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Albania
The Republic of Albania, or Albania (Albanian: Shqipėria, 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. Official language Albanian Capital Tirana Albania has been the site of several President Alfred Moisiu Greek colonies, and was later part of the Roman province of Illyricum. After Area Ranked 139th being conquered by a number of - Total 28,748 km2 nations, it became a part of the - % water 4.7% Ottoman Empire in 1478. Population Ranked 125th - Total (2000) 3,582,205 After the First Balkan War, Albania - Density 122/km2 declared independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912, but the country Independence From the Ottoman remained in unrest. Occupied by Italy - Date Empire November 28, 1912 during World War II, the (mainly communist) resistance led by Enver Currency Lek Hoxha seized control when the Italians Time zone UTC +2 left. National anthem Hymni i Flamurit Until 1990, five years after the death Internet TLD .AL of Hoxha, Albania was an isolationist Calling Code 355 communist state. 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 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 Albania is divided into 36 districts, or rrethe. Several districts are then grouped into a prefecture of which there are 12. The capital city, Tiranė, has a special status. The districts are: * District of Berat * District of Lezhė * District of Bulqizė * District of Librazhd * District of Delvinė * District of Lushnjė * District of Devoll * District of Malėsi e Madhe * District of Dibėr * District of Mallakastėr * District of Durrės * District of Mat * District of Elbasan * District of Mirditė * District of Fier * District of Peqin * District of Gjirokastėr * District of Pėrmet * District of Gramsh * District of Pogradec * District of Has * District of Pukė * District of Kavajė * District of Sarandė * District of Kolonjė * District of Shkodėr * District of Korēė * District of Skrapar * District of Krujė * District of Tepelenė * District of Kuēovė * District of Tiranė * District of Kukės * District of Tropojė * District of Kurbin * District of Vlorė Geography 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 Durrės, Elbasan, Shkodėr, Vlorė and Korēė. Economy 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 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 Holidays Date English Name Local Name Remarks January 1-January 2 New Year's Day Viti i Ri February 11 date varies, al-Eid saghir (2003) Small Bayram Bajrami i Vogėl in Islamic countries March 7 Teacher's Day Dita e Mėsuesve non official March 8 Mother's Day Dita e Nėnės non official March 22 Nevruz Day Nevruz April 20 Catholic Easter Pashkėt Katolike April 27 Orthodox Easter Pashkėt Ortodokse May 1 May Day Njė Maji ratified by Albanian October 19 Mother Teresa Dita e Nėnė Parliament as an official Day Terezės and national holiday November 25 date varies, Eid-ul-Adhain (2003) Big Bayram Bajrami Madh Islamic countries November 28 Independence Dita e Day Pavarėsisė November 29 Liberation Day Dita e Ēlirimit December 25 Christmas Day Krishtlindje
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