Albania

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Albania General info: State emblem of Albania Size: 1. ... // Executive branch The head of state in Albania is the President of the Republic. ...

President Alfred Moisiu Prime Minister Sali Berisha Assembly Political parties Politicians Elections Counties Districts Foreign relations

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Albanian foreign policy has concentrated on maintaining good relations with its Balkan neighbors, gaining access to European-Atlantic security institutions, and securing close ties with the United States. List of Presidents of Albania Ahmet Zogu (1925-1928) Ramiz Alia (1991-1992) Sali Berisha (1992-1997) Rexhep Meidani (1997-2002) Alfred Moisiu (2002-Present) See also Albania Kings of Albania Prime Ministers of Albania Princes of Albania External links Presidency of Albania (official site) Categories: Lists of office-holders... Alfred Spiro Moisiu (born December 1, 1929) has been President of Albania since July 24, 2002. ... List of Prime Ministers of Albania Ismail Qemali (1912-1913) Myfit Libohova (1913-1914) Turhan Pasha Përmeti (1914) Esat Pashë Toptani (1914) Abdullah Rushdi (1914-1918) Turhan Pasha Përmeti (1918-1920) Sulejman Bej Delvina (1920) Ilias Bej Vrioni (1920-1921) Pandeli Evangjeli (1921) Hasan Bej Prishtina (1921) Omer... Sali Ram Berisha (born October 15, 1944) is the Prime Minister of the Republic of Albania. ... The Assembly of Albania (Kuvendi i Shqipërisë), also known as the Peoples Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor) is the parliament of Albania. ... A political party is a political organization subscribing to a certain ideology or formed around very special issues with the aim to participate in power, usually by participating in elections. ... Elections in Albania gives information on election and election results in Albania. ... Albania is divided into 12 counties (Albanian: qark, sometimes translated as prefecture) each of which contains several districts (sometimes translated as subprefectures). ... Albania is divided into 36 districts, or rrethe. ... This article briefly outlines each period of History of Albania only; details are presented in separate articles (see the links in the box and below). ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ...

The crisis of 1997 spurred a period of intense international involvement in Albania, led by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Italy hosted a series of international conferences and led a multinational force of about 7,000 troops to help stabilize the country and facilitate OSCE election monitoring. The United States has worked closely with European partners and various multilateral committees to ensure that international efforts are coordinated. 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ... The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is an international organization for security. ...

Relations with Neighboring Countries

The Government of Albania is very concerned with developments in the ethnic Albanian province of Kosovo in neighboring Serbia, particularly in the post-Dayton agreement period. While maintaining a responsible and nonprovocative position, the Albanian Government has made it clear that the status and treatment of the Albanian population in Kosovo is a principal national concern. Government Principal Government Officials (From the Chiefs of State and Cabinet Members of Foreign Governments as of December 31, 2002 with minor corrections) President: Alfred Moisiu Prime Minister: Fatos Nano Deputy Prime Minister: Ermelinda Meksi Minister of Agriculture: Agron Duka Minister of Culture, Youth, & Sports: Arta Dade Minister of Defense... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ... Serbia and Montenegro  â€“ Serbia      â€“ Vojvodina      â€“ Kosovo (UN admin. ... General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, i. ... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ...

After the fall of the Albanian communist regime in 1991, relations between Greece and Albania became increasingly strained because of widespread allegations of mistreatment by Albanian authorities of the Greek ethnic minority in southern Albania and of the alleged Albanian minorities in northern Greece. A wave of Albanian illegal economic migrants to Greece exacerbated tensions. The crisis in Greek-Albanian relations reached its peak in late August of 1994, when an Albanian court sentenced five members (a sixth member was added later) of the ethnic Greek political party "Omonia" to prison terms on charges of undermining the Albanian state. Greece responded by freezing all EU aid to Albania, and sealing its border with Albania. In December 1994, however, Greece began to permit limited EU aid to Albania, while Albania released two of the Omonia defendants and reduced the sentences of the remaining four. Communism - Wikipedia /**/ @import /w/skins-1. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Today, relations between the two countries are relatively good, and, at the Albanian Government's request, about 250 Greek military personnel are stationed in Albania to assist with the training and restructuring the Albanian armed forces. There are still many Albanian workers in Greece that have not received legal papers despite promises by the Greek government. In 1996, the two countries signed a Treaty of Peace and Friendship and discussed the issues of the status of Albanian refugees in Greece and education in the mother tongue for the ethnic Greek minority in southern Albania. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... First language (native language, mother tongue, or vernacular) is the language a person learns first. ...

