hort form:
Shqiperia
former:
People's Socialist Republic of Albania
Digraph:
AL
Type:
nascent democracy
Capital:
Tirane
Administrative divisions:
26 districts (rrethe, singular - rreth); Berat, Dibre, Durres,
Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje, Korce, Kruje, Kukes,
Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite, Permet, Pogradec, Puke,
Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje, Vlore
Independence:
28 November 1912 (from Ottoman Empire)
National holiday:
Liberation Day, 28 November (1944; changed by decree on 12 November
1993)
Constitution:
an interim basic law was approved by the People's Assembly on 29 April
1991; a new constitution was to be drafted for adoption in 1992, but
is still in process
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 Sali BERISHA (since 9 April 1992)
head of government:
Prime Minister of the Council of Ministers Aleksander Gabriel MEKSI
(since 10 April 1992)
Cabinet:
Council of Ministers; appointed by the president
Legislative branch:
unicameral
People's Assembly (Kuvendi Popullor):
elections last held 22 March 1992; results - DP 62.29%, ASP 25.57%,
SDP 4.33%, RP 3.15%, UHP 2.92%, other 1.74%; seats - (140 total) DP
92, ASP 38, SDP 7, RP 1, UHP 2
Judicial branch:
Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders:
there are at least 18 political parties; most prominent are the
Albanian Socialist Party (ASP; formerly the Albania Workers Party),
Fatos NANO, first secretary; Democratic Party (DP), Eduard SELAMI,
chairman; Albanian Republican Party (RP), Sabri GODO; Omonia (Greek
minority party), leader NA (ran in 1992 election as Unity for Human
Rights Party (UHP)); Social Democratic Party (SDP), Skender GJINUSHI;
Democratic Alliance Party (DAP), Spartak NGJELA, chairman
Member of:
BSEC, CCC, CE (guest), CSCE, EBRD, ECE, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA,
IDB, IFAD, IFC, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL,
IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, LORCS, NACC, OIC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission:
Ambassador Lublin Hasan DILJA
chancery:
Suite 1010, 1511 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
(202) 223-4942, 8187
FAX:
(202) 628-7342
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission:
Am