Albania

Albania ( Albanian : Shqipëria or Shqipnija), officially the Republic of Albania (Republika e Shqipërisë) is a republic in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula . It is bordered clockwise to Montenegro , Kosovo , Macedonia , Greece and the Ionian and Adriatic . The capital and largest city of Albania, Tirana in the center of the country, 421 286 (2011 census) of houses the more than 3.6 million people in total.

Albania was for centuries a backwater of the Ottoman Empire . In 1912 the country became independent after the Second World War, it got underEnver Hoxha a dogmatic communist regime that continues the rest of the world isolated. Since its fall in 1991. Albania is a parliamentary democracy. Free market reforms in the country have opened the way for foreign investors, especially in the energy - and transport sector.

Albania is a member of the United Nations, the NATO , the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe , the Council of Europe , the World Trade Organization and the Organization of the Islamic Conference and one of the founding members of the Union for the Mediterranean . Since June 24, 2014 is the addition of the kandidaatslid European Union, after it already in 2009 applied for that status.



Contents
*1 History  ==History [  edit ] == The statue ofSkanderbeg, the national hero of Albania, in TiranaThe area was ruled in ancient times by Illyrians and Thracians and later came under Roman , Byzantine and Ottomanrule.
 * 2 Geography
 * 2.1 Cities
 * 2.2 Administrative divisions
 * 2.3 Climate
 * 3 Demographics
 * 3.1 Language
 * 3.2 Religion
 * 4 Culture
 * 4.1 Archaeological sites
 * 4.2 Sights
 * 5 Economics
 * 5.1 Economic data
 * 5.2 Tourism
 * 6 Politics
 * 6.1 Political System
 * 6.2 Heads of State
 * 6.3 International relations
 * 7 Traffic and transport
 * 8 External links

When Albania was cut off by the First Balkan War of the Ottoman Empire, called on November 28, 1912 from its independence. Parts of Albania were occupied by Serbia, Montenegro and Greece, but under pressure from especially Austria-Hungary and Italy, the country was recognized by the international community. Only Montenegro continued the siege of the northern city of Shkoder by Greece and occupied northern Epirus in the south of the country. From November 1913 to August 1914, the Dutch General led William Feather with Major Lodewijk Thomsonmilitary mission with the aim of building an Albanian gendarmerie . The German-Dutch prince Wilhelm zu Wied was appointed sovereign prince or mbret. [5]

Had to leave both the Dutch officers as Wilhelm zu Wied the country because of internal rebellions fueled by several neighboring countries. Although during the First World War declared neutral, attacked Italy, Serbia, Montenegro and Greece within the country to divide it among themselves. In January / February 1916 Albania was taken over byAustria-Hungary in the north and center, and by the Bulgarians in the east of the country.

At the end of the First World War drew the various parties withdrew under pressure from the United States. If last left the Italians in 1920 the country.In 1925 Albania became a republic under the leadership of Ahmet Zogu, a former warlord. In 1928 he crowned himself King Zog I. In the thirties Albania became more and more dependent on Italy, until Italy annexed the country in 1939. After 1944, Albania was a satellite state of the Soviet Union, which in 1961 broke because destalinisatiepolitiek of Nikita Khrushchev . In 1968 Albania left the first and only country in the Cold War, theWarsaw Pact and became an ally of communist China, to the outrage of the Soviet Union.

Elections in 1992 brought an end to the power of the Communist Party and a democratic government was formed. In 1997 broke into the country from anarchy following the collapse of pyramid investment schemes which many investors had driven to a complete bankruptcy. ==[Geography  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Satellite image of Albania<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Albania is rugged and mountainous, except for the fertile Adriatic coast. The Korab (2763 m), on the border with Macedonia, is the highest point of the country.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The main rivers of Albania are the Drin, the Mat , the Shkumbin the Vjosë and Seman , but most are not navigable. The largest lakes are Lake Scutari, the Lake Ohrid and Prespa , all partly outside Albania. More than a third of the country consists of forests and swamps, over a third is pasture and only about one fifth is cultivated.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Albania is not rich islands . The country has a dozen small uninhabited islands off the coast, plus some smaller islands in lakes. The largest island is Sazan, which at the entrance to the Gulf of Vlore is situated. ===<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[City  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The capital Tirana with 421 286 inhabitants (2011), by far the largest city in the country. The whole agglomeration Tirana in 2008, there were almost 900,000 people. Durres, the biggest port in Albania and has also been the national railway hub, the second city (115 550 inhabitants). Other large cities (bashki) are (according to the population census of 2011):

