Albania (Republic of Albania). albania water resources albania natural resources

Albania

Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912 but was conquered by Italy in 1939.
Albania politically oriented itself first with the USSR (until 1960), and then with China (by 1978).
In the early 1990s, Albania established a multi-party democracy.
The transition proved to be beneficial as it had to deal with high level unemployment, widespread corruption, dilapidated physical infrastructure, organized crime gangs, and militant political opponents.
Albania has made progress in its democratic development since the first holding of multi-party elections in 1991, but shortcomings remain. International observers have noted that the elections have been largely free and fair since the restoration of political stability after the collapse of the pyramid schemes in 1997; however, there have been cases of electoral fraud in every one of Albania's post-communist elections.
In the 2005 general election, the Democratic Party and its allies won a decisive victory with promises and goals to reduce crime and corruption and promote economic growth. The elections, and especially the gradual change of power, were considered an important step forward.
Albania joined NATO in April 2009 and is a potential candidate for EU membership. Although the Albanian economy continues to grow, the country is still one of the weakest in Europe, hindered by a large shadow economy and inadequate infrastructure.

Geography of Albania

Location: Southeast Europe, access to the Adriatic Sea and the Ionian Sea, between Greece in the south and Montenegro and Kosovo in the north.

Geographical coordinates:

4100N, 2000E

Territory:

total area: 28,748 sq. km
Place of the country in the world: 144

Land: 27,398 sq. km
. water: 1 350 sq. km

Land borders:

Total length: 717 km
border countries: Greece 282 km, Macedonia 151 km, Montenegro 172 km, Kosovo 112 km

Coastline:

Climate:

moderate cool, cloudy, wet winters; hot, clear, dry summer;

Landscape:

mostly mountains and hills; small plains along the coast

Peaks and lowlands:

The most low point: Adriatic Sea 0 m.
. highest point: Mount Korabi 2,764 m

Natural resources:

petroleum, natural gas, coal, alumina, chromite, copper, iron ore, nickel, salt, timber, hydroelectricity

Land use:

Arable land: 20.1%
. permanent crops: 4.21%
. other: 75.69% (2005)

Irrigated land:

3 530 sq. km (2003)

Fresh renewable water resources:

41.7 km3 (2001)

Freshwater (domestic/industrial/agricultural) consumption:

total: 1.71 cu. km
per capita: 546 cubic meters m./(2000)

Possible natural disasters:

destructive earthquakes; tsunamis occur along the southwest coast; floods; drought

Environment - negative factors:

deforestation; soil erosion; water pollution from industrial and domestic wastewater

Demographics of Albania

Population:

3,639,453 (July 2009 est.)
Place of the country in the world: 129

Age composition:

0-14 years old: 23.1% (men 440,528/women 400,816)
. 15-64 years old: 67.1% (men 1,251,001/women 1,190,841)
. 65 years and over: 9.8% (males 165,557/females 190,710) (2009 est.)

Average age:

Total: 29.9 years
. men: 29.3 years
. women: 30.6 years (2009 est.)

Population Growth Rate:

546% (2009 est.)
Place of the country in the world: 153

Fertility rate:

15.29 births / 1,000 (2009 est.)
Place of the country in the world: 138

Mortality rate:

5.55 deaths/1,000 population (July 2009 est.)
Place of the country in the world: 174

Population migration:

4.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Place of the country in the world: 158

Urbanization:

Urban population: 47 % total number population (2008)
. rate of urbanization: 1.9% annual rate of change (2005)

Sex ratio:

At birth: 1.1 males/female
. less than 15 years old: 1.1 males/female
. 15-64 years: 1.05 male/female
. 65 years and: 0.87 men / woman
. total: 1.04 males/female (2009 est.)

Child mortality rate:

total: 18.62 deaths/1,000 live births
Place of the country in the world: 107

Men: 19.05 deaths/1000 live births
. women: 18.15 deaths/1000 live births (2009 est.)

ALBANIA (Shqiperia), Republic of Albania (Republika e Shqiperise).

General information

a state in southeastern Europe, in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. It is stretched from north to south along the coast of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas for 340 km. The Strait of Otranto separates Albania from Italy. The area is 28.7 thousand km 2. Population 3074.6 thousand people (2004). The capital is Tirana. The official language is Albanian. Monetary unit - lek. Administrative-territorial division: 36 districts (reti).

Albania is a member of the UN (1955), OSCE (1991), IBRD (1991), IMF (1991), Council of Europe (1996), WTO (2000).

S. A. Tarkhov.

Political system

Albania is a unitary state. The Albanian constitution was adopted on 10/21/1998. The form of government is a parliamentary republic.

The head of state is the president, he can be elected a citizen of Albania by birth, not younger than 40 years old and living in the country for at least 10 years. recent years. The president is elected by the parliament on the proposal of at least 20 deputies for a term of 5 years (with the right to only one re-election). To be elected, a qualified majority of votes is required - at least 3/5 of the deputies of parliament. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, appoints members of the government, decides on issues of citizenship and others.

The highest body of legislative power is the unicameral parliament - the Assembly (Kuvend). Consists of 140 deputies elected for 4 years (100 deputies - by majoritarian system in single-member constituencies, 40 - by party lists based on a proportional electoral system).

The highest body of executive power is the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister. The competence of the government is defined in the most general way: it performs any state function that is not provided to other state authorities or local authorities.

Albania has a multi-party system; the main parties are the Socialist Party of Albania and the Democratic Party of Albania.

B. A. Strashun.

Nature

Relief. A slightly hilly lowland (15-40 km wide) stretches along the coast of the Adriatic Sea, framed from the north, east and south by mountain ranges and massifs (see map). In the extreme north of Albania - the North Albanian Alps, dissected by deep canyon-like valleys. In the eastern and central parts there are smoother mountain ranges, having a predominantly meridional strike: Korabi (height up to 2753 m - the highest in the country), Deshati, Skanderbeg, Yablanitsa, Tomori and others; in the south - low (600-2000 m) ridges (Dembeli, Nemerchka, Lungeria, etc.) and intermountain basins (Korchinskaya, Kolenya, Girokastra, etc.).

Geological structure and minerals. The territory of Albania belongs to the South European branch of the Alpine-Himalayan mobile belt; is located at the junction of the Dinarid and Ellinid fold systems (the so-called Albanids), separated by a large transverse strike-slip. A cover-zonal structure is characteristic. Allocate external and internal zones of northwestern strike. The outer zones of Durmitor, the High Karst in the north and the Adriatic-Ionian in the south are different stages Alpine tectogenesis fragments of the cover of the passive margin of the Adria continental block (located to the west). They are composed mainly of sedimentary strata of the Paleozoic, Mesozoic and Paleogene. These zones are superimposed by the Neogene-Quaternary Periadriatic molasse trough. The inner zones (Korabi, Mirdita in the east of Albania) are formed by ophiolite covers, melange - fragments of the crust of the Neotethys oceanic basin (see the Tethys article). The Budva-Tsukali zone (transitional) is composed of volcanic rocks, flysch, and deep-water deposits of the Mesozoic - Neogene.

The main minerals are chromites, copper, nickel- and cobalt-containing iron ores, bauxites; in the zone of foothill trough - oil, combustible gas, bitumen.

Climate. On the coastal lowland, the climate is subtropical Mediterranean, with warm, humid winters and hot summers. The average temperature in January is from 4°C in the north to 7°C in the south; in July, respectively, 25 and 28°C. Precipitation (1000-1800 mm per year) falls mainly in autumn and winter. Droughts are frequent in the southwestern part of Albania in summer. In the mountains it is cooler (down to -20°С in winter) and humid (precipitation up to 2500 mm per year).

Rivers and lakes. The rivers flow predominantly in a latitudinal direction from the mountainous regions of Albania to the Adriatic Sea; the largest of them are Drin (with tributaries of the White and Black Drin), Mati, Erzeni, Shkumbini, Semani (with tributaries of Devoli and Osumi), Vyosa (with tributaries of Drino and Shushitsa). In the mountainous part of the river there are rapids, with deep valleys-gorges, high flow rates and significant reserves of hydropower. A system of irrigation canals has been built between the Shkumbini and Seman rivers. In the north-west of Albania there is Lake Shkoder (Skadar), in the east - lakes Ohrid, Prespa and Mikra-Prespa. Along the sea coast there are swampy lagoons and small lakes.

Soils, flora and fauna. On the sea coast and in the lower parts of the slopes, subtropical brown soils of dry forests and shrubs predominate. On the coastal lowland and in the mountains, brown forest soils are found, which change with height to brown podzolized forest and mountain-meadow soils. Up to a height of 1000 m - oak and hornbeam, above - beech and coniferous forests; at an altitude of more than 1700 m - alpine meadows. Evergreen shrubs such as maquis, boxwood, shiblyak and other formations of summer green plants predominate on the coastal lowland.

Wild animals in the developed part of the country are practically exterminated. Wild boars, wolves, deer, and jackals are found in sparsely populated mountainous regions; there are many waterfowl in the coastal part. In coastal waters - sardines, mullet.

In Albania - 29 protected natural areas a total area of ​​94 thousand hectares, including the national parks of Divyaka, Daiti, Lyura, Tomori.

Lit .: Luk G. Albania (Physical-geographical review). M., 1948; Valev E. B. Albania. M., 1972.

S. A. Tarkhov; A. A. Zarshchikov ( geological structure and minerals).

Population

Most of the population (92%) are Albanians (2000 estimate); a few groups are Greeks, Gypsies, Aromanians, Serbs, Macedonians and others. Albania is a country with Muslim demographic traditions. Until the early 1990s, the population increased rapidly due to high birth rates (1.1 million in 1945; 1.6 million in 1960; 3 million in 1986; 3.3 million in 1990) , but in 1990-2003 it decreased by 1.7%, mainly due to a decrease in the birth rate and mass emigration. The birth rate (18.2 per 1000 inhabitants) is the highest in Europe (constantly declining; in 1960 - about 5 children per 1 woman, in 2001 - 2.1), the death rate - 6.5 per 1000 inhabitants (2003 year). Age structure (2003): up to 14 years old - 28.1%, 15-64 years old - 64.6%, 65 years and older - 7.3%. Average age - 30.7 years (2003; 27.4 in 1990); over 60% of the population is under 34 years of age. The average life expectancy of the Albanian population is 74.4 years for men and 80 years for women. Infant mortality - 22.3 per 1000 newborns.

The policy of assimilation of the Greeks, carried out since 1975, led to a reduction in their numbers and mass repatriation in 1990-1991. Over 300,000 Albanians left the country in the 1990s. In 1999, about 450,000 Albanian refugees arrived in Albania from Kosovo. The average population density is 107 people/km2 (2004). The most densely populated are the western coastal regions (up to 33% of the country's population; density up to 400 people / km 2 in the Durres region) and the Korchinskaya hollow (82 people / km 2); mountainous areas are poorly populated (20-40 people/km 2), settlements are small (for 10-12 families). Urban population - 44% (2003; 20% in 1950; 33% in 1995), the cities are mostly small.

