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Republic of Albania Republika e Shqipërisë
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Anthem: Himni i Flamurit   Hymn to the Flag File:Hymni i Flamurit instrumental.ogg
Location of  Albania  (green) in Europe  (dark grey)  —  [Legend]
Capital (and largest city)		Tirana 41°20′N 19°48′E / 41.333°N 19.800°E / 41.333; 19.800
Official language(s)		Albanian1
Ethnic groups		92% Albanians, 6% Greeks,[1][2] 2% others[3]
Demonym		Albanian
Government		Parliamentary republic
-	President	Bamir Topi
-	Prime Minister	Sali Berisha
Formation
-	Principality of Arbër	1190
-	League of Lezhë	2 March 1444
-	Independence from the Ottoman Empire	28 November 1912
-	Recognized by the Great Powers	2 December 1912
-	Current Constitution	28 November 1998
Area
-	Total	28,748 km2 (143rd) 11,100 sq mi
-	Water (%)	4.7
Population
-	estimate	3,195,000 [4] (136th)
-	census	3,069,275 [5]
-	Density	111.1/km2 (63) 327.8/sq mi
GDP (PPP)		estimate
-	Total	$23.864 billion[6]
-	Per capita	$7,453[6]
GDP (nominal)		estimate
-	Total	$11.773 billion[6]
-	Per capita	$3,677[6]
Gini		26.7[7] (low)
HDI		0.719[8] (high) (64th)
Currency		Lek (ALL)
Time zone		CET (UTC+1)
-	Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Drives on the		right
Internet TLD		.al
Calling code		355
1	Greek, Macedonian and other regional languages are government-recognized minority languages.

Albania (/[unsupported input]ælˈbeɪniə/ al-bay-nee-ə, Albanian: Shqipëri/Shqipëria, Gheg Albanian: Shqipnia/Shqypnia), officially known as the Republic of Albania (Albanian: Republika e Shqipërisë, pronounced [ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs]; Gheg Albanian: Republika e Shqipnísë), is a country in Southeast Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo^[a] to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the west, and on the Ionian Sea to the southwest. It is less than 72 km (45 mi) from Italy, across the Strait of Otranto which links the Adriatic Sea to the Ionian Sea. Albania is a member of the UN, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Council of Europe, World Trade Organisation, Organisation of the Islamic Conference and one of the founding members of the Union for the Mediterranean. Albania has been a potential candidate for accession to the European Union since January and it formally applied for EU membership on 28 April.^[9]

Albania is a parliamentary democracy and a transition economy. The Albanian capital, Tirana, is home to approximately 600,000 of the country's 3,000,000 people.^[10] Free-market reforms have opened the country to foreign investment, especially in the development of energy and transportation infrastructure.^[11][12][13] Albania was chosen as the top country in Lonely Planet's list of ten top countries for.^[14]

Etymology

Albania is the Medieval Latin name of the country which is called Shqipëri by its people. In Medieval Greek, the country's name is Albania (Greek: Ἀλβανία) besides variants Albanitia, Arbanitia.^[15]

The name may be derived from the Illyrian tribe of the Albani recorded by Ptolemy, the geographer and astronomer from Alexandria who drafted a map in 150 AD^[16] that shows the city of Albanopolis^[17] (located northeast of Durrës).

The name may have a continuation in the name of a medieval settlement called Albanon and Arbanon, although it is not certain this was the same place.^[18] In his History written in 1079–1080, Byzantine historian Michael Attaliates was the first to refer to Albanoi as having taken part in a revolt against Constantinople in 1043 and to the Arbanitai as subjects of the Duke of Dyrrachium.^[19] During the Middle Ages, the Albanians called their country Arbër or Arbën and referred to themselves as Arbëresh or Arbnesh.^[20][21]

As early as the 16th century the placename Shqipëria and the ethnic demonym Shqiptarë gradually replaced Arbëria and Arbëresh. While the two terms are popularly interpreted as "Land of the Eagles" and "Children of the Eagles", they derive from the adverb shqip, which means "understanding each-other".^[22][23]

Under the Ottoman Empire Albania was referred to officially as Arnavutluk and its inhabitants as Arnauts.^[24] The word is considered to be a metathesis from the word Arvanite, which was the Medieval Greek name for the Albanians.^[25]

History

History of Albania

Prehistory Prehistoric Balkans Antiquity Illyria Illyrians Macedonia (Roman province) Illyricum Middle Ages Albania in the Middle Ages Albania under the Byzantine Empire Albania under the Bulgarian Empire Albania under the Serbian Empire Principality of Arbër Kingdom of Albania Albanian Principalities League of Lezhë Venetian Albania Ottoman Albania Ottoman Albania Albanian Pashaliks Massacre of the Albanian beys Albanian National Awakening Revolts of 1833-1839 Revolt of 1843-1844 Revolt of 1847 League of Prizren League of Peja Revolt of 1910 Battle of Deçiq Revolt of 1912 Albanian Vilayet Albanian Declaration of Independence Post-Independence Provisional Government Albanian Congress of Trieste International Commission of Control Balkan Wars Principality of Albania Republic of Central Albania Peasant Revolt in Albania Republic of Korçë Republic of Mirdita Italian Protectorate on southern Albania Vlora War Albanian Republic Albanian Kingdom Albania under Italy Albania under Germany Albanian Resistance Liberation of Albania Communist Albania Contemporary Albania Post-Communism 1997 unrest Republic of Albania

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The History of Albania emerges from the prehistoric stage from the 4th century BC, with early records of Illyria in Greco-Roman historiography. The modern territory of Albania has no counterpart in antiquity, comprising parts of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia (southern Illyricum), Macedonia (particularly Epirus Nova), and Moesia Superior. The territory remained under Roman (Byzantine) control until the Slavic migrations of the 7th century, and was integrated into the Bulgarian Empire in the 9th century.

