican Republic Georgia Hungary Latvia Lithuania Montenegro Mozambique Poland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Thailand Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uruguay

¹ Associate member. ² Provisionally referred to by the Francophonie as the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"; see Macedonia naming dispute.

Organization

Secretaries-General

Culture

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)

Members

Suspended

Syria

Observers

Countries and territories	Bosnia and Herzegovina Central African Republic Northern Cyprus¹ Russia Thailand

Muslim communities	Moro National Liberation Front

International organizations	Economic Cooperation Organization African Union Arab League Non-Aligned Movement United Nations

¹ As the "Turkish Cypriot State".

Authority control	VIAF: 254170212 GND: 4001028-4 NDL: 00560328

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Friday, February 12, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.

Albania

Etymology

History

Prehistory

Antiquity

Middle Ages

Ottoman Albania

Era of nationalism and League of Prizren

Independence

Republic and Monarchy

World War II

Communist Albania

Post-Communist Albania

Government

Executive branch

Legislative branch

Armed forces

Administrative divisions

Geography

Climate

Flora and fauna

Economy

Tourism

National parks and World Heritage Sites

Crime and law enforcement

Science and technology

Transport

Highways

Aviation

Railways

Demographics

Language

Religion

Largest cities

Culture

Art

Music and folklore

Albanian language and literature

Education

Sport

Entertainment

Health

Cuisine

See also

Notes

References

Further reading

External links