The largest cities (thousand people, 2002): Tirana (354), Durres (114.1), Elbasan (97), Shkodra (86), Vlora (85), Korca (59), Fier (55). The economically active population is 1,350 thousand people (2003; excluding 352 thousand foreign workers), of which 57% are employed in agriculture, 20% in industry, and 23% in infrastructure and services. The unemployment rate is 16% (according to official estimates; in fact, over 30%).

S. A. Tarkhov; P. I. Puchkov (ethnic composition).

Religion

About 70% of the population of Albania are Muslims, about 30% are Christians (including about 20% Orthodox and 10% Catholics).

Christian communities appeared in Albania in the 1st century. At the end of the 15th century, the territory of modern Albania was occupied by the Ottoman Turks, but until the 2nd half of the 16th century, the majority of the population remained Christian. As a result of active Islamization in the 17th century, Albania became a predominantly Muslim country, inhabited by both Sunni and Shiite Muslims, as well as adherents of the Bektashiyya Sufi order, in 1925-67 Albania was the world center of this order. In 1922, the Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church was established (autocephaly was recognized in 1937). In 1967, the Albanian government closed all mosques and churches. In 1991, after the first free elections were held and the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom were adopted, a revival of both Islam and Christianity began in Albania.

Historical outline

Albania from Antiquity to the Early 16th Century.

The oldest finds related to human activity on the territory of Albania belong to the Middle Paleolithic (Dzare). The Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic are represented by a number of monuments, including stratified cave sites (Konispoli). The painted pottery of the Neolithic era is close to the finds from Thessaly (in northern Greece). Monuments of the Bronze Age and Hallstatt belong to the circle of cultures of the North-Western Balkans, associated with the Illyrians. From the end of the 7th to the beginning of the 6th centuries BC, the Greek colonies of Epidamnus (modern Durres), Apollonia Illyria and others appeared on the coast of Albania. In the early Iron Age, settlements with stone walls appeared in hard-to-reach places (near the city of Shkoder, etc.).

For the 4th-3rd centuries, a number of political associations of local tribes headed by kings are known: Enkelei, Taulants, Ardians and others. After several wars in 168, the Illyrian tribes submit to Rome, the territory of Albania entered the province of Illyricum (formed in 27 BC), new cities arose here from the 1st century AD (Scampa, Clodiana, etc.); the strategically and economically important road Egnatia connected the coast of Albania with Thessalonica on the Aegean Sea.

Already from the 1st century there is evidence of Christian communities. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395, Albania, as part of the provinces of New Epirus, Old Epirus, Prevalitana, retreats to its eastern part. In the 5th century, the Goths repeatedly passed through Albania. Since the 6th-7th centuries, Albania has been in the zone of Slavic colonization (the Berzites tribe is localized to the west of Lake Ohrid). Based on local and imported traditions under Byzantine influence, by the 7th century, Konan culture was formed in Albania and Western Macedonia. In coastal Albania, Byzantine administration is preserved (since the 9th century, as part of the femma Dyrrhachium). In 989, Albania was conquered by the Bulgarian Tsar Samuil, after the defeat of the First Bulgarian Kingdom in 1018, Byzantine control was restored. Under Byzantine and Bulgarian influence, Orthodoxy spread throughout the territory of Albania (the Dirrach metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople). In 1081, attacks by the Normans began, briefly capturing part of the coast of Albania. In 1096, the crusaders passed through the territory of Albania. After the defeat of Byzantium during the 4th crusade (1204), Dyrrhachius captured Venice on the coast of Albania, the influence of the Roman Catholic Church increased, at the end of the 13th - 1st half of the 14th centuries, coastal Albania became part of the Kingdom of Naples.

At the end of the 12th - 1st half of the 13th centuries, the Arberian Principate existed in the north of Albania - the first own political formation of the Albanians. Most of Albania in the 2nd half of the 13th century was part of the Despotate of Epirus. Since the end of the 12th century, part of Albania has belonged to Serbia, and in the middle of the 14th century it is almost completely included in the Serbian-Greek kingdom of Stefan Dusan. After its collapse, independent principalities existed on the territory of Albania, headed by the feudal clans of Topia, Balshi, Muzaka and others. Their internecine struggle facilitated the expansion of the Ottoman Turks, who undertook regular campaigns in Albania after the Battle of Kosovo (1389). By the beginning of the 15th century, the Turks, who intervened in the conflict between Balshi and Topia on the side of the latter, managed to conquer a significant part of Albania. At the same time, some princely families were vassals of the Ottoman Empire only nominally and even supported Venice in its struggle against the Turks. In 1443, the anti-Ottoman struggle was led by Skanderbeg from the princely family of Kastrioti, who established himself in Kruja (Northern Albania). In 1444, he founded the so-called Lezh League of Albanian princes, which contributed to the temporary cessation of fragmentation and the unity of the Arberians. An army of 12-15 thousand people was formed. After his death (1468), the league of princes broke up, and the Turks managed to complete the conquest of Albania: Kruja fell in 1478, Shkodra fell in 1479, and Durres, which had been under the rule of Venice since the end of the 14th century, fell in 1501.

Albania within the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman conquest dealt a heavy blow to the economy and culture of Albania, slowed down its social and political development. The Ottoman military system was introduced in the country. The population was subjected to heavy taxes and duties. There was an emigration of Albanians to other areas of the Ottoman Empire, South Italy and others. In contrast to other Balkan countries, in Albania the class of war captives turned out to be largely Albanian in origin: it included Albanian feudal families who converted to Islam.

The territory of Albania was included in the Rumeli Eyalet, which was divided into 6 sanjaks: Shkodrinsky, Dukagini, Elbasan, Ohrid, Vlora, Delvina. However, in some mountainous regions (Himara, Great Malsia, Dukagini, Mirdita), the Turks failed to establish themselves completely, liberation actions continued here, against which punitive expeditions were sent (1537, 1610, 1612, 1686, 1716). Since the end of the 17th century, there has been a decline in anti-Ottoman speeches. This was facilitated by the process of Islamization of the population, accompanied by economic and legal pressure on it from the authorities (by the beginning of the 19th century, at least half of the Albanians had become Muslims). Since the 17th century, in the situation of the expansion of the military fief system and the spread of hereditary possessions - chiftliks, the economy was revived. The power of large Albanian feudal lords increased, which, in the conditions of the crisis of the Ottoman Empire, which intensified in the 2nd half of the 18th century, strove for political independence. In the north of Albania, a semi-state formation has developed - the Shkodra pashalyk, which since 1756 was ruled by the surname Bushati. He achieved the greatest independence under Kara Mahmud Pasha (1778-96), who twice (1787, 1793) defeated the Sultan's armies. The territories in the south of present-day Albania and north-west Greece were included in the Yaninsky Pashalik, which was ruled by Ali Pasha Tepelensky in 1787-1822. Turkish troops liquidated Yaninsky Pashalyk in 1822, and Shkodrinsky in 1831. The spread of the Tanzimat reforms to the territory of Albania, which aimed to modernize Ottoman Empire and prevent its collapse, was accompanied by a deterioration in the situation of the masses, which caused anti-Turkish uprisings in 1833-1835 and in 1847.

In the 1840s, the ideology of the Albanian national revival began to take shape. In 1844, the Albanian educator Nahum Vekilhardji published the first Albanian primer. The first Albanian national liberation organization was the League of Prizren founded in 1878 in Kosovo, which had a significant Albanian population. Breaking with the Turkish government, the league came up with a program of Albanian autonomy. In some regions of Albania, power passed to the committees of the league, and its national committee in January 1881 was transformed into a provisional government. In 1881 the league was crushed; leadership of the national liberation movement passed to the national societies created by Albanian emigrants in Istanbul, Bucharest, Sofia and others. In 1910-12, Albanian uprisings took place in the north of modern Albania and Kosovo.

The preservation of traditional relations in agriculture and the arbitrariness of the Turkish administration hampered the development capitalist relations. From the beginning of the 20th century, Albania began to be subjected to economic exploitation by Austria-Hungary and Italy. During the 1st Balkan War in 1912, most of the territory of Albania was occupied by the troops of Montenegro, Serbia, and Greece. On November 28, 1912, the All-Albanian Congress in the city of Vlora proclaimed the independence of Albania and created a provisional government headed by Ismail Qemali.

Albania in 1912-39. The independence of Albania was recognized by the London Peace Treaty of 1913 and the Conference of Ambassadors of the Great Powers (29.07.1913), which determined its borders. By decision of the powers, the administration of Albania was transferred to Prince Wilhelm Vid (Wilhelm I; March - September 1914), who could not extend his power to the whole country. During the 1st World War, hostilities took place on the territory of Albania. The London Treaty of 1915 provided for the elimination of the independence of Albania and its division between Italy, Greece, Serbia and Montenegro. However, after the end of the war, the leaders of some powers (in particular, US President W. Wilson) refused to support this plan. In the wake of the liberation movement, the national congress in Lushn (January 1920) formed a provisional government in Tirana, which became the capital of Albania. The uprising in Vlora (June - August 1920) liberated the south of Albania from Italian occupation. The development of the democratic movement led to the June Revolution of 1924. The government headed by F. Noli came up with a program of bourgeois-democratic reforms. In December 1924, a counter-revolutionary coup was carried out.

On January 21, 1925, Albania was proclaimed a republic, and A. Zogu, who led the coup, was elected president. On September 1, 1928, the Constituent Assembly proclaimed Zogu "King of the Albanians" under the name Zogu I, and on December 1 adopted a monarchical constitution. The country fell into economic (Italian companies occupied key positions in oil production and a number of other sectors of the Albanian economy) and political dependence on Italy, secured by Albanian-Italian treaties and agreements.

7/4/1939 Italy annexed Albania, which was annexed to Italy (12/4/1939) in accordance with the "personal union" (Italian king Victor Emmanuel III was proclaimed king of Albania). The Italians abolished the Albanian constitution, although they left the Albanian government and parliament practically devoid of authority. The Albanian army became part of the Italian one. In Albania, a local fascist party was created.

Albania from 1939 to the mid-1980s. In September 1942, the patriotic forces united to form the National Liberation Front. An important role in organizing the national liberation struggle was played by the Communist Party of Albania (CPA, founded in 1941). Since April 1942, partisan detachments have arisen, from which the National Liberation Army (NOA) was formed in the summer of 1943; in May 1944, General Secretary of the CPA Central Committee E. Hoxha became its commander-in-chief. The PLA, whose number reached 70 thousand people, in battles with the Italian, and after the surrender of Italy (September 1943) with the German troops, liberated the territory of Albania until the complete liberation of the country on November 29, 1944.

In October 1944, the Anti-Fascist National Liberation Committee, the central body of the national liberation councils that formed in the liberated regions, was transformed into the Provisional Democratic Government. On December 2, 1945, in the elections to the Constituent Assembly, the Democratic Front of Albania, which was under the complete control of the communists, received more than 90% of the votes. On January 11, 1946, the People's Republic of Albania (NRA) was proclaimed by the Constituent (Constitutional) Assembly. On March 14, 1946, a constitution was adopted that guaranteed the fundamental rights and freedoms of citizens. The first government of the NRA was headed by E. Hoxha (in 1954-81, its head was M. Shehu). In 1945-46, the Albanian authorities restored the economy, carried out transformations in the bourgeois-democratic spirit. During agrarian reform the lands of large owners were alienated and transferred free of charge to landless and land-poor peasants.