The territorial nucleus of the Albanian state forms in the Middle Ages, as the Principality of Arbër and the Kingdom of Albania. The first records of the Albanian people as a distinct ethnicity also date to this period. In 15th century there was a series of confrontation between Albanians led by Scanderbeg and the advancing Ottoman Empire. Soon after the death of Scanderbeg the organized resistance ceased and the country became part of Ottoman Empire. It remained under Ottoman control as part of the Rumelia province until 1912, when the first independent Albanian state was declared. The formation of an Albanian national consciousness dates to the latter 19th century and is part of the larger phenomenon of rise of nationalism under the Ottoman Empire. A short-lived monarchy (1914–1925) was succeeded by an even shorter-lived first Albanian Republic (1925–1928), to be replaced by another monarchy (1928–1939), which was annexed by Fascist Italy during World War II. After the collapse of the Axis powers, Albania became a communist state, the Socialist People's Republic of Albania, which was dominated by Enver Hoxha (d. 1985). Hoxha's political heir Ramiz Alia oversaw the disintegration of the "Hoxhaist" state during the wider collapse of the Eastern Bloc in the later 1980s.

The communist regime collapsed in 1990, and the Republic of Albania was founded in 1991. The old communist party was routed in the elections of March 1992, amid economic collapse and social unrest. An economical crises spread in the late following the failure of some Ponzi schemes operating in the country, peaking in the in an armed rebellion, that led to another mass emigration of Albanians, mostly to Italy, Greece, Switzerland, Germany and to North America.

In the country was affected by Kosovo War, when a great number of Albanians from Kosovo found refuge in Albania.

Albania became a full member of NATO in. The country is applying to join the European Union.

Independence	Provisional Government	Principality of Albania	Albanian Republic	Albanian Kingdom	Albania under Italy	Albania under Germany	Communist Albania	Republic of Albania
1912	1912–1914	1914–1925	1925–1928	1928–1939	1939–1943	1943–1944	1944–1992	since 1992

• George Kastrioti Skanderbeg
  (1405–1468)

• Ismail Qemali, hero of Albanian independence (1912–14)

• President (1924–28)
  and King (1928–39)
  Zog of Albania

• Enver Hoxha
  (1944–1985)

Administrative divisions

Albania is divided into 12 administrative counties (Albanian: qark or prefekturë). These counties include 36 districts (Albanian: rreth) and 373 municipalities (Albanian: bashki or komunë). 72 municipalities have city status (Albanian: qytet). There are overall 2980 villages/communities (Albanian: fshat) in all Albania. Each district has its council which is composed of a number of municipalities. The municipalities are the first level of local governance, responsible for local needs and law enforcement.^[26]

	County	Capital	Districts	Municipalities	Cities	Villages
1	Berat	Berat	Berat Kuçovë Skrapar	10 2 8	2 1 2	122 18 105
2	Dibër	Peshkopi	Bulqizë Dibër Mat	7 14 10	1 1 2	63 141 76
3	Durrës	Durrës	Durrës Krujë	6 4	4 2	62 44
4	Elbasan	Elbasan	Elbasan Gramsh Librazhd Peqin	20 9 9 5	3 1 2 1	177 95 75 49
5	Fier	Fier	Fier Lushnjë Mallakastër	14 14 8	3 2 1	117 121 40
6	Gjirokastër	Gjirokastër	Gjirokastër Përmet Tepelenë	11 7 8	2 2 2	96 98 77
7	Korçë	Korçë	Devoll Kolonjë Korçë Pogradec	4 6 14 7	1 2 2 1	44 76 153 72
8	Kukës	Kukës	Has Kukës Tropojë	3 14 7	1 1 1	30 89 68
9	Lezhë	Lezhë	Kurbin Lezhë Mirditë	2 9 5	2 1 2	26 62 80
10	Shkodër	Shkodër	Malësi e Madhe Pukë Shkodër	5 8 15	1 2 2	56 75 141
11	Tirana	Tirana	Kavajë Tirana	8 16	2 3	66 167
12	Vlorë	Vlorë	Delvinë Sarandë Vlorë	3 7 9	1 2 4	38 62 99

Government, politics and armed forces

Albania

This article is part of the series: Politics and government of Albania

Constitution Constitution Human rights Legislature Assembly Chairman Jozefina Topalli Political parties Judiciary Constitutional Court Administrative Court Court of Justice (ordinary jurisdiction) Supreme Court Executive President Bamir Topi Prime Minister Sali Berisha Cabinet Divisions Districts Counties Municipalities Elections 2001 2005 2009 Foreign policy Foreign relations Accession to European Union

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The Albanian republic is a parliamentary democracy established under a constitution renewed in 1998. Elections are now held every four years to a unicameral 140-seat chamber, the People's Assembly. In June a compromise candidate, Alfred Moisiu, former Army General, was elected to succeed President Rexhep Meidani. Parliamentary elections in July brought Sali Berisha, an ex-Albanian communist party member, as leader of the Democratic Party, back to power. The actual president Bamir Topi was elected by Parliament in July.

The Euro-Atlantic integration of Albania has been the ultimate goal of the post-communist governments. Albania's EU membership bid has been set as a priority by the European Commission.

Albania, along with Croatia, joined NATO on 1 April becoming the 27th and 28th members of the alliance.^[27]

The workforce of Albania has continued to migrate to Greece, Italy, Germany, other parts of Europe, and North America. However, the migration flux is slowly decreasing, as more and more opportunities are emerging in Albania itself as its economy steadily develops.

Executive branch

The head of state in Albania is the President of the Republic. The President is elected to a 5-year term by the Assembly of the Republic of Albania by secret ballot, requiring a 50%+1 majority of the votes of all deputies. The next election will run in. The current President of the Republic is Bamir Topi.

The President has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, act as commander in chief of the armed forces, exercise the duties of the Assembly of the Republic of Albania when the Assembly is not in session, and appoint the Chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister).

Executive power rests with the Council of Ministers (cabinet). The Chairman of the Council (prime minister) is appointed by the president; ministers are nominated by the president on the basis of the prime minister's recommendation. The People's Assembly must give final approval of the composition of the Council. The Council is responsible for carrying out both foreign and domestic policies. It directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs.

President	Bamir Topi	PD	20 July
Prime Minister	Sali Berisha	PD	9 September

Legislative branch

The Assembly of the Republic of Albania (Kuvendi i Republikës së Shqipërisë) is the lawmaking body in Albania. There are 140 deputies in the Assembly, which are elected through a party-list proportional representation system. The President of the Assembly (or Speaker) has two deputies and chairs the Assembly. There are 15 permanent commissions, or committees. Parliamentary elections are held at least every four years.

The Assembly has the power to decide the direction of domestic and foreign policy; approve or amend the constitution; declare war on another state; ratify or annul international treaties; elect the President of the Republic, the Supreme Court and the Attorney General and his or her deputies; and control the activity of state radio and television, state news agency and other official information media.

