Kingdom of Albania (Italian Empire)
Kingdom of Albania Mbretëria e Shqipërisë | |
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 Flag
 Coat of arms
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| Motto: Ti Shqipëri, më jep nder, më jep emrin Shqipëtar You Albania, give me honour, give me the name Albanian | |
| Anthem: Himni i Flamurit "Hymn to the Flag" | |
 Map of Albania | |
| Capital and largest city | Tirana |
| Official languages | Albanian, Italian (Greek, Macedonian and other regional languages are government-recognised minority languages) |
| Demonym(s) | Albanian |
| Government | Unitary fascist kingdom |
• King of Albania | Italo Debalti |
• Lieutenant-General of the King of Albania | Edi Rama |
| Legislature | Këshilli Korporativ i Shqipërisë |
| Formation | |
• Principality of Arbanon | 1190 |
• Anjou Kingdom of Albania | February 1272 |
• Princedom of Albania | 1368 |
• League of Lezhë | 2 March 1444 |
• Proclamation of independence from Ottoman Empire | 28 November 1912 |
• Principality of Albania (Recognised) | 29 July 1913 |
• Albanian Republic | 31 January 1925 |
• Albanian Kingdom (1928–39) | 1 September 1928 |
• Albanian Social Autonomous Republic | 11 January 1947 |
• Kingdom of Albania | 28 December 2002 |
| Area | |
• Total | 31,656 km2 (12,222 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2016 estimate | 4,796,670 |
• Density | 151/km2 (391.1/sq mi) |
| Currency | Italian lira (ITL) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (Central European Time) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (Central European Summer Time) |
| Date format | dd/mm/yyyy |
| Driving side | right |
| Calling code | 355 |
| ISO 3166 code | AL |
| Internet TLD | .al |
Albania, officially the Kingdom of Albania, is a is an Realm of the Italian Empire in Southeastern Europe. The country spans 31,656 km2 and has a total population of 4 million people. It is a unitary fascist Kingdom with the capital in Tirana, the country's most populous city and main economic and commercial centre. The country's other major cities include Durrës, Vlorë, Sarandë, Shkodër, Berat, Korçë, Gjirokastër and Fier.
Albania lies in the southwestern portion of the Balkan Peninsula bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east, and Greece to the south and southeast. Most of the country is mountainous, including the Albanian Alps in the north, the Korab Mountains in the east, the Ceraunian Mountains in the south and the Skanderbeg Mountains in the centre. The country's coast touches the Adriatic Sea to the west and the Ionian Sea to the southwest that forms the Albanian Riviera. It is less than 72 km from Italy across the Strait of Otranto, which connects the Adriatic to the Ionian.
Previously in classical antiquity, Albania has been populated by various Illyrian, Thracian and Greek tribes, as well as several Greek colonies established in the Illyrian coast. In the third century BC, the region was annexed by the Roman Empire and became an integral part of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia, Macedonia and Illyricum. The unified Principality of Arbër emerged in 1190, established by Archon Progon in the Krujë, within the Byzantine Empire. In the late thirteenth century, Charles of Anjou conquered the Albanian territories from the Byzantines and established the medieval Kingdom of Albania, extending from Durrës along the coast to Butrint in the south. In the mid-fifteenth century, it was conquered by the Ottomans.
The modern nation state of Albania emerged in 1912 following the defeat of the Ottomans in the Balkan Wars. The modern Kingdom of Albania was invaded by Italy in 1939, which formed the Italian-ruled Kingdom of Albania, before becoming a Fascist Republic in 1946. The country experienced widespread social and political transformations in the republican era, as well as isolation from much of the international community (both communist and liberal). In the aftermath of the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 2002, the Fascist Republic was dissolved and the Kingdom of Albania was established.
Albania is a fascist and semi-developed country with an upper-middle income economy. The tertiary sector dominates the country's economy followed by the secondary and primary sector. The country is under a system of partially centralized economy. Albania plans to build three hydropower plants. It also provides universal health care and free primary and secondary education to its citizens.
Geography
Albania occupies the southwestern portion of the Balkan Peninsula. The country is located in Southeastern and Southern Europe, with Montenegro bordering to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast, Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south. The Mediterranean Sea makes up the entire west border of Albania. Its coastline length is 476 km and extends along Adriatic and Ionian Seas, both within the Mediterranean Sea.
