Albania in what. Information about Albania

Albania is a country with a difficult destiny and a strong character. Despite its occupational past, it was able to preserve a rich heritage, centuries-old culture and picturesque nature. Albania is one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. And we will devote our today's material to this beautiful country, we will find out where it is located, the most striking sights of Albania, and what you need to see if you have a holiday in this republic.

Where is

Located in the west of the Balkan Peninsula, Albania occupies its coastal territory, washed by the Adriatic Sea. Its neighbors are Greece, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Italy, separated from Albania by the Strait of Otranto. Albanian Republic (so it sounds official name country) covers an area of ​​28,000 km2, on which about 3.4 million people live. The capital of Albania - Tirana is the largest city in the entire republic.

Brief description of the country

For a long time, Albania was under the yoke of the Ottoman Empire, and only shortly before its fall was it able to achieve its independence in 1912. But, unfortunately, her occupation did not end there. From 1939 to 1944, Albania was subject to the Italian invaders. Then, for almost half a century from 1944 to 1992, the republic was ruled by the Communist Albanian Party, which completely isolated the state from external influence.

Albania is practically a single-ethnic state, on the territory of which live mainly Albanians. 80% of them preach Islam, being Sunnis, the rest of the population adheres to the Orthodox and Catholic churches.

Albania is especially attractive for its natural beauties. There is everything here: a picturesque plain, and majestic mountains, and the purest lakes, and large rivers. Lakes Ohrid, Shkoder and Prespa, the rivers Drin and Mati, as well as Mount Korabi (2764) are part of the uniqueness of Albania. The Mediterranean climate pleases with mild winters and hot, but not sultry summers.

The whole territory of Albania is rich in ancient Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman cultural monuments and sights. Most of them are located in the largest cities of the republic: Tirana, Shkoder, Durres, Elbasan, Korca and Vlora.

Sights of Albania

In every village in Albania you can find interesting sights. A rich history has rewarded this region with a huge number of cultural and historical monuments. Consider some of the attractions and what you can see in Aobania.

Berat Castle

It can rightly be considered a city-museum. This citadel dates back to the 13th century, representing an example of ancient architecture and history. Berat is located 123 km from the capital of Albania and is one of the most popular places among tourists. The castle rises above the city, revealing a stunning panorama of the surrounding area. Inside the citadel there are buildings of ancient temples and expositions of historical artifacts.

Skadar lake

Is the most big lake on the Balkan Peninsula. It is simultaneously located on the territory of Albania and Montenegro. A very picturesque place that attracts tourists with its flora and fauna, virgin places protected by the state, and the purest water. Water transport is well developed here, which makes it possible to enjoy boat trips. The reservoir gained particular fame thanks to its churches and tombs built on the islands of the lake.

Fortress Rozafa

The next attraction of Albania - Rozafa Fortress - is located in the vicinity of the city of Shkodra. This is very beautiful place, which is a picturesque hill surrounded by two rivers - Drin and Bryan. The fortress dates back to the 3rd century BC. From the moment of its construction, it was able to survive the occupation by the Romans, and the capture by the Ottomans, and the confrontation with the Montenegrins.

Rozafa is especially popular with women and is considered a sacred place for those who dream of motherhood. Despite the fact that the fortress has been partially preserved, it is known far beyond the borders of Albania. Tourists are attracted here by centuries of history and a museum opened in one of the surviving buildings.

Archaeological Museum-Reserve of Butrint

Located in the southern part of Albania near the city of Saranada. Almost bordering on Greece, this reserve has gained particular fame thanks to excavations and medieval Venetian fortress. Here were found the remains of public and residential buildings and structures, the walls of the acropolis, baths, decorated with mosaics and the sanctuary of Asclepius. Butrint is also popular among tourists due to its proximity to the beaches, being 2 kilometers from the coast.

Resort Ksamil

The most famous in Albania. Its peculiarity lies not only in the purest water, but also in amazing beaches. Seemingly incredibly white sand at first glance, it is actually stones crushed to a tiny size. This resort attracts tourists not only with its blue water, but also with uninhabited islands, which are easily accessible by swimming.

Ruin ancient city Apollonia

They are located 100 km south of the city of Durres. In 855 BC, this city was founded by the Greeks as one of the most important Mediterranean city-states. Monuments such as the Monastery of St. Mary dating back to the 12th century AD, the Bouleuterion (administrative building of ancient times) dating back to the 3rd century AD, the Odeon (building for musical performances) built around the 2nd century AD, the ancient Amphitheater have survived to this day. and others. Not far from Apollonia is the majestic monastery of Ardenika.

Customs and traditions

Those who visit Albania for the first time, as a rule, are amazed at the differences in the same rites and traditions in different regions of the country. National costumes, wedding rituals and other customs can be very different in two nearby villages or cities. Perhaps that is why it is never boring in Albania, and every new place brings unforgettable experience. In everyday life, the following customs can be distinguished, which are typical for Albanians.

When addressing local residents, Albanians use the polite form "zoti" (master) for men and "zonya" (lady) for women. In some provincial regions, echoes of communism can still be found in addressing each other in the form of a greeting "shok" - comrade.

A special theme for Albanians is the reception of guests and visiting guests. If an Albanian has invited guests, then he must host the reception himself. highest level and spend well to maintain your status. Guests, in turn, should also show respect to the hosts and bring gifts with them. The art of having a conversation over a cup of coffee is the main sign that you are a well-mannered and worthy person.

Public life in Albania is mainly manifested in a form called "jiro". At its core, this is an evening walk along a square or boulevard in a city or village. During the Giro locals share news and gossip. Here it is of great importance appearance. As a rule, the richest outfits are worn for such a walk to show their wealth and status.

After such a long isolation, Albania is only now beginning to reveal its uniqueness and beauty to all visitors and tourists. Stunning nature, architectural sights, pristine beaches, hospitable locals and inexpensive living make this republic a potential leader among others. European countries.

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Albania is a small Balkan country that attracts travelers with a unique opportunity to combine beach and outdoor activities, enjoying the Mediterranean climate, as well as get to know the incredibly rich history of the country, its culture and national customs.

Where is Albania on the map of Europe?

Conveniently located surrounded by the sea and mountains, Albania is very attractive for travelers, and, most importantly, inexpensive direction.

Geographical position

Albania, as a country of the Balkan Peninsula, has the most favorable geographical position, since it not only boasts a Mediterranean climate, but also the fact that it is washed by two the best of the sea – Adriatic And Ionian, along which stretches a hilly plain.

Its territory is covered with peaked mountain ranges, picturesque lakes, rocks and caves - fabulously beautiful nature.

Albania is located in southeastern Europe, namely in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula.

The country has common boundaries in the north with and, in the east with Macedonia, as well as in the south and southeast. In the west, on the other side of the Strait of Otranto, only 75 km is located.

Albania partially owns three picturesque lakes - Ohrid, Shkoder And Prespa, in addition, is the owner of two major rivers – Drin And Mati.

When traveling, details and a properly planned route are very important. Find out how a smartphone can help you prepare for your vacation.

Climate

Being one of the unrecognized pearls of the Adriatic coast, Albania has an incredibly attractive mediterranean climate. Summers are dry and hot, while winters are mild and rainy. The average summer temperature is +25 degrees, and the winter temperature is -8°C.

How to get there?

Russia and Albania no direct message, therefore, all flights to this country have a transfer in or through Milan, Ljubljana, Vienna and Warsaw. Travel time, including connections, will take about 6 hours.

You can buy plane tickets to neighboring countries in Albania using this form of air ticket search. Enter information about departure date, departure and arrival cities And number of passengers.

Country Information

The natural beauty and developed infrastructure of Albania, as well as the hospitality of the country's inhabitants, are increasingly conducive to visiting this wonderful place.

Internal arrangement

Until 1992, Albania was artificially isolated from the rest of the world due to the policies of the communist party, but now it is called democratic republic which is headed by the President and the Government by the Prime Minister.

The local population communicates in Albanian, but knows Italian, Greek and English quite well.

Albania is currently home to about 3.2 million inhabitants, 97% of whom are indigenous Albanians who practice Islam. In particular, Sunni Muslims account for about 80% of the population.

Visa

For most tourists, including residents of Russia, in summer time for up to 90 days entry Albania is not required. The rest of the time before the trip you will have to issue a permit.

Customs

In Albania forbidden import and export local currency - you can change it at the place at the airport. Duty-free import of 200 cigarettes, up to 1 liter of spirits and 2 liters of wine, as well as 250 ml of eau de toilette and 50 ml of perfume is allowed. For the export of expensive items, you must present a receipt for the purchase.

Read also about the rules and regulations for transporting liquids on an airplane.

Security

Albania is easy to call a destination, completely safe for tourists, but even in such an environment, some measures should be observed:

1. Do not buy currency from hands;
2. Get vaccinated against typhoid and poliomyelitis;
3. Get medical insurance.

The country has very clean drinking water, but vacationers are better off buying a bottled product.

Currency

Monetary unit of Albania - lek(in 1 lek there are 100 kindarok), but tourists have the opportunity to pay in euros or dollars. This foreign currency can be paid everywhere.

National cuisine

Albanian Cuisine - Delicious and Juicy Blend meat dishes from lamb or juicy lamb, flavored with the freshest vegetables.

Definitely worth a try:

1. Burek- meat pie from puff pastry;
2. Tav elbyusani- meat baked in yogurt;
3. Ferges tyrant- meat sausage with egg and tomatoes.

IN local cuisine you can also find fish dishes from trout caught in Ohrid lake cooked with walnuts.

Connection

There are two mobile operators in this country - Vodafone And AMC, which are perfectly accepted anywhere in Albania. There is also roaming from other operators.

If you are worried that your tour will be canceled, learn more about travel insurance.

Real estate market

IN last years The real estate market is very promising, because home purchase cost much less than in neighboring countries. In addition, realtors help in the implementation of objects directly from developers.

Transport

It is easy to move around the country by buses, trains or minibuses, which are also called here "vans". This most popular form of transport can be found at any bus station.

Large cities such as Tirana, Durres, Berat or Shkoder are connected railway communication– trains running from 6 am to 8 pm.

Map with cities and resorts in Russian

Albania is ready to provide its guests with a lot scenic spots for a rich holiday, exciting excursions, as well as a first-class beach holiday on the cleanest beaches of the Adriatic.

The active development of tourism makes Albania an attractive destination - travelers get unique impressions from visiting a unique country. Saturated cultural leisure awaits tourists in the capital of the country - in Tirana, because this city is a treasure trove of historical sights, as well as the unique Berat.

beach holiday

Luxury beach holiday awaits those who go to one of the following resort towns:

• Sarandra;
• Durres;
• Vlore;
• Shkondra.

In addition to a beach holiday, travelers have the opportunity to explore Durres And Shkondra for the presence of historical sights that are more than one thousand years old.

Attractions

Albania has always been distinguished by a rich history, attractive culture, as well as picturesque nature.

Going on an exciting journey, it is worth, first of all, to visit sights of Tirana, which are located on the central square:

• National History Museum;
• Monument to Skanderbeg;
• Clock tower;
• Mosque of Ethem Bey;
• Perfectly preserved Petrela castle- it is about 2 thousand years old.

You can complete your walk around the city by climbing to the top of Daiti Mountain, which offers a magnificent view of Tirana.

Castles and fortresses are well preserved in Durres, Amphitheater And mosaic house, surrounded by statues and fountains, and in the cultural capital of the country, you should see the mosques, the Franciscan church and the Rosefan fortress.

Where to stay?

The hotel base of Albania is very rich - there are luxury hotels, for example ( Rogner Hotel Tirana), modest hotels ( Lowen Inn Bed & Breakfast) and very inexpensive hostel beds ( Green Garden Hostel).

Of course, the local service does not reach the European level, but the friendliness and good nature of the staff fully compensates for this minus. Accommodation prices much lower than in neighboring Greece or Montenegro.

