Republic of Albania

Albania, officially the Republic of Albania (Albanian Republika e Shqipërisë pronounced [ɾɛˈpublika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs], or simply Shqipëria) is a country in South Eastern Europe. Albania is bordered by Greece to the south-east, Montenegro to the north, Kosovo to the northeast, and the Republic of Macedonia to the east. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west, and on the Ionian Sea to the southwest. It is less than 100 km (60 miles) from Italy, across the Strait of Otranto.

The country is a member of the United Nations, South East Europe Cooperation Process, Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE), Council of Europe (COE), and World Trade Organisation.

It is also a potential candidate for membership in the European Union and received a NATO membership invitation on 3 April 2008.

• Capital city – Tirana

• People - Population (2007 est.): 3,600,523.
Growth rate (2007 est.): 0.529%.
Ethnic groups (2004 est., Government of Albania): Albanian 98.6%, Greeks 1.17%, others 0.23% (Vlachs, Roma, Serbs, Montenegrins, Macedonians, Balkan Egyptians, and Bulgarians).
Religions: Muslim (Sunni and Bektashi) 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, and Roman Catholic 10%.
Official language: Albanian.
Health (2007 est.): Life expectancy--males 74.95 years; females 80.53 years. Infant mortality rate--20.02 deaths per 1,000 live births.

• Official Language – Albania

• Government - Parliamentary democracy

o Executive Branch

• President of the Republic
chief of the state

• Prime Minister
head of the government

Council of Ministers
appointed by the President

• Legislative Branch

• People's Assembly
unicameral, 140 seats

• Judicial Branch

• Supreme Court

• Constitution - Adopted by popular referendum November 28, 1998 o Independence - November 28, 1912 (from the Ottoman Empire)

o Main political parties: Democratic Party of Albania (PD); Albanian Socialist Party (PS); Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI); Albanian Republican Party (PR); Demo-Christian Party (PDK); Union for Human Rights Party (PBDNJ); New Democracy Party (PDR); Social Democratic Party (PSD); Social Democracy Party (PDS

• Economy - Real GDP growth (2007): 6%
Inflation rate (2007): 3% (average year-on-year annual)
Unemployment rate (Q2 2007): 13.5%.
Natural resources: Oil, gas, coal, iron, copper and chrome ores.

• Currency: Lek

• Geography - Albania shares a border with Greece to the south/southeast, Macedonia to the east, Serbia (including Kosovo) to the northeast, and Montenegro to the northwest. Western Albania lies along the Adriatic and Ionian Sea coastlines. Albania's primary seaport is Durres, which handles 90% of its maritime cargo.

o

• Date when the country joined PfP : signed the Framework Document in February 23-rd 1994 becoming a member country of PfP initiative

• Important Links

• Albanian Parliament - www.parlament.al

• The President of Republic - www.president.al

• Council of Ministers - www.keshilliministrave.al

• Ministry of Defence - www.mod.gov.al

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs - www.mfa.gov.al

• Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports - www.mtkrs.gov.al

• Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy - www.mete.gov.al

• Ministry of European Integration - www.mie.gov.al

• Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Consumer protection - www.mbumk.gov.al

• Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Telecommunication -· www.mpptt.gov.al

• Ministry of Internal - www.moi.gov.al

• Ministry of Finance - www.minfin.gov.al

• Ministry of Justice - www.justice.gov.

• Ministry of Education and Science - www.mash.gov.al

• Ministry of Work, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities - www.mpcs.gov.al

• Ministry of Health - www.moh.gov.al

• Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Water Administration -· www.moe.gov.al

• Constitutional Court - www.gjykatakushtetuese.gov.al

• The Supreme State Audit - http://www.klsh.org.al/

• People’s Advocate - http://www.avokatipopullit.gov.al/

• General Prosecutor - www.pp.gov.al/alb/

• Central Elections Commission - http://www.cec.org.al/

• Municipality of Tirana - http://www.tirana.gov.al

Reference :

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107268.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albania