Since 1946, the leadership of the CPA (since 1948, the Albanian Party of Labor, PLA) began to carry out socialist transformations according to the Soviet model, during which success was achieved in the development of industry, culture and education. In 1949, Albania became a member of the Council for Mutual Economic Assistance (CMEA), in 1955 - the Warsaw Treaty Organization.

However, the leadership of the PLA refused to support the new line of the Soviet leadership, proclaimed at the 20th Congress of the CPSU, and was especially sensitive to the emerging Soviet-Yugoslav rapprochement. The ideological disagreements that arose between the PLA and the CPSU led to the aggravation of Soviet-Albanian relations and their rupture (December 1961). Economic ties with the USSR ceased completely, and with the Eastern European countries they were significantly reduced. The principle of self-reliance was proclaimed. At the same time, Albanian-Chinese ties were strengthened. Since the late 1950s, the PRC has increased economic assistance to Albania, receiving political support from it in an ideological conflict with the Soviet leadership. Aid to Albania from China was especially intensive in 1963-78 (it was terminated as a result of ideological differences between the PLA and the Chinese Communist Party).

According to the 1976 constitution, Albania became known as the People's Socialist Republic of Albania (NSRA) and was declared a state of the dictatorship of the proletariat. In fact, in Albania there was a dictatorship regime of E. Hoxha. Mass Violations civil rights, rigid centralization of management hampered the economic and social development Albania. The shortage of many foodstuffs and consumer goods led to the introduction of a partial rationing system. M. Shehu's attempts to improve Albania's relations with other countries stumbled upon the tough position of the dictator. In the face of inevitable disgrace, M. Shehu committed suicide in December 1981 (according to the official version), and those associated with him were subjected to severe repression.

Albania since the mid-1980s. After the death of E. Khoja (1985), R. Aliya became the first secretary of the Central Committee of the APT, who took steps towards reforming economic and political life. A number of resolutions provided for the use of economic incentives. In early 1991, Albanian-Soviet and Albanian-American relations were restored. On March 31 and April 7, 1991, for the first time, free parliamentary elections were held on a multi-party basis, in which all Albanians over 18 years of age had the right to participate. They were won by the PLA, which from June 1991 became known as the Albanian Socialist Party (ASP). The reformed party was headed by F. Nano, a supporter of a market economy, who adhered to social democratic views. The country began to be called the Republic of Albania, R. Aliya was elected its first president. According to the draft constitution of 1991, on the basis of which state-building was carried out, the president became the commander-in-chief and did not belong to any political party.

The difficulties of market reforms provoked a drop in production (by 50% in 1991), mass unemployment and other crisis phenomena, and the emigration of a significant part of the population. The early parliamentary elections in March 1992 were won by the Democratic Party of Albania (DPA), whose leader S. Berisha became President of Albania. His rule was marked by authoritarianism, persecution of political opponents, corruption during the privatization of state property, a deficit in the foreign trade balance, an increase in external debt, massive violations of the electoral law during the 1996 parliamentary elections, which resulted in the victory of the DPA. In early January 1997, the collapse of investment funds built on pyramid schemes led to the ruin of thousands of people. In March 1997, an acute political crisis erupted. Anti-government demonstrations developed into popular uprisings, "rescue committees" were formed, relying on armed detachments. In the south of the country, power actually passed to them.

The early elections in June 1997, which were won by the ASP, contributed to overcoming the chaos. Its program included the restoration of public order, the completion of privatization reforms, integration into the structures of the EEC and NATO. R. Meidani was elected President. In 1998 a new constitution was adopted. In 1999, Albania supported NATO actions in Kosovo and Yugoslavia, which led to the rupture of Albanian-Yugoslav relations. During the hostilities in Kosovo, about half a million refugees from Kosovo found temporary shelter in Albania. In the elections in July 2001, the bloc of leftist parties "Union for the State" headed by the ASP won. In July 2002, A. Moisiu was elected president. In January 2003, the Albanian government started negotiations for Albania's admission to the EEC as an associate member.

Lit .: Selishchev A. M. Slavic population in Albania. Sofia, 1931; Senkevich I. G. The liberation movement of the Albanian people in 1905-1912 M., 1959; she is. Albania during the Eastern Crisis (1875-1881). M., 1965; Arsh G. L. Albania and Epirus at the end of XVIII - early XIX in. M., 1963; Skendi S. The Albanian national awakening. 1878-1912. Princeton, 1967; Ivanova Yu.V. Northern Albania in the 19th - early 20th centuries. Public life. M., 1973; Histoire de l'Albanie, des origines a nos jours / Sous la dir. De S. Polio et A. Puto. Roanne 1974; Kondis V. Greece and Albania. 1908-1914. Thessaloniki, 1976; A Brief History of Albania: From Ancient Times to the Present Day. M., 1992; Milo R. Shqiperia dhe Jugoslavia, 1918-1927. Tirane, 1992; Bartl R. Albanien. Regensburg, 1995; Historia e popullit shqiptar. Tirane, 2002. Vol. 1-2; Smirnova N.D. History of Albania in the XX century. M., 2003.

economy

Albania is one of the poorest countries in Europe (about 30% of the population lives below the poverty line); per capita income of $4,500 in 2002 ($400 in 1994; $1,650 in 1999). The economy is in a state of transition to a market economy and is developing mainly due to the transfer of money by emigrants to their relatives (at the end of the 1990s they amounted to about 1/3 of GDP), as well as financial assistance from Italy and Greece (400-600 million dollars a year). In the mid-1990s, a course was taken towards the denationalization of the economy; by the early 2000s, the privatization of land, retail trade and services, transport and construction was completed; ongoing (2004) privatization of large industrial facilities, the banking system. As a result of the reforms, about 70% of GDP is produced in the private sector. Political instability in the late 1990s and the general economic crisis led to rising unemployment, high inflation, and the creation of a negative investment climate. Agriculture remains the leading sector of the economy (47.6% of GDP, 2003). The shortage of electricity in the 1990s and the competition of foreign goods led to a significant reduction in industrial production (24.6% of GDP). In the 1990s began to develop international tourism, which, along with services, gives 27.8% of GDP.

Industry. In the structure of industrial production, the main place is occupied by the extractive industries (the main mineral resources of Albania are oil, gas, chrome ores) and the industries for processing raw materials. Gas (about 30 million m 3 in 2001) and oil (0.5 million tons) are extracted in the south-west of the country, in the Seman River basin (the main centers are Balshi, Patosi, Marineza, Kuchova). The main area of ​​extraction (about 250 thousand tons per year) and enrichment of chromium ore is the mines of Bulkiza to the northeast of Tirana. They also mine copper (Rubik, Kurbneshi), nickel (Pogradets), iron ores (near Lake Ohrid), lignite (near Tirana and in the Korchinskaya basin), natural bitumen (near Selenitsa). The extraction of mineral raw materials in the 1990s declined sharply (with the exception of chromium ore). Most of the forests in the 2nd half of the 20th century were cut down; since the 1990s, logging has been carried out only for domestic consumption (wood from the North Albanian Alps and the eastern regions of the country goes to sawmills in Elbasan and cities along the Drin River). Electricity production 5.3 billion kWh (2002), including 97% generated by small HPPs in mountainous areas (on the rivers Drin, Mati, Bistritsa, etc.). Thermal power plants operating on lignite and fuel oil operate in Tirana, Elbasan, Fier, Vlora, Korca, Kuchovo.

The manufacturing industry developed in the 1960s and 80s; in the 1990s, production fell sharply due to economic crisis and competition from imported goods. Oil refineries (production of oil products 360 thousand tons in 1997) operate in Fier (the country's largest refinery), Balshi, Kuchov, Cerrik; petrochemical and chemical - in Vlore, Fier, Lyachi. Enterprises of non-ferrous (copper smelter in Rubik) and ferrous metallurgy (combine in Elbasan), metalworking and mechanical engineering (Tirana, Durres, Shkodra, Vlora), cement, woodworking, furniture, textile, tobacco (Shkodra), food (production of olive oil, sugar , canned fish and fruit, etc.) industry.

Agriculture inefficient and does not meet domestic food needs (Albania imports grain and food). Agriculture suffers from drought (irrigation canals were built in coastal areas in the 1950s-70s; about 1/2 of arable land is irrigated), lack of agricultural equipment, fragmentation of land plots (in the early 1990s, there were 120 state farms and 420 collective farms, which disbanded in the early 2000s, and the land and inventory were privatized). Cultivated land occupies 21% of the country's territory (of which about 1/2 is under grain crops); pastures - 15%.

The main agricultural crops are wheat and corn (in the coastal zone and the Korchinskaya hollow). They also grow barley, sugar beets (in the Korcha basin), sunflowers, potatoes, melons, vegetables (legumes, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, eggplants), tobacco (along the southern coast), fruits (including citrus fruits in the south, peaches), grapes (winemaking in the region of Tirana and in the south of the country), olives (along the sea coast). The main traditional branch of animal husbandry is grazing sheep (more than 1.4 million heads in 2002; in the 1990s, the number decreased by almost 3 times). They breed goats (900 thousand heads), cattle (800 thousand heads), poultry (4.1 million heads), horses, donkeys. In the south, meat and dairy predominates, in the north and east - mountain pasture animal husbandry, with farming centers in the valleys. Oxen and donkeys are used as draft power. Handicraft production of white Albanian cheese. Fishing in the coastal waters of the Adriatic Sea (fishing for sardines, mullet).

Transport. The main mode of transport is automobile. Roads (about 18 thousand km long, including 30% paved) have not been repaired since the late 1980s (the main road Tirana - Durres is being reconstructed, 2004). Most of the car park is old cars. In rural areas, horse-drawn transport prevails. There is a private bus service from Tirana to all cities in the country, as well as to Sofia (Bulgaria), Skopje (Macedonia), Pristina (Kosovo), Ioannina and Florina (Greece). The length of railways is 720 km. Roads and railways are concentrated in the western lowland part of the country, only a few highways cross the mountain ranges in the east of the country and reach the coast of lakes Ohrid and Prespa. The marine merchant fleet consists of 24 vessels (including 7 with a displacement of more than 1000 tons). The main foreign trade ports are Durres (about 90% of the total cargo turnover) and Vlore. Navigation on the Buna river (to Lake Shkoder), lakes Shkoder, Prespa, Ohrid. The length of gas pipelines is 339 km, oil pipelines are 207 km (2004). International Airport (25 km from Tirana); under construction (2004) an international airport in Vlore.

Foreign economic relations. Imports of goods ($1.5 billion in 2002) greatly exceed exports ($340 million). Albania imports food, consumer goods, machinery and equipment, used cars, fertilizers and more. The main export items are chrome ore (about 18% of the value), copper, nickel, bitumen, tobacco, and wine. The main trading partners are Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany.

Foreign tourism. The flow of tourists is insignificant (60-80 thousand people a year). The main centers are the resort of Saranda in the extreme south-west of Albania, the so-called Coast of Flowers (along the coast of the Adriatic Sea from Vlora to Saranda, with good beaches and subtropical vegetation), beaches in the Durres region, medieval castles and fortresses in the cities of Gjirokastra, Kruja, Berat , as well as in the North Albanian Alps, on the coast of lakes Ohrid and Prespa.

