]! ^! 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. 
]" ^" Southeastern Europe, bordering the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between Greece and Serbia and Montenegro ^# 41 00 N, 20 00 E ^$ Europe ^% `! 28,748 sq km `" 27,398 sq km `# 1,350 sq km ^& slightly smaller than Maryland ^' `! 720 km `Y Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Serbia 115 km ^( 362 km ^) `$ 12 nm `O 200-m depth or to the depth of exploitation ^* mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter ^+ mostly mountains and hills; small plains along coast ^, `% Adriatic Sea 0 m `& Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) 2,764 m ^- petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower ^. `' 20.1% `( 4.21% `) 75.69% (2005) ^/ 3,530 sq km (2003) ^0 destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along southwestern coast; floods; drought ^1 deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic effluents _P `P Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands `Q none of the selected agreements ^2 strategic location along Strait of Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea) 
]# ^3 3,600,523 (July 2007 est.) ^4 `+ 24.1% (male 454,622/female 413,698) `, 66.6% (male 1,228,497/female 1,170,489) `- 9.3% (male 154,352/female 178,865) (2007 est.) ^5 `! 29.2 years `. 28.6 years `/ 29.8 years (2007 est.) ^6 0.529% (2007 est.) ^7 15.16 births/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^8 5.33 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^9 -4.54 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.) ^: `0 1.1 male(s)/female `1 1.099 male(s)/female `, 1.05 male(s)/female `- 0.863 male(s)/female `2 1.042 male(s)/female (2007 est.) ^; `! 20.02 deaths/1,000 live births `. 20.46 deaths/1,000 live births `/ 19.54 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.) ^< `2 77.6 years `. 74.95 years `/ 80.53 years (2007 est.) ^= 2.03 children born/woman (2007 est.) ^> NA ^? NA ^@ NA ^A `3 Albanian(s) `4 Albanian ^B Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Vlach, Roma (Gypsy), Serb, Macedonian, Bulgarian) (1989 est.) `* in 1989, other estimates of the Greek population ranged from 1% (official Albanian statistics) to 12% (from a Greek organization) ^C Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% `* percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice ^D Albanian (official - derived from Tosk dialect), Greek, Vlach, Romani, Slavic dialects ^E `5 age 9 and over can read and write `2 86.5% `. 93.3% `/ 79.5% (2003 est.) 
]$ ^F `6 Republic of Albania `7 Albania `Z Republika e Shqiperise `[ Shqiperia `\ People's Socialist Republic of Albania ^H emerging democracy ^I `8 Tirana (Tirane) `9 41 20 N, 19 50 E `: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) `p +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October ^J 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 ^K 28 November 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire) ^L Independence Day, 28 November (1912) ^M adopted by popular referendum on 22 November 1998; promulgated 28 November 1998 ^N has a civil law system; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction; has accepted jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court for its citizens ^O 18 years of age; universal ^P `; President of the Republic Alfred MOISIU (since 24 June 2002) `< Prime Minister Sali BERISHA (since 10 September 2005) `= Council of Ministers proposed by the prime minister, nominated by the president, and approved by parliament `> 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 in June 2007); prime minister appointed by the president `? Alfred MOISIU elected president; People's Assembly vote by number - total votes 134: for 97, against 19, abstained 14, invalid votes 4 ^Q unicameral Assembly or Kuvendi (140 seats; 100 are elected by direct popular vote and 40 by proportional vote for four-year terms) `> last held 3 July 2005 (next to be held in 2009) `? percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - PD 56, PS 42, PR 11, PSD 7, LSI 5, other 19 ^R Constitutional Court, Supreme Court (chairman is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term), and multiple appeals and district courts ^S 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 SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or BLD [Arjan STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [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 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] ^T 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 [Erion VELIAJ]; Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA] ^U 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 ^V `R Ambassador Aleksander SALLABANDA `S 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 `T [1] (202) 223-4942 `U [1] (202) 628-7342 ^W `R Ambassador Marcie B. RIES `_ Rruga e Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana `` US Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 `T [355] (4) 247285 `U [355] (4) 232222 ^X red with a black two-headed eagle in the center 