Use the hotel booking form to find the right room. Enter city, arrival and departure dates And number of guests.

Entertainment

Beach lovers will find a lot of interesting entertainment on Ionian coast in the "Riviera of Flowers" or on the beaches of Velipoy, Durres, Golemi, Lezha and Divyak, in the Adriatic - Dermi.

Mountain climbers can explore the mountains, and those who are interested in speleology can find numerous caves in Albania.

shopping

In specialized shops and souvenir shops, tourists can purchase products of local craftsmen - copper gizmos And wooden tubes, as well as colorful embroidery. In old Tirana you can visit a huge bazaar.

Facts about the state

• Kiss on the cheek- the norm for the local population;
• Maintenance staff would like to leave a tip(10% of the amount);
• Shaking your head means consent, nod- refusal;
• Not worth it to communicate with Albanians about religion, politics and polygamy, especially to start disputes on this topic;
• Pride of Albania mother teresa, awarded the Nobel Prize.

Every year to hospitable Albania everything flocks more tourists who appreciate a rich vacation at an attractive price.

Name of the Republic of Albania. country comes from the Illyrian olba - "village".

Capital of the Republic of Albania. Tirana.

Square of the Republic of Albania. 28748 km2.

Population of Albania. 2.901 million people (

Albania GDP. $13.37 billion (

Location of the Republic of Albania

The state is located in the southeast, in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. In the north and northwest it borders with and, in the east - with, in the south - with. From the west it is washed by the waters, from the southwest -.

Administrative division Republic of Albania. It is divided into 36 districts (reti) and the capital district.

Form of government of the Republic of Albania. Parliamentary republic.

Head of State of the Republic of Albania. The President is elected by the People's Assembly for a term of 5 years.
Supreme legislative body. Kuvend (People's Assembly), term of office - 4 years.

The highest executive body of the Republic of Albania. Council of Ministers.

Major cities of the Republic of Albania. Durres, Elbasan, Korca.

State language of the Republic of Albania. Albanian.

Religion of the Republic of Albania. 70% - Muslims, 20% - Orthodox, 10% -.

Ethnic composition of the Republic of Albania. 96% - Albanians, 3% - Greeks.

Currency of Albania. Lek = 100 kintars.

The climate of the Republic of Albania. , with dry hot summers (+ 24-25°С) and mild rainy winters (+ 9°С). Snow falls in the mountains in winter. are over 1000 mm per year.

Flora of the Republic of Albania. Most of the country is wooded and mountainous. Evergreen shrubs, oak, chestnut, beech, pine, and spruce grow here. In the zone over 2000 m -.

Fauna of the Republic of Albania. Animal world quite poor. In sparsely populated areas there are wolves, jackals, wild boars, mountain eagles; there are many waterfowl in coastal areas.

ALBANIA
The Republic of Albania, a state in Southern Europe, in the west of the Balkan Peninsula. In the past, this territory was inhabited by the Illyrians. Despite repeated invasions by the Romans, Slavs and Turks, the Albanians retained their ethnic identity. During the period of long Turkish domination, there was a massive conversion of the population from Christianity to Islam, which is currently the predominant religion.

Albania. Capital: Tirana. Population: 3410 thousand people (1995). Density: 120 people per 1 sq. km. The ratio of urban and rural population: 36% and 64%. Area: 28.7 thousand square meters km. Highest point: Mount Korabit (2754 m a.s.l.). Official language: Albanian. Predominant religion: Muslim. Administrative-territorial division: 12 prefectures and 37 districts. Monetary unit: lek = 100 kintars. National holiday: Flag Day (Independence Day) - 28 November. National anthem: "Unite under our flag."

Albania gained independence before the First World War. At first it was proclaimed a republic, then a monarchy. From November 1944 to June 1991 the Communists ruled the country. Initially, communist Albania was part of a bloc led by the USSR, in 1961-1977 it adjoined China. The area of ​​Albania is 28.7 thousand square meters. km, the longest distance from north to south is approx. 350 km, and the width varies from 145 km in the south to 80-100 km in the north. The capital is the city of Tirana. Albania borders Yugoslavia to the north and east, Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south and southeast; in the west it is washed by the Adriatic Sea. In the 2nd century AD On the territory of Albania lived tribes, which the Greeks called Albanians, from where the name of the country came from. The inhabitants of Albania themselves in the Middle Ages called themselves "shkiptars" (eagle people), this self-name remains today.
NATURE
Surface structure. Albania - with the exception of marshy and alluvial coastal plains - is a mountainous country. The mountains stretch from northwest to southeast. Four physical-geographic regions are distinguished on its territory, three of them are confined to the mountains. Along the coast there is a narrow plain stretching from the border with Yugoslavia to the city of Vlora. This plain is by no means distinguished by a flat relief; its surface, especially in the east, is dotted with remnant hills and ridges. After the winter rains, the rivers that cross the plain carry a large amount of sand and silt from the mountains into the Adriatic Sea. Thus, the coast grows towards the sea, it is bordered by swamps. After the Second World War, significant areas of the coastal plains were drained, and agricultural land and settlements arose in place of the swamps. The most developed was the strip between Vlora and Durres. However, the plain is still flooded during floods. There are no convenient natural harbors in the country, and the main port of Durres (in ancient times Epidamnus, then Dyrrachium) is located in a shallow open bay. The North Albanian Alps, located in the far north, are the most rugged and inaccessible of the mountainous regions of the country. In Albania they are called "cursed mountains". The heavily eroded slopes of these mountains, composed of limestone, are distinguished by a wide development of karst and are often difficult to access. At first glance it seems that this is an uninhabited area. However, in the summer, cattle are driven there to the upper pastures. Further south, limestone outcrops have a more discontinuous distribution; where the surface is composed of crystalline rocks (in particular, serpentines), the mountains lower and acquire more smoothed forms, as, for example, on the Mirdita plateau. To the east, on the border with Yugoslavia, within the Korabi ridge, there is the highest point of the country, Mount Korabit (2764 m). The whole area is located in the river basin. Drin. To the south of the Mirdita plateau, the mountains go down and acquire a more smoothed plateau-like form. The surface is replete with hollows, which, like beads, are strung along the narrow valleys of large rivers. Agriculture is developed in each more or less significant basin. The largest of them is partly occupied by Lake Ohrid, in others there are large cities - Korca, Peshkopia and Berat. To the south of Vlora, the mountains rise to the very shore of the sea. Here again limestone outcrops and dissected landforms predominate, the lands are used only as pastures for sheep and goats. In the extreme south, in the district of Saranda, a narrow coastal plain is developed.
Climate. Long, hot and dry summers and mild, rather wet winters, typical of the Mediterranean countries, are characteristic of the coastal plains of Albania. However, in the inland mountainous regions, conditions change, especially in the north, where winters are harsh with heavy snowfalls, and summers, although mostly dry, often have devastating downpours. In the summer months, there is a lack of moisture supply.
Vegetation and soils. In the mountainous regions of Albania, geological conditions are unfavorable for the formation of fertile soils. On serpentines, thin and infertile soils are formed, and on limestones, the soil cover is often absent altogether. In addition, under the influence of heavy rains and powerful runoff, soil erosion is actively developing on steep slopes. Soil and ground masses carried down from the mountains are redeposited in valleys, basins and on the plains, where, due to increased waterlogging, conditions are unfavorable for agriculture. Low hills bordering the coastal plain are covered mainly with thickets of xerophytic shrubs - maquis. They are gradually replaced by deciduous forests with a predominance of oak in the middle tier of the mountains. Intensive soil erosion and grazing (especially goats) adversely affect reforestation. The upper tier of the mountains is more forested, the composition of the forest stand largely depends on the nature of the rocks: conifers grow mainly on serpentine outcrops, and beech - on limestone outcrops. On the tops of the mountains and on the thinnest soils, only a sparse cover of turf grasses is developed.
Fauna. Many wild animals have survived in Albania, but they are concentrated in those places of plateaus and mountains where there are sufficient supplies of surface water. The wolf, wild boar, and deer, once common throughout the country, have now been relegated to more remote areas.
POPULATION
Unlike other Balkan countries, Albania has always been distinguished by ethnic homogeneity. The isolated position and poverty of the country, as well as the militancy of its population, frightened off foreigners, although the strong influence of Greek culture and some migration from Greece contributed to the formation of an Orthodox Greek-speaking national minority in the south of the country.
Ethnogenesis. The Albanians descended from the Illyrians, who at the dawn of written history inhabited the part of the country located north of the Shkumbini River. Southern Albania at that time was under Greek influence. Both areas fell under the rule of Roman, Slavic and Turkish conquerors for a long time, but there are still significant differences between the Ghegs living north of the Shkumbini River and the Tosks living south of it. These differences, which greatly hindered the unification and modernization of Albania, were an important factor that predetermined the formation of communist power, and they still influence the country's politics. Tall, slender blondes predominate among the Ghegs. Them public organization, customs and priorities remained at the tribal level until the beginning of the modernization of Albania in the 1920s. A quasi-feudal tribal system, comparable to that of Scotland in the 17th century, was formed in the course of the struggle against poverty and a hostile environment in the isolated north of the country. All men carried weapons, and the houses were fortified stone towers. The ability to wield weapons was highly valued - in robbery attacks, in military service as mercenaries and in feudal skirmishes. Sedentary agriculture was considered a despised occupation and was the lot of women, men grazed cattle. In a patriarchal environment, the leadership belonged to noble families; jealously guarded personal, family and tribal honor. The behavior of people was regulated by a carefully developed system of unwritten traditional laws. In contrast, the Tosks, who inhabited the wider and rather fertile southern valleys, led a less regimented and more relaxed lifestyle. In dialect and appearance, they differ significantly from the Ghegs. In the course of closer contacts with the Byzantine, Turkish and modern Greek civilizations, Tosks regularly paid taxes and recognized state power. They practiced settled agriculture and lived in compact villages as smallholders, tenant farmers, or wage laborers on the estates of the Muslim nobility. The Tosks easily emigrated in search of a more prosperous life or went abroad for temporary work as construction workers. In the 1930s, some educated Tosks embraced communist ideology, which preached that Tosk peasants were being exploited by large landowners and corrupt officials. In addition to the Greek communities in the districts of Gjirokastra and Sarana in the south of the country, there are also a number of ethnic minorities. Several thousand Montenegrin Serbs live near Shkoder in the north, Macedonians - on the coast of Lake. Prespa in the east; Vlachs (traders, carters and shepherds) are dispersed throughout the south of Albania. The Wallachians are classified as Romanians, although many of them adopted Greek culture.
Demography. Albania's population growth was held back in the past by disease, famine, wars, migrations, and feudal strife, but has accelerated dramatically since the 1920s. In 1945, 1115 thousand people lived in the country, in 1960 - 1626 thousand, and in 1995 - 3410 thousand. The natural increase in the period from 1975 to 1987 was 2.2% per year. This record high for the whole of Europe is the result of a decline in mortality, especially in children, while the birth rate remained quite high. Life expectancy was estimated at 68 years for men and 74 years for women. According to 1995 data, the country's population reached 3,410,000 people. Albanians also live in other countries. There are large Albanian communities in central Greece (including Athens), on the Peloponnese peninsula and the islands Aegean Sea. A large Albanian diaspora is located in Italy - in the south of the Apennine Peninsula and in western Sicily, and small communities - in the USA, Turkey, Egypt and Ukraine. Currently, these ethnic groups are heavily assimilated by the local population. However, several thousand Albanians (the so-called Chams) in northwestern Greece retained their language and culture. Until recently, a large group of Kosovar Albanians (up to 1.8 million people) lived compactly in the south-west of Yugoslavia - mainly in the former autonomous region of Kosovo (even earlier - the autonomous region of Kosovo and Metohija, abbreviated Kosmet). Kosovars became the object of ethnic discrimination in Yugoslavia, since in 1989 the nationalist government of Serbia abolished this autonomy. In the late 1990s, "ethnic cleansing" in Kosovo led to an open armed conflict, during which the flow of Albanian refugees poured abroad, mainly to Albania.
Migration and urbanization. The industrialization carried out by the communists was accompanied by the movement of the population from the mountain villages to the coastal plain and foothills. After 1945, industrialization largely stimulated the growth of cities that traditionally functioned as trading and administrative centers. In 1930, only 14.5% of the population lived in cities with more than 5,000 inhabitants. In 1950 this figure rose to 20%, and in 1985 - to 34%. In the capital of the country, Tirana, in 1938 there were 25 thousand people, in 1950 - 80 thousand, in 1989 - 238 thousand, and in the mid-1990s - 244 thousand. In Durres, there were 83 thousand inhabitants, in Elbasan - 81 thousand ., Shkodra - 80 thousand and Vlora - 72 thousand.
Language. Albanian belongs to the Indo-European family of languages. It uses the Latin alphabet but is not related to any of the major European linguistic groups. The first examples of Albanian writing date back to the 15th century. The occupation of Albania by the Ottoman Empire reduced the importance of the Albanian language, since the main languages ​​in culture and politics were Greek and Turkish. At the end of the 19th century The Albanian language again began to play an important role in the life of the country. The differences between the Gheg and Tosk dialects, which were based on the ancient Illyrian language, were partially leveled out due to the introduction of a dual alphabet system in 1908. However, a single written norm has not been developed. The basis official language Albania has a Tosk dialect. Both dialects borrowed many words from the languages ​​of neighboring countries, including Greek, Serbian, Macedonian, Turkish and Italian. However, as Albanian nationalism grew, some foreign words were eliminated and others were brought closer to Albanian pronunciation.
Religion. Since information on religions was not published under the communist government, only rough estimates exist for the period after 1945. In 1945, 70% of the population professed Islam, Orthodoxy - 20% (mainly Tosks, who lived near the border with Greece, on the southern coast and in cities) and Catholicism - 10% (Ghegs, who lived in the Shkoder region). In 1967, 20 years after the beginning of the persecution of religion at the state level, the number of Catholics fell to 7% and amounted to approx. 130 thousand, but by 1994 it reached 485 thousand. Muslims were divided into conservative Sunnis, who adhered to traditional Islam, and more moderate Bektashi, prone to pantheistic views, of which there were approx. 120 thousand. The world center of the Bektash dervish order was in Albania, its influence was most felt in the areas around Berat and Elbasan, as well as in the south of the country. In 1967 the Albanian government closed all remaining mosques and churches, but in 1990 allowed some of them to reopen. Since the early 1990s, religious life in Albania has been actively revived.