Lit .: Valev E.B. Albania. M., 1972; A Brief History of Albania: From Ancient Times to the Present Day. M., 1992; Hall D. Albania and the Albanians. L.; N.Y., 1994; Albania // Countries of the world. Brief political and economic reference book. M., 1997; Albania // Eastern Europe: Guide. Tver, 1997.

S. A. Tarkhov.

Armed forces

The total strength of the Armed Forces (AF) is about 30 thousand people (2004); consist of ground forces (SV), air force and navy, two commands (operational and combat training, rear support), as well as formations and units of central subordination. In wartime, operational subordination to the chief general staff(General Staff) paramilitary formations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (about 17 thousand people) are transferred.

The supreme commander in chief is the president. In peacetime, the general leadership of the Armed Forces is carried out by the Minister of Defense (civilian), operational control is carried out by the head of the General Staff. According to the operational purpose, the Albanian Armed Forces are divided into rapid reaction forces (staffed and equipped with weapons and equipment by 100%), main defensive forces (staffed by 50% and equipped by 100%) and territorial defense forces. The recruitment of the army is carried out according to a mixed principle: due to conscription for military service in accordance with the Law on General Conscription, contract recruitment and regular military personnel.

SV (about 17.5 thousand people) are composed of 11 brigades (infantry - 7, tank - 1, special forces - 1, artillery - 2), 10 artillery regiments, other units and subunits. It is armed with about 400 tanks, more than 350 field artillery guns, mortars and MLRS, armored fighting vehicles.

The Air Force includes: an aviation wing (fighter-bomber, fighter, training, combat training squadrons and a transport link); anti-aircraft missile brigade; helicopter regiment; transport squadron. The Air Force is armed with about 30 combat aircraft (mainly MiG-19, MiG-21), more than 10 auxiliary aircraft, about 10 helicopters and more than 20 PUZURs.

The Navy includes a fleet and a coastal artillery regiment. The fleet consists of 5 warships and more than 30 combat boats.

G. A. Nalyotov.

healthcare. Health expenditure was 3% of GDP (2000). The number of beds is 320 per 100 thousand inhabitants. Doctors are trained at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tirana. At the beginning of the 21st century, there were about 4,500 doctors (1 doctor per 700 inhabitants); accounted for (according to various sources) from 370 to 400 paramedical personnel per 100,000 inhabitants. The main causes of death are cardiovascular diseases, malignant neoplasms, injuries and accidents.

Resorts: Durres, Pogradets and others.

A. N. Prokinova.

Sport. Before the 2nd World War, there were about 1000 athletes in Albania. In 1945, a sports federation was created, in 1947 - the Committee of Physical Culture and Sports. Since 1951, the complex “Ready for Labor and Defense of Albania” has been actively introduced. In the early 1950s, the Faculty of Physical Education was opened at the Tirana State University; several large stadiums have been built in the country, including Kemal Stafa (25 thousand seats) and Dynamo (20 thousand) in Tirana. About 20 sports have received the greatest development, including game sports - football, basketball, volleyball, as well as athletics, shooting, swimming, artistic gymnastics, and wrestling.

In 1959, the National Olympic Committee of Albania was recognized by the IOC. Albanian athletes have been taking part in the Olympic Games since 1972. The Albanian hockey player T. Domi is the most famous in the international arena - the first NHL legionnaire in the country's history, the defender of the Toronto Maple Leafs club.

Education. Scientific and cultural institutions. The general management of educational institutions is carried out by the Ministry of Education and Science. The main regulatory documents are the Higher Education Law (1999), the Education System Law (1995), the Private Education Law (1995) and regulations on Public Schools in Albania (1995). The education system of Albania includes pre-school institutions, general education schools (primary, secondary and complete secondary), vocational schools, universities. Children aged 3-5 are brought up in kindergartens (in 2002 there were 3,400 kindergartens attended by 59% of children preschool age; over 2.5 thousand children attended private kindergartens). Comprehensive school (8 years of study) is compulsory for children from 6 to 13-14 years old. Complete secondary school (4 years of study) is designed for 14-18 year old students. There were 1500 primary, 1700 secondary schools, about 500 complete secondary schools. Vocational education is provided by lower (1-2 years of study) and secondary (3-4 years of study) schools, as well as technical schools based on incomplete high school(in 2000 there were 500 such educational institutions). There are 9 centers under the Ministry of Labor vocational education(over 7 thousand students). There are also private educational institutions various types (over 4.7 thousand students).

The largest scientific institution in Albania is the Academy of Sciences (established in 1972). In 2004, there were 8 universities operating in Albania; the largest - the University of Tirana (founded in 1957), agricultural (1971), polytechnic (1991) universities - both in Tirana; universities in Shkodra (1957), Korce (1971), Gjirokastra (1971), Elbasan (1991), Vlora (1994). About 41,000 students studied at Albanian universities.

The largest libraries: National (founded in 1922) and the University of Tirana. The main museum centers of Albania are concentrated in Tirana (museums: archaeological, 1948; national culture, 1979; national history, 1981; natural history and others), Gjirokastra (ethnographic, weapons and others), Berat [Museum of Onufry (named after icon painter of the 16th century), folk art, 1827; ethnographic, historical, archaeological, 1988, etc.], Korce (Albanian medieval art, historical, national education). Of great value are the Museum of Independence in Vlore and the Museum of History in Durres, as well as the archaeological museums in Butrint (1950), Durres (1951) and Apolonia (1958).

Lit.: Albania // Educational systems of Balkan countries: issues and trends / Ed. N. Terzis. Athens, 2000.

Mass media. 92 newspapers and 71 magazines are published (2004). There are 35 radio and 55 television stations, 4 cable channels. The most important daily newspapers are Zeri i Popullit, Gazeta Sqiptare, Koha Jone, Rilindja Demokratike, "Sporti Shkiptar" ("Sporti Shkiptar"). National radio stations - "Radio Tirana" ("Radio Tirana"), "Top Albania Radio" ("Tor Albania Radio"); television stations - TVS-H (TVSH), TV clan (TV klan), TV Arberia (TV Arberia). The Albanian Telegraph Agency (ATA) is functioning.

G. V. Prutskov.

Literature. Albanian literature was formed on the territory of modern Albania and beyond its borders. The first surviving written monument in Albanian is the Baptismal Formula (1462), the first book is Meshari (The Missal, translation of religious texts by G. Buzuku, 1555). In the Albanian literature of the 18th century, the genre of beyteji, which developed under the influence of Middle Eastern culture, flourished - improvised quatrains of satirical, moral and everyday content (N. Frakula, S. Naibi, H.Z. Kamberi). In the second half of the 19th and early 20th centuries, romantic tendencies developed in the work of the Arberes, Albanians who had lived in southern Italy since the 16th century (poems by I. De Rada, poems by Z. Seremba, dramaturgy by F. A. Santori, etc.); brothers Naim and Sami Frasheri are fighting for the unity and self-consciousness of the nation in poetry and journalism; the main theme of literature during this period is the "great time" for the liberation of the Albanians from the Ottoman yoke.

At the beginning of the 20th century, new genres appeared in Albanian literature: in poetry - a ballad, an elegy, a sonnet, a lyric-epic poem; in prose - plot story, epic drama, everyday comedy (A. Z. Chayupi, N. Mieda, G. Fishta, M. Grameno, Asdreni, H. Moei, R. Silichi). The foundations of the new realistic literature were laid in the first half of the 20th century by F.S. prose was dominated by social motives. After the fascist occupation (1939-44), under the conditions of the totalitarian regime, Russian and Soviet literature had a significant influence, many of whose works were translated into Albanian. Despite the strict party censorship, in prose (J. Dzodzi, N. Prifti, D. Chapleau, Dr. Agola, I. Kadare, F. Arapi, D. Juvani), dedicated to the life of pre-war Albania and the Albanian resistance, along with the novel- Chronicles appeared novels that gravitated towards the symbolic-mythological interpretation of history. The fall of the totalitarian regime gave a powerful impetus to journalism, small prose (K. Blyushi, N. Lera) and poetry, which turned to eternal topics in a confessional-philosophical monologue (B. Lendo).

Lit.: Historia e letersise shqipe. Prishtina, 1971. Vol. 1-2; Desnitskaya A. V. Albanian literature and the Albanian language. L., 1987.

V. S. MODESTOV

architecture and art . The oldest architectural structures on the territory of Albania are the remains of Illyrian fortresses (from the 7th century BC). The centers of the spread of ancient culture were the Greek colonies - Apollonia of Illyria, Butrot (Butroton; modern Butrint), Epidamn (modern Durres) and others; from the 1st century BC - Roman settlements and fortresses (Skampa - Greek Neokaster; now Elbasan). However, in areas remote from the ancient colonies, the autochthonous culture continued to develop (traditional construction, metal processing, ceramics). In the 13th-14th centuries, church art of the Byzantine type developed (St. Nicholas Cathedral in Mesopotamia, murals in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Lavdari, the Church of the Blachernae Mother of God in Berat, etc.). In the north of Albania, where Catholicism spread, the architecture bore Romanesque features (the cathedral in Shasi, the Church of the Virgin in Vau-i-Deyes, the Church of Sergius and Bacchus in Oboti - all of the 13th century). The early illuminated codices also belong to this period. The medieval art of Albania in its late period is marked by significant local originality (paintings by Onufry from Neokastra and his son Nicholas in Berat and other places, mid-16th century). The very geography of the country, divided by mountain ranges, contributed to the emergence of many local centers of culture; these differences have been preserved to this day in applied art (type of ornament, carpet weaving, especially folk costume).

During the period of Ottoman domination (since the 15th century), Muslim traditions took root in Albania, the construction of mosques, palaces of the nobility (sheds), covered markets (bezisteni), baths began; the ornamentation of residential and religious buildings became more complicated. However, "underground Christianity" preserved the local cultural tradition. In the 17th and 18th centuries, many churches were built in the cities of Voskopoya (the center of printing) and Vitkuki. The type of urban development was finally formed: houses with covered balconies and external stairs, decorated with geometric or floral wall paintings; interiors with wooden carved ceilings, fireplaces and the like. The ornamentation of the carpets retained a predominantly geometric character, but could include stylized images of birds and more. Renaissance-Baroque tendencies appeared in the 18th century in the church paintings of David from Selenica, the brothers Kostandin and Atanas from Korca, Kostandin Shpataraku and others. Starting from the 3rd quarter of the 19th century, during the period of the so-called national revival, secular genres of portrait and landscape appeared. Achieved great prosperity applied art, first of all - metal processing, production of various jewelry and weapons.

In the 1st half of the 20th century, national-romantic tendencies with elements of impressionism and modernism dominated (painting and graphics by A. Buza, S. Dzegi, sisters S. and A. Zengo, K. Idromeni, S. O. Katseli, N. Martini , V. T. Mio and others, sculpture by L. A. Nizzola, J. Pacho, O. P. Pascali, M. Toptani and others).

After World War II, a strict socialist realist program prevailed, where heroic-historical scenes and images of "leaders" were of paramount importance. After the collapse of totalitarianism, artistic life became pluralistic. Monumentalism marked the works of the painters S. Shiyaku, M. Fushekati and N. Bakali; poetic expression - the work of F. Khadznin and P. Mele. Traditional crafts include carpet weaving, embroidery, silver processing (casting and filigree), ceramics, and woodcarving.