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Except Kamez, a suburb of Tirana, the ten largest cities in the country, all capital from one of the 36 districts (see below). Kashar and Paskuqancount, although they do not have the status of city, each more residents than Berat and Lushnjë. ===Administrative divisions <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Albania is politically subdivided into 12 prefectures (qarqe, singular qark), which are in turn divided into 36 districts (rreth, singular rrethe). Each of these prefectures and has an administrative center; the capital of the prefecture is also becoming the capital of its district.
 * 1) Vlore (79 948)
 * 2) Elbasan (79 810)
 * 3) Shkoder (74 876)
 * 4) Kamez (67 301)
 * 5) Fier (57 198)
 * 6) Korçë (51 683)
 * 7) Berat (36 467)
 * 8) Lushnjë (31.424)

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The districts comprise a total of 373 municipalities - the lowest tier of government - including 65 cities (bashki, singular bashki) and 308 area municipalities (komuna, singular Komune). In most municipalities to distinguish various settlements that do not have their own administration. In komuna and outside city centers, these fshatra (singular Fshat, 'village') called; bashki in the city centers are called self qytete (singular qytet, "city"). Tirana has no fshatra, but is divided into eleven mini bashki (mini municipalities) or city districts, which also each have their own government - a first in Albania. Some other larger cities also are subdivided into wards or districts, but no district councils. ===<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Climate  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The coastal climate is typically Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The mountainous interior, particularly in the north, has severe winters and mild summers. ==<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Demographics  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == Population Development of Albania<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The rough and inaccessible terrain in the country, the traditional Albania isolated from its neighbors, making the ethnic homogeneity was maintained. Approximately 95% of the population is ethnic Albanian, 3% is Greek and there are scattered Vlach-, Bulgarian, Serbian and Roma minorities. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2009_6-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Albania can be considered as a typical Balkan country, but it differs in some ways from its closest neighbors. The population is fairly homogeneous,Islam is the dominant religion and take the Albanian language within the Indo-European language family a separate position.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The population has grown considerably since 2000 and concentrates increasingly in the cities.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Much of the ethnic Albanians live outside Albania. In the first place, in Kosovo (already seen some that are still as part of Serbia ), with which there has long been a border dispute. After the Kosovo war (June 1999), Kosovo was placed under international administration by the UN. This has resulted in autonomy for Kosovo and de facto independence from Serbia. 88% of the inhabitants of Kosovo are Albanian (2000). On February 17, 2008 the parliament of Kosovo unilaterally declared, in consultation with the United States and the European Parliament, the independence. Initially this led to recognition of the majority of the NATO countries and those of the European Union, with a few exceptions. Kosovo has since been recognized by 88 countries. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-recognition_7-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[7]
 * Ethnic groups: Albanians (95%), Greeks (3%), Macedonians , Serbs , Bulgarians , Roma , Vlachs
 * Population growth: 0.8% (average 1980-2001)
 * Illiteracy : men 0.8%, women 1.7% <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2009_6-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Also, 25% of the population of Macedonia ethnic Albanian (2002). In addition, a significant number in Greece ( Epirus ) and small numbers in Montenegro and Serbia (excluding Kosovo). Since the Turkish conquest attend the Arbereshe in southern Italy, also of Albanian origin. The Albanian diaspora in Western Europe and in the New World is extensive.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Albania means' the land of the White Mountains. The Albanian Shqipëri name means "land of the eagle." This eagle is also on the flag, which he is portrayed black against a red background. ===Language <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The Albanian, the only official language, is like the Armenian and Greek separate branch of Indo-European language family . The Shkumbinrivier, which roughly divides the country in two, separating the speakers of the northern dialect, Gegisch (1.8 million speakers in Albania), of which the southern dialect or Toskisch (2.9 million). The Albanian default is based on the Toskisch.Besides Gegisch (which is also the language of instruction in most of Kosovo ) and Toskisch there are two other variants of Albanian, Arberisch and Arvanitika, which are spoken by Albanian minorities respectively in southern Italy and Greece . All four of these variants are considered by some sources as separate languages. The Albanian Sign Language is used by 205,000 people.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Other indigenous languages ​​in Albania are Greek (15,200 speakers), Macedonian (4440), Vlach-Romani (4000) Aromanian (3850) and the Montenegrin version of the Serbian (66). The two major immigrant languages ​​are Turkish (710 speakers) and the Italian (520). ===<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Religion  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === The Clock Tower and et'hem bey mosque in Skanderbeg Square in TiranaThe St. Mary's Church in Labova e Kryqit at Libohove, partly from the 6th century and one of the oldest churches in Albania<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">An estimated 60% of the population Muslim ( Sunni ) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-religie_1-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[1] and 40% Christian . Of Christians is about two-thirdsAlbanian Orthodox and one-third Catholic . <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2009_6-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6]  Only a small percentage of Albanians practicing his religion. The statistics of the number of people who have no faith espouse quite different. Estimates range from 0% to 74%.These large statistical differences are also visible in the number of Muslims. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-religie_1-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[1]  The Albanian government itself has no recent religious statistics.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The Gegen (also Ghegen) are predominantly Muslims, the Tosken contrast, mostly Greek Orthodox. Catholics are mainly found among the Gegen.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In 1967, Albania was officially atheist proclaimed state, and until 1990 all mosques and churches were closed. All mosques and churches in the country were demolished or adapted for other purposes. Believers were during the regime of Enver Hoxha severely persecuted and religious leaders were forced to the performance of their duties to give up. ==Culture <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Archaeological sites <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ===<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Sights  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === ==Economy <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Albania, which was heavily battered in both World Wars, has all European countries the lowest standard of living . In 2010, Albania had a gross domestic product (GDP) from 1236 billion lek or about 9 billion. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-OECDAL_8-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[8] Per capita, this is less than 3,000 euros. The country has over 1 million workers of which about half is engaged in agriculture , <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2009_6-3" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6]  the majority of the rest of the population is involved in some form of industry.
 * Apollonia
 * Byllis
 * Butrint
 * Konispol (caves)
 * Monuments on the World Heritage List