POLITICAL SYSTEM
On January 11, 1946, Albania was proclaimed a People's Republic. Two months later, the country's constitution was approved, modeled on the constitutions of Yugoslavia and the USSR. In 1976, a new constitution was adopted, the country was renamed the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, and all political power was monopolized by the leadership of the communist Albanian Labor Party (APT). In April 1991, after the promulgation of the draft of a new constitution, the party's monopoly gave way to political pluralism. Subsequently, repeated attempts were made to replace the draft constitution with a permanent document, but all of them were unsuccessful due to the unstable situation in the country. Late 1998 political system Albania continued to be based on the 1991 draft constitution, which proclaimed free will in elections, inter-party competition, and a democratically elected government.
Electoral system. In the 1991 parliamentary elections, all Albanian citizens over the age of 18 were able for the first time to freely vote for any candidate. Although the ruling Communist Party won this election, the very fact that the opposition won almost 40% of the vote and won 75 of the 250 seats in the legislature did not bode well for the Communists. The following year, communist rule ended. In the parliamentary elections held in 1992, the opposition Democratic Party won 62% of the vote and won 92 out of 140 seats, defeating the communists, who began to call themselves socialists (they accounted for 26% of the vote and 38 seats). In the parliamentary elections in 1996, the Democrats won for the second time, but the elections were declared invalid and postponed to 1997. This time, the Socialists won, receiving 53% of the vote and 99 out of 155 seats, while the Democrats had to be content with only 26% of the vote and 29 seats . The rest of the votes and seats were divided among several smaller parties.
At each of the aforementioned elections, either the total number of seats in parliament, or the voting procedure itself, changed. In 1997, a combination of two principles was adopted: two-round voting and elections based on proportional representation. Of the 155 deputies of the unicameral parliament (People's Assembly - Kuvenda), elected by direct universal suffrage, 115 passed through single-member constituencies as a result of a repeat vote, and 40 - on the basis of proportional representation. Under the first system, the candidate must win a majority of votes, but if in the first round none of the candidates receives it, a second ballot is held a week later, in which the two candidates who received the largest number of votes in the first round are nominated. Under a proportional representation system, the percentage of votes received by each party corresponds directly to the share of seats allocated to representatives of that party in the People's Assembly.