Tirana's relations with the Republic of Macedonia remain friendly, despite occasional incidents involving ethnic Albanians there. Tirana has repeatedly encouraged the Albanian minority's continued participation in its Government. Motto: (English: ) Anthem: (Transliteration: ) (English: ) Capital Skopje Largest city Skopje Official language(s) Macedonian, Albanian1 Government Parliamentary republic  - President Branko Crvenkovski  - Prime Minister Vlado Bučkovski Independence From Yugoslavia   - Declared September 8, 1991  Area    - Total 25,333 km² (146th)   9,779 sq mi   - Water (%) 1. ...

During the 1990s, after the fall of communism, at the onset of democratic reforms, there were vast waves of illegal immigration from the Albanian ports to Italy. This strained relations between the countries somewhat as Italy had to avert a humanitarian crisis. The tensions reached a peak when an Italian coast guard ship allegedly rammed and sank an Albanian ship carrying 120-130, 75 of whom drowned, on March 28, 1997. Eventually the two countries began joint operations aimed at stopping illegal smuggling operations. Italy has also provided financial assistance to Albania to help its ailing economy. The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ... The rise of Gorbachev Although reform stalled between 1964–1982, the generational shift gave new momentum for reform. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (88th in leap years). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

International Disputes

The Albanian Government supports protection of the rights of ethnic Albanians outside of its borders but has downplayed them to further its primary foreign policy goal of regional cooperation; Albanian majority in Kosovo seeks independence from Serbian Republic; Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia claim discrimination in education, access to public-sector jobs, and representation in government A right is the power or privilege to which one is justly entitled or a thing to which one has a just claim. ... Serbia and Montenegro  â€“ Serbia      â€“ Vojvodina      â€“ Kosovo (UN admin. ... Motto: (English: ) Anthem: (Transliteration: ) (English: ) Capital Skopje Largest city Skopje Official language(s) Macedonian, Albanian1 Government Parliamentary republic  - President Branko Crvenkovski  - Prime Minister Vlado Bučkovski Independence From Yugoslavia   - Declared September 8, 1991  Area    - Total 25,333 km² (146th)   9,779 sq mi   - Water (%) 1. ...

Foreign Aid

Through FY 1998, the United States committed approximately $300 million to Albania's economic and political transformation and to address humanitarian needs. This figure comprises about 10% of all bilateral and multilateral assistance offered since 1991. Italy ranks first in bilateral assistance and Germany third. The European Union (EU) has given about $800 million since 1991 and pledged $175 million in 1996-99. 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

In FY 1999, the United States will provide $30 million through the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act, up from $27 million the previous year. The U.S. also will provide an agricultural commodities grant of $10 million.

The $30 million Albanian-American Enterprise Fund (AAEF), launched in 1994, is actively making debt and equity investments in local businesses. AAEF is designed to harness private sector efforts to assist in the economic transformation. U.S. assistance priorities include promotion of agricultural development and a market economy, advancement of democratic institutions (including police training), and improvements in quality of life. The SEED funding request for Albania for FY 2000 is $25 million. Debt is that which is owed. ... The Court of Chancery, London, early 19th century This article is about concept of equity in Anglo-American jurisprudence. ... Investment or investing is a term with several closely-related meanings in finance and economics, related to saving or deferring consumption. ...

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 cannabis production; ethnic Albanian narcotrafficking organizations active and rapidly expanding in Europe. These activities are now sided, presumably by the same criminal groups (mafia-like associations), with an increasing traffic of prostitutes from former communist countries, of which the Albanian coasts seems to be the gateway to Europe through Italy. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Species Cannabis indica Cannabis ruderalis Cannabis sativa This is one of several related articles about cannabis. ... This article is about the drug cocaine. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... Opium is a narcotic analgesic drug which is obtained from the unripe seed pods of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L. or the synonym paeoniflorum). ... The Mafia, also referred to in Italian as Cosa Nostra (Our Thing or This Thing of Ours), is a secret society that evolved from Italian Organized Crime in mid-19th century Sicily. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ...

References

• This article contains material from the CIA World Factbook which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. 2000
• This article contains material from the US Department of State's Background Notes which, as a US government publication, is in the public domain. 2003

World Factbook 2005 cover The World Factbook is an annual publication by the Central Intelligence Agency of the United States with basic almanac-style information about the various countries of the world. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ... The Background Notes series is a collection of works by the United States Department of State. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

External links

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs (official site)