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1. WordNet® 3.0 (2006)
Albania
    n 1: a republic in southeastern Europe on the Adriatic coast of
         the Balkan Peninsula [syn: Albania, Republic of
         Albania]

2. CIA World Factbook 2002
Albania

   Introduction Albania
   --------------------
                            Background: In 1990 Albania ended 44 years of
                                        xenophobic communist rule and
                                        established a multiparty democracy.
                                        The transition has proven difficult
                                        as corrupt governments have tried to
                                        deal with high unemployment, a
                                        dilapidated infrastructure,
                                        widespread gangsterism, and
                                        disruptive political opponents.
                                        International observers judged local
                                        elections in 2001 to be acceptable
                                        and a step toward democratic
                                        development, but identified serious
                                        deficiencies which should be
                                        addressed through reforms in the
                                        Albanian electoral code.
  
   Geography Albania
   -----------------
                              Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the
                                        Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, between
                                        Greece and the Federal Republic of
                                        Yugoslavia
                Geographic coordinates: 41 00 N, 20 00 E
                        Map references: Europe
                                  Area: total: 28,748 sq km
                                        water: 1,350 sq km
                                        land: 27,398 sq km
                    Area - comparative: slightly smaller than Maryland
                       Land boundaries: total: 720 km
                                        border countries: Greece 282 km, The
                                        Former Yugoslav Republic of
                                        Macedonia 151 km, Yugoslavia 287 km
                             Coastline: 362 km
                       Maritime claims: continental shelf: 200-m depth or to
                                        the depth of exploitation
                                        territorial sea: 12 NM
                               Climate: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet
                                        winters; hot, clear, dry summers;
                                        interior is cooler and wetter
                               Terrain: mostly mountains and hills; small
                                        plains along coast
                    Elevation extremes: lowest point: Adriatic Sea 0 m
                                        highest point: Maja e Korabit (Golem
                                        Korab) 2,753 m
                     Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal,
                                        chromium, copper, timber, nickel,
                                        hydropower
                              Land use: arable land: 21.09%
                                        permanent crops: 4.45%
                                        other: 74.45% (1998 est.)
                        Irrigated land: 3,400 sq km (1998 est.)
                       Natural hazards: destructive earthquakes; tsunamis
                                        occur along southwestern coast;
                                        floods; drought
          Environment - current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; water
                                        pollution from industrial and
                                        domestic effluents
            Environment - international party to: Biodiversity, Climate
                            agreements: Change, Desertification, Hazardous
                                        Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection,
                                        Wetlands
                                        signed, but not ratified: none of
                                        the selected agreements
                      Geography - note: strategic location along Strait of
                                        Otranto (links Adriatic Sea to
                                        Ionian Sea and Mediterranean Sea)
  
   People Albania
   --------------
                            Population: 3,544,841 (July 2002 est.)
                         Age structure: 0-14 years: 28.8% (male 528,678;
                                        female 493,531)
                                        15-64 years: 64% (male 1,094,034;
                                        female 1,175,024)
                                        65 years and over: 7.2% (male
                                        111,524; female 142,050) (2002 est.)
                Population growth rate: 1.06% (2002 est.)
                            Birth rate: 18.59 births/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                            Death rate: 6.49 deaths/1,000 population (2002
                                        est.)
                    Net migration rate: -1.46 migrant(s)/1,000 population
                                        (2002 est.)
                             Sex ratio: at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
                                        under 15 years: 1.07 male(s)/female
                                        15-64 years: 0.93 male(s)/female
                                        65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/
                                        female
                                        total population: 0.96 male(s)/
                                        female (2002 est.)
                 Infant mortality rate: 38.64 deaths/1,000 live births (2002
                                        est.)
              Life expectancy at birth: total population: 72.1 years
                                        female: 75.14 years (2002 est.)
                                        male: 69.27 years
                  Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (2002 est.)
      HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate: less than 0.01% (1999 est.)
     HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/ less than 100 (2000 est.)
                                  AIDS:
                     HIV/AIDS - deaths: less than 100 (1999 est.)
                           Nationality: noun: Albanian(s)
                                        adjective: Albanian
                         Ethnic groups: Albanian 95%, Greek 3%, other 2%
                                        (Vlach, Gypsy, Serb, and Bulgarian)
                                        (1989 est.)
                                        note: in 1989, other estimates of
                                        the Greek population ranged from 1%
                                        (official Albanian statistics) to
                                        12% (from a Greek organization)
                             Religions: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%,
                                        Roman Catholic 10%
                                        note: all mosques and churches were
                                        closed in 1967 and religious
                                        observances prohibited; in November
                                        1990, Albania began allowing private
                                        religious practice
                             Languages: Albanian (Tosk is the official
                                        dialect), Greek
                              Literacy: definition: age 9 and over can read
                                        and write
                                        total population: 93% (1997 est.)
                                        male: NA%
                                        female: NA%
  
