Albania for Beginners

I thought I would offer to all those who will travel to Albania some practical tips from an Albanian point of view. You might find these tips come in handy and I am sure that the majority you will not be able to find in any travel guide to Albania:

- ALWAYS negotiate a price BEFORE you get in a taxi. Taxis in Albania do not have meters installed, so the price will vary depending on your negotiation skills and naturally the distance to be travelled.

- NEVER make public the place where you hold your wallet. Especially be careful on public buses. Pick-pockets are skilful, just like anywhere in the world.

- NEVER change money with individual 'kambists' in the street. Always use established foreign exchange offices, which you will find everywhere. Although in the street you will find a better rate, the chance of being tricked in the amount changed is by far the largest. When in Tirana (the capital), individual 'kambists' (those who exchange money) will be staying behind the National Bank of Tirana building.

- When using Albanian currency ask the seller whether the price is in NEW Leks or OLD Leks. The difference can be substantial. The amount shown on the banknotes in reality bears a value which is one ZERO greater. For instance, 1000 lek bank note has a value of 10,000 leks (nearly 7 euros); 5000 lek bank note has a value of 50,000 leks. So, if I say 1000 old leks, then the amount remains 1000. If I say 1000 new leks then the amount will be 10,000.

- The bank-note denominations are: 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000 Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 (I am not aware of any smaller denominations) Remember: Always add a zero at the end, to get the real value.

- Note: in the previous two points, Eneid regards the old lek as the "real" value. This evidently represents the Albanian viewpoint, as they commonly quote prices in old lek. However as a foreigner, I find it more natural to think of the new lek, the one I see on banknotes, as the "real" lek. This is just a matter of semantics and the result is the same: if I am asked for 1000 old leks, a 100 lek banknote is required; if asked for 1000 new leks, I need to present a 1000 lek note. - Alan.

- Wherever you are: AVOID staring Albanian males. Prolonged eye contact is offensive for Albanians, and in many cases has been a cause for fights.

- Remember, Albanians are overprotective of their women. If you go to clubs, pubs, etc., DO NOT hit on accompanied women. You might laugh at this advice, but it can save your life. Just to illustrate my point, back in 1998 an American marine was shot and heavily wounded by the owner of an Albanian club in the city of Durres. The reason? The marine had touched the owner's fiancee on the buttocks. Point taken I guess?!

- Albanians do not widely except homosexuality. So, I would advise gays NOT to express their sexuality publicly, since they may become prone to attacks by individuals.

- When you are offered something, like a drink or a present, by an Albanian be ADVISED that a rejection can be highly offensive. Albanians are very friendly people, especially towards foreigners, but they do not take rejection very lightly. So when offered something, ACCEPT it.

- The same happens when an Albanian offers to pay the bill. He/she will go to great lengths to have his/her way, so my advice is: DO NOT ARGUE! lol

- When talking to Albanians, do not be surprised when they ask you personal questions about your job, family, etc. This is very usual. They will tell you all their problems, their points of view even if they are very personal. However, you are not obliged to answer these kind of questions.

- Albanian men who do not know each other usually shake hands when they meet. If they are friends, usually they kiss each other on the cheek twice, or four times. Women tend to do this only twice.

- Albanian LOVE coffee (espresso or Turkish). You'll see that whenever they sit to have a drink, coffee will be one of them. However, when an Albanian says: "Let's go for coffee!" this does not necesserily mean that you're expected to drink only coffee. It is just a saying. Also, if you are OFFERED to go for a drink, usually the offeror will pay for you. Always ASK PERMISSION to pay for drinks. Doing so without your Albanian companion's knowledge CAN be offensive.

- If you drive a car and you want to wash it go to the so-called: LAVAZH or LAVAZHO. There are usually up to 5-6 young men who will wash your car thoroughly (you need to specify if you want it washed either inside or outside, or both). The price of a inside/outside wash is about 4,500 old leks (3 euros). Usually, Albanians leave the car keys with these people, but my advice to you is DO NOT, just to be on the safe side. But stay close since you will be needed to move the car.

- If you drive a Mercedes Benz then I would suggest you pay extra attention to this tip: NEVER park your car in ill-lighted areas, or in less crowded areas. You are ADVISED to park your car in a parking lot, which most of the time will be one guy carrying a GUN and guarding the cars with his life. Usually you'd ahve to pay 500 old leks a night up to 1000 old leks (from 30 cent to 70 cent a night). Since the Mercedes is the most popular car in Albania, it is also more prone stealing than any other brandname. As for the other cars, you can park them by the side of the road and nobody would touch them. This is a more likely situation in Tirana and other big cities like Durres, Fier, Vlora and Saranda.

- Remember, ALWAYS take your car CD player with you when parking, and leave the glove compartment open so as to show that nothing of value is inside!