system of political parties. Shortly after legalization, more than 20 opposition parties were registered and competed with the ruling Communist (or Socialist) party. However, many of these parties have not stood the test of time. Accordingly, although several parties participated in the election campaigns in the 1990s, in 1998 it became clear that there were only two major parties in Albania - the Socialist and the Democratic. The Socialist Party of Albania is the successor of the communist party, which was called the Party of Labor of Albania (APT). It was founded in 1941, during the period of the partisan movement during the Second World War, and its ranks gradually replenished. The rapid growth of the party occurred after the war, when the communists came to power. PLA cells were organized throughout the country, with overall control exercised by a 125-member Central Committee and a 12-member Politburo. Since 1991, after nearly half a century of monopoly domination, it has had to adapt to a multi-party system and engage in competition with other parties. At the 10th Congress of the PLA in June 1991, its new name was adopted - the Socialist Party of Albania, the leadership was changed, the organizational structure was transformed and the reform program was approved. The party was led by Fatos Nano, who had a reputation as a reformer in the former communist party. He immediately created an executive and steering committee, which replaced the Politburo and the Central Committee, began to advocate for democracy and a market economy, introducing the principles of social democracy into the party. However, these slogans were still not put forward in a timely manner, and therefore the socialists were defeated in the 1992 elections. Thus, after 48 years of communist rule, their successors, the socialists, were removed from power. However, after 5 years, this reformed party, in the ranks of which there were 100 thousand members, regained power. But Nano himself again had difficulties, and in the fall of 1998 he had to retire. He was replaced as party leader and Prime Minister of Albania by 30-year-old Pandeli Maiko. The Democratic Party of Albania was created in December 1990 by a group of conservatives led by Sali Berisha. It is the first officially registered opposition party. She quickly gained recognition throughout the country, approx. 60 thousand people. The party became a serious rival of the socialists, defeating them in 1992 and forming a government; the leader of the Berisha party became president of the country. The Democrats, led by Berisha, having come to power, decided to quickly transform Albania into a country of genuine democracy and a market economy. They championed pluralism and human rights, took steps to accelerate privatization in industry and agriculture, encouraged foreign investment, and developed international ties. All this taken together foreshadowed success, but the pace of change turned out to be too fast, which caused dissatisfaction with the opposition. The Democrats rigged the results of the 1996 elections and were themselves involved in financial fraud. In 1997, when rebel groups seized power in some cities, the country was on the brink of anarchy. At the same time, the Democratic Party itself also began to lose unity: two wings appeared in it - a large right and a more moderate left. Therefore, in 1997 (June 29 and July 6), the Democrats had to hold new elections, in which they were defeated, losing power to the socialists.
Small parties. By the end of the 1990s, eight small parties were represented in the People's Assembly. All of them were founded in the early 1990s and are significantly inferior to the two leading parties in terms of the number of seats. The most significant of the parties under consideration - the Social Democratic - represents a moderate center-left wing and has 8 seats in the People's Assembly. After the 1992 elections, she participated in a coalition government along with Democrats and Republicans. At present, the centrist United Party for the Defense of Human Rights stands out, which enjoys the support of mainly the Greek national minority; National Front (nationalist party); Rule of Law Movement (monarchist); Republican Party (moderate conservative); Party of National Unity (nationalist) and Albanian Agrarian Party (peasants).
Government departments. The draft constitution of 1991 replaced the communist constitution of 1976 and gave new functions to the organs of state power. The formation of the government took place without much upheaval, but after the 1998 elections there were riots in the country that threatened political stability and democratic reforms. The executive branch consists of the president, prime minister and cabinet. None of them is directly elected by the people. The president is elected for a five-year term by secret ballot, by a two-thirds majority of the members of parliament, while the prime minister and cabinet are appointed by the president and approved by parliament. The president can be removed by parliament for treason or physical incapacity, and not just for political reasons, although the country's first president was forced to resign due to the defeat of the party that nominated him in the elections and the outbreak of a financial scandal. The prime minister and his cabinet may be forced to resign, in accordance with standard parliamentary practice, after a vote of no confidence by the People's Assembly. According to the constitution, the president is the head of state and the prime minister is the head of government. In addition to appointing the prime minister and other ministers, the president sets the agenda at will and acts as chairman of cabinet meetings, convenes and dissolves parliament, calls for revision of bills, appoints and receives ambassadors, and acts as commander in chief of the country's armed forces. All these duties were concentrated in his hands by Sali Berishi, the first post-communist president of Albania, elected in 1992. In 1996, he staged a stunning victory for the Democratic Party in the parliamentary elections, and a year later, in early March 1997, he achieved his own election by parliament for a second term with a result of 113 votes against 1. However, four months later the situation in Albania changed dramatically. Many Albanians have lost their savings by investing in pyramid schemes. Mass unrest and riots began in the country, and Berisha lost control of the situation. At the same time, criticism intensified abroad of the results of the 1996 parliamentary elections that he rigged. In the summer 1997 parliamentary elections, the Democratic Party was defeated, and Berisha was forced to resign. His successor, Recep Meidani, elected in July 1997, used less aggressive methods of government and shared executive power with the prime minister. In accordance with the constitution, the Prime Minister and his cabinet are responsible for conducting domestic and foreign policy, form the state budget and economic programs, conclude agreements with foreign countries and carry out general administrative activities. With the coming to power of the socialists, the appointment of Nano as prime minister and the election of Recep Meidani as president, the positions of the prime minister were strengthened. In September 1998, Nano faced difficulties that he could not overcome and retired. Pandeli Maiko was appointed as the new prime minister.
Legislature. Albania's unicameral legislature, the People's Assembly, has 155 members elected by popular vote for a four-year term. The People's Assembly exercises supreme power on behalf of the people and is the highest organ of state power. In this capacity, it passes laws and constitutional amendments, approves the state budget and economic programs, ratifies international treaties and agreements, elects the president, approves the appointment or dismissal of the prime minister and other ministers, appoints members of the Supreme Court, and generally exercises control over the activities of the government. . In the post-communist period, the People's Assembly became an active conductor of legislative power. Usually the government pursues its course, but the opposition may delay the approval of individual bills. In particular, the opposition opposed the adoption of the draft of a new constitution in 1994, as well as against the authoritarian rule of Berisha long before his resignation.
Judicial system. Albania has a code of laws that applies to the justice system. The country has a Constitutional Court, a Cassation Court, a Court of Appeal and courts of first instance. The Constitutional Court has nine judges appointed for a term of 12 years. Four of them are appointed by the President and five are elected by the People's Assembly. This court takes upon itself the interpretation of the constitution and determines the conformity of the adopted laws with it, makes decisions in case of disagreements that arise in the government, as well as between the government of the country and local authorities. The Court of Cassation has the highest legal authority. Its chairman and deputy chairman are appointed by the president and approved by the People's Assembly, while the remaining members are elected by this body for a seven-year term, but may be re-elected for a second term. Judges in the Courts of Appeal and Courts of First Instance are appointed by the Supreme Court, which is made up of senior officials headed by the President of the Republic. All judges are constitutionally guaranteed independence, but this condition has not always been implemented in practice. For example, the Berisha government often put pressure on judges, and once it even managed to remove one of the members of the Supreme Court from office. The Nano socialist government got rid of the chairmen of the courts appointed during Berisha's rule on the grounds that they were not qualified enough.
Local authorities. There are 37 districts in Albania. In addition, there are smaller administrative units - communes and villages. Heads of administrations and members of local councils are elected by popular vote for a four-year term. In the local elections in October 1996, which, according to international observers, were held without any major violations, the Democratic Party defeated the Socialist and strengthened its position in many local authorities. These bodies are responsible for replenishing the local budget and approving expenditures for municipal housing construction, public Utilities, public education, culture and other needs.
Foreign policy. Albania has long been the most isolated country in Europe. Trying to hold on to an old-fashioned communist regime modeled after Stalin's Soviet dictatorship, Albania's leaders avoided sustained and prolonged contact with any country. Albania emerged from World War II as a close ally of Yugoslavia and the USSR. The presence of a significant Albanian population in Yugoslavia and the fear of the possible expansion of this country gave rise to friction in its relations with Albania. When sharp contradictions between the USSR and Yugoslavia were exposed in 1948, Albania actively supported the Soviet side. In 1949 she joined the CMEA, and in 1955 joined the Warsaw Pact. In the same year, Albania became a member of the UN. In the late 1950s, attempts by Soviet leader N.S. Khrushchev to establish "peaceful coexistence" with the West and improve Soviet-Yugoslav relations alarmed the Albanian authorities. When a sharp ideological and political discussion broke out between the USSR and the PRC in 1960, Albania supported the latter. In 1961, she ceased cooperation with the Warsaw Pact, and in 1962 - with the CMEA. In 1961-1978 Albania remained China's only ally in Europe. When the "cultural revolution" unfolded in the PRC in 1966, Albania followed the example of its "elder brother". In 1968, after the Soviet-initiated invasion of Czechoslovakia, Albania officially withdrew from the Warsaw Pact. In the 1970-1980s, Albania established diplomatic relations with many countries Western Europe. After the death of Mao Zedong in 1976 (close ties with China were severed in 1978), the death of the Albanian leader Enver Hoxha in 1985, and after the complete collapse of European communism in 1989-1990, Albania gradually took a less radical position in international relations. In 1990-1991, Albania tried to normalize relations with all the major countries of the world and, of course, with its neighbors in the Balkan Peninsula. It was possible to establish satisfactory relations with Yugoslavia (as part of Serbia and Montenegro), despite deep concern about the fate of the Albanians living in the province of Kosovo. Good-neighbourly relations were established with Macedonia, Albanians living in this country were recommended to cooperate with the current government. Nevertheless, after the turbulent events in Kosovo in 1998, thousands of refugees rushed to Albania, which caused an aggravation of Albanian-Yugoslav relations. After the rights of the Greek minority in southern Albania were guaranteed in the 1990s, relations with Greece were normalized. By the end of the 1990s, they worsened again, as many refugees from Kosovo moved to this region, which caused dissatisfaction on the Greek side. After 1991, Albania established relations with the United States and the European Union, which was facilitated by significant assistance from Western countries. In 1996, the US gave Albania $200 million in loans, Italy more than $400 million, and Germany more than $100 million. In addition, the EU donated more than $650 million in humanitarian aid.
Armed forces. Under communist rule and earlier under the pre-war monarchy, the Albanian armed forces were the weakest in the Balkans and were used mainly to suppress insurgencies within the country. The armed forces of Albania were formed on the basis of the partisan movement during the Second World War. The military was under the strict control of the PLA. According to the draft constitution of 1991, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the president, who should not hold any party posts. In 1989, 40.7 thousand people were in the ranks of the armed forces, incl. in the ground forces 31.5 thousand, the air force 7.2 thousand and the navy 2 thousand. In 1996, the armed forces reached 72.5 thousand people, with the ground forces numbering 60 thousand, the air force 10 thousand and the navy 2.5 thousand. If other paramilitary organizations are taken into account, the total number of military personnel reached 113.5 thousand people. The equipment and training of the Albanian armed forces are in need of modernization. In the 1960s, this function was performed by the USSR, in the 1970s by China, in the 1980s the internal resources of Albania were mobilized, and at present all hopes are pinned on the help of Western countries.
ECONOMY
Albania's ambitious plans for economic development depended heavily on assistance from the USSR and other Eastern European countries, and after the end of this assistance in the mid-1960s, there was a slowdown in economic development. The mining industry was especially in need of re-equipment. It should also be borne in mind that in the post-war period, Albania's export markets were in Eastern Europe and the USSR, and vital imports came from there. In the late 1980s, relations began to improve with the countries of Western Europe, but the lack of investment, poor management and political instability led to a sharp economic downturn in 1990-1991. In 1992, Albania's GDP fell sharply compared to 1989 levels, and urgent measures were required to further develop the economy. The government put forward a reform agenda that included a shift from a command economy with centralized control to a market economy and private enterprise. First of all, most of the agricultural sector, small and medium-sized enterprises were privatized, and then it was the turn of large enterprises. In 1996, these efforts, combined with foreign aid, yielded some positive results; $700 per capita, and inflation has dropped to a few percent. However, these achievements were overshadowed by the rise in unemployment, officially over 20%, and the spread of corruption. Further progress in transforming the economy as a whole was hampered by a lack of reliable infrastructure and an efficient financial system. Ultimately, the financial pyramids that shook society at the turn of 1996 and 1997, political instability in 1997 and the confrontation of forces in 1998 brought the economy to the brink of complete collapse. In 1997, GDP fell by 7%, and the foreign trade balance - by 22%. It is difficult to objectively assess the economic situation in Albania. Under the communist regime, all information was classified, and information relating to the post-communist period should be treated with caution.
planning and industrialization. Five-year plans for the development of the national economy based on industrialization have been developed since 1950, the first of which covered the period 1951-1955. These plans, called prospective, outlined the target figures for the production of products of the main sectors of the economy and regulated the resource supply necessary to fulfill the planned targets. Detailed annual or quarterly plans, known as operational plans, determined the specific tasks of each enterprise. However, Albania itself had a very limited and weak base for industrialization. Without the integration of the country into a larger market and large foreign loans, all the efforts made at the national level were doomed to very modest results. Therefore, the industrialization of Albania was closely dependent on the assistance of the USSR and other socialist countries, and from the beginning of the 1960s to the end of the 1970s - on the assistance of the PRC. In 1954 the national income was officially estimated at $270 million, or $200 per capita. Subsequently, statistical data were not published in the country, but, according to one of the Western estimates, in 1982 Albania's GDP was approx. $2.6 billion, or $880 per capita. In terms of per capita income, Albania occupied the last place among European countries. In 1994, it was estimated that 48.4% of the economically active population worked in agriculture. In 1996, there were approx. 700 thousand Albanians, including 28% of the country's citizens of working age; their remittances accounted for about a third of Albania's GDP.
Fuel and energy base. Industrialization, following the pattern followed by the USSR, required the rapid development of Albania's natural resources - oil, natural gas, coal and hydropower. Oil production in Albania was first carried out by Italian companies before World War II. The volume of production increased from 13,000 tons in 1935 to 134,000 tons in 1938, of which 105,000 tons were exported to Italy. After the end of the war, the development of this industry proceeded at a rapid pace. Oil production in 1987 reached approximately 3 million tons, while its reserves were estimated at 20 million tons. The main oil deposits are located in the Kuchov and Patosy regions. Albanian oil, which is characterized by high density, requires special processing. Before the war, almost all oil was sent by pipeline to Vlora, and from there by ship to the refinery in Italian city Bari. During the war, the Germans built two small oil refineries in Albania. To the large oil refinery built after the war in Tserrik near Elbasan with an annual capacity of 150 thousand tons, pipelines were laid from the fields in Kuchova and Patosi. In 1987 Albania produced 2.6 million tons of petroleum products. In the early 1970s, a large oil refinery was put into operation in Fier with a capacity of 450,000 tons per year. In the early 1990s, the production of petroleum products in Albania was maintained at the level of 600 thousand tons per year, but then decreased to 360 thousand tons (1997). The production of natural gas, which began in 1938, declined significantly during the war years. However, in the 1950s it increased significantly and reached 40 million cubic meters. m in 1959. In the early 1960s, new gas fields were discovered. In 1985, 420 million cubic meters were produced. m, but in the 1990s there was a sharp drop in this industry: gas production was reduced to 102 million cubic meters. m in 1992 and 18 million cubic meters. m - in 1997. The coal mining industry is poorly developed due to the limited reserves of hard coal. The country is dominated by brown coal deposits with low calorific value. The main centers of the coal mining industry are: Kraba, Valiyasi (near Tirana), Memaliai (north of Tepelena), Mborya and Drenova (near Korca). The development of coal deposits began in 1938, when production was only 3.7 thousand tons. During the Second World War, it increased to 132 thousand tons per year, and in 1987 reached 2.3 million tons, then in the 1990s this branch of the economy began to decline. In 1992, 366 thousand tons of coal were mined, and in 1997 - only 40 thousand tons. Special attention during the years of the communist regime was given to the development of hydropower. Among the most important projects of that time were the construction of hydroelectric power stations on the Mati River, near Tirana, and especially a series of hydroelectric power stations on the Drin River in Northern Albania. Electricity generation increased from 3 million kWh in 1938 to 9.2 million in 1948 and 150 million in 1958. In 1970, approx. 900 million kWh of electricity, and the government announced the completion of rural electrification. In 1988, electricity production reached almost 4 billion kWh, of which 80% came from hydroelectric power stations. In the 1990s, electricity production declined and power outages became common, but by 1995 it was restored.