Despite its small size, Albania is dominated by mountainous or high terrain, with a wide variety of natural features including valleys, plains, canyons and caves. Topographically, the mountains run the length of the country from north to south; the Albanian Alps in the north, Sharr Mountains in the northeast, Skanderbeg Mountains in the center, Korab Mountains in the east, Pindus Mountains in the southeast and the Ceraunian Mountains in the southwest along the Albanian Riviera.
The hydrographic network of Albania includes several of the largest and most ancient bodies of fresh water in Southern Europe. Lake Shkodër is the largest lake, situated in the northwest with a surface which can vary between 370 km2 and 530 km2, out of which one third belongs to Albania and the rest to Montenegro. It is the largest lake in Southern Europe. Lake Ohrid in the southeast is shared with Macedonia and is one of the most ancient lakes in the world.
Lake Prespa at the border triangle with Macedonia and Greece is one of the highest tectonic lakes within the Balkan Peninsula at 853 metres above the Adriatic.
Climate
Albania comprises a wide range of climatic conditions across its small territory and varied topography, but although most of the country experiences mediterranean climate. The country hosts five major climatic subtypes, including mediterranean, subtropical, oceanic, continental and subarctic. Between the north and south, the west and east there can be a considerable difference in climate.
In general, northern parts of the country are characterized by cold winters and cool summers, while the southern parts by predominantly mild wet winters and very hot, dry summers.
Administrative divisions
Albania is a unitary state. Spanning a total surface area of 31656km2, the country is divided into 13 Provinces with their own administration. The Provinces are the country's primary administrative divisions and further subdivided into 52 Sub-prefectres. They are responsible for geographical, social and cultural purposes inside the Provinces.
Under the Sub-prefectures there are the Municipalities. There are overall 2980 Municipalities in the entire country. The Municipalities are the first level of local governance, responsible for local needs.
The largest Province in the country by population is Pristina with over 1 milion people, followed by Tirana with over 800,000 people. The smallest Province by population is Gjirokastër with over 70,000 people. The largest in the county by area is Pristina, in the northeast, followed by Korçë in the southeast. The smallest county by area is Durrës in the west.
Politics
Politics in the country operate under a framework laid out in the Constitution of Albania. Albania shares with Italy (and with the other Realms of the Empire), on the basis of special agreements, unique and common services for state activities of fundamental importance: diplomatic and consular representation, customs, armed forces. Albania is an equal part of the Roman imperial community.
Nowadays, Albania is a unitary Fascist monarchy in which the King of Albania serves as the head of state and the prime minister as the head of government. The Duce and King is the head of state, commander-in-chief of the military and the supreme leader of the Albanian people. The King has the power to guarantee observation of the constitution and all laws, exercise the duties of the parliament when it is not in session.
The Duce and King (and for him the Lieutenant) has all the executive power. He appoints and revokes his Ministers of his exclusive authority without being legally obliged to hear, let alone follow, anyone's opinion. Ministers are responsible only to the King. The executive power is exercised by the King and by the head of government and the Council of Ministers of Albania, which make up the government. The prime minister directs and controls the activities of the ministries and other state organs. The King, when he deems it necessary, may convoke and preside over the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers cannot therefore convene itself of its own initiative or take into consideration objects that the King (and for him the Lieutenant) does not consider necessary or opportune to submit to it.
Legislative power is exercised by the King with the collaboration of the Corporatist Council of Albanians, which is formed by the Corporations, by the National Council of the Albanian Fascist Party and by some government positions.
There are 140 Councillors in the parliament, which are nominated through a Corporatist system. The parliament has the power to suggest the direction of domestic and foreign policy, propose amendments to the Constitution, deliberate about war and peace and about international treaties, acclamate the appointed Prime minister, elect one third of the Cassation Court of Albania, elect one third of the Constitutional Court of Albania, supervise the activity of state radio and television, state news agency and other information media.
The judicial system of Albania is a civil law system divided between courts with regular civil and criminal jurisdiction and administrative courts. It is codified and based on the Italian law. Major institutions of the branch include the Cassation Court of Albania, Constitutional Court of Albania, court of appeal, and the administrative court. Law enforcement in the country is primarily the responsibility of the Albanian Gendarmerie. It carries nearly all general police duties thath includes criminal investigation, patrol activity, traffic policing and border control.
The Albanian Armed Forces are the military and paramilitary forces of Albania, under the King as supreme commander. The military consists of the Albanian Gendarmerie and the Albanian National Royal Guard.