- When in Tirana and looking for a lovely night out then roam the 'Blloku' area (The Block Area). It is close to the city centre of Tirana and has a lot of cafes, clubs and pubs frequented mostly by the Albanian youth. Also, the cafes of Sheraton Hotel and Towers close to the 'Qemal Stafa' stadium are very popular with good coffee and a large variety of traditional and foreign spirits.

- When in Tirana, buy the Tirana City Guide 2005 (maybe 2006 edition is out). This is a useful source of information on major business and establishments in Tirana. I think it costs something like 2000 old leks (but the price could have changed). Also if you're looking for apartments to rent, or cars, laptops, etc to buy then by the CELSI (the KEY) newspaper. It is quite useful.

- The majority of the foreign embassies in Albania are located in the capital. They are located in the so-called "Rruga e Ambasadave" (literally meaning the "Street of Embassies") which can be accessed through the Kavaja or Durres streets. The Volkswagen car shop which is very close to the street serves as a major point of orientation. However the US, Dutch and Italian embassies are located close to the 'Qemal Stafa' stadium (or close the RTSH - Albanian Radio Television building).

- Remember that most roads in Albania and consequently in Tirana are under construction. Careful driving is ADVISED. The speed limit in the city is 40 km/hr and the seat belt must be fastened. Although you will see most Albanians do not bother to fasten their seat belts, this does not mean that they cannot get fined. The road police usually pull over most foreign number plates for document check-up. Fines in Albania are very severe although you may sweet-talk the Albanian police playing the "I am a foreigner" card to get off the hook once or twice. lol

- During the night you might notice roadblocks set up by armed police in most Albanian cities. DO NOT fear. This is very usual. When approaching a police roadblock, reduce speed to 5km/hr and switch on the cabin headlight. This is normal procedure so that the cops can see your face. If you get asked to pull over, then do so!

- IF you need a mobile SIM card, then you can by an AMC (Albanian Mobile Communications) card or a Vodafone card. I am not sure of the price though. However, you can buy the individual number either on contract or prepaid. Vodafone prepaid top-up cards cost 10,500 old leks (9 euros), those of AMC are 10,000 old leks. REMEMBER: Cards get also sold on the street by little boys who also sell tobacco. If you decide to by a vodafone card from these guys, TOP UP right there and then BEFORE paying for the card. They will not protest as this is a known procedure. Once the balance has been credited then you pay up the money.

- IF you will need to go grocery shopping, remember that Albania does not have major supermarket chains. Usually you have the so-called fruta-perime (fruit-vegetable) shops or you can go to the villager's market (where you'll find fresh vegetables and fruits). If you want nice Albanian bread than look for shops with the name BUKE (which means bread). However, there is a shopping centre which was recently built on the side of the highway to Durres: Universal Shopping Centre - Albania. Here you'll find a very complete supermarket - EUROMAX- and other shops ranging from electronics to clothes. There is an ATM inside if you'd need more money. The prices are reasonable, and the distance from Tirana city centre is only 15 minutes by car. There is also a free of charge bus that takes you there and back.

- If you are in Tirana and you'd like to eat outside, then you are in the right place. Just out of curiosity, the 2 most rapidly growing type of businesses in Albania are: Clubs and Restaurants. Tirana has tons of good restaurants, and new ones get built every 2-3 months. I am going to name but a few:

1. 'ERA' Restaurant- this can be found in the 'Blloku' area. Just ask any Albanian where it is and he/she'll tell you straight away. ERA (which in Albanian means 'THE WIND') has a very wide variety of traditional and foreign (mostly Italian) dishes. The prices are relatively cheap. With 20 Euros (together) two persons can have a first, second and third dish with drinks included. The waiters speak English and Italian and the menus are both in English and Albanian.

2. 'SERENDIPITY' Restaurant - this restaurant can be found on the street behind the 'Presidency Building', which is close to Tirana University Building (you cannot miss this building). This restaurant is slightly more expensive than ERA, but it also features 2 - 3 traditional Mexican dishes, alongside other Albanian traditional dishes. If you go there, ask for a 'Caeser's Salad' which is very nice.

3. Another good restaurant, and relatively cheap, is the one in the 'Qendra Tajvan' (Taiwan Centre). This is a complex building in the 'Rinia Park' where you can find bowling, a big casino (the first of its size in Albania), cafes, and lastly the restaurant I am going to talk about. The Italian dishes prevail here and they are veryyyy delicious. You have a great collection of white/red wines which range from 5 euros to 400 euros.

4. If you are into posh restaurants then I would suggest the 'Piazza Restaurant'. This by the side of the Albanian National Museum at Scanderbeg Square (the main square of Tirana). The prices are expensive, but the food is excellent as is the red wine.

5. There other restaurants which mostly you will find in the Blloku Area. This is the main point of reference for most Albanians becuase the majority of pubs, restauranst, clubs are there.

