CAPITAL CITY OF Albania: Tirana LANGUAGE OF Albania: Albanian CURRENCY OF Albania: Lek (ALL) COMMENTS ABOUT Albania: Albania is a small country in Mediterranean Europe. Cities : Tirana (capital), Berat, Durrës, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokastër,Korca, Sarande, Shkodra, Vlorë, Lezhe Best Places : Butrint, Tomorri Mountain ridge, Albanian Alps, Prokletije, Dhermi Electricity : 220V/50Hz (European plug) Calling Code : +355 Time Zone : UTC +1
Between 1990 and 1992 Albania ended 46 years of xenophobic Communist rule and established a multiparty democracy. The transition has proven difficult as successive governments have tried to deal with high unemployment, widespread corruption, a dilapidated infrastructure, powerful organized crime networks with links to high government officials, and disruptive political opponents. International observers judged parliamentary elections in 2001 and local elections in 2003 to be acceptable and a step toward democratic development, but identified serious deficiencies. Many of these deficiencies have been addressed through bi-partisan changes to the electoral code in 2003 and 2005, but implementation of these changes will not be demonstrated until parliamentary elections in July 2005. CLIMATE OF Albania: mild temperate; cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summers; interior is cooler and wetter RELIGION OF Albania: Muslim 70%, Albanian Orthodox 20%, Roman Catholic 10% note: percentages are estimates; there are no available current statistics on religious affiliation; all mosques and churches were closed in 1967 and religious observances prohibited; in November 1990, Albania began allowing private religious practice POPULATION OF Albania: 3,600,523 (2005)> ECONOMY OVERVIEW OF Albania: Poor and backward by European standards, Albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open-market economy. The government has taken measures to curb violent crime and to spur economic activity and trade. The economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $600-$800 million, mostly from Greece and Italy; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. Agriculture, which accounts for about one-half of GDP, is held back because of frequent drought and the need to modernize equipment, to clarify property rights, and to consolidate small plots of land. Energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. The planned construction of a new thermal power plant near Vlore and improved transmission and distribution facilities will help relieve the energy shortages. Also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long-standing barrier to sustained economic growth. On the positive side: growth was strong in 2003 and 2004, the nation has important oil and gas reserves, and inflation is not a problem.
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CAPITAL CITY OF Albania: Tirana
