Political parties and leaders:
Agrarian Environmentalist Party or PAA [Lufter XHUVELI]; Christian
Democratic Party or PDK [Nikolle LESI]; Communist Party of Albania
or PKSH [Hysni MILLOSHI]; Democratic Alliance Party or PAD [Neritan
CEKA]; Democratic Party or PD [Sali BERISHA]; Legality Movement
Party or PLL [Ekrem SPAHIU]; Liberal Union Party or PBL [Arjan
STAROVA]; National Front Party (Balli Kombetar) or PBK [Adriatik
ALIMADHI]; New Democratic Party or PDR [Genc POLLO]; Party of
National Unity or PUK [Idajet BEQIRI]; Renewed Democratic Party or
PDR [Dashamir SHEHI]; Republican Party or PR [Fatmir MEDIU]; Social
Democracy Party or PDS [Paskal MILO]; Social Democratic Party or PSD
[Skender GJINUSHI]; Socialist Movement for Integration or LSI [Ilir
META]; Socialist Party or PS (formerly the Albanian Party of Labor)
[Fatos NANO]; Union for Human Rights Party or PBDNJ [Vangjel DULE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania or KSSH [Kastriot MUCO];
Front for Albanian National Unification or FBKSH [Gafur ADILI];
Omonia [Jani JANI]; Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania or
BSPSH [Gezim KALAJA]
International organization participation:
ACCT, BSEC, CE, CEI, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt,
ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol,
IOC, IOM, ISO (correspondent), ITU, MIGA, OIC, OPCW, OSCE, PFP, UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNOMIG, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO,
WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Agim NESHO chancery: 2100 S Street NW, Washington, DC 20008 telephone: [1] (202) 223-4942 FAX: [1] (202) 628-7342
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Marcie B. RIES embassy: Rruga Elbasanit, Labinoti #103, Tirana mailing address: U. S. Department of State, 9510 Tirana Place, Dulles, VA 20189-9510 telephone: [355] (4) 247285 FAX: [355] (4) 374957 and [355] (4) 232222
Flag description: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center
Economy Albania
Economy - overview:
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.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.46 billion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
5.6% (2004 est.)