Albania
Overview
Albania officially known as the Republic of Albania ( pronounced ɾɛpuˈblika ɛ ʃcipəˈɾiːs; Gheg Albanian
: Republika e Shqipnísë), is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans
region. It is bordered by Montenegro
to the northwest, Kosovo
to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia
to the east and Greece
to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea
to the west, and on the Ionian Sea
to the southwest. It is less than 72 km (45 mi) from Italy
, across the Strait of Otranto
which links the Adriatic Sea
to the Ionian Sea
.
Albania is a member of the UN
, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
, Council of Europe
, World Trade Organisation, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and one of the founding members of the Union for the Mediterranean
.
Gheg Albanian
Gheg is one of the two major varieties of Albanian. The other one is Tosk, on which standard Albanian is based. The dividing line between these two varieties is the Shkumbin River, which winds its way through central Albania....
: Republika e Shqipnísë), is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans
Balkans
The Balkans is a geopolitical and cultural region of southeastern Europe...
region. It is bordered by Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
to the northwest, Kosovo
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
to the east and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
to the west, and on the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
to the southwest. It is less than 72 km (45 mi) from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, across the Strait of Otranto
Strait of Otranto
The Strait of Otranto connects the Adriatic Sea with the Ionian Sea and separates Italy from Albania. Its width at Punta Palascìa, east of Salento is less than . The strait is named after the Italian city of Otranto.- History :...
which links the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
to the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
.
Albania is a member of the UN
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, NATO, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe is the world's largest security-oriented intergovernmental organization. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, human rights, freedom of the press and fair elections...
, Council of Europe
Council of Europe
The Council of Europe is an international organisation promoting co-operation between all countries of Europe in the areas of legal standards, human rights, democratic development, the rule of law and cultural co-operation...
, World Trade Organisation, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and one of the founding members of the Union for the Mediterranean
Union for the Mediterranean
The Union for the Mediterranean is a multilateral partnership that encompasses 43 countries from Europe and the Mediterranean Basin: the 27 member states of the European Union and 16 Mediterranean partner countries from North Africa, the Middle East and the Balkans...
.
Discussions
Timeline
1443 Skanderbeg and his forces liberate Kruja in Middle Albania and raise the Albanian flag.
1799 Napoleon Bonaparte captures Jaffa in Palestine and his troops proceed to kill more than 2,000 Albanian captives.
1911 Dedë Gjon Luli Dedvukaj, leader of the Malësori Albanians, raises the Albanian flag in the town of Tuzi, Montenegro, for the first time after Gjergj Kastrioti (Skenderbeg).
1912 Albania declares its independence from the Ottoman Empire.
1913 First Balkan War: the Treaty of London, 1913 is signed ending the war. Albania becomes an independent nation.
1913 Otto Witte, an acrobat, is purportedly crowned King of Albania.
1914 The Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus is proclaimed in Gjirokastër, by the Greeks living in southern Albania.
1914 Prince William of Wied arrives in Albania to begin his reign.
1914 The Protocol of Corfu is signed recognising full autonomy to Northern Epirus under nominal Albanian sovereignty.
1924 Albania becomes a republic.