Armed forces

The Albanian Armed Forces (Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë) first formed after independence in 1912. Albania reduced the number of active troops from a number of 65,000^[28] to a number of 14,500^[29] with a small fleet of aircraft and sea vessels. In the 1990s, the country scrapped enormous amounts of obsolete hardware, such as tanks and SAM systems from the United States.

Today, it consists of the General Staff Headquarters, the Albanian Land Forces, Albanian Air Force, Albanian Naval Defense Forces, the Albanian Logistic Brigade and the Albanian Training and Doctrine Command. Increasing the military budget was one of the most important conditions for NATO integration. Military spending accounted for about 2.7% of GDP in. Since February Albania participates officially in NATO's Operation Active Endeavor in the Mediterranean Sea.^[30] and received a NATO membership invitation on 3 April.^[31] Albania became a full member of NATO on 1 April.

Geography

Albania has a total area of 28,748 square kilometers. It lies between latitudes 39° and 43° N, and mostly between longitudes 19° and 21° E (a small area lies east of 21°). Albania's coastline length is 476 km (296 mi)^[32]:240 and extends along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas. The lowlands of the west face the Adriatic Sea. The 70% of the country that is mountainous is rugged and often inaccessible from the outside. The highest mountain is Korab situated in the district of Dibër, reaching up to 2,753 metres (9,032 feet). The climate on the coast is typically Mediterranean with mild, wet winters and warm, sunny, and rather dry summers.

Inland conditions vary depending on altitude but the higher areas above 1,500 m/5,000 ft are rather cold and frequently snowy in winter; here cold conditions with lying snow may linger into spring. Besides the capital city of Tirana, which has 800,000 inhabitants, the principal cities are Durrës, Korçë, Elbasan, Shkodër, Gjirokastër, Vlorë and Kukës. In Albanian grammar, a word can have indefinite and definite forms, and this also applies to city names: both Tiranë and Tirana, Shkodër and Shkodra are used.

The three largest and deepest tectonic lakes of the Balkan Peninsula are partly located in Albania. Lake Shkodër in the country's northwest has a surface which can vary between 370 km² (140 sq mi) and 530 km², out of which one third belongs to Albania and rest to Montenegro. The Albanian shoreline of the lake is 57 km (35 mi). Ohrid Lake is situated in the country's southeast and is shared between Albania and Republic of Macedonia. It has a maximal depth of 289 meters and a variety of unique flora and fauna can be found there, including "living fossils" and many endemic species. Because of its natural and historical value, Ohrid Lake is under the protection of UNESCO. There is also Butrinti Lake which is a small tectonic lake. It is located in the national park of Butrint.

Climate

With its coastline facing the Adriatic and Ionian seas, its highlands backed upon the elevated Balkan landmass, and the entire country lying at a latitude subject to a variety of weather patterns during the winter and summer seasons, Albania has a high number of climatic regions for so small an area. The coastal lowlands have typically Mediterranean weather; the highlands have a Mediterranean continental climate. In both the lowlands and the interior, the weather varies markedly from north to south.

The lowlands have mild winters, averaging about 7 °C (45 °F). Summer temperatures average 24 °C (75 °F). In the southern lowlands, temperatures average about 5 °C (9 °F) higher throughout the year. The difference is greater than 5 °C (9 °F) during the summer and somewhat less during the winter.

Inland temperatures are affected more by differences in elevation than by latitude or any other factor. Low winter temperatures in the mountains are caused by the continental air mass that dominates the weather in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Northerly and northeasterly winds blow much of the time. Average summer temperatures are lower than in the coastal areas and much lower at higher elevations, but daily fluctuations are greater. Daytime maximum temperatures in the interior basins and river valleys are very high, but the nights are almost always cool.

Average precipitation is heavy, a result of the convergence of the prevailing airflow from the Mediterranean Sea and the continental air mass. Because they usually meet at the point where the terrain rises, the heaviest rain falls in the central uplands. Vertical currents initiated when the Mediterranean air is uplifted also cause frequent thunderstorms. Many of these storms are accompanied by high local winds and torrential downpours.

When the continental air mass is weak, Mediterranean winds drop their moisture farther inland. When there is a dominant continental air mass, cold air spills onto the lowland areas, which occurs most frequently in the winter. Because the season's lower temperatures damage olive trees and citrus fruits, groves and orchards are restricted to sheltered places with southern and western exposures, even in areas with high average winter temperatures.

Lowland rainfall averages from 1,000 millimeters (39.4 in) to more than 1,500 millimeters (59.1 in) annually, with the higher levels in the north. Nearly 95% of the rain falls in the winter.

Rainfall in the upland mountain ranges is heavier. Adequate records are not available, and estimates vary widely, but annual averages are probably about 1,800 millimeters (70.9 in) and are as high as 2,550 millimeters (100.4 in) in some northern areas. The western Albanian Alps (valley of Boga) are among the wettest areas in Europe, receiving some 3,100 mm (122.05 in) of rain annually.^[33] The seasonal variation is not quite as great in the coastal area.

The higher inland mountains receive less precipitation than the intermediate uplands. Terrain differences cause wide local variations, but the seasonal distribution is the most consistent of any area.

In an expedition from University of Colorado, discovered four small glaciers in the 'Cursed' mountains in North Albania. The glaciers are at the relatively low level of 2,000 meters – almost unique for such a southerly latitude.^[34]

Flora and fauna

Although a small country, Albania is distinguished for its rich biological diversity. The variation of geomorphology, climate and terrain create favorable conditions for a number of endemic and sub-endemic species with 27 endemic and 160 subendemic vascular plants present in the country. The total number of plants is over 3250 species, approximately 30% of the entire flora species found in Europe.

Over a third of the territory of Albania – about 10,000 square kilometers (2.5 million acres) – is forested and the country is very rich in flora. About 3,000 different species of plants grow in Albania, many of which are used for medicinal purposes. Phytogeographically, Albania belongs to the Boreal Kingdom and is shared between the Adriatic and East Mediterranean provinces of the Mediterranean Region and the Illyrian province of the Circumboreal Region. Coastal regions and lowlands have typical Mediterranean macchia vegetation, whereas oak forests and vegetation are found on higher altitudes. Vast forests of black pine, beech and fir are found on higher mountains and alpine grasslands grow at altitudes above 1800 meters.^[36]

According to the World Wide Fund for Nature and Digital Map of European Ecological Regions by the European Environment Agency, the territory of Albania can be subdivided into three ecoregions: the Illyrian deciduous forests, Pindus Mountains mixed forests and Dinaric Alpine mixed forests. The forests are home to a wide range of mammals, including wolves, bears, wild boars and chamois. Lynx, wildcats, pine martens and polecats are rare, but survive in some parts of the country.