Lit .: Yutkevich S. I. The art of folk Albania. M., 1958; Folk art in Albania. Tirana, 1959; Dhamo D. La peinture murale du Moyen-Age en Albanie. Tirapё, 1974; Meksi A. Arkitektura mesjetare nё Shqiperi (shek VII-XV). Tirane, 1983; Blido L. Shenime per pikturen dhe skulpturen. Tirane, 1987; Albanian. Schatze aus dem Land der Skipetaren. Mainz, 1988.

L. I. Tananaeva.

Music. Professional musical culture in Albania began to develop after the 2nd World War. The first performing group was the Art Ensemble of the People's Army (1944). opened music schools, in Tirana - the Art Lyceum with music classes (1947), the State Philharmonic (1950), the State Opera and Ballet Theater (1956), the State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble (1957), the State Conservatory (1962). The first opera performances were staged with the help of Soviet musicians. In the 1950s, works of large forms appeared (composers C. Zadeya, T. Daya, P. Yakova, K. Kono); opera performances were directed by conductors M. Krantia and R. Tetia.

The further development of the music of Albania took place under ideological pressure, however, even at that time interesting instrumental works by N. Zorachi, C. Zadey, operas and other stage compositions by K. Kono, P. P. Yakova, T. Dayi, C. Zadei, F. Ibrahimi. Instrumental music was written by Ibrahimi, T. Gachi, A. Pechi, Sh. Kushta, Z. Leka, K. Gyini. With the fall of the totalitarian regime, restrictions on the performance of foreign classics were lifted. Since 1968, Gjirokastra has been hosting annual festival national folklore, since 1998 in Tirana - an annual international competition vocalists named after M. Kray, since 2000 in Butrint - the International Competition of Performing Musicians. For musical folklore, see the article Albanians.

Ballet. The first experiences of stage dance date back to the 1940s. Created in 1944, the Art Ensemble of the People's Army became the first professional group. In 1946, an amateur children's choreographic studio was organized in Tirana, which later became the basis of the professional dance group of the State Philharmonic. In 1957, the State Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances was created. The first classical ballets in Albania were staged by G. V. Perkun - "The Fountain of Bakhchisarai" by B. V. Asafiev (1951), "Esmeralda" by Ch. Punya (1953). Other Soviet choreographers also provided significant assistance in mastering the world classics: K. D. Karpinskaya, V. I. Tsaplin, M. M. Gaziev.

In 1956, the State Opera and Ballet Theater and a ballet school were opened in Tirana. The basis of the troupe of the theater was the dancers A. Aliai, 3. Hadjo, G. Vendresh, P. Kanachi, J. Simigiu, P. Worpsi. Along with the classics (“Don Quixote” by L. F. Minkus, 1990; “Romeo and Juliet” by S. S. Prokofiev, 1995, staged by Aliaya, etc.), national ballets were staged: “Khalil and Khayria” by T. Dayi (1963, choreographer Kanachi), The Fearless Eaglet by C. Zadei (1972, choreographer M. Papa), The Tenth Wound of György-Elez Aliya by F. Ibrahimi (1986, choreographer Aliai) and others.

Lit.: Gurakuqi L. 45 vjet TOV. Tirane, 1999.

Theatre. From the beginning of the 19th century, amateur troupes existed in Shkodra, Korca, Tirana, Elbasan, Durres, Gjirokastra. Modern theatrical art originated during the years of anti-fascist struggle in partisan detachments (short plays, sketches around the campfire). In 1944, the Central Theater of the Partisan Army was established in the city of Permet, and in 1945, a drama school and the State Theater (later the People's Theater) were established in Tirana. Among the first productions: "Marriage" by N.V. Gogol, "Mother" by M. Gorky, "The Epic of Bally Kombetar" by the poem of Sh. Musaray, "Prefect" by B. Levoni. The performance based on the historical drama by K. Yakova "Khalil and Khayria" (1949) became a milestone. In 1950, the Central Puppet Theater was established in Tirana. Theaters also appeared in Shkoder (Micheni Theatre, 1949), Korca (A.Z. Chayupi Theatre, 1950), Durres (A. Moissi Theatre, 1953), Elbasan (Skampa Theatre, 1962) , Vlore (1962), Gjirokastra (1968), Fier (1972), Berate and Peshkopia (1984).

Opened in 1959 graduate School theatrical art named after A. Moissi. The plays of Albanian playwrights (S. Chokora, L. Papa, R. Pulyakh) occupy the main place in the repertoire of the People's Theatre. A significant contribution to the theatrical art of Albania was made by directors P. Mani, A. Chiryachi, S. Mio, K. Spahivogli, actors N. Frasheri, B. Imami, T. Kurti, M. Popi, M. Logoreci, L. Kovachi, V Manushi, S. Ask, K. Roshi, artists H. Devola, A. Zaimi, K. Dilo and others. Festivals of professional and amateur theaters are held irregularly and in various cities of Albania (often on some memorable dates). Teatri magazine was published from 1961 until the mid-1990s.

Lit.: Slatina F. Prirje te sotme te teatrit: panogame mbi teatrin shqiptar 1991-2001. Tirane, 2001; Merkaj B. Personalitete te artit shqiptar. Tirane, 2002.

Movie. Albanian cinema emerged after the 2nd World War (until the end of the 1940s only chronicle films were produced). The first screening took place in Shkodër (1912), the first newsreel film was shot in Vlora (1920), the first National cinema was opened in Tirana (1926). In the 1950s, documentary films developed. With the help of the USSR, the film studio "New Albania" was built (1952) and the first feature film was shot - "The Great Warrior of Albania Skanderbeg" (1954, script by M. G. Papava, director S. I. Yutkevich, cameraman E. N. Andrikanis; Award at the Cannes International Film Festival). The first independent full-length feature film is "Tana" (1958, director K. Damo).

Since 1976, a national film festival has been held (once every 2 years). Until the early 1990s, the main themes of Albanian cinema were heroic-patriotic and military. Significant films were made by directors of the older generation, graduates of the universities of the USSR and other socialist countries - P. Milkani, V. Giki, D. Anagnosti ("Poppies on the Walls", 1976; Prize of the International Film Festival in Belgrade). To moral issues, the intimate experiences of the characters are addressed in the films of K. Chasku, S. Petsani, V. Prifti, B. Bishi (“Mother’s Heart”, 1993; Prize of the International Film Festival in Salerno), I. Gyata (“The Colonel Nicknamed Bunker”, 1996 ; Prize of the International Film Festival in Saint-Etienne) and others. A special place is occupied by screenings literary works: “The General of the Dead Army” Prifty (1975, based on the novel by I. Kadare), “A Tale from the Past” Anagnosti (1987, based on the comedy by A.Z. Chayupi) and others.

In 2000, for the first time in many years, the Albanian-Russian film "Eve's Gate" was released (directed by A. Minga, joint production of the Russian studio "12 A" and Albanian radio television with the participation of the State Film Committee of Russia and the National Film Center of Albania). Animated films are developing (the first cartoon film Zana and Miri was released in 1975, the first puppet film Little Bird - White Fluff - in 1983). Since 1976, the Albanian Film Festival has been held in Tirana.

Development of Albania's natural resources - oil, natural gas, coal and hydropower.

Oil production in Albania was first carried out by Italian companies before World War II. The volume of production increased from 13,000 tons in 1935 to 134,000 tons in 1938, of which 105,000 tons were exported to Italy. After the end of the war, the development of this industry proceeded at a rapid pace. Oil production in 1987 reached approximately 3 million tons, while its reserves were estimated at 20 million tons. The main oil deposits are located in the Kuchov and Patosy regions. Albanian oil, which is characterized by high density, requires special processing. Before the war, almost all oil was sent by pipeline to Vlora, and from there by ship to an oil refinery in the Italian city of Bari. During the war, the Germans built two small oil refineries in Albania. To the large oil refinery built after the war in Tserrik near Elbasan with an annual capacity of 150 thousand tons, pipelines were laid from the fields in Kuchova and Patosi. In 1987 Albania produced 2.6 million tons of petroleum products. In the early 1970s, a large oil refinery was put into operation in Fier with a capacity of 450,000 tons per year. In the early 1990s, the production of petroleum products in Albania was maintained at the level of 600 thousand tons per year, but then decreased to 360 thousand tons (1997).

Many deposits, including those in Patosi and Marinza, are unpromising. Crude oil production in 2001 reached 2.17 million barrels, while its reserves were estimated at 185.5 million barrels.

The production of natural gas, which began in 1938, declined significantly during the war years. However, in the 1950s it increased significantly and reached 40 million cubic meters. m in 1959. In the early 1960s, new gas fields were discovered. In 1985, 420 million cubic meters were produced. m, but in the 1990s there was a sharp drop in this industry: gas production was reduced to 102 million cubic meters. m in 1992 and 18 million cubic meters. m - in 1997. In 2001, the volume of natural gas production increased to 30 million cubic meters. m. Explored reserves are estimated at 3.316 billion cubic meters. m (2002).

The coal mining industry is poorly developed due to the limited reserves of hard coal. The country is dominated by brown coal deposits with low calorific value. The main centers of the coal mining industry are: Kraba, Valiyasi (near Tirana), Memaliai (north of Tepelena), Mborya and Drenova (near Korca). The development of coal deposits began in 1938, when production was only 3.7 thousand tons. During the Second World War, it increased to 132 thousand tons per year, and in 1987 reached 2.3 million tons, then in the 1990s this branch of the economy began to decline. In 1992, 366 thousand tons of coal were mined, and in 1997 - only 40 thousand tons.

Particular attention during the years of the communist regime was paid to the development of hydropower. Among the most important projects of that time was the construction of hydroelectric power stations on the river. Mati, near Tirana, and especially a series of hydroelectric power stations on the river. Drin in Northern Albania. Electricity generation increased from 3 million kWh in 1938 to 9.2 million in 1948 and 150 million in 1958. Approximately 900 million kWh of electricity was produced in 1970, and the government announced the completion of rural electrification. In 1988, electricity production reached almost 4 billion kWh, of which 80% came from hydroelectric power stations. In the 1990s, electricity production declined and power outages became common, but by 1995 it was restored. Projects have been developed for the construction of power transmission lines from Elbasan to Podgorica (Montenegro), from Burrel to Vrutok (Macedonia), from Vlora to Igoumenitsa (Greece). Electricity production in 2001 reached 5.3 billion kWh, of which 97.07% was produced by hydroelectric power plants.

Industry. Albania is rich in minerals, especially chromium and copper ores. At the end of the 1980s, mining products accounted for about 5% of the value of industrial production and 35% of the value of exports.

Deposits of high quality chromite are found in different parts of the country. Chromite mines are located in Pogradec, Klösi, Letaje and near Kukes. The volume of extraction increased from 7 thousand tons in 1938 to 502.3 thousand tons in 1974 and 1.5 million tons in 1986. Deposits of copper ores are located mainly in northern Albania, in the districts of Puka and Kukes. The ore mined in 1986 contained 15 thousand tons of copper. Exploration and extraction of ores containing gold, silver, bauxite, nickel, manganese, and others are underway. In 1958, iron-nickel ore deposits were put into operation. The ore mined in 1987 contained 9 thousand tons of nickel. The extraction of iron ore was established at deposits in the valley of the river. Shkumbini between Elbasan and Perparimi. Due to falling prices on the world market in the 1990s, the extraction of all these ores fell sharply. In 1997, only 157 thousand tons of chromites and 25 thousand tons of copper were mined in the public sector.

