The Republic of Albania is located in South Eastern Europe. It shares its border with Greece to the south-east, Montenegro to the north, Kosovo to the northeast, and the Republic of Macedonia to the east. The country is bounded by Adriatic Sea to the west, and the Ionian Sea to the southwest. The capital is Tirana (41 19 N, 19 49 E). The country is a member of United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of Europe, and the World Trade Organization, and has got an invitation to join NATO in 2008 April.
HISTORY:-The possible ancestors of present day Albanians were the Illyrians. Albania was invaded and ruled by several powers like the Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Serbs, Venetians and Ottomans. In the 5th century, Skanderbeg brought a short lived independence in Albania. After that Albanian history was dominated by Ottoman Empire for next 500 years. In 1912, Albania became free and republic was formed in 1920. In World War II, Albania joined the Axis powers. In 1939, Italy invaded the land as the Italian Fascist dictator Benito Mussolini wanted to come in competition with Hitler in territorial strength. Mussolini became the king of Albania. During the World War, Albanian nationalist groups threw away the Germans in 1944. Enver Hoxha became the nation’s ruler. Coalition with USSR broke in 1960 due to de-Stalinization.
GEOGRAPHY:- Albania is situated at 41 00 N, 20 00 E in southern Europe. The total are of the country is total: 28,748 sq km (land: 27,398 sq km, water: 1,350 sq km). The coast line is 362 km long along with the Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea. 70% of the country is formed of rugged mountains. The coastal area is plain. The lowest point is Adriatic Sea (0 m) and the highest point is Maja e Korabit (Golem Korab) (2,764 m). The three biggest and deepest tectonic lakes of the Balkan Peninsula are situated in Albania.
CLIMATE:- The climate of Albania is mild temperate with cool cloudy moist winters and hot clear dry summers. The interior is cooler and wetter.
GOVERNMENT:- Albania is a parliamentary republic. The constitution was adopted on 22nd November, 1998 and promulgated on 28th November, 1998. The three level of government office are:
Executive branch consists of the President (chief of state), the Prime Minister (head of government), and a Council of Ministers (cabinet).
Legislative branch consists of the Unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats).
Judicial branch consists of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, High Court, multiple district and appeals courts.
Prominent political parties are Democratic Party of Albania, Albanian Socialist Party, Socialist Movement for Integration, Albanian Republican Party, Demo-Christian Party, Union for Human Rights Party, New Democracy Party, Social Democratic Party, Social Democracy Party. Voting rights are universal at and over 18.
Executive branch consists of the President (chief of state), the Prime Minister (head of government), and a Council of Ministers (cabinet).
Legislative branch consists of the Unicameral People's Assembly or Kuvendi Popullor (140 seats).
Judicial branch consists of the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, High Court, multiple district and appeals courts.
Prominent political parties are Democratic Party of Albania, Albanian Socialist Party, Socialist Movement for Integration, Albanian Republican Party, Demo-Christian Party, Union for Human Rights Party, New Democracy Party, Social Democratic Party, Social Democracy Party. Voting rights are universal at and over 18.
President Bamir Topi
Prime Minister Sali Berisha
Prime Minister Sali Berisha
ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Albania is formed of 12 counties (Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Korce, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirane, Vlore). These counties are further divided into 36 districts, and 351 municipalities.
CULTURE:- Meshari (The Missal) by Gjon Buzuku was considered as the first written work of literature. The writer of the Doktrina e krishterë (The Christian Doctrine) (1618) and Rituale romanum (1621), Pjeter Budi, was the first writer of original Albanian literature. Frang Bardhi was the publisher of a dictionary and creator of folklore tales.
Albanian cuisine is highly influenced by Greece, Italy and the Ottoman dishes. Folk music is very popular through out the country. Albanian National Sport is Bola. Other popular sports are basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics.
Albanian cuisine is highly influenced by Greece, Italy and the Ottoman dishes. Folk music is very popular through out the country. Albanian National Sport is Bola. Other popular sports are basketball, volleyball, and gymnastics.
ECONOMY:- Albania has a large gray economy. Albania is heading towards an open market economy with reformations including privatization, enterprise, and financial sector reforms, after a halt in economic growth.
GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $19.76 billion; per capita $5,500.
GDP/PPP (2007 est.): $19.76 billion; per capita $5,500.
Real growth rate: 5% (2007 est.).
Inflation: 3% (2007 est.).
Unemployment: 13% (2007 est.).
Arable land: 20.1% (2005).
Agriculture: wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, fruits, sugar beets, grapes; meat, dairy products.
Labor force: 1.09 million (excluding 352,000 emigrant workers); agriculture 58%, industry 15%, services 27% (2006 est.).
Industries: food processing, textiles and clothing; lumber, oil, cement, chemicals, mining, basic metals, hydropower.
Budget:
Revenues: $2.752 billion
Expenditures: $3.129 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: 53.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Revenues: $2.752 billion
Expenditures: $3.129 billion (2007 est.)
Public debt: 53.7% of GDP (2007 est.)
Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, bauxite, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydropower.
Exports: $962 million f.o.b. (2007 est.): textiles and footwear; asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil; vegetables, fruits, tobacco.
Imports: $3.42 billion f.o.b. (2007 est.): machinery and equipment, foodstuffs, textiles, chemicals.
Major trading partners: Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany (2006).
Monetary unit: Lek
LANGUAGE:- The official language is Albanian while Tosk is the official dialect. Greek is also spoken.
CITIES:- The largest city is capital Tirana. Other large cities are Durres, Shkoder, Vlore, Elbasan.
POPULATION:- with a growth rate of 0.5%, Albanian population is 3,619,778.
Density per sq mi: 340
Literacy rate: 87% (2003 est.)
Density per sq mi: 340
Literacy rate: 87% (2003 est.)
RACE:-
Albanian 95%
Greeks 3%
Other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)
Albanian 95%
Greeks 3%
Other 2% (Vlachs, Gypsies, Serbs, and Bulgarians) (1989 est.)
RELIGION:-
Islam 70%
Albanian Orthodox 20%
Roman Catholic 10%
Islam 70%
Albanian Orthodox 20%
Roman Catholic 10%
HEALTH:- Albania gives the facility of free health care for all. National coverage of immunization is almost finished with 97%, and birth registration being completed nearly 99%.
Birth rate: 15.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 19.31 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.78 years
Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Birth rate: 15.22 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Death rate: 5.44 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Infant mortality rate: total: 19.31 deaths/1,000 live births
Life expectancy at birth: total population: 77.78 years
Total fertility rate: 2.02 children born/woman (2008 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA
Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 353
UNICEF:- In Albania, many health care workers are being trained in prenatal and obstetric care. UNICEF campaigns for the needs of breastfeeding, and salt iodization. UNICEF with the government provides basic services to rural children and women of ethnic minorities, collects funds to buy antiretroviral drugs to fight HIV, takes initiative in confidential HIV testing, and enhances the awareness on HIV. Child trafficking is another issue in Albania border. A project of Albania’s juvenile justice reformation is already undertaken. With The Ministry of Education, UNICEF develops school curricula and standards of learning. In 2006, UNICEF has launched The Albania Read initiative to improve the education system.
TRANSPORTATION:-
Railways: total: 447 km (2006).
Highways: total: 18,000 km (2002).
Waterways: 43 km (2007). Ports and harbors: Durres, Sarande, Shengjin, Vlore.
Airports: 11 (2007).
- Other christian articles
0
Explore the Worldviewer.com Network Sites
Cargo - freightiworld.com | Renaissance - muslimiworld.com | - burialiworld.com | Catholic church - churchesiworld.com | Bible code - bibleiworld.com | Valentines day gifts - valentinesiworld.com | Aboriginal spirituality - spiritualityiworld.com | Lincoln memorial - memorialsiworld.com | Washington - catholiciworld.com | Chord worship - worshipiworld.com | Women's conferences - faithiworld.com | India temples - templesiworld.com | Christmas fun stuff - christmasiworld.com | Spiritual - christianityiworld.com | History of Islam - islamiworld.com | History of Judaism - judaismiworld.com | Catholic religion - religionsiworld.com | Hinduism belief - hinduismiworld.com | Bible - prayeriworld.com | Sound and spirit - spiritiworld.com
.jpg)
