Albania
The Republic of Albania, or Albania (Albanian: Shqipëria, meaning Land of the Eagles), is a country in southeastern Europe. It is bordered by Montenegro in the north, Serbia in the north-east, the Republic of Macedonia in the east, and Greece in the south, has a coast on the Adriatic Sea in the west, and a coast on the Ionian Sea in the southwest.
History
Main article: History of Albania
Albania has been the site of several Greek colonies, and was later part of the Roman province of Illyricum. After being conquered by a number of nations, it became a part of the Ottoman Empire in 1478.
After the First Balkan War, Albania declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but the country remained in unrest. Occupied by Italy during World War II, the (mainly communist) resistance led by Enver Hoxha seized control when the Italians left.
Until 1990, five years after the death of Hoxha, Albania was an extremely isolationist communist state, with little contact even with the other communist states. A multi-party democracy is emerging, but the country suffers from economic problems, organised crime, and a large number of Albanian refugees from Kosovo.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Albania
Head of state is the president, which is elected by the Kuvendi Popullor, or People's Assembly. The main part of the Assembly's 155 members are elected by the Albanians in elections every 5 years. The president is assisted by a council of ministers, which is appointed by the president.
Districts
Main article: Districts of Albania
Albania is divided into 36 districts, or rrethe. Several districts are then grouped into a prefecture of which there are 12. The capital city, Tiranë, has a special status. The districts are:
See also: List of cities in Albania (Note: some cities have the same name as the district they are in).
Geography
Main article: Geography of Albania
Albania consists of mostly hilly and mountainous terrain, the highest mountain reaching up to 2,753 m. The country mostly has a land climate, with cold winters and hot summers.
Besides capital city Tirana, with 520,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are Durrës, Elbasan, Shkodër, Vlorë and Korçë.
Economy
Main article: Economy of Albania
Albania is one of Europe's poorest countries, with half of the economically-active population still engaged in agriculture and a fifth said to be working abroad. The country has to deal with a high unemployment rate, corruption up to high government levels and organised crime.
Albania is aided financially from abroad, notably by Greece and Italy.
The country exports nearly nothing and imports a lot from Greece and Italy. The money for imports comes from the financial aid and from the money that refugees working abroad bring to Albania. This is a good status-quo business for both Greece and Italy. Also unofficially Greece government makes money by selling visas unofficially to Albanian citizens, who are not allowed to travel freely abroad. For this reason both countries have several visa consulates in major cities of Albania, and oppose indirectly every possibility of free movement from Albanian citizens in EU.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Albania
Most of the population (95%) is Albanian, but there is a sizeable Greek minority (3%). Many ethnic Albanians also live in bordering Kosovo. The language is Albanian, although some Greek is also spoken.
Since the occupation by the Ottomans, the majority of Albanians have been Muslim (70%), even though religion was prohibited during the communist era. The Eastern Orthodox (20%) and Catholic Church (10%) are the other main religions in Albania.
Culture
Main article: Culture of Albania
Miscellaneous Topics
External links
Countries of the world | Europe | Council of Europe
Referenced By
10000km2 | 1081 | 11 April | 11 January | 11th April | 11th January | 13 March | 13 September | 13th March | 13th September | 13th of September | 1405 | 1443 | 1468 | 1741 | 1799 | 1822 | 1882 | 1895 | 1908 | 1912 | 1924 | 1925 | 1928 | 1935 | 1939 | 1944 | 1946 | 1961 | 1965 | 1985 | 1990s in music | 1999 | 1 E10 m2 | 1 E10 m² | 1 September | 1e10 m2 | 1st September | 1st World War | 2000s in music | 2002 in politics | 2003 in memoriam | 21 January | 21st January | 232 BC | 24 December | 24th December | 28 November | 28th November | 29 November | 29th November | 30 May | 30th May | 6 January | 6th January | 7 April | 7 March | 7th April | 7th March | AC-130 | AC-130H Spectre | AC-130U Spooky | AC-130 gunship | Abolished monarchies | Adriatic | Adriatic Coast | Adriatic Sea | Age of Consent | Agnes Bojaxhiu | Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu | Agnes Gonxha Bojaxjiu | Agrarian Party | Agrarian Party of Albania | Agron | Ahmed Bey Zogu | Ahmet Zogu | Al-Jihad | Al-Kaeda | Al-Kaida | Al-Qa'ida | Al-Qaeda | Al-Qaida | Al-Qaida Al-Jihad | Al-Qaïda | Al-Quada | Al-Quaida | Al-Queda | Al-Quida | Al Kaeda | Al Kaida | Al Qa'ida | Al Qaeda | Al Qaida | Al Qaïda | Al Quada | Al Quaeda | Al Quaida | Al Quida | Albania/Communications | Albania/Economy ...
|