Before 1925 there was almost no industry in Albania. It began to develop slowly only in the early 1930s, this process accelerated in 1939-1943 during the Italian occupation. At the end of World War II, several sawmills and factories for the production of olive oil and tobacco products, a large brewery, several enterprises for the production of soap, furniture, cardboard, etc. operated in the country. After the introduction of a planned economy (since 1951), the development of heavy industry accelerated. During the years of the communist regime, a metallurgical plant was built in Elbasan, a cement plant, factories for the production of tannin and canned fish in Vlora, textile plants in Tirana and Berat, a factory for the production of rubber boots in Durres, cotton gins in Rogozhin and Fier, factories for the production of vegetable and fruit preserves in Elbasan, Shkodër and Berat, a sugar factory in Korçë, and several other small enterprises in different parts of the country.

In the late 1980s, industrial output accounted for about half of the gross value of goods and services in Albania. The most important industries were associated with the extraction and enrichment of chromium and copper ores, oil refining, the production of electricity, machinery, etc. At the end of the 1980s, the share of food and textile industry products accounted for only about a third of the country's total industrial output. In the 1990s, the manufacturing industry was in deep crisis. By 1992, its production had declined by more than 50%, and in 1996 it was only 12% of GDP.

handicraft production play an important role in the Albanian economy. They supply building materials (bricks and tiles), agricultural implements (ploughs, harrows), electrical appliances, and a wide range of consumer goods (including furniture, carpets, textiles, silverware, etc.). Most of the handicraftsmen are united in cooperatives. In 1990, the government allowed many handicraftsmen to work individually, and subsequently a complete privatization of handicraft production was carried out.

Agriculture. The level of agricultural production in Albania is traditionally low, because natural factors are very unfavorable for its development. Resources of arable lands are small. In 1943 only 356,000 hectares were cultivated. In 1964 cultivated land occupied 521,000 hectares, which accounted for only 17% of the entire area of ​​the country. Most of the arable land is concentrated in the coastal and central regions of Albania. In 1987, there were 714 thousand hectares under arable land, and 397 thousand hectares under pastures.

The collectivization of agriculture was accompanied by a land reform aimed at the elimination of large private land ownership and the provision of land to "those who cultivate it." This reform, promulgated by the government in 1945 and approved by the People's Assembly on June 1, 1946, was soon put into practice. Its principal provisions were as follows:

1) orchards, vineyards and olive plantations were subject to confiscation;

2) religious organizations were left with 10 hectares of land;

3) a peasant family of six people received an allotment of 5 hectares and an additional 2 hectares for each person if the family was more numerous. Following the reform, collective and state farms began to be planted throughout the country. The process of collectivization has accelerated since the mid-1950s, when a course was adopted for the complete co-operation of agriculture and the involvement of peasants in collective and state associations. In 1967, these farms owned 97% of the arable land. It was not until the 1990s that a privatization campaign began in agriculture, and by 1995 most farms were privately owned.

The main agricultural crops in Albania are corn and wheat. The sown area under grain crops increased from 140 thousand hectares in the pre-war years to 350 thousand hectares in 1988. The average annual harvest of corn increased from 134 thousand tons in the mid-1930s to 108 thousand tons in 1950 and 315 thousand tons at the end 1980s, and the average annual harvest of wheat - from 40 thousand tons in the mid-1930s to 200 thousand in 1973 and 589 thousand in 1988; in 1994, the corn crop was 180 thousand tons, and wheat - 470 thousand tons. The main grain crops (as of 2003): wheat (280 thousand tons), corn (200 thousand tons), sugar beet (40 thousand tons) and potatoes (170 thousand tons).

The country has made significant progress in the cultivation of fiber crops, especially cotton, and tobacco. The cultivation of olives plays an important role. Other crops grown in Albania include rye, barley, oats, rice; from fruits - apricots, pears, quinces, pomegranates, peaches, apples, figs, watermelons, melons, and in the south - grapes and citrus fruits. In the 1990s, there was an increase in the volume of gross agricultural output, and now it was more than 50% of GDP.

Forestry. An important natural resource in Albania is forests, which provide wood, including for fuel.

Livestock. Despite some growth in the number of livestock, livestock productivity in Albania is low. The development of this industry is hampered by imperfect methods of its management, a shortage of fodder, insufficient areas for keeping livestock, and some other factors. In 1996, there were 806,000 cattle, 98,000 pigs, 1,410,000 sheep, 895,000 goats and 4,108,000 poultry in Albania. Many of these figures declined in 1997-1998 when farmers slaughtered more livestock than usual. The livestock population in 2003 was 700,000 cattle, 1.8 million sheep, and 110,000 pigs.

Fishing. Despite the fact that Albania is located along the coast of the Adriatic Sea, fishing remains an underdeveloped industry. The annual catch of fish in the Mediterranean Sea and inland waters in 2001 is 3,596 tons.

Transport and communication. Rail transport plays an important role in passenger and freight transport. All railways were built after the Second World War (the first branch was opened in 1947). The length of railways in 1990 was only 720 km. The main highway runs from north to south from Shkoder through Durres to Vlora, there are branches to Tirana and Pogradets (on the shores of Lake Ohrid). The last line connected the areas of extraction of iron-nickel and chromite ores with the metallurgical plant in Elbasan and the port of Durres. Albanian railways are connected to the city of Titograd (Yugoslavia) and are part of the European railway system. The construction of railway lines to Kosovo and Greece is planned.

For domestic transport, road transport is essential, although the private car fleet is small and the roads are in poor condition. The first Tirana-Durres highway was completed in 2000. The construction of the East-West transport corridor continues. The total length of roads is 18 thousand km, of which 5.4 thousand km are paved (2001). Bicycles are widespread. In the remote mountainous area, mules and donkeys are used as vehicles.

Maritime shipping options are limited. The marine merchant fleet has 13 vessels with a carrying capacity of 34.4 thousand tons of deadweight. In the 20th century Durres became the main foreign trade port, which has an advantageous position in the central part of the coast of the country and is connected by a network of roads with the hinterland. Among other ports, Vlore and Saranda stand out. There is a ferry service between Durres and Vlora with the Italian ports of Brindisi, Bari, Ancona and Trieste, as well as Saranda with the Greek island of Kerkyra (Corfu). The length of inland waterways is 43 km, including the Albanian section of the lakes Shkoder, Ohrid and Prespa. The only navigable river is the Buna, in the northwest. There is also a regular ferry service on Lake Ohrid connecting the Albanian city of Pogradec with the Macedonian city of Ohrid.

The largest airport in the country - International Airport. Mother Teresa in Rinas, 25 km from Tirana - has a regular connection with major cities in Europe. The number of air passengers increased from 30,000 in 1990 to 200,000 in 1994. Due to the growth of tourism, the possibility of building two more international airports in Northern and Southern Albania is being discussed. The national airline is Albanian Airlines.

Trade. Under the communist regime, wholesale trade was completely nationalized. Retail trade was predominantly state and cooperative. Foreign trade was also monopolized by the state.

It is known that in the 1960s import expenditures regularly exceeded export earnings. To compensate for this deficit, the country took foreign loans: until 1948 in Yugoslavia, in 1949-1961 in the USSR and other socialist countries, in 1961-1978 in the PRC. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, the government decided to equalize the foreign trade balance by concluding barter agreements with Albania's partners. The country at that time provided itself with grain and fuel, which made it possible to keep imports under control. However, the developing industry needed to expand the export of finished and semi-finished products. In 1982, the value of Albania's foreign trade turnover was estimated at about $1 billion.

The main export item is chrome ore. Albania is one of the leading suppliers of this ore to the world market. Other exports are iron-nickel ore, copper, oil products, fruits and vegetables, tobacco and cigarettes. Important imports are machinery, industrial equipment, chemical products and some consumer goods. In 1948-1978, foreign trade mainly depended on the political course of the country. Until 1961, the main partner was the USSR, which accounted for about half of Albania's foreign trade turnover, in 1961-1978 this place was occupied by China. After severing ties with the PRC in 1978, Albania began to expand its circle of trade partners. In the late 1960s, Albania resumed trade relations with some countries of Western Europe - Italy, France, Germany, Greece. For most of the 1980s, Yugoslavia was its largest partner. However, in the late 1980s, Yugoslavia moved to sixth place among Albania's trading partners, while ties with the countries of Eastern Europe were expanding. Trade with Greece declined sharply, but ties with other EU countries gradually improved. In 1988, none of the trading partners accounted for more than 10% of Albania's total foreign trade turnover. In the 1990s, the situation changed. In 1996, almost 90% of exports and 80% of imports were associated with the industrialized countries of Western Europe, mainly Italy and Greece. Italy accounted for 58% of Albanian exports and 42% of imports, while Greece accounted for 13% and 21%, respectively. In the same 1996, Albania's foreign trade balance was reduced to a deficit of 245 million dollars, and its external debt amounted to 732 million dollars.

In the early 2000s, the country's trade turnover increased. Foreign trade is characterized by a large trade deficit ($1,446 billion in 2003), which some experts consider a sign of the country's economic recovery after the recession of the early 1990s.

The volume of exports in 2003 amounted to 425 million US dollars, which is 243 million more than in 1997. The main export items are still products of the fuel and mining industries, including petroleum products, iron-nickel and chromium ore, copper, as well as agricultural products: vegetables and fruits, six, tobacco and wine. About 70% of all export products are manufactured in the private sector. Albania's main trading partners (2003) are Italy (73.2%), Germany (5%), Greece (4.3%), Turkey, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Romania and Hungary.

Albanian imports in 2003 are estimated at 1.76 billion dollars, which is 1.163 billion dollars more than in 1997. Imports are dominated by cars and electronics, industrial and high-precision equipment, metal products and building materials, chemical products, fuels and lubricants. materials, consumer goods and foodstuffs. Most imports came (2003) from Italy (37.9%), Greece (21.3%), Turkey (5.9%), Germany (5.4%), Macedonia, Romania, Hungary and Bulgaria.

Tourism. Due to the isolationist policy pursued by the communists, there was no tourism industry in Albania. Today, the development of tourism is hampered by the lack of adequate infrastructure, political instability and the inability to provide security in remote areas of the country. An estimated 34,000 tourists visited Albania in 2001. Most of the tourists are Albanian expats, as well as Greeks, Italians and Germans. The main tourist routes are Tirana, Berat, Butrint (listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Durres, Gjirokaster, Saranda, Vlore.

Monetary system and banks. The monetary unit of Albania is lek = 100 kindarkam. Leks are issued by the Albanian State Bank, which was organized in 1945. All banking and lending institutions are state-owned, although plans are being discussed to transfer the main commercial banks - National Commercial Bank, Rural Commercial Bank and Savings Bank - to the private sector. The banking system changed in 1996 due to the establishment of a number of private banks, including foreign ones, primarily Italian ones.

