Albania - The New Destination

Albania is a parliamentary democracy that is transforming its economy into a market-oriented system. Albania is bordered by Greece to the southeast, Montenegro to the north, Kosovo to the northeast, and the Republic of Macedonia to the east. Albania's coastline is becoming increasingly popular with tourists due to its relatively unspoiled nature and its beaches. Albania has made progress in its democratic development since first holding multiparty elections in 1991, but deficiencies remain

Albania is one of Europes poorest countries and continues to face severe difficulties adjusting to the new Europe after decades of Stalinist isolation. Albania fears the fighting in Kosovo, whose population is 90 percent ethnic Albanian, will spill over its borders. Surrounded by powerful, warring empires, Albania has experienced considerable violence and competition for control throughout its history. In Albania, the earliest settlements have been discovered in the Gajtan cavern (Shkodra), in Konispol, at Mount Dajti, and at Saranda. Despite some strong resistance, especially at Durrs, Italy invaded Albania on April 7, 1939 and took control of the country.

The workforce of Albania has continued to migrate to Greece, Italy, Germany, other parts of Europe, and North America. The three largest and deepest tectonic lakes of the Balkan Peninsula are located in Albania. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395, Albania fell under the umbrella of the Eastern Roman Empire, but remained ecclesiastically dependent on Rome. 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 main meal of the 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. The Albania national football team is the national football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania. Most of the matches of Albanian national team have been played in Qemal Stafa. After falling under Roman authority in 165 BC, Albania was controlled nearly continuously by a succession of foreign powers until the mid-20th century, with only brief periods of self-rule. During the initial transition period, the Albanian Government sought closer ties with the West in order to improve economic conditions and introduced basic democratic reforms, including a multi-party system.

Transition from a centrally planned economy to a market-orientated system has been almost as difficult for Albania as the country's communist period.