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The country's economy faltered, especially in the early nineties of the twentieth century, when Albania soon a tightly controlled system to a market economy was trying to pass. During this period, the unemployment rate was about 40%, but at the end of the decade this had fallen back to 20%.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The farm used to be socialized in the form of collective and state farms, but in 1992 all agricultural land privatized. Wheat and corn , cotton , tobacco , potatoes and sugar beets are grown and cattle are bred. Albania is rich in minerals, in particular oil , lignite , copper , chromium , limestone , salt , bauxite, and natural gas . The chemical industry, mining, agricultural processing and the manufacture of textiles, clothing, lumber and cement are the main industrial sectors. The country has several hydroelectric plants. The economic downturn in the 90s Albania remains primarily a developing country.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The foreign trade is mainly via the sea. Exports of Albania consists mainly of natural resources and food imports mainly machinery, other industrial and consumer goods. Its main trading partners are Italy , Greece , Turkey , Germany and China . <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2009_6-4" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[6]  In the early nineties, Albania's membership of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank . ===Economic data <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] ===
 * Currency: lek (ALL) (100 qindarka); price: ALL 1 = EUR 0.0071 (2013)
 * Gross domestic product: US $ 13.16 billion (2013) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2014_9-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]
 * Shares per sector: agriculture (17.5%), industry (15.3%) and services (67.2%) (2013) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2014_9-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]
 * Inflation: 2% (2013) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2014_9-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]
 * Labour force: 1.129 million (2013) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2014_9-3" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]


 * Shares per sector: agriculture (47.8%), industry (23.0%) and services (29.2%) (2010) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2014_9-4" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]
 * Unemployment: 12.9% (2013) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2014_9-5" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]
 * Exports: $ 1.226 billion (2013) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2014_9-6" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]


 * Export Partners: Italy (51%), Spain (9.2%), Turkey (6.3%) and Greece (4.4%) (2012)
 * Imports: $ 4.115 billion (2013) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2014_9-7" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]

===Tourism <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Because of the strict communist policy that Albania has known, and that the country held largely closed to foreign visitors for decades, tourism in Albania is still in its infancy, and the infrastructure is limited to Western European standards. However, the Albanian tourism industry is growing each year, and is playing an increasingly prominent role in the Albanian economy.
 * Import Partners: Italy (31.9%), Greece (9.5%), China (6.4%), Germany (6.0%) and Turkey (5.7%) (2012) <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-CIA2014_9-8" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[9]