- The Albanian traditional drink is 'RAKI'. This is made out of grapes (mostly) but other fruits are used also. Nevertheless, Rakija can be found as traditional drink also among Bulgarians, Macedonians and probably Serbs. Albanians have traditionally used Raki as a drink "for every need". If you had a tooth ache, drink a bit of rakia and the pain would go away; if you feeling a bit dizzy you smell a bit of rakia and you'd feel great again; if you had a light wound on your body, you could spray a bit of rakia on it and the wound would clean out. This, my friends, is ALL TRUE! However, Albanians also drink rakia with almost everything. You have it before lunch, during lunch, after lunch (accompanied with fruits or cheese or a bit of salami). So if you get invited in an Albanian house, where you will most probably get offered a glass of raki, DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT reject it as it is very offensive to the Albanian host. You can take a few sips and then leave it on the table, but by NO MEANS are you to refuse a glass of it.

- Jumping to religion, statistics speak of 70% of the population in Albania being Muslims and the rest Roman and Orthodox Christians. Although, I doubt the figures are right, I wouldn't want to go against it, since I don't have solid grounds. Nevertheless, as a foreigner you should understand that Albanians have had religious harmony for hundreds of years, and they respect each other's religions. Most probably in every family you'd find different members from different religions. So I would ADVISE you to be careful when expressing your views on one or the other religion; you might offend somebody unintentionally!

- When having a friendly discussion with an Albanian, it will most probably drift towards POLITICS. This is one topic that Albanians spend probably 40 - 50% of their time talking about. My advice to you is DO NOT get involved in such discussions. Albanians can become very passionatly involved in such conversations, and it is no news that friendships have gone sour because political views did not match! Listen, but do not volunteer any ideas which might upset your host. Instead, talk about something else! REMEMBER, Albanians are great company and can sit down and talk for hours with you!
- Weekdays in Tirana, and most of Albania, are normal with people going to work as early as 08:00 in the morning until 16:00 or 17:00. After that, Albanians populate the numerous cafes until probably 22:00 in the evening. However, Fridays and Saturdays are the nights to go out in Tirana. Usually Albanians sit in cafes until 21:00, or maybe a bit later, then go to nightclubs and pubs until early in the morning. The most frequented club is 'The Living Room' which is opposite the Parliament Building in 'Elbasani Street'. The music is loud so you won't be able to converse, but the drinks are of great variety and the music is nice (as are the girls), so you can dance your night away. Here check out this link for the Cafes and Pubs in Tirana: Clubs, Pubs, Albanian Youth. REMEMBER, if you smell trouble get out of the club or pub. Albanians love a bit of a fight and, from my experience, they can get nasty! ;-)

- In Albania, credit cards or debit cards, are rarly used. CASH can get you through any transaction of your choice. However, my advice is put your money in a bank account, and draw cash when you need it. DO NOT walk around with great amounts of cash.

- Usually, the language which will be most helpful in Albania is ITALIAN! That's because most tv channels in Tirana used to be Italian ones. However, English is also spoken by the Albanian youth so I do not think you will have much trouble. In the south Greek is the language of the day, since that's where the Greek minority is. Also if you have knowledge of Russian, it can help with the older generations.

Safety in Albania
Overview
Albania was a communist country for 50 years, thus law enforcement was one of the pillars on which our late dictator Enver Hoxha (pronounced Hodga) built his ruthless 'empire'. During his regime crime was a rare thing. You could get jailed for shouting profanity to women, let alone hit them or rape them; drugs were non-existent, bloodfeud which was so common in the north, was abolished by LAW and fanatically enforced for that mater. However, in 1991 with the collapse of the regime, Albania threw its borders open to the world and thus become prone to the 'forbidden apple' of the advanced society. Drugs, corruption, physical abuse, human trafficing started to flourish in Albania. The Italian mafia started extending its tentacles towards Albania seeing that Albanian gangs were very keen to learn from their "godfathers" across the Adriatic. So, you can imagine what the first years of democracy were like in Albania. From a very isolated country, Albania was free to all the goodness and badness of the world. Then the so-called pyramid schemes started to set up in Albania. People would put money in and get 50% - 100% return on it after only a couple of weeks. In 1997 the schemes collapsed, and that's when all hell broke loose. Sources say that an estimated 1.3 billion dollars of savings were lost in those schemes and Albanians become poorer than before. So the next thing they did was to loot the army bases and 1.3 million rifles dropped in the hands of the civil society.