Albanian Fascist Party
According to the Article 3 of the constitution, the Albanian Fascist Party is the "leading political force of the state and of the country". The provisions of the Statute of the Albanian Fascist Party have value not only for members of the Party, but also for all citizens and for the administration of the State; therefore they must be considered as juridical norms of the State and, moreover, of a constitutional nature. It is necessary to register with the Party to take part in political life and to cover any office, office or public office: it is therefore by belonging to the Party that the possibility depends on citizens to participate in public life for any function and with any degree. Therefore the Party must be considered in Albania, as in Italy, an organ of the State.
The party is organized on the principle of hierarchy. The highest organ of the Albanian Fascist Party is the Party Secretary. Delegates to the party congress are elected at party conferences held at the regional, district, and city levels. The party congress examines and approves reports submitted by the Party Secretary, and elects a National Council (part of the Parliament). The National Council is the consultative and advisory body and generally includes all key officials in the government, as well as prominent members of the intelligentsia. The National Council supports the Duce and the Party Secretary and meets approximately four times a year.
The Party Secretary selects a Political Directory and a Secretariat. The Political Directory, which usually includes key government ministers and party leaders, is the main policy-making body (but not the only one) and convenes on a weekly basis. The Secretariat is responsible for guiding the day-to-day affairs of the party, in particular for organizing the execution of Political Directory decisions and for selecting party and government cadres.
Government
The Council of Ministers, appointed and dismissed by the King of Albania under non-binding proposal of the Lieutenant General of the Duce, serves as the executive branch of the government, taking charge of activities in the social, economic, and cultural spheres. The AFP's Secretary actually has a major say in selecting the Council of Ministers. At the same time, some Ministers are members of the Political Directory, and almost all belong to the APL. This fact enables the party to exercise a strong coordination and supervision over the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers is headed by the Prime Minister and Chief of State, who is chosen by the Duce.
The Prime Minister and Lieutenant General of the Duce depends directly and exclusively by the Duce and, according to the instructions which he receives, directs the policy and administration of Albania, provides for the safety of this and the protection of public order, cares application the laws and regulations of Albania. The security forces of Albania, but not military forces deployed, depend on the Lieutenant General of the Duce.
Council of Ministers members are subdivided into three substantial ranks, along with one honorary rank:
- Prime Minister and Lieutenant General of the Duce;
- Deputy Prime Minister;
- Ministers, which are the highest-ranking members of the Government;
- Deputy Ministers, that assist ministers in specialized areas of their portfolio;
- Under-Secretaries, that assist ministers in less important areas and occasionally attend sessions of the Council of Ministers.
The Council is responsible to the King of Albania. Ministers are required to answer questions put to them by members of Parliament, known as Government questions. In addition, ministers may attend sessions of the Parliament at their pleasure.
The Council of Ministers may pass certain types of legislation without parliamentary approval and may propose law bills to Parliament and any such legislation is generally very likely to pass. The Cabinet plays a major role in determining the agenda of the Parliament. It can propose laws and amendments during parliamentary sessions. It also has a number of procedures at its disposal to expedite parliamentary deliberations.
As of 2017, the Council of Ministers has the following composition:
- Prime Minister's Office;
- Deputy Prime Minister's Office;
- Ministry of Interior;
- Ministry of Grace and Justice;
- Ministry of Finance;
- Ministry of Infrastructure and Energy;
- Ministry of National Education, Sports and Youth;
- Ministry of Popular Culture, Tourism and Heritage;
- Ministry of Corporations and Social Welfare;
- Ministry of Health;
- Party Secretary of the P.F.Sh.
Demographics
The population of Albania, as defined by Institute of Statistics, was estimated in 2017 to be approximately 4,796,670. The overall life expectancy at birth is 78.5 years; 75.8 years for males and 81.4 years for females.
About 50.4% of the country's population is living in cities. The three largest counties by population account for nearly half of the total population. Over 1 million people are concentrated in Tirana and Durrës, making it the largest urban area in Albania. Tirana is one of largest cities in the Balkan Peninsula. The second largest city in the country by population is Pristina, with a population of 204,725, followed by Durrës with a population of 201,110.
Ethnic minorities
Official statistics show an over 97 per cent Albanian majority in the country, but minority groups (such as Greeks, Macedonians, Montenegrins and Aromanians) have frequently disputed the official numbers.
