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Revision as of 20:03, 26 January 2001 by JimboWales (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Country name: conventional long form: Republic of Albania conventional short form: Albania local long form: Republika e
Shqiperise local short form: Shqiperia former: People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Data code: AL
Government type: emerging democracy
Capital: Tirana
Administrative divisions: 36 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth) and 1 municipality* (bashki); Berat, Bulqize, Delvine, Devoll
(Bilisht), Diber (Peshkopi), Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Has (Krume), Kavaje, Kolonje (Erseke), Korce, Kruje,
Kucove, Kukes, Kurbin, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Malesi e Madhe (Koplik), Mallakaster (Ballsh), Mat (Burrel), Mirdite (Rreshen),
Peqin, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar (Corovode), Tepelene, Tirane (Tirana), Tirane* (Tirana), Tropoje
(Bajram Curri), Vlore note: administrative divisions have the same names as their administrative centers (exceptions have the
administrative center name following in parentheses)
Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 November (1912)
Constitution: a new constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party
boycotted the vote
Legal system: has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal and compulsory
Executive branch: chief of state: President of the Republic Rexhep MEIDANI (since 24 July 1997) head of government: Prime
Minister Ilir META (since 29 October 1999) cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and approved by the
president elections: president elected by the People's Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1997 (next to be held
NA 2002); prime minister appointed by the president election results: Rexhep MEIDANI elected president; People's Assembly vote
by number - total votes 122, for 110, against 3, abstained 2, invalid 7
Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (155 seats; most members are elected by direct popular vote
and some by proportional vote for four-year terms) elections: last held 29 June 1997 (next to be held NA 2001) election results:
percent of vote by party - PS 53.36%, PD 25.33%, PSD 2.5%, PBDNJ 2.78%, PBK 2.36%, PAD 2.85%, PR 2.25%, PLL 3.09%, PDK
1.00%, PBSD 0.84%; seats by party - PS 101, PD 27, PSD 8, PBDNJ 4, PBK 3, PAD 2, PR 2, PLL 2, PDK 1, PBSD 1, PUK 1,
independents 3
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, chairman of the Supreme Court is elected by the People's Assembly for a four-year term
Political parties and leaders: Albanian Republican Party or PR ; Albanian Socialist Party or PS (formerly the
Albania Workers Party) ; Albanian United Right or DBSH (includes PBK, Albanian Republican Party or
PRS, AND PDD) ; Christian Democratic Party or PDK ; Democratic Alliance or PAD [Neritan
CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD ; Democratic Party of the Right or PDD ; Liberal Union Party
; Movement of Legality Party or PLL ; National Front (Balli Kombetar) or PBK ;
Party of National Unity or PUK ; Right National Front ; Social Democratic Party or PSD [Skender
GJINUSHI]; Unity for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ ; note - Teodar LACO of the Liberal Union Party was
leader of the Social Democratic Union of Albania or PBSD
International organization participation: BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IDB,
IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO, ITU, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO?, WTrO? (applicant)
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Petrit BUSHATI chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC
20008 telephone: (202) 223-4942 FAX: (202) 628-7342
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph LIMPRECHT embassy: Rruga Elbasanit 103, Tirana
mailing address: American Embassy, Tirana, Department of State, Washington, DC 20521-9510 telephone: (42) 47285
through 47289 FAX: (42) 32222
Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center