There are around 760 vertebrate species found so far in Albania. Among these there are over 350 bird species, 330 freshwater and marine fish and 80 mammal species. There are some 91 globally threatened species found within the country, among which the Dalmatian pelican, Pygmy cormorant, and the European sea sturgeon. Rocky coastal regions in the south provide good habitats for the endangered Mediterranean monk seal.

Some of the most significant bird species found in the country include the golden eagle – known as the national symbol of Albania^[37]  – vulture species, capercaillie and numerous waterfowl. The Albanian forests still maintain significant communities of large mammals such as the brown bear, gray wolf, chamois and wild boar.^[36] The north and eastern mountains of the country are home to the last remaining Balkan Lynx – a critically endangered population of the Eurasian lynx.^[38]

Economy

Albania remains a poor country by Western European standards.^[39] Its GDP per capita (expressed in PPS—Purchasing Power Standards) stood at 26 percent of the EU average in.^[40] Still, Albania has shown potential for economic growth, as more and more businesses relocate there and consumer goods are becoming available from emerging market traders as part of the current massive global cost-cutting exercise. Albania, Cyprus and Poland are the only countries in Europe that recorded economic growth in the first quarter of.^[41][42] International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted 2.6% growth for Albania in and 3.2% in.^[43] There are signs of increasing investments, and power cuts are reduced to the extent that Albania is now exporting energy.^[44]

Albania and Croatia have discussed the possibility of jointly building a nuclear power plant at Lake Shkoder, close to the border with Montenegro, a plan that has gathered criticism from the latter due to seismicity in the area.^[45] In addition, there is some doubt whether Albania would be able to finance a project of such a scale with a total national budget of less than $ 5 billion.^[46] However, in February Italian company Enel announced plans to build an 800 MW coal-fired power plant in Albania, to diversify electricity sources.^[47] Nearly 100% of the electricity is generated by ageing hydroelectric power plants, which are becoming more ineffective due to increasing droughts.^[47]

The country has some deposits of petroleum and natural gas, but produced only 5,400 barrels of oil per day as of.^[48] Natural gas production, estimated at about 30 million cubic meters, is sufficient to meet consumer demands.^[46] Other natural resources include coal, bauxite, copper and iron ore.

Agriculture is the most significant sector, employing some 58% of the labor force and generating about 21% of GDP. Albania produces significant amounts of wheat, corn, tobacco, figs (13th largest producer in the world)^[49] and olives.

Science and technology

Expenditure for scientific research and Development in Albania does not exceed 0.18% of GDP, which marks the lowest level in Europe. Economic competitiveness and exports are low, with the economy still heavily skewed towards low technology. From human resources in sciences and technology have drastically decreased. Various surveys show that during 1991–2005, approximately 50% of the professors and research scientists of the universities and science institutions in the country have emigrated.^[50]

However in the government approved the "National Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation in Albania"^[51] covering the period–2015. It aims to triple public spending on research and development (R&D) to 0.6% of GDP and augment the share of gross domestic expenditure on R&D from foreign sources, including via the European Union's Framework Programmes for Research, to the point where it covers 40% of research spending, among others.

Transport

Highways

Currently there are three main four lane highways in Albania: the highway connecting the city of Durrës with Tirana, that connecting Durrës with Lushnje and the Albania-Kosovo Highway.

The Albania-Kosovo Highway links Kosovo to Albania's Adriatic coast: the Albanian side was completed in June^[52] and now it takes only two hours and a half to go from the Kosovo border to Durrës. Overall the highway will be around 250 km (155 mi) when it reaches Pristina. The project was the biggest and most expensive infrastructure project ever undertaken in Albania. The cost of the highway appears to have breached €800 million, although the exact cost for the total highway has yet to be confirmed by the government.

Two additional highways will be built in Albania in the near future: Corridor VIII, which will link Albania with the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria, and the north-south highway, which corresponds to the Albanian side of the Adriatic–Ionian motorway, a larger regional highway connecting Croatia with Greece along the Adriatic and Ionian coasts. When all three corridors are completed Albania will have an estimated 759 kilometers of highway linking it with all its neighboring countries, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro, and Greece.

Aviation

The civil air transport in Albania marked its beginnings in November 1924, when the Republic of Albania signed a Governmental Agreement with German Air Company Lufthansa. On the basis of a ten-year concession agreement, the Albanian Airlines Company Adria Aero Lloyd was established.^[cn] In the spring of 1925, the first domestic flights from Tirana to Shkoder and Vlora began.^[cn]

In August 1927, the office of Civil Aviation of Air Traffic Ministry of Italy purchased Adria Aero Lloyd. The company, now in Italian hands, expanded its flights to other cities, such as Elbasan, Korça, Kukësi, Peshkopia and Gjirokastra, and opened up international lines to Rome, Milan, Thessaloniki, Sofia, Belgrade, and Podgorica.

The construction of a more modern airport in Lapraka started in and was completed by the end of 1935. This new airport, which was later officially named "Airport of Tirana", was constructed in conformity with optimal technological parameters of that time, with a reinforced concrete runway of 1200 400 m (1,312.34 ft), and complemented with technical equipment and appropriate buildings.

During 1955–1957, the Rinasi Airport was constructed for military purposes. Later, its administration was shifted to the Ministry of Transport. On 25 January the State-owned Enterprise of International Air Transport (Albtransport) established its headquarters in Tirana. Aeroflot, Jat, Malev, Tarom and Interflug were the air companies that started to have flights with Albania until 1960.^[53]

During 1960–1978, several airlines ceased to operate in Albania due to the impact of the politics, resulting in a decrease of influx of flights and passengers. In Albania's government signed an agreement with Greece to open the country's first air links with non-communist Europe. As a result, Olympic Airways was the first non-communist airline to commercially fly into Albania after World War II. By Albania had air links with many major European cities, including Paris, Rome, Zurich, Vienna and Budapest, but no regular domestic air service.^[53]

A French-Albanian joint venture Ada Air, was launched in Albania as the first private airline, in 1991. The company offered flights in a thirty-six-passenger airplane four days a week between Tirana and Bari, Italy and a charter service for domestic and international destinations.^[53]

From to 1991, because of political changes in the Eastern European countries, Albania adhered to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), opened its air space to international flights, and had its duties of Air Traffic Control defined. As a result of these developments, conditions were created to separate the activities of air traffic control from Albtransport. Instead, the National Agency of Air Traffic (NATA) was established as an independent enterprise. In addition, during these years, governmental agreements of civil air transport were established with countries such as Bulgaria, Germany, Slovenia, Italy, Russia, Austria, the UK and Macedonia. The Directory General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) was established on 3 February 1991, to cope with the development required by the time.