Mining industry. Albania is rich in minerals, especially chromium and copper ores. In the late 1980s, mining products accounted for approx. 5% of the value of industrial products and 35% of the value of exports. Deposits of high quality chromite are found in different parts country. Chromite mines are located in Pogradec, Klesi, Letaje and near Kukes. The volume of extraction increased from 7 thousand tons in 1938 to 502.3 thousand tons in 1974 and 1.5 million tons in 1986. Deposits of copper ores are located mainly in northern Albania, in the districts of Puka and Kukes. The ore mined in 1986 contained 15 thousand tons of copper. Exploration and extraction of ores containing gold, silver, bauxite, nickel, manganese, and others are underway. In 1958, iron-nickel ore deposits were put into operation. The ore mined in 1987 contained 9 thousand tons of nickel. The extraction of iron ore was being established at the deposits in the valley of the Shkumbini river between Elbasan and Perparimi. In the 1990s, the extraction of all these ores fell sharply. In 1997, only 157 thousand tons of chromites and 25 thousand tons of copper were mined in the public sector. Manufacturing industry. Before 1925 there was almost no industry in Albania. It began to develop slowly only in the early 1930s, this process accelerated in 1939-1943 during the Italian occupation. At the end of World War II, several sawmills and factories for the production of olive oil and tobacco products, a large brewery, several enterprises for the production of soap, furniture, cardboard, etc. operated in the country. During the years of the communist regime, a metallurgical plant was built in Elbasan, a cement plant factories for the production of tannin and canned fish in Vlora, textile mills in Tirana and Berat, a factory for the production of rubber boots in Durres, cotton gins in Rogozhin and Fier, factories for the production of vegetable and fruit cans in Elbasan, Shkoder and Berat, a sugar factory in Korce and several other small enterprises in different parts of the country. In the late 1980s, industrial output accounted for about half of the gross value of goods and services in Albania. The most important industries were associated with the extraction and enrichment of chromium and copper ores, oil refining, the production of electricity, machinery, etc. At the end of the 1980s, the share of food and textile industry products accounted for only about a third of the country's total industrial output. In the 1990s, the manufacturing industry was in deep crisis. By 1992, its production had declined by more than 50%, and in 1996 it was only 12% of GDP.
Handicraft production. Handicrafts play an important role in the Albanian economy. They supply building materials (bricks and tiles), agricultural implements (ploughs, harrows), electrical appliances and wide range consumer goods (including furniture, carpets, fabrics, silverware, etc.). Most of the handicraftsmen are united in cooperatives. In 1990, the government allowed many handicraftsmen to work individually, and subsequently a complete privatization of handicraft production was carried out.
Agriculture. The level of agricultural production in Albania is traditionally low, because. natural factors are very unfavorable for its development. Resources of arable lands are small. In 1943 only 356,000 hectares were cultivated. In 1964 cultivated land occupied 521,000 hectares, which accounted for only 17% of the entire area of ​​the country. Most of the arable land is concentrated in the coastal and central regions of Albania. In 1987, there were 714 thousand hectares under arable land, and 397 thousand hectares under pastures. The collectivization of agriculture was accompanied by a land reform aimed at the elimination of large private land ownership and the provision of land to "those who cultivate it." This reform, promulgated by the government in 1945 and approved by the People's Assembly on June 1, 1946, was soon put into practice. Its fundamental provisions were as follows: 1) orchards, vineyards and olive plantations were subject to confiscation; 2) religious organizations were left with 10 hectares of land; 3) a peasant family of six people received an allotment of 5 hectares and an additional 2 hectares for each person if the family was more numerous. Following the reform, collective and state farms began to be planted throughout the country. The process of collectivization has accelerated since the mid-1950s, when a course was adopted for the complete co-operation of agriculture and the involvement of peasants in collective and state associations. In 1967, these farms owned 97% of the arable land. It was not until the 1990s that a privatization campaign began in agriculture, and by 1995 most farms were privately owned. The main agricultural crops in Albania are corn and wheat. The sown area under grain crops increased from 140 thousand hectares in the pre-war years to 350 thousand hectares in 1988. The average annual harvest of corn increased from 134 thousand tons in the mid-1930s to 108 thousand tons in 1950 and 315 thousand tons at the end 1980s, and the average annual harvest of wheat - from 40 thousand tons in the mid-1930s to 200 thousand in 1973 and 589 thousand in 1988; in 1994 the corn harvest was 180,000 tons, and that of wheat, 470,000 tons. The country has made significant progress in the cultivation of fiber crops, especially cotton, and tobacco. The cultivation of olives plays an important role. Other crops grown in Albania include rye, barley, oats, rice, sugar beets and potatoes. In the 1990s, there was an increase in gross agricultural output, and now it was more than 50% of GDP.
Livestock. Despite some growth in the number of livestock, livestock productivity in Albania is low. The development of this industry is hampered by imperfect methods of its management, a shortage of fodder, insufficient areas for keeping livestock, and some other factors. In 1996, there were 806,000 cattle, 98,000 pigs, 1,410,000 sheep, 895,000 goats and 4,108,000 poultry in Albania. Many of these figures declined in 1997-1998 when farmers slaughtered more livestock than usual.

Transport and communication. Railway transport plays an important role in passenger and freight transportation. The length of railways in 1990 was only 720 km. The main highway runs from north to south from Shkoder through Durres to Vlora, there are branches to Tirana and Pogradets (on the shores of Lake Ohrid). The last line connected the areas of extraction of iron-nickel and chromite ores with the metallurgical plant in Elbasan and the port of Durres. Albanian railways are connected to the city of Titograd (Yugoslavia) and are part of the European railway system. For domestic transport, it is essential automobile transport although the private car fleet is small and the roads are in poor condition. The total length of paved roads is 2.9 thousand km. Maritime shipping options are limited. In the 20th century Durres became the main foreign trade port, which has an advantageous position in the central part of the coast of the country and is connected by a network of roads with the hinterland. Among other ports, Vlora and Saranda stand out. There is a ferry service to the Italian port of Trieste and Greek island Kerkyra (Corfu). Albania has several airports. The largest airport in the country, Tirana, has regular connections with major cities in Europe. The number of air passengers increased from 30,000 in 1990 to 200,000 in 1994.
Trade. Under the communist regime, wholesale trade was completely nationalized. Retail trade was predominantly state and cooperative. Foreign trade was also monopolized by the state. It is known that in the 1960s import expenditures regularly exceeded export earnings. To compensate for this deficit, the country took foreign loans: until 1948 in Yugoslavia, in 1949-1961 in the USSR and other socialist countries, in 1961-1978 in the PRC. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the government decided to equalize the foreign trade balance by concluding barter agreements with Albania's partners. The country at that time provided itself with grain and fuel, which made it possible to keep imports under control. However, the developing industry needed to expand the export of finished and semi-finished products. In 1982, the value of Albania's foreign trade turnover was estimated at about 1 billion dollars. The main export item is chromium ore. Albania is one of the leading suppliers of this ore to the world market. Other exports are iron-nickel ore, copper, oil products, fruits and vegetables, tobacco and cigarettes. Important imports are machinery, industrial equipment, chemical products and some consumer goods. In 1948-1978, foreign trade mainly depended on the political course of the country. Until 1961, the main partner was the USSR, which accounted for about half of Albania's foreign trade turnover, in 1961-1978 this place was occupied by China. After severing ties with the PRC in 1978, Albania began to expand its circle of trade partners. For most of the 1980s, Yugoslavia was its largest partner. However, in the late 1980s, Yugoslavia moved to sixth place among Albania's trading partners, while ties with the countries of Eastern Europe were expanding. Trade with Greece declined sharply, but ties with other EU countries gradually improved. In 1988, none of the trading partners accounted for more than 10% of Albania's total foreign trade turnover. In the 1990s, the situation changed. In 1996, almost 90% of exports and 80% of imports were associated with the industrialized countries of Western Europe, mainly Italy and Greece. Italy accounted for 58% of Albanian exports and 42% of imports, while Greece accounted for 13% and 21%, respectively. In the same 1996, Albania's foreign trade balance was reduced to a deficit of 245 million dollars, and its external debt amounted to 732 million dollars.
Money circulation and banks. Monetary unit of Albania - lek. Leks are issued by the Albanian State Bank. The banking system changed in 1996 due to the establishment of a number of private banks, including foreign ones, primarily Italian ones. The state budget of Albania in 1989 was 9.55 million leks in terms of income and 9.50 million leks in terms of expenditures, and in 1996 - 51.34 million and 72.49 million leks, respectively. Under communist rule, there was no personal income tax, but under the new regime it was introduced along with taxes on value added, real estate, corporate profits and entrepreneurial activity. In 1992-1996, the EU provided humanitarian aid to Albania in the amount of approx. $560 million
SOCIETY
Throughout the four centuries of Ottoman rule, tribal and feudal traditions were preserved in Albanian society: strong family ties, tribal ties, the power of local leaders and landowners. However, since the 1920s, and especially after 1944, drastic changes have taken place in public life. Both King Zogu and the communists attempted to modernize, industrialize and urbanize Albania, eradicating obsolete social values ​​and ways of life along the way. The Communists, using harsher methods and more ambitious doctrines, achieved more success than King Zog, but it is difficult to say how much their ideas of efficiency, discipline, labor productivity and national unity were rooted in the new administrative and intellectual elite that emerged from those who moved to peasant towns. Labor resources. The contingent of industrial workers, once represented by a few low-paid miners and handicraftsmen, expanded significantly after 1945. Workers united in trade unions, which helped to maintain discipline and increase labor productivity. An eight-hour working day was established by law, and the work of children under the age of 14 was prohibited. In 1988, 1.5 million people were employed in all sectors of the economy, in 1992 - 1.2 million. The number of unemployed, which exceeded 400 thousand in 1992, increased sharply by the end of the 1990s.
attitude towards religion. The constitutions of 1914 and 1928 proclaimed freedom of religion. The state sought to enlist the support of religious communities. Devout Muslims (Sunnis) reorganized their community in 1929, entrusting its leadership to a general council, which included representatives from each prefecture and four major geographical areas. At the same time, the Bektashi Muslims separated from the Sunnis and since then they themselves ruled their order. After lengthy and difficult negotiations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Orthodox Church of Albania in 1922 declared its administrative independence, with which the patriarchate was forced to agree in 1937. The organization and politics of the Catholic Church were under the control of the Vatican. With the coming to power of the Communists, serious changes took place in religious life. The communists sharply opposed religion, especially the Catholic one. In May 1945, a new Charter of Bektashi Muslims was proclaimed, completely independent of the Sunni. The government placed opponents of the Sunnis at the head of both currents, introduced its people into religious communities, strengthened ties with the USSR, and organized support for international communist campaigns, such as the peace movement. The same policy was carried out in relation to the Orthodox Church. The Catholic religion was subjected to sharper attacks, which was reflected in the text of the constitution adopted in August 1951. Softening of policy towards Catholicism began in the late 1950s, when Albania tried to establish contacts with Western countries, especially Italy and France. However, the Chinese influence, which increased in 1966-1967, stimulated a new wave of anti-Catholic measures, and on June 4, 1967, the last Catholic church in the country was closed. Nevertheless, religious life in Albania did not stop, and in May 1990, under pressure from the public, the authorities announced the legalization of all religions.
CULTURE AND EDUCATION
Culture. The influence of Turkish, Greek and Italian cultures hindered the development of a national culture. The rise of national consciousness since 1878 contributed to the development of journalism and lyric poetry in the Albanian language. However, such conductors of culture as schools, bookstores, magazines and newspapers, began to appear only in the 1920s-1930s. The communist government stimulated the development of culture, paying attention to the translation of books by writers from the countries of the communist bloc and especially the USSR. Cultural ties with the West began to revive in 1961, after the rupture of relations with the USSR. In 1945, the first professional theater opened in Tirana. This was followed by the creation of theaters in Shkodra in 1949 and in Korce in 1950. In the early 1950s, with the help of the USSR, a film industry was created. She produced patriotic films imbued with a national idea. In the late 1980s, there were approx. 100 cinemas. Approx. 900 book titles. Currently published ca. 100 newspapers and magazines.