   Government Albania
   ------------------
                          Country name: conventional long form: Republic of
                                        Albania
                                        conventional short form: Albania
                                        local short form: Shqiperia
                                        former: People's Socialist Republic
                                        of Albania
                                        local long form: Republika e
                                        Shqiperise
                       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 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
                                        Pandeli MAJKO (since 22 February
                                        2002)
                                        cabinet: Council of Ministers
                                        nominated by the prime minister and
                                        approved 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
                                        elections: president elected by the
                                        People's Assembly for a five-year
                                        term; election last held 24 July
                                        1997 (next to be held NA July 2002);
                                        prime minister appointed by the
                                        president
                    Legislative branch: unicameral People's Assembly or
                                        Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats; 100 are
                                        elected by direct popular vote and
                                        40 by proportional vote for four-
                                        year terms)
                                        election results: percent of vote by
                                        party - PS 41.5%, PD and coalition
                                        allies 36.8%, NDP 5.2%, PSD 3.6%,
                                        PBDNJ 2.6%, PASH 2.6%, PAD 2.5%;
                                        seats by party - PS 73, PD and
                                        coalition allies 46, NDP 6, PSD 4,
                                        PBDNJ 3, PASH 3, PAD 3, independents
                                        2
                                        elections: last held 24 June with
                                        subsequent rounds on 8 July, 22
                                        July, 29 July, 19 August 2001 (next
                                        to be held NA June 2005)
                       Judicial branch: Supreme Court (chairman is elected
                                        by the People's Assembly for a four-
                                        year term)
         Political parties and leaders: Agrarian Party or PASH [Lufter
                                        XHUVELI]; Albanian National Front
                                        (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Shptim
                                        ROQI]; Albanian Republican Party or
                                        PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Albanian
                                        Socialist Party or PS (formerly the
                                        Albania Workers Party) [Fatos NANO,
                                        chairman]; Christian Democratic
                                        Party or PDK [Zef BUSHATI];
                                        Democratic Alliance or PAD [Nerltan
                                        CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali
                                        BERISHA]; Group of Reformist
                                        Democrats [Leonard NDOKA]; Legality
                                        Movement Party or PLL [Ekrem
                                        SPAHIA]; Liberal Union Party or PBL
                                        [Teodor LACO]; New Democratic Party
                                        or NDP [Genc POLLO]; OMONIA
                                        [Vagjelis DULES]; Party of National
                                        Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQUIRI];
                                        Social Democratic Party or PSD
                                        [Skender GJINUSHI]; Unity for Human
                                        Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vasil MELO,
                                        chairman]
          Political pressure groups and NA
                               leaders:
             International organization ACCT, BSEC, CCC, CE, CEI, EAPC,
                         participation: EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
                                        ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS,
                                        ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM,
                                        ISO (correspondent), ITU, OIC, OPCW,
                                        OSCE, PFP, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
                                        UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO,
                                        WMO, WToO, WTrO
   Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr.
                                        Fatos TARIFA
                                        chancery: 2100 S Street NW,
                                        Washington, DC 20008
                                        FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
                                        telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942
     Diplomatic representation from the chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph
                                    US: LIMPRECHT
                                        embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti
                                        #103, Tirana
                                        mailing address: U. S. Department of
                                        State, 9510 Tirana Place,
                                        Washington, DC 20521-9510
                                        telephone: [355] (4) 247285
                                        FAX: [355] (4) 232222
                      Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in
                                        the center
  
   Economy Albania
   ---------------
                    Economy - overview: Poor and backward by European
                                        standards, Albania is making the
                                        difficult transition to a more
                                        modern open-market economy. The
                                        government has taken measures to
                                        curb violent crime and to revive
                                        economic activity and trade. The
                                        economy is bolstered by remittances
                                        from abroad of $400-$600 million
                                        annually, mostly from Greece and
                                        Italy. Agriculture, which accounts
                                        for 52% of GDP, is held back because
                                        of frequent drought and the need to
                                        modernize equipment and consolidate
                                        small plots of land. Severe energy
                                        shortages are forcing small firms
                                        out of business, increasing
                                        unemployment, scaring off foreign
                                        investors, and spurring inflation.
                                   GDP: purchasing power parity - $13.2
                                        billion (2001 est.)
                GDP - real growth rate: 7.3% (2001 est.)
                      GDP - per capita: purchasing power parity - $3,800
                                        (2001 est.)
           GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 52%
                                        industry: 21%
                                        services: 27% (2001 est.)
         Population below poverty line: 30% (2001 est.)
     Household income or consumption by lowest 10%: NA%
                      percentage share: highest 10%: NA%
      Inflation rate (consumer prices): 3% (2001 est.)
                           Labor force: 1.283 million (not including 352,000
                                        emigrant workers and 261,000
                                        domestically unemployed) (2000 est.)
           Labor force - by occupation: agriculture 50%, industry and
                                        services 50%
                     Unemployment rate: 17% officially (2001 est.); may be
                                        as high as 30%
                                Budget: revenues: $697 million
                                        expenditures: $1.5 billion,
                                        including capital expenditures of
                                        $368 million (2002 est.)
                            Industries: food processing, textiles and
                                        clothing; lumber, oil, cement,
                                        chemicals, mining, basic metals,
                                        hydropower
     Industrial production growth rate: 9% (2000 est.)
              Electricity - production: 4.738 billion kWh (2000)
    Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 3%
                                        hydro: 97%
                                        other: 0% (2000)
                                        nuclear: 0%
             Electricity - consumption: 5.378 billion kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - exports: 100 million kWh (2000)
                 Electricity - imports: 1.072 billion kWh (2000)
                Agriculture - products: wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables,
                                        fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat,
                                        dairy products
                               Exports: $306 million (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
                 Exports - commodities: textiles and footwear; asphalt,
                                        metals and metallic ores, crude oil;
                                        vegetables, fruits, tobacco
                    Exports - partners: Italy 70%, Greece 12%, Germany 6%,
                                        The Former Yugoslav Republic of
                                        Macedonia 2%, Austria 1% (2001)
                               Imports: $1.1 billion (f.o.b., 2001 est.)
                 Imports - commodities: machinery and equipment, foodstuffs,
                                        textiles, chemicals
                    Imports - partners: Italy 32%, Greece 26%, Turkey 6%,
                                        Germany 6%, Bulgaria 2% (2001)
                       Debt - external: $1 billion (2000)
              Economic aid - recipient: $315 million (top donors were Italy,
                                        EU, Germany) (2000 est.)
                              Currency: lek (ALL)
                         Currency code: ALL
                        Exchange rates: leke per US dollar - 140.16
                                        (November 2001), 143.71 (2000)
                                        137.69 (1999), 150.63 (1998), 148.93
                                        (1997); note - leke is the plural of
                                        lek
                           Fiscal year: calendar year
  
