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Administrative divisions 12 counties (qarqe, singular - qark); Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore
Ambassadors from Finland > Current Finnish Ambassadors > Ambassador	Alpo Rusi
ambassadors to the United States > Ambassador	Aleksander Sallabanda
Capital city	Tirana (Tirane)
Capital city > Daylight saving time +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	41 19 N, 19 49 E
Capital city > Name	Tirana (Tirane)
Capital city > Time difference UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Constitution adopted by popular referendum on 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998
Copyright > Reference	Art. 17,
Corruption	2.4		[127th of 160]
countries' copyright length > Usual term of copyright protection 70 pma
CPIA equity of public resource use rating	3.5		[38th of 75]
CPIA quality of public administration rating	3		[38th of 75]
date of transition to republican system of government > Republic since	November 29, 1945
Diplomatic representation from the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Dr. John L. WITHERS, II
Diplomatic representation from the US > Embassy Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana
Diplomatic representation from the US > FAX	[355] (4) 2232222
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510
Diplomatic representation from the US > Telephone	[355] (4) 2247285
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chancery 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador Aleksander SALLABANDA
Diplomatic representation in the US > FAX	[1] (202) 628-7342
Diplomatic representation in the US > Telephone	[1] (202) 223-4942
embassies and high commissions in Ottawa > Address	130 Albert St., Suite 302
embassies and high commissions in Ottawa > Neighbourhood Downtown
Executive branch > Cabinet Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by parliament
Executive branch > Chief of state President of the Republic Bamir TOPI (since 24 July 2007)
Executive branch > Election results Bamir TOPI elected president; People's Assembly vote, fourth round (three-fifths majority (84 votes) required): Bamir TOPI 85 votes, Neritan CEKA 5 votes
Executive branch > Elections president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); four election rounds held between 8 and 20 July 2007 (next election to be held in 2012); prime minister appointed by the president
Executive branch > Head of government Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005)
Flag description red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
Foreign relations > Croatia > Date of Establishment	August 25, 1992
Foreign relations > Nepal > Date of Establishment	May 23, 1972
Foreign relations of Western Sahara > States recognizing the SADR > Date of recognition December 29, 1987
General government final consumption expenditure > annual % growth	2.03 %		[72nd of 147]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant 2000 US$	351,538,100 constant 2000 US$		[94th of 145]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant 2000 US$ (per capita)	112.324 constant 2000 US$ per c		[79th of 146]
General government final consumption expenditure > constant LCU	44710200000
General government final consumption expenditure > current LCU	78189000000
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$	782,986,200 $		[102nd of 169]
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$ (per $ GDP)	0.093 $ per $1 of GDP		[126th of 184]
General government final consumption expenditure > current US$ (per capita)	250.181 $ per capita		[80th of 184]
Government type	emerging democracy
Heads of Missions from the United Kingdom	Fraser Wilson
Heads of Missions from the United Kingdom > Resident Heads of Missions > Type	Embassy
Independence 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)
Independence Day > Date	November 28
International organization participation BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OIC, OIF, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
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
Legal origin French
Legal system has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens
Legislative branch unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 members are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote to serve four-year terms)
Legislative branch > Election results percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19
Legislative branch > Elections last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009)
Management time dealing with officials > % of management time	10.41 %		[3rd of 38]
National holiday Independence Day, 28 November
Parliamentary seats > Female	5%		[111st of 143]
Policy uncertainty > % of managers surveyed ranking this as a major business constraint	18.72 %		[23rd of 38]
political parties > Multi party	•
Political parties and leaders Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian Democratic Party or PDK [Nard NDOKA]; Communist Party of Albania or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or AD [Neritan CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIA]; Liberal Union Party or BLD [Arjan STAROVA]; Movement for National Development or LZhK [Dashamir SHEHI]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Artur ROSHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social Democracy Party of Albania or PDSSh [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]
Political pressure groups and leaders Citizens Advocacy Office [Kreshnik SPAHIU]; Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO]; Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI]; Mjaft Movement; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]
Prime minister	Sali Berisha
Procedures to build a warehouse > number	22		[31st of 168]
Procedures to build a warehouse > number (per capita)	7.029 per 1 million people		[42nd of 170]
Procedures to enforce a contract > number	39		[58th of 170]
Procedures to enforce a contract > number (per capita)	12.461 per 1 million people		[45th of 171]
Procedures to register property > number	7		[51st of 167]
Procedures to register property > number (per capita)	2,236.652 per 1 billion people		[41st of 167]
Proportion of seats held by women in national parliament > %	7.1 %		[145th of 174]
Start-up procedures to register a business > number	11		[49th of 171]
Start-up procedures to register a business > number (per capita)	3.515 per 1 million people		[43rd of 171]
Status democracy
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Time required to build a warehouse > days	344 days		[15th of 168]
Time required to enforce a contract > days	390 days		[117th of 171]
Time required to register property > days	47 days		[90th of 167]
Time required to start a business > days	39 days		[75th of 171]
Time to prepare and pay taxes > hours	240 hours		[89th of 169]
Time to resolve insolvency > years	4 years		[41st of 151]
Total businesses registered > number	134,177		[44th of 71]
Total businesses registered > number (per capita)	43.371 per 1 million people		[29th of 83]
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International 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; the mass emigration of unemployed Albanians remains a problem for developed countries, chiefly Greece and Italy
UN membership date	14 Dec. 1955
United Nations mission Http://www.albaniannews.com/ http://www.mfa.gov.al/english/

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