Education. The rulers of the Ottoman Empire until the end of the 19th century. they were not allowed to use the Albanian language in schools and were even forbidden to speak their native language. Only Turkish, Greek and Italian schools worked in Albania. Yielding to the demands of the Albanian nationalists and fearing an armed uprising, the Turkish government allowed the opening of the first Albanian school in Korca in 1887. Many schools opened between the two world wars, and primary education became compulsory for children aged 6 to 11. Education was better organized in cities (especially in the south of the country), where educational traditions were more pronounced, there were more teaching staff and buildings sufficiently adapted for schools. Children received secondary education in gymnasiums, as well as in pedagogical colleges and commercial schools. There were several private schools: two at the Catholic missions in Shkodër, an American technical school in Tirana, and an American agricultural school near Durrës. Before 1957 there were no universities in Albania. Children who had wealthy parents or received government scholarships often studied at Italian or French universities. As early as 1939, 80% of the Albanian population remained illiterate. The communist government reorganized and greatly expanded the education system, and in 1955 proclaimed a policy of eradicating illiteracy among the adult population under 40 years of age. Education became compulsory for children between the ages of 7 and 15. Technical schools were created to provide secondary education. In 1960, a three-year reorganization of education began with the aim of combining study with work in industry and agriculture, and at the same time the role of technical education increased. The country has five universities, as well as institutes: two for agriculture, arts, physical education and pedagogy. The University of Tirana, opened in 1957, has 12,000 students. In 1947, the first scientific institution was opened - the Institute of Sciences with departments of language and literature; history, sociology and economics; Natural Sciences, and in 1973 the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Albania was established.
HISTORY
Antiquity and the Middle Ages. The history of Albania is connected with the history of Illyria, which controlled the hinterland in the west of the Balkan Peninsula from Istria to northern Greece until the 6th century BC. AD The Illyrians were organized into self-governing communities headed by councils of elders. Greek influence was strongly manifested in the coastal trading cities and in southern Albania, which was part of the state that was formed in the late 4th - early 3rd centuries. BC. in the territory of Epirus. The warlike Illyrians, including a considerable number of pirates, in 229 BC. came into conflict with Rome, but in 167 BC. were conquered. Illyria, which included Albania, achieved economic and cultural successes under Roman rule. Its ports, primarily Dyrrhachium, provided a connection with the East; deposits of copper and silver were being developed, and ambitious people could make a career by enlisting in the Roman legions. The Roman emperors Claudius, Aurelius and Diocletian came from poor Illyrians. Romanization, however, had little effect on the Illyrians, and they retained tribal quasi-autonomy. When in 395 the Roman Empire was divided into Eastern and Western, Albania became part of the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire. Probably at the same time, the Albanian language began to stand out from the Illyrian. The fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, the devastating raids of the Avars, Huns and Goths, as well as the appearance of the Slavs in the 6th-7th centuries. put an end to the existence of Illyria. Many Illyrians were assimilated by the South Slavs, others who lived in the mountains retained their ethnic identity. It is from them that modern Albanians descended. Albania, located on the outskirts of the Byzantine Empire, was not easy to defend, in the 9th century. its central and southern regions invaded by expanding Bulgaria. In 998-1019, Bulgaria itself again fell under the rule of Byzantium, revived under Emperor Basil II. The Byzantine Empire revived again in 1081, but northern Albania came under Serb control. At the same time, the southern coastal regions were influenced by the Normans, who settled in the south of the Apennine Peninsula and in Sicily, and then by the Crusaders. In 1081-1082 the Normans captured Dyrrhachium. The Byzantines conquered this city in 1083 with the help of Venice, which in return received privileges to trade in Albanian cities. The Normans returned in 1107 and 1185, but each time they managed to force them out of the Albanian lands. The South Slavs also took advantage of the weakness of Byzantine influence in Albania. In the 1180s, the Serbs captured Shkodra, and c. 1200 Bulgarians conquered eastern Albania. After the capture of Constantinople in 1204 during the 4th Crusade and the temporary collapse of the Byzantine Empire, Albania, which had important outlets to the sea, became an arena of struggle for almost two centuries, until the rule of the Ottoman Empire was established. In 1204, Venice laid claim to all of central and southern Albania, but exercised control only over key ports, including Dyrrhachium. Under the treaty of 1210, the hinterland was transferred to the Greek vassal Michael Comnenus, who in 1213 opposed the Venetians, captured Dyrrhachium, and before his death in 1215 founded the Despotate of Epirus. His successor Theodore Angel in 1216 managed to pacify the Albanian leaders, in 1217 he repulsed the attack of the Western knights and Venetian courts on Dyrrhachium and moved his troops to the east, but in 1230 he was defeated in the fight against the Bulgarian Empire, revived under Ivan Asen II. Bulgarian troops moved west through Macedonia and Albania and reached the Adriatic Sea, but did not last long there. In 1246, the growing Byzantine Empire defeated Bulgaria and moved its troops to the coast of northern Albania, as a result of which the alliance of local tribes with the Despotate of Epirus was interrupted. In 1256, the Byzantines captured Dyrrhachium, but in 1257 they were forced to cede it to the King of the Two Sicilies, Manfred, who in 1268 also conquered Vlora and Berat. Western influence increased under Manfred's successor, Charles of Anjou, who made the Albanians his vassals and captured Dyrrhachium in 1272, which served as the first step towards an attack on Constantinople. However, in 1276-1277 Byzantium rebuffed him on the territory of Albania. Then Albania was attacked by the Serbs, and in 1346-1355 it was part of the Serbian kingdom of Stefan Dusan (ruled from 1331 to 1355). Some Albanian units of Dushan's army migrated south and established colonies in Greece - in Thessaly, Peloponnese and Epirus. After the death of Dushan in 1355, the empire began to disintegrate. Among the feudal lords and tribal leaders, a struggle for power in Albania unfolded. The Balshe clan in the north and the Topia clan in the south enjoyed especially great influence. Southern Albania in 1367 went to the Serbian leader Thomas Prelubovich.