Albania recognizes seven national or cultural minorities: Italian, Greek, Macedonian, Wallachian, Montenegrin, Serb, Bosnian and Bulgarian peoples. Other Albanian minorities are Gorani, Aromanians and Jews.
Infrastructure
Currently there are three main motorways in Albania including the A1, A2 and the A3. The A1 motorway represents a major west–east transportation corridor in Albania, connecting the country's second largest city Durrës to Pristina. The A3 motorway is going to connect the country's capital city Tirana with Macedonia and Bulgaria to the east. The north-south corridor consists of SH1 and SH2 and makes up the Albanian portion of the Adriatic–Ionian motorway, a larger regional highway connecting Italy in the north with Greece in the south, along the Adriatic and Ionian Sea.
The busiest and largest seaport in the country is the Port of Durrës. As of 2014, the port ranks as one of the largest passenger ports on the Adriatic Sea. Other seaports include Vlorë, Sarandë and Shëngjin. The ports serve an extensive system of ferries connecting numerous islands and coastal cities in addition to ferry lines to several cities in Greece and Italy. The only international airport in the country is the Tirana International Airport. It is the only port of entry for air travelers into the country.
The railways in the country are administered by the national railway company Hekurudha Shqiptare.
Finance and Banking
The government makes all strategic investment decisions, allocating money to strategic enterprises directly from state coffers. Each strategic enterprise redeposites a predetermined sum into the state budget to compensate for the cost of its fixed assets.
In Albania it is in force a two-tier banking system to be governed by laws on the central bank and the commercial banking system. The State Bank of Albania issues and manages the national credit policies under the guidance of the Ministry of National Economy. The State Bank also acts as a fiscal agent for the government, and licenses other banks to operate in Albania. The State Bank is responsible to the Government and to the Bank of Italy. The country's banking system includse the State-owned Albanian Commercial Bank, which handles commercial foreign-exchange transactions, the Albanian Savings Bank and the Bank for Agricultural Development.
With a branch in every district, 130 rural offices, and 500 staff members, the main source of formal agricultural credit in Albania is the Bank for Agricultural Development. The bank provides special treatment to small farmers and acts as a government agent channeling funds to state farms and state-owned enterprises.
Education
All educational programmes in Albania are regulated by the Ministry of National Education and administered by Provinces and Municipalities. Education is mostly supported by the state and is composed of three stages, primary education (arsimi fillorë), secondary education (arsimi i mesëm), and university education (arsimi universitarë). The academic year is very similar to the one in Italy, with classes starting in October and ending in June. Albanian is the primary language of instruction in all public schools. The primary education is obligatory from grade one to five. Students must pass the graduation exams at the end of the 5th grade in order to continue their education. After the primary school, the general education is provided at the secondary schools. Students get prepared for the Matura examination, allowing them to obtain their matura diploma, which grants admission to higher education.
There are four Universities in Albania: University of Tirana, University of Pristina, University of Durazzo and Naval University of Fier.
Health
Albania has a universal health care system run by the Ministry of Health. There were a total of 51 hospitals in 2000 in the country, including a military hospital and specialist facilities. The most common causes of death are circulatory diseases followed by cancerous illnesses. Demographic and Health Surveys completed a survey in April 2009, detailing various health statistics in Albania, including male abortion and more. The leading causes of death are cardiovascular disease, trauma, cancer, and respiratory disease. Albania has successfully eradicated diseases such as malaria.
Society
The social structure of the country is basically tribal in the north and significantly characterized by fedual feature in the central and southern regions. The highlanders of the north retain a legally recognized tribal autonomy. In the central and southern regions landlords base their influence on economic power.
Traditionally there have been two major subcultures in the Albanian nation: the Gegs in the north and the Tosks in the south. The Gegs, partly Roman Catholic but mostly Muslim, live in a mountain society characterized by tribal loyalties. The Tosks, whose number includes many Muslims as well as Orthodox Christians, are less culturally isolated.
Society in the North is significantly organized in terms of kinship and descent. The basic unit of society is the extended family, usually composed of a couple, their married sons, the wives and children of the sons, and any unmarried daughters. The extended family forms a single residential and economic entity held together by common ownership of means of production and common interest in the defence of the group.