The state budget Albania in 1989 was 9.55 million leks in terms of income and 9.50 million leks in terms of expenditures, and in 1996 - 51.34 million and 72.49 million leks, respectively. Under communist rule, there was no personal income tax, but under the new regime it was introduced along with taxes on value added, real estate, corporate profits and entrepreneurial activity.

In 1992-1996, the EU provided humanitarian assistance to Albania in the amount of about 560 million dollars.

Society

Throughout the four centuries of Ottoman rule, tribal and feudal traditions were preserved in Albanian society: strong family ties, tribal ties, the power of local leaders and landowners. However, since the 1920s, and especially after 1944, drastic changes have taken place in public life. Both King Zogu and the communists attempted to modernize, industrialize and urbanize Albania, eradicating obsolete social values ​​and ways of life along the way. The Communists, using harsher methods and more pretentious doctrines, achieved more success than King Zog, but it is difficult to say how much their ideas of efficiency, discipline, labor productivity and national unity were rooted in the new managerial and intellectual elite that emerged from those who moved to peasant towns.

Labor resources. The contingent of industrial workers, once represented by a few low-paid miners and handicraftsmen, expanded significantly after 1945. Workers united in trade unions, which helped to maintain discipline and increase labor productivity. An eight-hour working day was established by law, and the work of children under the age of 14 was prohibited. Most of the workers belong to two trade union centers - the Union of Independent Trade Unions of Albania, associated with the Democratic Party of Albania, and the Confederation of Trade Unions of Albania, created in 1991 on the basis of the former Central Council of Albanian Trade Unions, which until 1990 was associated with the Albanian Labor Party.

In 1988, 1.5 million people were employed in all sectors of the economy, in 1992 - 1.2 million, in 2002 - 1.59 million. Approximately 57% of the economically active population is employed in agriculture, 22% in industry and 21% in the service sector. The number of unemployed, which exceeded 400,000 in 1992, rose sharply towards the end of the 1990s. Officially, the unemployment rate for 2003 is 15.8%, but according to some estimates, the number of unemployed may reach 30%.

Social Security. The state system of social insurance covers all working citizens. The state guarantees all workers and their families free medical care, unemployment benefits, paid holidays, pensions and other social services. Women are entitled to 360 days of maternity leave and receive 80% of their earnings during this period.

Men retire at the age of 55 to 65, women - from 50 to 60 years. The amount of the pension is 70% of the average monthly salary.

Healthcare. Officially, medical care is free for the entire population. However, the level of medical care remains low. The healthcare system suffers from shortages of doctors, medicines and outdated equipment. Paid and traditional medicine is developing.

According to official statistics, in the post-war period, it was possible to significantly reduce the level of mortality and morbidity. Largely due to the legalization of abortion between 1990 and 1993, deaths during pregnancy were halved. Pregnant women were exempted from working in difficult and harmful conditions. Infant mortality in 2003 was 22.3 per 1000 births. The main causes of morbidity and mortality among children are respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. After 1990, the number of cases of viral hepatitis A increased, the main source of which was poor-quality drinking water. In 1994, a number of cases of cholera were noted.

There were 577 inhabitants per doctor in 1987 (for comparison, in 1950 - 8154 inhabitants), and 168 inhabitants per hospital bed (in 1950 - 229 inhabitants). Further improvement in health care is hampered by unsanitary conditions and an unfavorable economic situation.

attitude towards religion. The constitutions of 1914 and 1928 proclaimed freedom of religion. The state sought to enlist the support of religious communities. Devout Muslims (Sunnis) reorganized their community in 1929, entrusting its leadership to a general council, which included representatives from each prefecture and four major geographical areas. At the same time, the Bektashi Muslims separated from the Sunnis and since then they themselves ruled their order. After lengthy and difficult negotiations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, the Orthodox Church of Albania in 1922 declared its administrative independence, with which the patriarchate was forced to agree in 1937. The organization and politics of the Catholic Church were under the control of the Vatican.

With the coming to power of the Communists, serious changes took place in religious life. The communists sharply opposed religion, especially the Catholic one. In May 1945, a new Charter of Bektashi Muslims was proclaimed, completely independent of the Sunni. The government placed opponents of the Sunnis at the head of both currents, introduced its people into religious communities, strengthened ties with the USSR, and organized support for international communist campaigns, such as the peace movement. The same policy was carried out in relation to the Orthodox Church. The Catholic religion was subjected to sharper attacks, which was reflected in the text of the constitution adopted in August 1951. Softening of policy towards Catholicism began in the late 1950s, when Albania tried to establish contacts with Western countries, especially Italy and France. However, the Chinese influence, which increased in 1966-1967, stimulated a new wave of anti-Catholic measures, and on June 4, 1967, the last Catholic church in the country was closed. Nevertheless, religious life in Albania did not stop, and in May 1990, under pressure from the public, the authorities announced the legalization of all religions.

culture

The influence of Turkish, Greek and Italian cultures hindered the development of a national culture. The rise of national consciousness since 1878 contributed to the development of journalism and lyric poetry in the Albanian language. However, cultural vehicles such as schools, bookstores, magazines, and newspapers only began to appear in the 1920s and 1930s. After World War II, Albanian culture was influenced first by Soviet and then by Chinese culture. The communist government stimulated the development of culture, paying attention to the translation of books by writers from the countries of the communist bloc and especially the USSR. Cultural ties with the West began to revive in 1961, after the rupture of relations with the USSR.

In 1945, the first professional theater opened in Tirana. This was followed by the creation of theaters in Shkodra in 1949 and in Korce in 1950. In the early 1950s, with the help of the USSR, a film industry was created. She produced patriotic films imbued with a national idea. At the end of the 1980s, there were about 100 cinemas in Albania. Approximately 900 book titles were published annually. Currently, about 100 newspapers and magazines are published.

Architecture. The oldest architectural monuments of the Illyrian culture in Albania date back to the 2nd and 1st millennium BC. Since ancient times, numerous architectural monuments (up to the 4th-5th centuries AD) created by the Greeks and Romans (the remains of fortifications, aqueducts and bridges, public baths and residential buildings) have been preserved. In the Middle Ages, Christian religious architecture was formed on the territory of Albania: in the north - the Catholic type, in the southern regions - Greek Orthodox. During the period of Ottoman domination, the Turkish architectural style appeared in the cities in the south of the country (palaces, fortresses, mosques and madrasahs, bridges, fountains, public baths, markets, etc.).

Until the middle of the 20th century. in most Albanian cities, two-story stone dwellings covered with tiles prevailed. Wooden houses were built in rural areas; adobe, adobe or reed dwellings with clay coating dominated in coastal areas. In the past, northern Albania was characterized by tower-houses (kula) of a fortress type made of gray and white stone. In modern cities, mass typical building with multi-storey buildings prevails, in rural areas - brick two-story houses; traditional architecture has been preserved in a number of historic city centers, as well as in some rural and mountainous areas.

Art. Medieval painting developed under strong Byzantine influence. During the early Renaissance, Italian influence intensified in the work of painters. The most famous painter of this period is Onufry Kiprioti. In painting of the 18th century. realistic elements of the Baroque style dominated (David from Selyanytsia, Konstandini Shpataraku). In the middle of the 18th century. Icon painting plays a leading role in the visual arts. The artistic style created during this period dominated until the beginning of the 20th century. During the period of national revival (mid-19th century), easel painting first appeared. Leading place among painters of the 1st half of the 20th century. occupied by representatives of the school of Western impressionism (V. Mio, A. Zeng and others). Such trends as romanticism and realism were also presented. In sculpture, which arose in the 1920s, portraitism and monumentalism dominated.

ALBANIA (Shqiperia), Folk Socialist Republic Albania (Republika Popullore Socialiste e Shqiperise) is a state in the South, in the southwestern part of the Balkan Peninsula, on the coast of the Ionian and Adriatic Seas. It borders in the north and east with, in the southeast - with, from it is separated by the Strait of Otranto 75 km wide. The area is 28.7 thousand km 2. Population 2.7 million (late 1980). The capital is Tirana. Albania is divided into 26 relis (districts), Tirana is a separate administrative unit. The official language is Albanian. Monetary unit - lek. Albania - member in 1949-61 (stopped participating in its work).

general characteristics farms. In 1980, the share of industry in the structure of GNP was 60%, Agriculture and construction - about 25%. The country's electric power industry is based mainly on the water resources of the Drin, Mati, Bistrica, and other rivers. Of the 22 operating small power plants, 10 are thermal, with a capacity of no more than 50,000 kWh. Electricity production reached 3.5 billion kWh (1980). Highways (3,100 km long) form the basis of the internal transport network; the total length of railways is 218 km (1979). The main seaports are Durres and Vlora. Oil pipelines from the Patosi and Stalin oilfields to the city of Derrick and through the city of Fier to the port of Vlora. In 1980, the Balshi-Fieri-Elbasan gas pipeline was built. Albania exports electricity (to Yugoslavia), chromites, iron-nickel ores, ferroalloys.

Nature. In the western territory of Albania, a low-hilly coastal part 35-45 km wide stands out, from the north, east and south it is framed by mountains. About 4/10 of the country's territory lies at an altitude of 300-1000 m, 3/10 - above 1000 m. In the north, the hard-to-reach North Albanian Alps rise, into which deep valleys of the tributaries of the Drin River are cut. To the south, between the Drin and Devoli rivers, there are central mountain ranges 2-2.4 thousand meters high, dissected by deep gorges of the tributaries of the Drin, Mati and Shkumbini rivers. From the east, these massifs are limited by tectonic valleys, where the Black Drin river flows and Lake Ohrid is located. Behind the Black Drin stretches the Korabi ridge bordering Yugoslavia.

The climate is subtropical Mediterranean. The average temperature in January is 8-9°C, in July 24-25°C. Precipitation is 800-2000 mm per year. The rivers are not navigable, but are used for irrigation and electricity generation.

In the Mirdita zone, which is the main ore region of Albania and stretches in a northwest-southeast direction across the entire country for 300 km with a width of about 50 km, three structural tiers are distinguished. The lower stage is composed of volcanogenic-sedimentary sequences of the Lower and Middle Triassic, among which are large massifs of ultrabasic, basic, middle and acid age compositions. Deposits of and, sulfur, asbestos, etc. are associated with them. The middle structural stage is characterized by transgressive series of the Upper Jurassic - Cretaceous, among which predominate. The iron-nickel-bearing weathering crust of the massifs of the Mirdita zone in the Early Cretaceous before the onset of the marine one is confined to this stage. The upper structural tier of the Mirdita zone is represented mainly by Neogene, which fill the tectonic. Deposits of nickel-containing laterites (Alyarupi-Mokra, Drenova, Mborya), kaolin and other minerals are known in the rocks of the upper tier.