Albania under Ottoman rule. The Turks first invaded Europe in 1345 and began to move west, conquering the scattered Balkan states on their way. Having reached Albania in 1381, they took the side of the Topia clan, who gained the upper hand in the fight against the Balsha clan in 1385. Although many Albanian tribes at that time turned into nominal vassals of the Ottoman Empire, they often went over to the side of Venice, which tried to prevent the Turks from penetrating to coast of the Adriatic Sea. In 1393, Dyrrhachium and Lezha were captured by the Venetians, and in 1394 Shkoder was redeemed from the Balsha family. The Ottoman Empire, having won a major victory over the Serbs in the Battle of Kosovo in 1389, sent troops against Albania in 1394 and 1397, and during the campaigns of 1415 and 1423 conquered its central and southern regions. Due to the close proximity of Venice and Naples, and also considering the remnants of Serbian and Greek power, the Turks at first behaved cautiously. The strengthening of Turkish domination and especially the preparation for the distribution of land caused an uprising of feudal rulers and mountain tribes in 1433, suppressed in 1434. However, an even more powerful uprising soon broke out, led by George Kastrioti (1403-1468), who was nicknamed Iskender Bey in Turkey, better known as Skanderbeg. The son of a feudal lord, Skanderbeg converted to Islam and became a prominent Turkish official. When his family was taken away family estate in Kruja, Skanderbeg renounced Islam and revolted. Having concluded an alliance with Venice and the leaders of various tribes in 1444 and having a small cavalry detachment based in Kruja, he launched a guerrilla war in northern Albania. Skanderbeg died in 1468, but under the leadership of his son and with the support of the Venetians, resistance to the Turks did not stop until the Turkish army captured Kruya in 1478, and in 1479 - Shkoder. Gradually, the Turks conquered all the other regions of Albania; in 1571 the last strongholds of the Venetians, Bar and Ulcinj, fell. During the Turkish rule, northern Albania, with its impenetrable mountains, proximity to foreign countries and warlike tribes of the Ghegs, maintained a semi-independent regime. The Ghegs did not allow Turkish officials and tax collectors into their villages. In each tribe, intra-clan relations were regulated at meetings and hereditary councils of elders under the bayraktar (banner keeper). During the wars, the Ghegs served as soldiers of the irregular army and in the 18th - early 19th centuries. constituted a very significant part of the Ottoman army. However, they fought only under the leadership of their tribal leaders and mainly for the sake of booty (mainly livestock), which was an important help for their poor farms in the mountains. The Turks had more influence in the center and south of the country, where they levied moderate taxes and allowed Christian rulers to use their lands in exchange for service in the cavalry. With the transition to Islam for ambitious and capable people, the path to power was opened. From the beginning of the 17th century the increase in taxes by the Ottoman authorities and the growth of requisitions in favor of local feudal lords caused unrest among the Albanian peasants. In 1645 and 1649, the Turkish rulers put down plots and riots organized by Catholic leaders in the coastal cities during the war with Venice. Various northern tribes collaborated with Austrian and Venetian troops during several wars between 1683 and 1739. Therefore, the Turks increased pressure on the Albanian Catholics, forcing them to convert to Islam. In the 18th century the weakening of the Ottoman Empire. Some members of the northern Albanian tribes organized recruitment campaigns for mercenary soldiers. Thousands of Serbs left the Kosovo plain after 1690, partly fearing reprisals from the Turks. At this time, some families of landowners gained great influence, levying taxes from the peasants. The Bushati pashas of Shkoder ruled in the north and in the center of the country, and during the Napoleonic wars and in the subsequent period, Ali Pasha Tepelena (1744-1822) established a semi-independent state in southern Albania, Epirus and western Macedonia. Sultan Mahmud II, obsessed with reform ideas and sought to centralize and strengthen Ottoman state, defeated in 1820-1822 the troops of Ali Pasha, and in 1831 Pasha Bushati. In the 1830s, less prominent members of the Albanian nobility opposed the Turks, but the reorganized Ottoman army bombarded their castles with artillery pieces and forced them into submission. The reforms of 1826-1856, which fixed the regular payment of taxes, conscription in peacetime and the appointment of officials of non-Albanian origin, met with strong opposition and proved effective only in southern Albania. The resistance developed into a national movement that intensified after 1878.
Independence movement (1878-1912). The collapse of the Ottoman Empire and the desire of the Balkan peoples for independence first received a response in Albania after the Russian-Turkish war of 1877-1878. At the Berlin Congress, the Great Powers, as one of the conditions of the peace treaty, proposed that the regions of northern Albania be transferred to Serbia and Montenegro. This decision was opposed by some Albanian leaders and representatives of the nobility, mostly Muslims, organizing the Albanian, or Prizrek League. Initially, she received support from the Ottoman government, raised funds, recruited armed fighters and prepared for the fight. The League acquired a more nationalist and independent character after the accession of the Catholic tribes from Shkoder and the Orthodox from the south. In 1879-1880, attempts to cede even insignificant territories to Montenegro were resisted, and the League agreed to the transfer of the Ulcinj region to Montenegro in 1880 only after the Turkish army defeated the Albanians. The southern branch of the League strongly rejected the claims of Greece to the territories inhabited by Albanians in Epirus. There were fears that after the final collapse of the Ottoman Empire, Albania could be divided into parts by neighboring states. To prevent such an outcome, the League demanded the unification of the Albanian districts into one autonomous province, so that the administration, schooling and tax collection would be controlled by the Albanians themselves. Such a national program led to a split in the League: the Muslims of central Albania opposed the program, remaining loyal to Constantinople. The sultan was also angry, sending troops in 1881 to suppress the League: some of its leaders were arrested, others the Turks managed to win over to their side. The national movement went underground, spreading in the Albanian diaspora abroad and among political leaders in Albania itself. However, the growth of the movement was hampered by regional, religious and class divisions. The Catholics of the North sought to maintain their traditional privileges. The Muslims of the Kosovo Plain remained loyal to the Sultan, who supported them in the fight against the Slavs. The Muslim landowners of the Center did not want to deal with dangerous tensions in the border regions, where many Orthodox Christians identified themselves as Greeks rather than Albanians. After the overthrow of Sultan Abdul-Hamid II in July 1908, newspapers and political clubs appeared, especially in the south of the country. However, the political demands of the Albanians were rejected by the Young Turks, who sought to strengthen Turkey by imposing taxes and military service on privileged national minorities. This approach outraged even Albanian Muslims, and in the spring and summer of 1912-1913 uprisings swept through the northern regions. The weakness of the Ottoman Empire prompted Serbia, Bulgaria, Montenegro and Greece to enter the First Balkan War (October 1912 - April 1913), as a result of which Turkey lost most of its territory in Europe. In order to prevent the division of Albania between its neighbors, the Albanian leaders, having gathered in Vlora, on November 28, 1912, proclaimed the independence of the country and formed a provisional government.
Struggle for sovereignty and independence (1913-1921). The most difficult task for Albania was to achieve international recognition of its sovereignty and borders, given the opposition of some Balkan states. So, Serbia hoped to get access to the Adriatic Sea, controlling central Albania, Montenegro sought to acquire Shkoder, and Greece wanted to annex the regions of Gjirokastra and Korca. These applicants were supported by France and Russia. However, Italy and Austria-Hungary opposed. They preferred to deal with an independent Albania, which could neutralize East Coast Strait of Otranto and maintain the balance of political forces in the Adriatic region. The Great Powers authorized their ambassadors, who met at a conference in London, to consider the Albanian question along with other problems that arose as a result of the Balkan War. At this conference on December 20, 1912, the independence of Albania was recognized by the great powers. According to the London Treaty, signed on May 30, 1913, a commission was established that was supposed to resolve the issue of the borders of Albania and make the final decision on the return of the city of Shkoder to Albania, captured by Montenegro during the First Balkan War. The Kosovo Plain, where several hundred thousand Albanians lived, went to Serbia. The border with Greece was established according to a protocol signed in the same year in Florence. The Great Powers guaranteed the neutrality of Albania, but in fact they established a protectorate of Austria-Hungary, Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Russia, forming a police force under the leadership of Western European officers and a civil and financial administration under the control of an international commission. To rule the country, by decision of the great powers, was the German prince Wilhelm Vid. He arrived in Albania in March 1914 and found the country in a state of chaos that did not stop until 1921. Greece and Serbia withdrew their troops from the country, but on February 28, an uprising broke out in the south with the support of Greece. Intrigues in the Weed government led to civil war, which began on May 21, and the First World War put Albania on the brink of a split. September 3, 1914 Wilhelm Wied fled the country. During the war, Italian, Greek, Montenegrin, Serbian, Austrian and French troops invaded and occupied different areas of Albania. After the First World War, plans to partition the country again arose, but the Albanian nationalists received strong support from US President Woodrow Wilson. He opposed the agreements, according to which Southern Albania went to Greece, the Shkoder region to Yugoslavia, and Vlora to Italy, which received a mandate to manage the central regions of the country. Meanwhile, at the congress in Durres on December 25, 1918, the Albanians formed a provisional government. It called for elections to the legislative assembly - the Albanian National Congress. The new parliament met on January 21-31, 1920 in Lushn and formed a government. In the spring, the government and parliament moved to Tirana, which shortly before (February 11, 1920) was declared the capital of Albania. A four-member Supreme Council was established. The National Council (Senate) consisting of 37 people became the supreme body of power. A government loan was issued, and measures were taken to create an army and public institutions. The Italian troops in the Vlora region were forced to retreat after the attacks of the Albanians, the Serbs in the northeast were also defeated. On December 17, 1920, Albania, with the support of England, was admitted to the League of Nations. However, the question of borders remained open. In October 1921, Serbian troops attacked again and were withdrawn only after strong diplomatic pressure from England and a number of other states. On November 9, 1921, at a conference of ambassadors of the four powers (Britain, France, Italy, and Japan) in London, the independence of Albania within the 1913 borders was again confirmed. At the beginning of 1922, the last Serbian troops were withdrawn from this country. Until 1924, a small contingent of the Greek army remained in Albania.
Interwar period (1921-1939). Establishing political cooperation between representatives of various regional, social and religious circles that were part of the Progressive and People's Parties turned out to be a very difficult task. In the Progressive Party, which reflected the interests of the conservative part of society, the Muslim landowners set the tone and the tendency to establish political balance prevailed. The People's Party represented a diverse coalition of the middle class, primarily Orthodox liberals led by Fan Noli (1882-1965), the Harvard-educated Orthodox Bishop of Durrës, and nationalist Muslim officials and military leaders led by Ahmet Zogu (1895-1961) , the son of the leader of the community. Noli and Zogu were part of the people's government, which was formed in December 1921. In early 1922, Zogu disarmed the tribes in the center and south of the country, crushed the rebellion in the north, and on December 2, 1922, became prime minister. However, he soon aroused the displeasure of liberals in the south who demanded land reform, nationalists in the north who opposed Serb control of the Kosovo region, and local leaders who jealously guarded the traditional autonomy of their regions. Zogu was defeated in the elections in January 1924, resigned in February, and fled abroad in June. Despite strong opposition, Fan Noli formed a government on 16 June. He had idealistic plans for the modernization of Albania through such reforms as the transfer of land to the peasants and the elimination of protectionism in the administrative and judicial apparatuses. In December 1924, with the financial and military assistance of the Serbs, an expeditionary force led by Zogu invaded Albania. Noli and his supporters had to flee the country. Zogu consolidated his position by sending into exile and arresting his main opponents. On January 21, 1925, Albania was proclaimed a republic, and on January 31, 1925, the National Assembly elected Zoga president for a seven-year term. On March 7, the country's new constitution was promulgated, giving the president dictatorial powers. On September 1, 1928, the newly elected Constituent Assembly proclaimed Zogu the king of the Albanians under the name Zogu I. The monarchical constitution, adopted on December 1, expanded the powers of the king, primarily in the field of foreign policy. Direct elections to the legislature should have been held every four years, but in the absence of alternative deputies, candidates from the government bloc invariably won. Adhering to authoritarian positions, Zogu, like Fan Noli in the recent past, wanted to modernize Albania. He achieved success in the fight against banditry and in the eradication of the traditions of blood feuds, contributed to the unification of disparate tribes by building roads, hospitals and schools, sent students to European universities, created a system of administrative division, introduced the responsibility of officials to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and used European models in the development codes of criminal, civil and commercial law. The reforms required financial support and technical assistance, which Zogu received from Italy. In 1925, Italian companies were granted the rights to develop mineral deposits, and the National Bank, which was under Italian control, began to issue Albanian money and perform the functions of the treasury. The Society for economic development Albania, which financed the construction of roads, bridges and other public facilities. In 1926, after the weakening of Zogu's position as a result of a powerful uprising in the north, Italy began to actively influence the foreign policy of Albania. November 27, 1926 in Tirana, Italy and Albania signed a Treaty of Friendship and Security, and a year later, a Treaty of Defensive Alliance for a period of 20 years, after which weapons arrived from Italy and instructors arrived to modernize the Albanian army, which at that time numbered 8 thousand people. Nevertheless, in 1932 Zogu rejected a proposal to establish a customs union with Italy and expelled many Italian military advisers, and in 1933 closed Italian schools. The maneuvers of Italian warships near Durrës in June 1934 failed to secure new concessions in Albania, and as Italy waged wars in Ethiopia and Spain, Mussolini pursued a more conciliatory course with Albania until 1939. In the mid-1930s, he entered the political arena a new generation emerged, educated in the West. These people hoped to transform Albania, to put an end to corruption and dependence on Italy. After a powerful uprising in October 1935, Zogu appointed a liberal government headed by the well-known nationalist Mehdi Frasheri. In 1936 the government was dissolved.
World War II and civil strife in Albania (1939-1944). The course of sustainable development, proclaimed by Zogu in 1925, was interrupted in April 1939, after the occupation of Albania by Italy. Zogu rejected demands that Albania become an Italian colony and fled to Greece and then to London. The Albanian constitution was abolished, a local fascist party was organized, and in 1940 the Albanian army was incorporated into the Italian army. The People's Assembly of Albania was preserved, and a local government was formed. Both of these bodies were subordinate to the Italian viceroy and his officials. Italy enlisted the support of part of the population of Albania, defending its claims to some areas of Yugoslavia and Greece. In October 1940, a contingent of 12,000 Albanian auxiliary troops took part in the Italian campaign against Greece. After the capture of Yugoslavia and Greece by the Axis powers in 1941, the region of Kosovo and some areas of western Macedonia that belonged to Yugoslavia, as well as the district of Chameria in northwestern Greece, were returned to Albania. Thus, the cherished dreams of the Albanian nationalists came true. Meanwhile, with the support of Britain and the USSR, a resistance movement was launched against the puppet regimes in the occupied territories. Separate groups of Albanian communists, incited by Yugoslav communist emissaries, founded their own party on November 8, 1941, whose secretary was Enver Hoxha (1908-1985), a former teacher educated in the West. The communists organized partisan detachments, primarily among the Tosk peasants and the intelligentsia. In the summer of 1942 they marched against the Italians. In September 1944, nationalist anti-Italian groups united with the communists and created the National Liberation Front, in which the communists occupied a dominant position. The rival organization Bali Kombtar (National Front) was formed in November 1944. It developed an ultra-nationalist pro-Western program directed against Zogu and included a demand to return Kosovo to Albania. British liaison officers, who appeared at the beginning of 1943, tried to establish cooperation between the National Liberation Front, which numbered 8-10 thousand fighters, and the "Baly Kombtar", providing them with weapons and providing financial support. As the Italian army collapsed, the Germans forced the occupation of cities and the coastal plain. They managed to split the resistance movement, heading for the transfer of the Kosovo region to Albania, which attracted many members of the Bali Kombtar group to their side. The Germans practically did not interfere in the events that took place in the mountains. Having branded their main rivals as traitors, the communists made a campaign from the Tosk lands to the north. In May 1944 they formed the Anti-Fascist National Liberation Council, endowed with the rights of a provisional government headed by Enver Hoxha, reorganized the army (numbering 20 thousand people) and turned their weapons against their rivals. The anti-communist factions, which lacked cohesion, determination, discipline and weapons, turned to the pro-German government in Tirana for help, and in doing so completely discredited themselves. In October 1944, the retreat of the Germans from Albania began. On November 28, 1944, the communists entered Tirana. Albania during the communist regime. The Communists tried to legitimize their rule by holding elections on December 2, 1945 for the Constituent Assembly. The Communist-controlled Albanian Democratic Front, successor to the National Liberation Front, received 93% of the popular vote. On January 11, 1946, the People's (Constituent) Assembly proclaimed Albania a republic, and on March 14 of the same year adopted the constitution of the People's Republic of Albania (NRA). The government of the country was headed by Enver Hoxha. On April 29, 1946, Titoist Yugoslavia was the first to recognize the communist government; on November 10, the USSR followed its example. Great Britain and the United States were preparing to recognize the new Albanian government, provided that opposition political parties also participate in it. However, this did not happen and the British and US missions were withdrawn from Tirana. In August 1946, Britain and the United States opposed the admission of Albania to the UN, and only on December 15, 1955, as a result of an agreement between East and West, Albania became a member of this organization. On October 22, 1946, two British destroyers were heavily damaged by mines that had been laid shortly before in the Corfu Strait. Although the mines were laid in Albanian territorial waters, this strait was considered international. Albania rejected England's claims for damages, as well as the decision of the International Court of Justice in The Hague to pay England c. 2.4 million dollars. From the end of 1946, Albania provided assistance to the Greek communists, who waged a guerrilla war in their country. The demand of the UN General Assembly on November 27, 1948, that Albania should stop providing this kind of assistance, was not fulfilled either. In turn, the Albanian authorities were outraged by the claims of Greece to the southern regions of Albania. In 1948, a serious internal conflict broke out in Albania. To strengthen the country's defenses and implement ambitious plans for industrialization and modernization, financial and military assistance was required. This function was taken over by Yugoslavia. Six economic agreements concluded between July 1946 and June 1947 culminated in the formation of mixed companies, the arrival of Yugoslav specialists and military advisers, and the receipt of equipment and subsidies from Yugoslavia. On June 28, 1948, the Soviet-controlled Information Bureau of the Communist and Workers' Parties lashed out at Yugoslavia. Albania immediately terminated the economic agreements with that country and expelled Yugoslav advisers. In response, Yugoslavia in 1949 terminated the Treaty of Friendship with Albania. In November 1950 diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed. They were restored only on December 21, 1953. Enver Hoxha and his supporters also settled scores with the influential pro-Yugoslav group in the Albanian Labor Party (as the Communist Party began to be called from November 1948). Kochi Xojo, Hoxha's main rival, who was Minister of the Interior (i.e., head of the police) and also Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party, was particularly attacked. In 1948 Xoxe was arrested as a follower of Tito, and in 1949 he was executed. Political purges also took place in 1950-1952. Yugoslav influence was replaced by Soviet one: in 1949, 37% of the budget of Albania was received from the USSR and its allies. Despite difficult economic problems, Hoxha held on to power. In 1954, he lost the post of prime minister to Mehmet Sheh, who came from military circles. After that, Hoxha remained the first secretary of the Central Committee of the Albanian Party of Labor. The death of I. V. Stalin in 1953 and the policy of N. S. Khrushchev, aimed at improving relations with Yugoslavia, forced Hoxha to change course sharply. Although in 1955-1956 Stalin's supporters were losing their positions in the socialist countries of Europe and Tito demanded the removal of Hoxha, the latter managed to hold on to his post, appealing, among other things, to Albanian nationalists and calling for a fight against the growing threat of Yugoslav domination. In 1957-1959, economic aid from the PRC increased significantly, and from October 1959 the Albanian press took a clear pro-Chinese position. On June 24, 1960, an Albanian delegation at an international meeting of representatives of communist and workers' parties in Bucharest condemned the conciliatory policy of the USSR towards the West. To top it off, Hoxha spoke at the International Meeting of Representatives of the Communist and Workers' Parties in Moscow in November 1960 with a sharp condemnation of Khrushchev's policies. The split between the Communists of Albania and the USSR occurred at the 22nd Congress of the CPSU in October 1961, when Khrushchev publicized the essence of the contradictions between the two countries, and in December diplomatic relations between Albania and the USSR were severed. In the same year, the Chinese Communists took advantage of this by providing a $125 million loan to Albania for the development of industry and sent their technicians and advisers to that country. Since 1962, Albania stopped participating in the activities of the Soviet bloc, in particular in the work of the CMEA, but maintained diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia at a minimum level, and in 1963 restored relations with Romania in full. Albania stopped trading with the USSR, but a significant part of its exports still went to the Eastern European socialist countries. China accounted for half of Albania's exports and 3/5 of its imports. Over 17 years, China provided assistance to Albania in the amount of 1.4 billion dollars. The subsequent improvement in relations between the PRC and the United States put an end to Albania's friendship with China, and in 1978 aid from China ceased. Albania maintained ties with France, but had no relations with the United States and England. In 1971 diplomatic relations with Greece were restored. In the 1970s, the number of Western embassies began to increase in the Albanian capital. Albania's internal politics remained unchanged for more than 10 years after the purges of the 1960s. In 1965, the desire for a more efficient decentralized system of government manifested itself. In 1974-1975, a wave of repression swept in connection with an allegedly uncovered pro-Chinese conspiracy. In 1980-1981, there was an improvement in relations with Yugoslavia for a short time, but their cooling was facilitated by the speeches of Albanian students against Serbian domination in the Yugoslav region of Kosovo. In December 1981, the Albanian press reported on the suicide of Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu, followed by Hoxha's statement that Shehu had been exposed as a Yugoslav agent before the suicide. Another purge took place in the country: many people associated with Shehu and striving for better relations with the West were executed. At the end of 1982, Ramiz Alia, a native of the north, elected as Hoxha's successor, became president of the country, after which assistance from China resumed on a small scale.
Albania after Hoxha. Enver Hoxha died on April 11, 1985, a month after the official statement that Shehu was indeed a Yugoslav, American and Soviet agent, and therefore was eliminated. PLA leader Aliya gradually restored relations with foreign countries (with the exception of the US and the UK). An end was put to the enmity with Greece, which since 1940 was formally at war with Albania. A railway connection with Yugoslavia was opened. From January 1990, market relations were allowed, the defendants received the right to the protection of lawyers. In June, after 5,000 Albanians took refuge in foreign embassies in Tirana, travel abroad and free choice of religion were allowed. Later, these people were allowed to emigrate. In July, relations with the USSR were restored. A big change took place in December 1990. Three days of student demonstrations, provoked by a blackout in the dormitories of the University of Tirana, were met with reprisals by members of the secret police. Unrest intensified, and the Central Committee of the PLA had to allow the formation of new political parties. The opposition concentrated in the Democratic Party (DP), led by economics professor Gramoz Paško and cardiologist Sali Berisha, who demanded general parliamentary elections. On March 31, 1991, the first open elections after 1923 were held in Albania. The PLA won 169 out of 250 seats in the People's Assembly, while the DP won 75 seats. Alia was re-appointed as president. Despite the majority in the People's Assembly of members of the PLA (thanks to the support of rural residents and the elderly), the government in June 1991, in the midst of economic and political chaos, was forced to resign. This resignation formally ended nearly 50 years of communist rule. The coalition "government of national stability", headed by members of the PLA and the Democratic Party and supported by three small parties, tried to resolve urgent problems, but these attempts were unsuccessful and at the end of 1991 the coalition broke up. Meanwhile, the PLA was renamed the Socialist Party.
Fight for democracy. In the elections in March 1992, the Democratic Party won, receiving 92 out of 140 seats in parliament, while the Socialists had 38 seats, and the remaining 10 seats fell to the share of small parties. Soon after, President Ramiz Alia stepped down and was replaced by Democratic leader Sali Berisha. Albanians had high hopes that the country would embark on the path of democracy and economic recovery, but they were disappointed. Instead of the long-awaited well-being, many residents of the country lost their savings invested in financial pyramids. At the same time, when the Berisha government tried to use coercive methods, political instability escalated. Thus, instead of the promised democracy, the government returned to the brutal dictatorial tactics characteristic of the former communist regime. Arrests were made of former communists, including Aliya, who were tried for past crimes. They tried to blame the problems that arose in the country on foreign conspirators. Strict control was exercised over the media and the activities of the opposition. Berisha's achievements were inflated and embellished. Finally, the results of the 1996 elections were rigged in order to hold on to power. In 1997, under pressure from internal and external forces, Berisha was forced to announce new elections, and the Democratic Party won only 26% of the vote in them, receiving 29 seats in the People's Assembly. The Socialists won with 53% of the vote and 99 seats. Having won a majority in the People's Assembly, the socialists put forward their candidacies for the highest posts of executive power: Fatos Nano became prime minister, and Recep Meidani became president. Ironically, the socialists, i.e. former communists, had to lead the country on the path of democracy and the free market. This turned out to be a very difficult task. Nano and his Socialist Party were to regain the trust of the people, solve financial problems, revive the economy, restore law and order, and adopt a new constitution. Large-scale purges of officials and judges found guilty of corruption were carried out. However, after the first successes, the socialists led by Nano, faced with endless problems, returned to the old methods of management. The new government failed to contain the rising tide of crime; it turned out to be helpless in the face of falling production and rapid inflation. To all these troubles, a transition to violent actions was added: at the end of 1997, a member of the People's Assembly from the Socialist Party shot a democratic deputy during a political discussion, and in September 1998, the Democrats repaid the same by killing a high-ranking socialist official. By this time, both parties were at war, and the country was split: in the north, the democrats, led by Berisha, were strengthened, and in the south, the socialists, led by Nano. In the midst of this confrontation, Nano stepped down as prime minister and was succeeded by Pandeli Maiko. Restoring the rule of law was no easy task for Maiko and Meidani, who had to pave the way for the democratic development of the country. At the end of 1998, the situation in Albania remained unstable. The departure of Berisha, and then Nano, from power structures marked the end of the era of "democratic romanticism" with its inherent aims to accelerate the introduction of the market. On the threshold of the 21st century the country faced a systemic crisis and difficulties on the way to integration into the modern world community. Until now, Albania is an agro-industrial country, in which the share of industry accounts for approx. 12% of the national income, and agriculture - 56%. In the spring of 1999 chaos and corruption intensified in the country. Under the guise of the slogan about the advent of the "era of democracy" in fact, there was a transition from totalitarianism to authoritarianism and an anarchically understood liberal state. At a referendum on November 22, 1998, the issue of the need to adopt a new constitution ("according to European standards, but taking into account Albanian specifics") was resolved, in favor of which 92% of the participants spoke (slightly more than half of all voters took part in the referendum). In the social sphere, the transition from a rural way of life to an urban one (with an undeveloped infrastructure) has begun, and in culture the first signs of a departure from isolationism are only outlined. Orientation to the West (at the end of 1998, 40 parties of the country were in favor of joining NATO) is accompanied by a complication of relations with neighboring countries. Under such conditions, NATO's aggression against Yugoslavia served as a catalyst for exacerbating internal problems. In mid-April 1999 there was a break in diplomatic relations with Yugoslavia. A flood of refugees from Kosovo poured into the country. The settlement of refugees in the south of Albania led to the infringement of the rights of the Greeks living there. Relations with Greece, Macedonia and a number of other states also escalated. The fate of Albania largely depends on the results of the solution of the Kosovo problem, which will be of no small importance for its political and economic stabilization and the establishment of foreign economic relations.
LITERATURE
Louis G. Albania. Physico-geographical review. M., 1948 Silaev E.D. Albania. Economic and geographical characteristics. M., 1953 Culture of the peoples of the Balkans in modern times. M., 1980 Issues of social, political and cultural history of South-Eastern Europe. M., 1984 Popular and national fronts in the anti-fascist liberation struggle and revolutions of the 40s. M., 1985 Short story Albania. From ancient times to the present day. M., 1992

