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Albania Facts and Information Albania Facts and Information http://www.phrasebase.com/english/countries/albania.php Background: Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven challenging as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated physical infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks, and combative political opponents. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain. International observers judged elections to be largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability following the collapse of pyramid schemes in 1997. In the 2005 general elections, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory on pledges of reducing crime and corruption, promoting economic growth, and decreasing the size of government. The election, and particularly the orderly transition of power, was considered an important step forward. Although Albania's economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the poorest in Europe, hampered by a large informal economy and an inadequate energy and transportation infrastructure. Albania has played a largely helpful role in managing inter-ethnic tensions in southeastern Europe, and is continuing to work toward joining NATO and the EU. Albania, with troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been a strong supporter of the global war on terrorism. Common Name: Albania Local Official Name: Shqiperia Abbreviated Name: Republic of Albania Official Name: Republika e Shqiperise Official Script Name: Albania Local Common Name: Albania Former Name: People's Socialist Republic of Albania Territory of: NA Head of State: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU Government Type: emerging democracy Independence: 1912 November 28 (from Ottoman Empire) Constitution: adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998 National Holiday: Independence Day, 28 November International Organization Participation: BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIC, OIF (associate member), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO Administrative Divisions: 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Qarku i Beratit, Qarku i Dibres, Qarku i Durresit, Qarku i Elbasanit, Qarku i Fierit, Qarku i Gjirokastres, Qarku i Korces, Qarku i Kukesit, Qarku i Lezhes, Qarku i Shkodres, Qarku i Tiranes, Qarku i Vlores Dependent Areas: NA Legal System: has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens Suffrage: 18 years Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches: Executive Branch: chief of state: President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24 July 2002) head of government: Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005) cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by parliament elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 24 June 2002 (next to be held June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 116, for 97, against 19 Legislative Branch: unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms) elections: last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19 Judicial Branch: Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals and district courts Party Leaders: Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or DAP [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [Arjan STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or BNK [Adriatik ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party or PDRN [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir META]; Socialist Party or PS [Edi RAMA]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNj [Vangjel DULE] International Disputes: the Albanian Government calls for the protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians in neighboring countries, and the peaceful resolution of interethnic disputes; some ethnic Albanian groups in neighboring countries advocate for a "greater Albania," but the idea has little appeal among Albanian nationals; thousands of unemployed Albanians emigrate annually to nearby Italy and other developed countries Illicit Drugs: increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a far lesser extent - cocaine from South America destined for Western Europe; limited opium and growing cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and expanding in Europe; vulnerable to money laundering associated with regional trafficking in narcotics, arms, contraband, and illegal aliens 1 of 5 2/10/2009 4:06 πμ Albania Facts and Information http://www.phrasebase.com/english/countries/albania.php ALBANIAN GEOGRAPHY Location of Albania: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Continent: Europe Land Area Total: 28,748 sq km Region: South Eastern Europe Land Area Land: 27,398 sq km Capitol City: Tirana Land Area Water: 1,350 sq km Current: +1 Latitude: 041 00 N Border Boundary Land: 720 km Longitude: 020 00 E Border Boundary Coastline: 362 km Arable Land: 20.10 % Pastures: 0.00 % Crops: 4.21 % Woodlands and Forests: 0.00 Highest Elevation: 2,764 m Location: Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) Lowest Elevation: 0 m Location: Adriatic Sea Largest City in Albania: Tirana Tirana Largest City Population: 279,000 Threatened Species: 30 Environmental Issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents Environmental Agreements: party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Irrigated Land: 3,530 Bordering Countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Serbia 115 km Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower Geographical Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast Comparative Area of Albania: slightly smaller than Maryland Albania's Geography: strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) ALBANIAN CLIMATE Click Here for detailed information about the weather conditions in Albania. General Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter Natural Hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought ALBANIAN ECONOMY Economic Overview: Lagging behind its Balkan neighbors, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spur economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for about one-quarter of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment, to clarify property rights, and to consolidate small plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to Albania's poor business environment, which make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The planned construction of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission and distribution facilities will help relieve the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side: growth was strong in 2003-05 and inflation is not a problem 2 of 5 2/10/2009 4:06 πμ Albania Facts and Information http://www.phrasebase.com/english/countries/albania.php On the positive side: growth was strong in 2003-05 and inflation is not a problem. GDP: $18,970,000,000 USD Currency: lek GDP per Capita: $4,900 USD Currency Code: ALL GDP Growth Rate: 5.50 % One $USD Equals: %fincurrencyequals% ALL Currency Exchange Rate History: leke per US dollar - 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004), 121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002), 143.485 (2001) GDP of Agriculture: 23.20 % GDP of Industry: 18.80 % GDP of Services: 57.90 % Inflation Rate: 2.40 % Population in Poverty: 25.00 % Unemployment Rate: 14.30 % Tourism: 39,000.00 visitors each year Consumption by lowest 10%: 0.00 % Budget Revenue in USD: $1,960,000,000 USD Consumption by
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