As of Albania has one international airport: Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza. The airport is linked to 29 destinations by 14 airlines. It has seen a dramatic rise in terms of passenger numbers and aircraft movements since the early 1990s. The data for is 1.3 million passengers served and an average of 44 landings and takeoffs per day.

Railways

The railways in Albania are administered by the national railway company Hekurudha Shqiptare (HSH) (which means Albanian Railways). It operates a 1435 gauge (standard gauge) rail system in Albania. All trains are hauled by Czech-built ČKD diesel-electric locomotives.

The railway system was extensively promoted by the totalitarian regime of Enver Hoxha, during which time the use of private transport was effectively prohibited. Since the collapse of the former regime, there has been a considerable increase in car ownership and bus usage. Whilst some of the country's roads are still in a very poor condition, there have been other developments (such as the construction of a motorway between Tirana and Durrës) which have taken much traffic away from the railways.

Demographics

The Albanian population is relatively young by European standards, with a median age of 28.9 years.^[54] After the Albanian population has faced new phenomena like migration, which greatly affected the distribution by districts and prefectures. Districts in the North have seen a decreasing population, while Tirana and Durrës districts have increased their population, due to internal immigration.^[cn]

As of the last census data from Albania's population is 3,069,275.^[5] Officially, the Albanian Institute of Statistics estimated it at 3,152,600 on 1 January at 3,170,048 on 1 January^[55] and at 3,195,000 on 1 January.^[4] Alternative sources (CIA) estimate the population in July at 2,994,667.^[3] Albania is a largely ethnically homogeneous country with only small minorities. The large majority of the population is ethnically Albanian. The exact size of ethnic minorities is not known, as the last census that contained ethnographic data was held in 1989.^[56] According to the latest news, the next census containing ethnographic data will begin in April with EU counsels assisting in certain fields.^[57] The pilot census is already being conducted, while the official one will being on 2 April.^[58] In February the government announced that the census would be postponed to prepare for municipal elections in May, while it has come under pressure from various groups and politicians to scrap the questions on ethnicity and religion.^[59]

Minorities include Greeks, Macedonians, Bulgarians, Gorani, Vlachs, Montenegrins, Serbs, Balkan Egyptians, Roma and Jews. The size of the Greek minority is a contentious issue, with the Albanian government claiming it is only 60,000, while some Greek sources are claiming even 300,000. Most Western sources put the size of the Greek minority at around 200,000, or about 6% of the population,^[1][2] while the CIA Factbook estimates the Greek minority at 3% of the total population and the US State Department uses 1.17% for Greeks and 0.23% for other minorites.^[60] Nonetheless, the Albanian government fears that if a census were adopted, a considerable part of the population would be registered as Greek.^[56]

Language

The dominant and official language is Albanian, a revised and merged form of the two main dialects, Gheg and Tosk, but with a bigger influence of Tosk as compared to the Gheg. The Shkumbin River is the dividing line between the two dialects. In the areas inhabited by the Greek minority, a dialect of Greek that preserves features now lost in standard modern Greek is really spoken. Other languages spoken by ethnic minorities in Albania include Aromanian, Serbian, Macedonian/Bulgarian and Roma.^[61]

Religion

There are no official statistics regarding religious affiliation in Albania. The CIA World Factbook gives a distribution of 70% Muslims, 20% Orthodox Christians, and 10% Roman Catholics.^[62] A Pew Research Center demographic study from put the percentage of Muslims in Albania at 79.9%.^[63] In According to the World Christian Encyclopedia, roughly 38% of Albanians are Muslim, and 36% Christian.^[64] According to the US State Department, estimates for active participation in religious services are between 25 and 40%.^[65]

The Albanians first appear in the historical record in Byzantine sources of the late-11th century. At this point, they are already fully Christianised. Christianity was later overtaken by Islam. After independence (1912) from the Ottoman Empire, the Albanian republican, monarchic and later Communist regimes followed a systematic policy of separating religion from official functions and cultural life. Albania never had an official state religion either as a republic or as a kingdom. In the 20th century, the clergy of all faiths was weakened under the monarchy, and ultimately eradicated during the 1940s and 1950s, under the state policy of obliterating all organised religion from Albanian territories.

The Communist regime that took control of Albania after World War II persecuted and suppressed religious observance and institutions and entirely banned religion to the point where Albania was officially declared to be the world's first atheist state. Religious freedom has returned to Albania since the regime's change in 1992. Albanian Muslim populations (mainly secular and of the Sunni branch) are found throughout the country whereas Orthodox Christians are concentrated in the south and Roman Catholics are found in the north of the country. No reliable data are available on active participation in formal religious services, and estimates range from 25% to 40%.^[66]

The first recorded Albanian Protestant was Said Toptani, who travelled round Europe, in 1853 returned to Tirana and preached Protestantism, being arrested and imprisoned by the Ottoman authorities in 1864. Mainline evangelical Protestants date back to the work of Congregational and later Methodist missionaries and the work of the British & Foreign Bible Society in the 19th century. The Evangelical Alliance, which is known as VUSh was founded in 1892. Today VUSh has about 160 member congregations from different Protestant denomincations. VUSh organises marches in Tirana recently one against blood feuds in. Bibles are provided by the Interconfessional Bible Society of Albania. The first full Albanian Bible to be printed was the Filipaj translation which was printed in 1990.

There are about 4,000 active Jehovah's witnesses in Albania.^[67] Among other religious organizations making inroads into this nation is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS or 'Mormons'). LDS involvement in Albania began with humanitarian aid during the 1990s. The first missionaries were sent in with the Albania Tirana Mission being opened in 1996. As of there were nearly 2,000 members of the LDS church in Albania, spread throughout ten branches with two purpose-built Chapels and one Family History Center.^[68]

Culture

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Music and folklore

Albanian folk music falls into three sylistic groups, with other important music areas around Shkodër and Tirana; the major groupings are the Ghegs of the north and southern Labs and Tosks. The northern and southern traditions are contrasted by the "rugged and heroic" tone of the north and the "relaxed" form of the south.