Collier Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

Albania is a small South European state located in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. From the northwest, Albania is washed by the Adriatic Sea, and from the southwest by the waters ionian sea. The official name of the country is the Republic of Albania. A detailed map of Albania shows that despite the varied terrain of the Balkan side of the Adriatic, the country has at its disposal only three uninhabited islands, the largest of which - the island of Sazani - does not exceed 5 km 2 in area.

Albania on the world map: geography, nature and climate

Even for Europe, the size of the country is quite modest. Albania on the world map occupies only 28748 km 2. The total length of Albania's borders is 717 km, but it boasts four land neighbors. In the northwest, the country borders with Montenegro, in the southeast - with Greece and in the west - with Macedonia. Albania also has a segment of the border with Serbia in the northeast, but this territory of the Serbian state has recently been part of the partially recognized Republic of Kosovo.

In addition, through the Strait of Otranto, the country borders on Italy. The length of the coastline of the state is 362 km.

The peculiarity of the borders of Albania is that they are completely artificial. During the creation of the country, the borders were determined without taking into account the terrain, which is especially clearly seen on the southern borders of the state.

Geographical position

Despite its small size, Albania can demonstrate a fairly diverse relief. About 70% of the country is represented by hilly and mountainous regions. Along the northern border are located mountains Prokletiye, which on the map of Albania in Russian can be called the Northern Albanian Alps. Their height reaches 2692 m, but highest point The country is located to the south, on the border with neighboring Macedonia. Height Korab mountains, which is part of the mountain range of the same name, is 2762 m above sea level.

Only the central and northwestern coastal regions of Albania are located on the fertile plains. The valleys of the country abound with rivers. The largest of them - Drin river. Its length is 148 km and, like almost all the rivers of the country, it originates in the eastern mountainous regions and flows into the Adriatic Sea. Also on the lands of Albania there are many lakes, but the largest of them are Prespa, Shkoder And Ohrid Lake- located on the borders of the country.

Animal and plant world

The mountainous regions of Albania are infertile and are represented, for the most part, by forests. Beech, chestnut, birch, pine and spruce meet here. The plains of the country are represented by standard Mediterranean evergreen shrub vegetation and extensive agricultural regions.

The fauna of Albania is concentrated in mountainous deserted areas. Bears, wolves, lynxes, martens, deer and wild boars live here. On the coast at in large numbers migratory birds live: pelicans, swallows, storks and herons. Coastal waters are rich in commercial fish, and trout is often found in mountain rivers.

Climate

The phenomenon of altitudinal zonation is clearly presented in the country. The lowland and coastal regions are characterized by a Mediterranean subtropical climate. Summer temperatures here reach 25-27°C, while winter temperatures fluctuate between 8-9°C. The mountainous regions are closer to the temperate continental climate and the temperature here is on average 5-7°C lower. Precipitation throughout the country is quite plentiful, but unevenly distributed. So, in the Northern Albanian Alps, this figure reaches 2500 mm per year. On the coast, the level of precipitation does not exceed 1300 mm, and in the eastern regions of Albania it drops to 750 mm.

Map of Albania with cities. Administrative division of the country

Albania is divided into 12 regions. In terms of area, they are quite comparable. The average population density of the country is about 100 per km2. A map of Albania with cities in Russian shows that the largest cities of the country are located on flat coastal lands. 50% of the population lives in the three western regions on the Adriatic coast.

Tirana

Tirana is the capital and The largest city Albania. It is located close to the geographical center of the country. Up to 30 percent of the population lives here. It is natural that Tirana is an economic, industrial, scientific, educational and cultural center Albania.

Durres

Durres, the second largest city of the state, is located 30 km west of the capital on the Adriatic coast. In addition to the country's largest port, the city has the largest number architectural monuments in Albania.

Vlorë

In the southwestern part of the country, at the junction of two seas, the city of Vlora is located. It is a major tourist center and the country's second most important port. It is Vlore that is the base of the naval forces of Albania.