Extended families are grouped into clans whose chiefs preserve legally recognised patriarchal powers over the entire group. The clan chief arranges marriages, assigns tasks, settles disputes, and sets the course to be followed concerning essential matters. Descent is traced from a common ancestor through the male line, and brides usually are chosen from outside the clan. Clans in turn are grouped into tribes. For centuries, the family has been the basic unit of the country's social structure. Upon the death of the father, family authority in recognized tribes devolves upon his oldest son. The females of the household occupy a sidelined position, although in last decades their role has significantly increased and their rights are protected by the State even against tribes.
In the Tosk regions of the south, the extended family is also the most important social unit, although patriarchal authority has been diluted by the agricultural conditions. Social leadership in the lowlands is concentrated in the hands of the local landlords, all owners of extensive agricultural estates.
The Ottoman Empire's rule resulted in the breakup of the southern large, independent, family landholdings and their replacement by extensive estates owned by powerful Muslims, each with his own retinue, fortresses, and large cohort of tenant peasants to work his lands.
After independence was achieved in 1912, however, a small Tosk middle class began to develop, which, in the early 1920s, played a major role in attempts to create a modern society. Since the fascist takeover of Albania, a new class system has interwined with the still existing social structure. The "bureaucreatic" upper class is and has been composed of the political elite, particularly members of the nation's leading organs: in this category are not only State leaders but also leaders of mass organizations and of the Party, as well as high-ranking officers of the security forces. Top officials and their families receive special health assistance, exclusive housing and many other perquisites. Most Fascist leaders are middle-class Tosks, and the party draws a significant part of its recruits from Tosk-inhabited areas; however the Gegs underrepresentation is partly compensed by a tendency to not send Tosk party officials in Gegs areas. Nowadays Tosk middle class represents the social basis of the Fascist power, especially in the cities.
Just below the uppermost organs of both Party and State are the vast party and government bureaucracies, professional people and intellectuals, and managers of state-owned industrial and agricultural enterprises. The top elite is distinct from the lower state and party officials in terms of privileges, influence, authority, and responsibilities. The group of lower state and party officials are bound together by the privileges and prestige that go with their positions and membership in, or sympathy for, the Albanian Fascist Party. These officials all benefit from their association with the regime and enjoy economic advantages. Below this group were the rank-and-file party members, whose special role is constitutionally guaranteed.
The working class, as a concept distinct from peasants of privately-owned estates in semi-fedual condition, consists of the majority of population. Although under constant pressure to increase productivity, exceed production norms, and perform "volunteer" additional labour, workers are entitled to an annual two-week paid vacation. State-operated rest houses for this purpose are established at various locations across the country.
Religion
In the 2011 census, 52.95% of Albanians declared themselves to be Muslims, making Islam the largest religion in the country. The majority of Albanian Muslims are secular Sunnis with a significant Bektashi Shia minority. Christianity was declared by 35.65% of the population, making it the 2nd largest religion in the country. The remaining portion of the population is either irreligious or belongs to other religious groups.
Muslims are found throughout the country, while Orthodox followers are concentrated in the south and within the Serbian minority in the north and Catholics are concentrated in the north (bordering with Montenegro). However, this division is not strict, particularly in many urban centres, which have mixed populations. Members of the Greek minority, concentrated in the south, belong almost exclusively to the Greek Orthodox Church. In addition to the four traditional religious groups, there are substantial numbers of followers of Baha'is, Jehovah's Witnesses, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and other religious groups.
On 7 April 1939, Albania was invaded by Italy, which had long taken an interest in gaining dominance over Albania as an Italian sphere of influence during the interwar period. The Italian-dominated government also won Muslim Albanian sympathies by causing their working wages to rise. Italy also replaced the leadership of the Sunni Muslim community with clergy that aligned with Italian interests, with a compliant "Moslem Committee" organization, and the Moslem community at large accepted this change with little complaint. Most of the Bektashi order and its leadership were against the Italian occupation and remained an opposition group until mid-1960s. Italians eventually tired of the opposition of the Bektashi Order, and had its head, Nijaz Deda, murdered.
The Albanian Orthodox hierarchy also acquiesced in the annexation. The primate of the church, Archibishop Kisi, along with three other bishops, expressed formal approval of the Italian invasion in 1939. Metropolitan Visarion Xhuvani was part of the delegation which carried the Albanian throne to Victor Emanuel III in Rome.
The Catholic Church and many Catholics were supportive of the annexation, but there were many exceptions, particularly of among the village priests since most of them were trained in Albania and were quite nationalistic, but the hierarchy on the other hand was quite supportive, with the apostolic delegate seeing it as a possibility to give more freedom to Albanians who wanted to become Catholic.