REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA Official name: Republika e Shqipėrisė (Republic of Albania) The Albanians call their country Shqipėria. The Latin name "Albania" comes from an Illyrian people, the Albanoi, who lived in the same area in Roman times. Location: South-Eastern Europe International organisations: The Council of Europe, The Organisation of Islamic Conference, The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, The United Nations, The World Trade Organisation. Borders: Greece, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro Coastline: Adriatic Sea Land area: 28,748 Km2 Population: 3,500,000

Ethnicity: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2% (Some estimates of the Greek population are much higher).
Languages: Albanian is the official language and is spoken by over 90% of the population. Minorities speak Greek, Romanian, Macedonian and Romani
Religion: Sunni Moslem 70%, Orthodox Christian 20%, Catholic Christian 10%.
Form of government: Parliamentary democratic republic. Albania is divided into 25 counties.

Capital: Tirane Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of Albania came into effect on 28 November 1998. Head of state: The President, chosen by the legislature for a five-year term. The President's duties are largely ceremonial. President Alfred Moisiu took office on 24 July 2002. Head of government: The Prime Minister, appointed by the President. The Prime Minister is the leader of the largest party in the legislature and is accountable to it. Legislature: Albania has a unicameral legislature, the Assembly of the Republic of Albania (Kuvendi i Republikės sė Shqipėrisė). The Assembly has 140 members, elected for four-year terms: 100 elected from single-member constituencies and 40 elected by proportional representation. Electoral authority: The Central Election Commission administers national elections. Freedom House 2005 rating: Political Rights 3, Civil Liberties 3

Political history

The Albanians were brought under Ottoman rule in the late 15th century, and converted to Islam during the 400 years of Ottoman rule. For this reason Albania was much less restive under Ottoman rule than were its Christian neighbours. Nevertheless the end of Ottoman rule in the Balkans in 1912 brought independence to Albania, and a German prince, Wilhelm von Wied, was installed as head of state.

On the outbreak of the First World War I Wilhelm returned to Germany, and Albania had no effective government until 1925, when Ahmet Zogu seized power. In 1928 Zogu proclaimed himself to be King Zog I. Zog's comic-opera reign ended in April 1939 when fascist Italy invaded and annexed Albania. The Germans replaced the Italians in 1943 but withdrew in late 1944. The communist-controlled National Liberation Front then came to power.

By 1946 the communist leader Enver Hoxha was absolute dictator of the poorest country in Europe. In 1961 he broke relations with the Soviet Union and formed an alliance with China, but this alliance ended in 1978 after the death of Mao Zedong. Albania was then totally isolated and increasingly bankrupt until Hoxha's death in 1986. His successor Ramiz Alia tried to reform the system but communist rule collapsed in 1991.

Post-communist Albania has been plagued by economic crisis and civil disorder, made worse by weak and corrupt government and violent conflict between the anti-communist Democratic Party of Albania, led by Dr Sali Berisha, and the Socialist Party of Albania, successors to the communists, led by Fatos Nano. The Party of the Albanian National Front is allied with the Democratic Party. The Human Rights' Party represents the Greek minority.

Human Rights Watch's 2002 Report on Albania noted that: "Following a series of political crises, by mid-year Albania entered a period of what appeared to be more stable and inclusive governance. Nonetheless, impunity for police abuse, failures of various government branches to uphold the rule of law, trafficking in human beings, and widespread violations of children's rights continued to be major concerns. The government's desire to cast Albania as part of the European mainstream made it unfortunately more reluctant to acknowledge and address the country's human rights problems."