These disparate styles are unified by "the intensity that both performers and listeners give to their music as a medium for patriotic expression and as a vehicle carrying the narrative of oral history", as well as certain characteristics like the use of obscure rhythms such as 3/8, 5/8 and 10/8.^[69] The first compilation of Albanian folk music was made by Pjetër Dungu in 1940.

Albanian folk songs can be divided into major groups, the heroic epics of the north, and the sweetly melodic lullabies, love songs, wedding music, work songs and other kinds of song. The music of various festivals and holidays is also an important part of Albanian folk song, especially those that celebrate St. Lazarus Day, which inaugurates the springtime. Lullabies and vajtims are very important kinds of Albanian folk song, and are generally performed by solo women.^[70]

Albanian language and literature

Albanian was proven to be an Indo-European language in 1854 by the German philologist Franz Bopp. The Albanian language comprises its own branch of the Indo-European language family.

Some scholars believe that Albanian derives from Illyrian^[71] while others,^[72] claim that it derives from Daco-Thracian. (Illyrian and Daco-Thracian, however, might have been closely related languages; see Thraco-Illyrian.)

Establishing longer relations, Albanian is often compared to Balto-Slavic on the one hand and Germanic on the other, both of which share a number of isoglosses with Albanian. Moreover, Albanian has undergone a vowel shift in which stressed, long o has fallen to a, much like in the former and opposite the latter. Likewise, Albanian has taken the old relative jos and innovatively used it exclusively to qualify adjectives, much in the way Balto-Slavic has used this word to provide the definite ending of adjectives.

The cultural resistance was first of all expressed through the elaboration of the Albanian language in the area of church texts and publications, mainly of the Catholic confessional region in the North, but also of the Orthodox in the South. The Protestant reforms invigorated hopes for the development of the local language and literary tradition when cleric Gjon Buzuku brought into the Albanian language the Catholic liturgy, trying to do for the Albanian language what Luther did for German.

Meshari (The Missal) by Gjon Buzuku, published by him in 1555, is considered to date as the first literary work of written Albanian. The refined level of the language and the stabilised orthography must be a result of an earlier tradition of writing Albanian, a tradition that is not known. But there are some fragmented evidence, dating earlier than Buzuku, which indicate that Albanian was written at least since 14th century AD.

The first known evidence dates from 1332 AD and deals with the French Dominican Guillelmus Adae, Archbishop of Antivari, who in a report in Latin writes that Albanians use Latin letters in their books although their language is quite different from Latin. Of special importance in supporting this are: a baptizing formula (Unte paghesont premenit Atit et Birit et spertit senit) of 1462, written in Albanian within a text in Latin by the Bishop of Durrës, Pal Engjëlli; a glossary with Albanian words of 1497 by Arnold von Harff, a German who had travelled through Albania, and a 15th century fragment from the Bible from the Gospel of Matthew, also in Albanian, but in Greek letters.

Albanian writings of these centuries must not have been religious texts only, but historical chronicles too. They are mentioned by the humanist Marin Barleti, who, in his book Rrethimi i Shkodrës (The Siege of Shkodër) (1504), confirms that he leafed through such chronicles written in the language of the people (in vernacula lingua).

During the 16th to 17th centuries, the catechism E mbësuame krishterë (Christian Teachings) (1592) by Lekë Matrënga, Doktrina e krishterë (The Christian Doctrine) (1618) and Rituale romanum (1621) by Pjetër Budi, the first writer of original Albanian prose and poetry, an apology for George Castriot (1636) by Frang Bardhi, who also published a dictionary and folklore creations, the theological-philosophical treaty Cuneus Prophetarum (The Band of Prophets) (1685) by Pjetër Bogdani, the most universal personality of Albanian Middle Ages, were published in Albanian. The most famous Albanian writer is probably Ismail Kadare.

Education

Before the rise of Communist regime, Albania's illiteracy rate was as high as 85%. Schools were scarce between World War I and World War II. When the Communist regime gained control in 1944, it gave high priority to the wiping out of illiteracy. Strict regulations were introduced, anyone between the ages of 12 and 40 who could not read or write was mandated to attend classes to learn. Since then the country's literacy rate has improved remarkably.^[73] Today the overall literacy rate in Albania is 98.7%, the male literacy rate is 99.2% and female literacy rate is 98.3%.^[3] With large population movements in the 1990s to urban areas, the provision of education has undergone transformation as well. The University of Tirana is the oldest university in Albania, founded in October 1957.

Sport

Football is the most popular Sport in Albania, both at a participatory and spectator level. The Sport is governed by the Football Association of Albania (Albanian: Federata Shqiptare e Futbollit, F.SH.F.), created in 1930, member of FIFA and a founding member of UEFA. Other played Sports include Basketball, Volleyball, Rugby union, and Gymnastics.

• Albania national football team
• Albania national basketball team
• Albania national futsal team
• Albania national under-21 football team

Entertainment

Radio Televizioni Shqiptar (RTSH) is the public radio and TV broadcaster of Albania, founded in in Tirana. RTSH runs three television stations named Televizioni Shqiptar (TVSH, TVSH 2, and TVSH Sat), and three radio stations, using the name Radio Tirana in addition to 4 regional radio stations. The international service broadcasts radio programmes in Albanian and seven other languages via medium wave (AM) and short wave (SW).^[74] The international service has used the theme from the song "Keputa një gjethe dafine" as its signature tune. The international television service via satellite was launched since and aims at Albanian communities in Kosovo, Serbia, Macedonia, Montenegro and northern Greece, plus the Albanian diaspora in the rest of Europe. RTSH has a past of being heavily influenced by the ruling party in its reporting, that being left or right winged.

According the National Council of Radio and Television (KKRT), Albania has an estimated 257 media outlets, including 66 radio stations and 67 television stations, with three national, 62 local and more than 50 cable TV stations. Last years Albania has organized several shows as a part of worldwide series like Dancing with the Stars, Big Brother Albania and Albanians Got Talent.

Health

Health care has been in a steep decline after the collapse of socialism in the country, but a process of modernization has been taking place since.^[75] As of the first decade of the 21st century, there were 51 hospitals in the country, including a military hospital and specialist facilities.^[75] Albania has successfully removed diseases such as malaria.