To the west of the Mirdita zone, the Tsukali-Krasta-Pinda zone extends, which in the lower part of the section is composed of carbonate rocks alternating with siliceous formations and Middle Triassic shales. The limestones of the Middle and Upper Jurassic and siliceous rocks lie above, and then the limestones of the Upper Cretaceous, overlain, in turn, by young ones. Mineral deposits are not typical for this zone. southwestern part Albania is occupied by the Adriatic-Ionian zone, which is divided into two subzones: the coastal Dalmatian, or Gavrov, relatively elevated and represented by a narrow ridge of Kruya-Daiti; Ionian, occupying the rest of the territory of the southwestern part of Albania. The most ancient rocks are pre-Carnian gypsums of Mount Dom du Douler. The lower part of the section of the Ionian subzone is represented by thick carbonate deposits of the Upper Triassic - Middle Eocene, above which the Paleogene-Lower Miocene flysch occurs, overlain, in turn, by molasses. The latter are associated with deposits of oil, gas, brown coal, gypsum and.

seismicity. The territory of Albania is part of the Mediterranean seismic belt. it has not been studied enough, not completed. Accounting seismic events not conducted until the 20th century; by the 80s. about 10 large earthquakes were registered (1921, 1924-25, 1942, 1967, etc.) with catastrophic consequences. The seismic zones of the river valley are distinguished. Drin, Messrs. Vlora - Dibra and others.

Small deposits of chrysotile asbestos (Fusha-e-Aresit and others) are associated with massifs of ultrabasic rocks east of the city of Shkoder. The deposits are mesh zones of small asbestos veins 0.2-12 mm thick, more often 1-3 mm in serpentinites. Coefficient 1.5-20%. Reserves are not estimated.

In the Upper Cretaceous sedimentary strata of the central part of the Ionian zone, several lenticular deposits of phosphate-bearing limestones (Fushe-Barda, Nivika deposits, etc.) with a P 2 O 5 content from 7-8 to 15-18% were found, in young molasses - large deposits of rock salt - Dumra and Delvina. Of industrial importance are the Peshtani gypsum deposit, composed of Permian gypsum-bearing deposits 700-1000 m thick, which is traced over an area of ​​about 60 km 2 with significant gypsum reserves, as well as the Kerchishta native sulfur deposit, confined to dolomitic limestones of the Upper Cretaceous (S content of about 30% ). Comparatively small numerous deposits are known in Gomsik, Luciano, Katieli, Voskopoy, and others. They are magnesite and are associated with tectonic zones in the ultrabasic rocks of the Mirdita zone.

On the territory of Albania, deposits of clay, cement raw materials, as well as thermal and mineral deposits have been identified, explored and used.

History of the development of mineral resources. The earliest evidence of the use of flint rocks for making tools dates back to the Paleolithic (about 500-100 thousand years ago). In the 6th millennium BC. clay began to be widely mined for the construction of dwellings and the manufacture of ceramic dishes. The first copper tools in Albania appear in the 5th-4th millennium BC, but the ore sources of this copper are not known. Mining copper and Bronze Age has not been studied in Albania. It is assumed that from the 5th-4th centuries. BC. extensive mining of building stone begins. It acquired its maximum scope from the 2nd-1st centuries. BC, when the territory of modern Albania became part of the Roman provinces of Dalmatia and Macedonia. During the Roman Empire, the Selenica natural bitumen deposit was developed.

Mining. General characteristics. For many centuries, Albania was an agrarian and raw material appendage of Turkey or Italy and could not create a national heavy, in particular mining, industry. Since the beginning of the 2nd quarter of the 20th century, chromium and copper ores have been developed. The systematic development of the mining industry began after the establishment of people's power (1944), when a comprehensive geological study of the territory of Albania was carried out with the help and a mining industry began to be created on the basis of the identified and explored reserves of oil, coal, iron-nickel ores and other minerals (Table 2).

Oil industry. The first oil field, Kuchova (Stalin), was discovered in 1934 and has been developed since 1935; by the 50s. identified 6 oil and 6 . Of the 60 promising structures for oil and gas, several are being drilled in a small depression south of the city of Shkoder. The total maximum capacity of Albania is over 3.5 million tons. The most significant of them are located in Balshi and Fier (the productivity of the latter is over 1 million tons per year), the rest of the plants have a small capacity and are located directly near the fields. The production of technical bitumen in 1974 exceeded 1 million tons per year. Albania meets its needs with its own oil, is an exporter of crude oil and bitumen, and is moving to the export of petroleum products. Over 90% of bitumen is exported to European countries, mainly to Italy, Greece, Yugoslavia, as well as to the GDR and Poland. In addition, Albania exports various petroleum products to the socialist countries of Europe (export volume is 100-150 thousand tons per year).

Natural gas production has reached 0.45 billion m3 per year, the development of the gas industry, apparently, will be determined by export policy, since gas consumption within Albania is negligible.

Extraction of natural bitumen from the Selenica deposit 10-30 thousand tons per year; they are sent exclusively for export, mainly to Yugoslavia. In solid bitumen, technical grades are distinguished: black, coal-like, brown, powdery, detrital and bituminous rock. Black and brown bitumen are used for remelting into marketable bitumen, and the rest are used as fuel. It is developed by open and underground methods.

The opening scheme and the system for developing coal deposits depend on their mining and geological conditions. The Mzezavodome deposit was discovered by shafts, Memaliay, Mborya, Drenova - by adits. Excavation by short lavas. Shallow areas of coal basins are mined in an open way using small-scale mechanization. The growth in coal production in 1975-80 was due to the commissioning of a new coal mining enterprise in the Valiyasi region.

Exploitation of chrome ore deposits in Albania began in the 1st half of the 20th century, reached its largest scale during the 2nd World War of 1939-45, and then fell sharply due to the development of known deposits. In the 50s. new deposits were discovered and explored (Bulkiza and others). Exploited deposits of chromium ores are located in zones great depths erosive cut of hyperbasite massifs and mountainous relief, which makes it possible to open ore bodies with adits and trenches. Therefore, it is economically feasible to develop even small but closely spaced ore deposits.

A negative factor is the poor development of infrastructure in mountainous areas. Increasing extraction of chromium ores stimulates the construction of new processing plants and ferroalloy plants. By 1980, enrichment plants in Bulkiza, Martinesti, Kukes and a ferrochromium plant in Burreli were put into operation. Marketable ores contain 42% Cr 2 O 3 , 13% FeO and 22% Al 2 O 3 . All mined ores and produced ferroalloys have been exported since 1978, mainly to capitalist countries Western Europe(until 1978 in KHP).

The extraction of iron-nickel-cobalt ores began in 1958 and by 1982 had increased 2.5 times. Commercial ores contain (%): 51 Fe, 0.1 Ni and 0.06 Co. Mines and processing plants are operating in Guri, Kuchi, Prenyasi and others. Production is planned to be increased through the construction of new mining and smelting enterprises. Such enterprises are created and partially put into operation in Elbasan. In 1980, the 1st stage of the iron-nickel mine in Prenyasi was put into operation. Until the mid 70s. mined iron-nickel ores were completely exported, mainly to the capitalist countries of Western Europe; with the construction of metallurgical, nickel and ferroalloy plants, the transition to the export of rough, and later refined metals, begins.

Copper ore deposits of the Rubik, Kurbneshi and Gegyani groups are being developed by the underground method. Copper smelters in Rubik and Geghani produce 8.5-12.5 thousand tons of blister copper, which is almost completely exported (until 1978 to KHP, later to capitalist countries). In 1980, a copper ore beneficiation plant was launched in Rehov, refineries in Rubik and Kpye, as well as a copper rolling plant in Shkodër; the country is switching to the export of refined copper and the simplest rolled products.

In Albania, phosphate fertilizers are produced at the Lyachi plant from low-grade phosphorites from the Fushe-Barda and Nivika deposits. Cement plants operate on local raw materials in the cities. Shkoder, Elbasan, Fouche Kruja, Korca and Vlore.

The main sources of table salt production are connected with Narta Bay and Karavastay Bay, which are almost completely fenced off from the open sea by bars. Exploitation of explored deposits of rock salt Dumra and Delvina is supposed.

Non-metallic Construction Materials- sand, gravel.

Personnel training. Seal. Prior to the establishment of people's power in Albania, there were no national geologists and mining engineers. Since 1946, the training of such specialists was carried out in the CCCP and other socialist countries, after the creation in 1957 in Tirana State University- at its geological faculty, where research is also conducted in the field of geology and.

The landscape of the country mostly consists of mountain ranges and plateaus. A flat strip extends only along the sea coast. There are many broad-leaved and oak-beech forests in the mountains. Forests occupy 2/5 of the territory, but commercial timber can be obtained from only ¼ of this area. It should be noted that the forest cover was severely damaged in the second half of the 20th century. due to intensive deforestation. Animal world Albania is heavily exterminated.

In the mountainous regions of the country, geological conditions are unfavorable for the formation of fertile soils. Thin and infertile soils form on the serpentines, and the soil cover is often completely absent on the limestones of the North Albanian Alps.

Most major rivers Albania - Drin, Mati, Shkumbini. Moreover, most of the country's rivers are mountainous. The rivers are not navigable, but are of great importance for irrigation. Most of the rivers that originate in the mountains in the east and flow into the Adriatic Sea have a high flow rate and have a huge hydroelectric potential. Along the borders are the largest lakes on the Balkan Peninsula - Skadar, Orchid and Prespa.

Significant reserves of chromite, iron-nickel and copper ores are known on the territory of Albania; bauxite deposits were discovered. Deposits of high quality chromite are found in different parts of the country. Chromite mines are located in Pogradec, Klösi, Letaje and near Kukes. The volume of production increased from 7 thousand tons in 1938 to 502.3 thousand in 1974 and 1.5 million tons in 1986. However, in the 90s. production of chromite ores has declined sharply. However, starting from 2001, the production of chromites began to grow again. Yes, in 2004. the volume of production amounted to 300 thousand tons (see Fig. 6).

Rice. 6 Chromite production volume (thousand tons)

Calculated from: , ,

The mountains of the northeastern part of the country are richer in ore minerals, and the reserves of oil, gas, and natural bitumen are concentrated in the southwestern part. As of January 1, 2006 proven oil reserves in Albania - 198.1 million barrels, gas - 814.7 million m3. But at the beginning of 2008 The media reported that large deposits of oil and gas were discovered in the north of the country. According to the information agency Makfaks, we are talking about reserves of 2.987 billion. barrels of oil and 3.014 trillion. m3 of natural gas. It is not difficult to assess the significance of this find for the country: if the data is confirmed, this will significantly strengthen Albania's position in the European market and in the Balkan region.

The country also conducts exploration and mining of ores containing gold and silver.

The climate in Albania is subtropical Mediterranean with mild and humid winters and dry hot summers. The territory of the country is one of the most abundant areas in Europe with precipitation (from 1000mm per year in the western plains to 2500mm in the eastern mountainous part). At the same time, there is a sharp seasonal unevenness in precipitation, summer accounts for only 1/10 annual rate. High daily temperatures throughout a significant part of the year are favorable for many crops, including subtropical fruit plantations. The long growing season allows two harvests per year in the flat areas.

Convenient access to the sea creates favorable conditions for the development of fishing and maritime transport. The sea along most of the coast of Albania is shallow.

Thus, it can be seen that Albania is rich in natural resources, which is an important prerequisite for the development of the country's economic complex. Climatic conditions generally contribute to the development of agriculture. The availability of fuel and energy resources is of great importance, it is also worth noting that the country has such an alternative source of energy as stormy mountain rivers. It is also important that natural conditions: ecologically clean sea coast, mountain rivers and numerous lakes, combined with the Mediterranean climate, are favorable factors for the development of tourism.