Long-form name: People's Socialist Republic of Albania

Type: Communist state (Stalinist)

Capital: Tirane

Administrative divisions: 26 districts (rrethe, singular--rreth); Berat, Dibre, Durres, Elbasan, Fier, Gjirokaster, Gramsh, Kolonje, Korce, Kruje, Kukes, Lezhe, Librazhd, Lushnje, Mat, Mirdite, Permet, Pogradec, Puke, Sarande, Shkoder, Skrapar, Tepelene, Tirane, Tropoje, Vlore

Independence: 28 November 1912 (from Turkey)

Constitution: 27 December 1976

Legal system: based on Constitution adopted in 1976; judicial review of legislative acts only in the Presidium of the People's Assembly, which is not a true court; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

National holiday: Liberation Day, 29 November (1944)

Branches: legislature (People's Assembly), Council of Ministers, judiciary

Leaders: @m5Chief of State--President of the Presidium of the People's Assembly Ramiz ALIA (since 22 November 1982); @m5Head of Government--Chairman of the Council of Ministers Adil CARCANI (since 14 January 1982)

Suffrage: universal and compulsory over age 18

Elections: national elections held every four years; last elections 1 February 1987

Political party and leader: Albanian Workers Party only; First Secretary, Ramiz Alia (since April 1985)

Communists: 147,000 party members (November 1986); 4.9% of population

Member of: CCC, CEMA, FAO, IAEA, IPU, ITU, UN, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO; has not participated in CEMA since rift with USSR in 1961; officially withdrew from Warsaw Pact 13 September 1968

Diplomatic representation: none--the US does not recognize the Albanian Government and has no diplomatic or consular relations with Albania; there is no third-power representation of Albanian interests in the US or of US interests in Albania

Flag: red with a black, two-headed eagle in the center below a red five-pointed star outlined in yellow

NOTE: The information regarding Albania on this page is re-published from the 1989 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Albania Government 1989 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Albania Government 1989 should be addressed to the CIA.