]% ^Y 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 reduce the large gray economy. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Albanians residing in Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for about one-quarter of GDP, is held back because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient 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 eventually 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 2003-06 and inflation is low and stable. ^Z $20.21 billion `* Albania has a large gray economy that may be as large as 50% of official GDP (2006 est.) ^[ $9.306 billion (2006 est.) ^\ 5% (2006 est.) ^] $5,600 (2006 est.) ^^ `@ 23.3% `A 18.8% `B 57.9% (2006 est.) ^_ 1.09 million (not including 352,000 emigrant workers) (September 2006 est.) ^` `@ 58% `A 15% `B 27% (September 2006 est.) ^a 13.8% official rate, but may exceed 30% due to preponderance of near-subsistence farming (September 2006 est.) _! 25% (2004 est.) _" `C NA% `D NA% _d 26.7 (2005) _# 2.5% (2006) _V 24.5% of GDP (2006 est.) _$ `E $2.608 billion `F $3.1 billion; including capital expenditures of $710 million (2007 est.) _& wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products _' food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower _( 3.4% (2005 est.) _) 5.451 billion kWh (2005) _* 3.53 billion kWh (2005) _+ 729 million kWh (2005) _, 385 million kWh (2005) _- 3,600 bbl/day (2005 est.) _. 25,200 bbl/day (2005 est.) _/ 0 bbl/day (2005 est.) _0 21,600 bbl/day (2005 est.) _W 185.5 million bbl (1 January 2002) _1 30 million cu m (2004 est.) _2 30 million cu m (2004 est.) _X 0 cu m (2004 est.) _Y 0 cu m (2004 est.) _Z 2.832 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.) _Q $-679.9 million (2006 est.) _3 $763.2 million f.o.b. (2006 est.) _4 textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco _5 Italy 72.4%, Greece 10.5%, Serbia and Montenegro 5% (2005) _6 $2.901 billion f.o.b. (2006 est.) _7 machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals _8 Italy 29.3%, Greece 16.4%, Turkey 7.5%, China 6.6%, Germany 5.4%, Russia 4% (2005) _[ $1.621 billion (2006 est.) _9 $1.55 billion (2004) _: ODA: $366 million `* top donors were Italy, EU, Germany (2003 est.) _; lek (ALL) `* the plural of lek is leke _< leke per US dollar - 98.384 (2006), 102.649 (2005), 102.78 (2004), 121.863 (2003), 140.155 (2002) _= calendar year 
]& _> 255,000 (2003) _? 1.259 million (2004) _@ `G despite new investment in fixed lines, the density of main lines remains the lowest in Europe with roughly 7 lines per 100 people; however, cellular telephone use is widespread and generally effective `H offsetting the shortage of fixed line capacity, mobile phone service has been available since 1996; by 2003 two companies were providing mobile services at a greater density than some of Albania's Balkan neighbors `I country code - 355; inadequate fixed main lines; adequate cellular connections; international traffic carried by fiber optic cable and, when necessary, by microwave radio relay from the Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece (2003) _A AM 13, FM 46, shortwave 1 (2005) _B 65 (3 national, 62 local); 2 cable networks (2005) _C .al _D 430 (2006) _E 75,000 (2005) 
]' _F 11 (2006) _G `! 3 `J 3 (2006) _R `! 8 `a 1 `b 2 `c 1 `W 4 (2006) _] 1 (2006) _^ gas 339 km; oil 207 km (2006) _e `! 447 km `m 447 km 1.435-m gauge (2005) _H `! 18,000 km `K 7,020 km `L 10,980 km (2002) _b 43 km (2006) _S `! 24 ships (1000 GRT or over) 52,987 GRT/79,863 DWT by type: cargo 23, roll on/roll off 1 `X 1 (Turkey 1) `d 1 (Georgia 1) (2006) _I Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore 
]( _J General Staff Headquarters, Land Forces Command (Army), Naval Forces Command, Air Defense Command, Logistics Command, Training and Doctrine Command (2007) _T 19 years of age (2004) _K males age 19-49: 809,524 females age 19-49: 784,199 (2005 est.) Manpower fit for military service: males age 19-49: 668,526 females age 19-49: 648,334 (2005 est.) _L males age 18-49: 37,407 females age 19-49: 34,587 (2005 est.) _U 1.49% (2005 est.) 
]) _N 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 _O increasingly active transshipment point for Southwest Asian opiates, hashish, and cannabis transiting the Balkan route and - to a 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 