Life expectancy is estimated at 77.43 years, ranking 51st worldwide, and outperforming a number of European Union countries, such as Hungary and the Czech Republic.^[76] The most common causes of death are circulatory disease followed by cancerous illnesses. Demographic and Health Surveys completed a survey in April detailing various health statistics in Albania, including Male Circumcision, Abortion and more.^[77]

The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tirana is the main medical school in the country. There are also nursing schools in other cities. Newsweek ranked Albania 57 out of 100 Best Countries in the World in.^[78]

Cuisine

The cuisine of Albania – as with most Mediterranean and Balkan nations – is strongly influenced by its long history. At different times, the territory which is now Albania has been claimed or occupied by Greece, Italy and the Ottoman Turks and each group has left its mark on Albanian cuisine. The main meal of Albanians is lunch, and it is usually accompanied by a salad of fresh vegetables, such as tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers and olives with olive oil, vinegar and salt. Lunch also includes a main dish of vegetables and meat. Seafood specialties are also common in the coastal cities of Durrës, Sarandë and Vlore. In high altitude localities, smoked meat and pickling is very common.

See also

• Bibliography of Albania
• International rankings of Albania
• Projekti rinor qytetar

Notes

a.	^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo. It declared independence on 17 February, while Serbia claims it as part of its own sovereign territory. Its independence is recognised by 75 UN member states.

References

External links

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		Montenegro	Kosovo
	Adriatic Sea		Macedonia
		Albania
	Ionian Sea	Greece

Coordinates: 41°N 20°E / 41°N 20°E / 41; 20

v t Albania topics Index  REDIRECT Template:·  Outline Symbols Flag · Coat of arms People Language  · List of Albanians · Albanian-Americans · Arbëreshë people · Arvanites · Writers · Enver Hoxha · Mother Teresa · Ismail Qemali · Sali Berisha · Skanderbeg · Ismail Kadare History Origins · Praevalitana · Epirus Nova · Middle Ages · Albania under the Bulgarian Empire · Albania under the Serbian Empire · Principality of Arbër · Kingdom of Albania · Albanian Principalities in Middle Ages · League of Lezhë · Venetian Albania · Ottoman Albania · Albanian Pashaliks · Massacre of the Albanian Beys · Albanian National Awakening · Revolts of 1833–1839 · Revolt of 1843–1844 · Revolt of 1847 · League of Prizren · League of Peja · Revolt of 1910 · Battle of Deçiq · Independence Declaration · Provisional Government of Albania · Albania during the Balkan Wars · Principality of Albania (1914–1925)  · Italian Protectorate on southern Albania  · Vlora War · Republic of Mirdita  · Albanian Republic (1925–1928) · Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939) · Albania under Italy (Invasion · Colonization) · Albania under Germany · Resistance · Communist Albania (1946–1992) · Post-Communist Albania (since 1992) · Timeline to 1993, 1994–Present Politics Constitution · Heads of State · Prime Minister · Parliament · Political parties · Elections (2007) · Counties · Districts · Municipalities · Foreign relations · History of Kosovo · Kosovo War · LGBT rights Geography Cities: Tirana · Cities; Geographical Regions: Northern Mountain Range · Southern Mountain Range · Western Lowlands · Central Mountain Range Mountains: Mount Dajti · Golem Korab · Dinaric Alps · Mount Korab · Tomorri Mountain; Seas: Adriatic Sea · Ionian Sea; Rivers: Drin River · Buna River · Vjosë · Black Drin; Lakes: Lake Skadar · Lake Ohrid · Lake Prespa; Lagoons: Karavasta · Narta; Plains: Myzeqe · Korçë Plain · Zadrima; Capes: Cape of Gjuhëz · Cape of Rodon; National Parks: Butrint · Lura · Llogara · Thethi · Valbona Valley · Shebenik-Jabllanica · Fir of Hotova · Karaburun-Sazan · List Economy Albanian lek · International rankings of Albania · Telecommunications · Transport · Banks · Rail Transport · Tourism Military Military · Air Force · Rapid Reaction Brigade · Naval Defense Forces · Joint Forces Command · Support Command Culture Languages · Costume · Nationalism · Literature · Cinema · Cuisine · Emigration · Music · Sports · Holidays · Religion · Television · Radio · Mythology · Epic Poetry Religion Islam · Albanian Orthodox Church · Roman Catholicism · Protestanism · Byzantine Catholicism Categories Archaeological sites · Cities · Communications · Culture · Economy · Education · Geography · Government · History · Military · People · Politics · Politicians · Religion · Society · Sports · Transport · Albania stubs · Buildings and structures Category · Portal · WikiProject

Geographic locale v t Balkan countries Geographically fully located  Albania ·  Bosnia and Herzegovina ·  Bulgaria ·  Greece ·  Kosovo1 ·  Macedonia ·  Montenegro Error creating thumbnail: File missing Significantly located  Croatia  ·  Serbia Mostly outside of the peninsula  Italy ·  Romania ·  Slovenia ·  Turkey See also Timeline · Balkans · Southeast Europe · History of the Balkans · Balkan languages (Sprachbund) · Balkanization 1 Declared independence from Serbia on February 17, and is recognised by 91 United Nations member states. v t Sovereign states and dependent territories of Europe Sovereign states Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Vatican City States with limited recognition Abkhazia Kosovo Nagorno-Karabakh Northern Cyprus South Ossetia Transnistria Dependencies and other territories Denmark Faroe Islands Finland Åland Islands United Kingdom Akrotiri and Dhekelia Gibraltar Guernsey Isle of Man Jersey v t Countries and territories of the Mediterranean Sea  Albania •  Algeria •  Bosnia-Herzegovina •  Croatia •  Cyprus •  Egypt •  France • Gaza Strip •  Gibraltar •  Greece •  Israel •  Italy •  Lebanon •  Libya •  Malta •  Monaco •  Montenegro •  Morocco •  Slovenia •  Spain •  Syria •  Tunisia •  Turkey •  Akrotiri / Dhekelia