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The Albanian has remained relatively unspoiled coastline, with the southern Sarande and the Albanian Riviera and north Durres and Shëngjin, is still popular with the Albanian-itself, but slowly but surely they also attracts Westerners to. Other strengths of Albania are especially unique culture and language, created by the alternating dominations which Albania has faced in its turbulent history, the pristine mountain areas in the north and southeast, and the bustling cities, particularly Tirana.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Travel guide publisher Lonely Planet put Albania in 2010 at number one of its top ten visiting countries in 2011. ==<span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[Politics  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == ===Political system <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === Plenary Hall of the People's Assembly of Albania<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Albania is a republic with a parliament consists of one chamber, the People's Assembly of Albania (Kuvendi Shqipërisë i), whose deputies are elected by universal suffrage for a term of four years. The parliament elects the president for a term of five years, and the president appoints the prime minister .Executive power is exercised by a cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the president.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The last parliamentary elections in Albania took place on June 23, 2013 . The list of Social Democratic challenger Edi Rama won a clear victory, and sitting Prime Minister Sali Berisha (PD), after a short period of radio silence his loss during an emotional news conference. He also stepped down as chairman of his party. In the following month joined Rama as the new prime minister of Albania. The complete results of the main parties was as follows. ===Heads <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Bujar Nishani's predecessors as head of state were as follows (since 1925):
 * President: Bujar Nishani ( PD ) since July 24, 2012 (deadline: five years)
 * Premier: Edi Rama ( PS ), Since 2013
 * Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister: Ditmir Bushati (PS), Since 2013
 * Interior Minister : Saimir Tahiri (PS), Since 2013
 * Assembly: 140 seats, four-year term
 * Distribution of seats since the 2013 elections :
 * Socialist Party of Albania (Partia Socialiste e Shqipërisë, PS): 65 seats
 * Democratic Party of Albania (Partia Demokratike e Shqipërisë PD): 50 seats
 * Socialist Movement for Integration (Lëvizja Socialiste për Inte Grim, LSI): 16 seats
 * Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (Partia për Drejtësi, Integrity Grim dhe Unitet, PDIU): 4 seats
 * Republican Party of Albania (Partia Republikane Shqiptare, PR): 3 seats
 * Association for Human Rights Party (Partia Bash Kimi per te e Drejtat Njeriut, PBDNJ): 1 seat
 * Christian Democratic Party of Albania (Partia Demokristiane e Shqipërisë, PDK): 1 seat

===International Relations <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] === <p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">Since 1 April 2009, Albania is a member of NATO , <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-10" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[10] and on 28 April 2009, the country officially the membership of the European Union requested (EU). <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-11" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[11] At the end of June 2014, Albania became a candidate member of the EU. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NOSALB_12-0" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12] In the EU, the country has achieved good progress with the implementation of necessary reforms, including tackling corruption and organized crime.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NOSALB_12-1" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12]  It will likely be years before Albania is actually a Member State. <sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-NOSALB_12-2" style="line-height:1;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;">[12]
 * King Zog 1925-1939 (until 1928 president)
 * Omer Nishani 1944-1953 (communist)
 * Haxhi Lleshi 1953-1982 (communist)
 * Ramiz Alia 1982-1992 (communist, socialist)
 * Sali Berisha 1992-1997 (Democrat)
 * Skënder Gjinushi 1997 (interim)
 * Rexhep Meidani 1997-2002 (socialist)
 * Alfred Moisiu 2002-2007 (non-party)
 * Bamir Topi 2007-2012 (Democrat)
 * Bujar Nishani 2012- (Democrat)

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">In Tirana there are 35 foreign embassies are located, in addition there are the rest of the country still four Greek and Italian consulates scattered. Albania itself maintains 36 embassies abroad. ==Traffic and transport <span class="mw-editsection" style="-webkit-user-select:none;font-size:small;margin-left:1em;line-height:1em;display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;unicode-bidi:-webkit-isolate;font-family:sans-serif;"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">[  edit <span class="mw-editsection-bracket" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);">] == The Tirana airport<p style="margin-top:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The only airport in Albania liner is the airport of Tirana, which was completely renovated in 2007. Albania has no national airline. The country's largest carrier is the low-cost carrier Belle Air .

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The Albanian railways are approximately 677 kilometers long (1986). The rail network is in poor condition.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">The road network measures a total of approximately 18,000 km, of which 5,400 kilometers are paved. The roads are not always in as good condition.Especially in the remote south is the path worn in many places. Usually only the motorways and 'red road' on a car map asphalted. Since 2006, three new highways under construction linking east-west and north-south together. The north-south route is 440 kilometers long and runs from Hani i Hotit on the border with Montenegro through Gjirokastër to the border with Greece and Sarandë. The east-west route begins at the Greek border in Bilisht . The road goes past Pogradec near the Macedonian border to Durres and Elbasan. The total length is 279 kilometers. The route that links already in use with Durres Kukes and the border with Kosovo, Qafa e Morines . The length of this compound is 170 kilometers.

<p style="margin-top:0.5em;margin-bottom:0.5em;line-height:20.3636360168457px;color:rgb(37,37,37);font-family:sans-serif;font-size:14px;">There are connections by ferry from the Greek island of Corfu to Sarande, from Bari (Italy) to Durres or from the Italian Brindisi to Durres and Vlore.