   Communications Albania
   ----------------------
        Telephones - main lines in use: 120,000 (2001)
          Telephones - mobile cellular: 250,000 (2001)
                      Telephone system: general assessment: Albania has the
                                        poorest telephone service in Europe
                                        with fewer than two telephones per
                                        100 inhabitants; it is doubtful that
                                        every village has telephone service
                                        domestic: obsolete wire system; no
                                        longer provides a telephone for
                                        every village; in 1992, following
                                        the fall of the Communist
                                        government, peasants cut the wire to
                                        about 1,000 villages and used it to
                                        build fences
                                        international: inadequate;
                                        international traffic carried by
                                        microwave radio relay from the
                                        Tirana exchange to Italy and Greece
              Radio broadcast stations: AM 13, FM 4, shortwave 2 (2001)
                                Radios: 1 million (2001)
         Television broadcast stations: 3 (plus 58 repeaters) (2001)
                           Televisions: 700,000 (2001)
                 Internet country code: .al
     Internet Service Providers (ISPs): 10 (2001)
                        Internet users: 12,000 (2001)
  
   Transportation Albania
   ----------------------
                              Railways: total: 447 km
                                        standard gauge: 447 km 1.435-m gauge
                                        (2001 est.)
                              Highways: total: 18,000 km
                                        paved: 5,400 km
                                        unpaved: 12,600 km (1998 est.)
                             Waterways: 43 km
                                        note: includes Albanian sections of
                                        Lake Scutari, Lake Ohrid, and Lake
                                        Prespa (1990)
                             Pipelines: crude oil 196 km; petroleum products
                                        55 km; natural gas 64 km (1996)
                     Ports and harbors: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore
                       Merchant marine: total: 7 ships (1,000 GRT or over)
                                        totaling 13,423 GRT/20,837 DWT
                                        ships by type: cargo 7, includes
                                        some foreign-owned ships registered
                                        here as a flag of convenience:
                                        Croatia 1, Honduras 1 (2002 est.)
                              Airports: 11 (2001)
         Airports - with paved runways: total: 3
                                        2,438 to 3,047 m: 3 (2001)
       Airports - with unpaved runways: total: 8
                                        1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
                                        under 914 m: 4 (2001)
                                        914 to 1,523 m: 2
                                        over 3,047 m: 1
                             Heliports: 1 (2001)
  
   Military Albania
   ----------------
                     Military branches: Army, Navy, Air and Air Defense
                                        Forces, Interior Ministry Troops,
                                        Border Guards
      Military manpower - military age: 19 years of age (2002 est.)
      Military manpower - availability: males age 15-49: 888,086 (2002 est.)
   Military manpower - fit for military males age 15-49: 727,406 (2002 est.)
                               service:
           Military manpower - reaching males: 35,792 (2002 est.)
                 military age annually:
         Military expenditures - dollar $56.5 million (FY02)
                                figure:
     Military expenditures - percent of 1.49% (FY02)
                                   GDP:
  
   Transnational Issues Albania
   ----------------------------
              Disputes - international: the Albanian Government supports
                                        protection of the rights of ethnic
                                        Albanians outside of its borders in
                                        the Kosovo region of Yugoslavia and
                                        in the Former Yugoslav Republic of
                                        Macedonia while continuing to seek
                                        regional cooperation; many Albanians
                                        illegally transit neighboring states
                                        to emigrate to western Europe
                         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 growing cannabis
                                        production; ethnic Albanian
                                        narcotrafficking organizations
                                        active and rapidly expanding in
                                        Europe
  
                                       



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