Within Albania v t Counties of Albania Berat - Dibër - Durrës - Elbasan - Fier - Gjirokastër - Korçë - Kukës - Lezhë - Shkodër - Tirana - Vlorë v t Cities in Albania Bajram CurriTemplate:· BajzëTemplate:· BallshTemplate:· BeratTemplate:· BilishtTemplate:· BulqizëTemplate:· BurrelTemplate:· CërrikTemplate:· ÇorovodëTemplate:· DelvinëTemplate:· DivjakëTemplate:· DurrësTemplate:· ElbasanTemplate:· ErsekëTemplate:· FierTemplate:· Fushë-ArrëzTemplate:· Fushë-KrujëTemplate:· GjirokastërTemplate:· GramshTemplate:· HimarëTemplate:· KamëzTemplate:· KavajëTemplate:· KëlcyrëTemplate:· KlosTemplate:· KonispolTemplate:· KoplikTemplate:· KorçëTemplate:· KrastëTemplate:· KrrabëTemplate:· KrujëTemplate:· KrumëTemplate:· KuçovëTemplate:· KukësTemplate:· KurbneshTemplate:· LaçTemplate:· LeskovikTemplate:· LezhëTemplate:· LibohovëTemplate:· LibrazhdTemplate:· LushnjëTemplate:· MaliqTemplate:· MamurrasTemplate:· ManëzTemplate:· MemaliajTemplate:· OrikumTemplate:· PatosTemplate:· PeqinTemplate:· PërmetTemplate:· PërrenjasTemplate:· PeshkopiTemplate:· PogradecTemplate:· PoliçanTemplate:· PukëTemplate:· RepsTemplate:· RoskovecTemplate:· RrëshenTemplate:· RrogozhinëTemplate:· RubikTemplate:· SarandëTemplate:· SelenicëTemplate:· ShëngjinTemplate:· ShijakTemplate:· ShkodërTemplate:· SukthTemplate:· TepelenëTemplate:· TiranaTemplate:· UlëzTemplate:· Urë VajguroreTemplate:· Vau i DejësTemplate:· VlorëTemplate:· Vorë Error creating thumbnail: File missing Template:World Heritage Sites in Albania

International membership v t North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) History North Atlantic Treaty Summit Operations Enlargement Structure North Atlantic Council (Secretary General) Chairman of the NATO Military Committee Allied Command Operations (Supreme Allied Commander) Allied Command Transformation Members Albania Belgium Bulgaria Canada Croatia Czech Republic Denmark Estonia France Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Italy Latvia Lithuania Luxembourg Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Slovakia Slovenia Spain Turkey United Kingdom United States v t Council of Europe Institutions Secretary General Committee of Ministers Parliamentary Assembly Congress Court of Human Rights Commissioner for Human Rights Commission for the Efficiency of Justice Commission against Racism and Intolerance Members Albania Andorra Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Georgia Germany Greece Hungary Iceland Ireland Italy Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia1 Malta Moldova Monaco Montenegro Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russia San Marino Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom Observers Canada Israel Japan Mexico United States Vatican City Former Members Czechoslovakia (1991–1992) Saar (assoc. 1950–1956) 1 Provisionally referred to by the Council of Europe as "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"; see Macedonia naming dispute. v t Candidates for European Union membership Candidates Croatia (status)Template:· Republic of Macedonia (status)Template:· Turkey (status) Potential candidates Albania (status)Template:· Bosnia and Herzegovina (status)Template:· Montenegro (status)Template:· Serbia (status)Template:·Kosovo under UNSCR 1244 (status) v t Members of the Central European Free Trade Agreement AlbaniaTemplate:·w Bosnia and HerzegovinaTemplate:·w CroatiaTemplate:·w Kosovo/UNMIKTemplate:·w MacedoniaTemplate:·w MoldovaTemplate:·w MontenegroTemplate:·w Serbia v t Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC)      Albania  Armenia  Azerbaijan  Bulgaria  Georgia  Greece  Moldova  Romania  Russia  Serbia  Turkey  Ukraine v t Union for the Mediterranean Member states Albania Algeria3 Austria1 Belgium1 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria1 Croatia2 Cyprus1 Czech Republic1 Denmark1 Egypt3 Estonia1 Finland1 France1 Germany1 Greece1 Hungary1 Ireland1 Israel Italy1 Jordan3 Latvia1 Lebanon3 Libya3,4 Lithuania1 Luxembourg1 Malta1 Mauritania3 Monaco Montenegro Morocco3 Netherlands1 Palestinian Authority3 Poland1 Portugal1 Romania1 Slovakia1 Slovenia1 Spain1 Sweden1 Syria3 Tunisia3 Turkey2 United Kingdom1 See also Euromediterranean Partnership Euromed FTA Bold: countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea Italic: countries with overseas territory bordering the sea 1 EU member 2 EU candidate 3 Arab League member 4 Observer member v t Member states and observers of the Francophonie Members Albania Andorra Armenia Belgium French Community Benin Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada New Brunswick Quebec Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Cyprus1 Democratic Republic of the Congo Republic of the Congo Côte d'Ivoire Djibouti Dominica Egypt Equatorial Guinea France (French Guiana Guadeloupe Martinique St. Pierre and Miquelon Gabon Ghana1 Greece Guinea Guinea-Bissau Haiti Laos Luxembourg Lebanon Macedonia2 Madagascar Mali Mauritania Mauritius Moldova Monaco Morocco Niger Romania Rwanda St. Lucia São Tomé and Príncipe Senegal Seychelles Switzerland Togo Tunisia Vanuatu Vietnam Observers Austria Croatia Czech Republic Dominican Republic Georgia Haiti Hungary Latvia Lithuania Mozambique Poland Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Thailand Ukraine 1 Associate member. 2 Provisionally referred to by the Francophonie as the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"; see Macedonia naming dispute. v t Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Members Afghanistan Albania Algeria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Benin Burkina Faso Brunei Cameroon Chad Comoros Côte d'Ivoire Djibouti Egypt Gabon Gambia Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Indonesia Iran Iraq Jordan Kuwait Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Lebanon Libya Maldives Malaysia Mali Mauritania Morocco Mozambique Niger Nigeria Oman Pakistan Palestine Qatar Saudi Arabia Senegal Sierra Leone Somalia Sudan Suriname Syria Tajikistan Turkey Tunisia Togo Turkmenistan Uganda Uzbekistan United Arab Emirates Yemen Observers Countries and territories Bosnia and Herzegovina Central African Republic Russia Thailand Northern Cyprus (as Turkish Cypriot State) Muslim communities Moro National Liberation Front International organizations Economic Cooperation Organization African Union Arab League Non-Aligned Movement United Nations

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