Now...
Since 1998, when the new government took power, security situation in Albania started to improve. Most of the weapons were collected from the people using incentives like "Get paid 500 euros for handing in your gun" (Felt like Wild Wild West during that time, lol). Now Albania is as safe as any country in the region can be. But just like anywhere, you can hardly keep up with a criminal mind, so being cautios when visiting Albania will help. This is the reason why in most cities you will feel a heavy police presence, but honestly speaking foreigners have nothing to worry about. In Tirana and the southern cities security situation is very good. The north does not fall behind, although it is advisable to be careful in these areas since the Serb army mined the area during the Kosovo Conflict. However, the view in the norhtern highlands is breathtaking.
Although Albanians have been depicted in the foreign media as ruthless criminals, drug lords, human trafficants etc, the reality is that this is the worst part of our society. Just like the Americans have the Cosa Nostra, the Italians have the Sacra Corona, the Russians have their Mafia, the Greeks have their November 17 etc. What these criminals are and do does not in anyway depict the whole society. I feel the foreign media has been very misleading in portraying Albania, thus many people still think that there is war in Albania, or that you get kidnapped in the middle of the day and held for ransom. Fairytales ...

Nevertheless, as a foreigner you should be careful not to force yourself in harm's way. Most Albanians still carry guns around with them although this is illegal, but most of the time they have it just to show off. Afterall, what can we say about the Americans that are LEGALLY allowed to have weapons?!!!

Bloodfeud
You may have heard of the so-called "Gjakmarrje" (Bloodfeud) which is still present in northern Albania. Traditionally bloodfeuds date back to the 1300's and only become 'regulated' by the Code of Lek Dukagjini in 1400's (Kanuni i Lek Dukagjinit). This is a book containing rules that have goverened northern Albania for over 500 years. They are still applicable in the north although not as fanatically followed as before. The rules touch upon most aspects of life like marriage, family, religion, death etc. The rules also legitimate bloodfeud, although it needs to be conform ancient rules: children and women are not to be touched! Thus if there is a quarrel about land and a male from a family gets killed than the victim's family has the RIGHT to kill another male member of the murderer's family (or the murderer himself). However, they are not allowed to attack the house in which the males will be confined (probably for the rest of their lives unless the 'blood is forgiven').

However, my dear friends, bloodfeuds in NO WAY affect foreigners. First of all it is unlawful by the Code's rules; second of all you'd have no reason to get involved. Albanians, be they in the north or south, are very friendly and will go out of their way to help you. This is a characteristic which has distinguished Albanians for generations.

Tourism in Albania

Tourism Policy, Albania wishes to develop and environmentally sound tourism industry, which optimizes foreign currency earnings and generates employment. Qualitative tourism is paramount, and the country will avoid the route of high-rise, large-scale development taken by some Mediterranean countries.

The country’s nature and ecology allow for the possible development of all kinds of tourism, and particularly for the development of medium, high and elite tourism and facilities.

Priority Tourism Zones

There are two broad areas for tourism development:
Coastal zones, primarily the area between Velipoja and Karavasta in the north, between Vlora bay to Llogara and Ionian coast to the Greek boarder in the south;

Interior zones, primarily lakes and mountain areas.

Projects in these areas are monitored by the Ministry of Regulation of Territory and Tourism. According to the strategy prepared by the European Bank for Development and Building, it is foreseen that about 100.000 new tourist beds are set up till 2010.

Investment Ideas

- Hunting and fishing tourism. (Hunting laws have been introduced).

- Cultural centers for music and folklore festivals

- Tourism resorts, hotels, tourist villages and conference facilities

- Trekking centers and camping sites in mountain areas

- Tours to archaeological sites and scenic areas

- Cruises and private yachting facilities

- Golf and tennis centers

The creation of lake and mountain resorts, particularly in the west and south of the country, providing chalets, lodges and associated facilities for skiers, climbers and hunters.

Over the next few years a basic infrastructure will be developed in consultation with tourism developers.

“High class tourism” is the cornerstone of national planning. The main aim is the creation of a first-class tourism, which can compete with the developed Mediterranean countries. Total investment amounts to $ 150m, which includes the four-star Europapark Hotel build by Rogner (Austria), the reconstruction of Hotel Tirana by D.V.Alba (Italy), a Motel in Linza near Tirana and 20 villas in the capital erected by Mak-Albania, a subsidiary of M.A.Kharafi (Kuwait). Other hotel projects are to be completed soon in Golem on the Adriatic, in Drilon on Lake Ohrid and in Llogara on the Ionian coast. A number of new projects have started; a project for building two tourist villages in Ksamil on the southern coast, worth $ 43 m and $ 10 m. Mak-Albania is likewise setting up two tourist villages, one in Ksamil and the other in Golem. A project of $ 2m is expected to be realized for building the tourist harbor in Orikum near Vlora.

Near Vlora is one of the most beautiful areas in Albania. The Llogara-Qeparo seaside has e clean beach, clean water, and mountains and olive trees nearby. There are about 9.000 meters of beaches in the Llogara-Qeparo project area. The area after development would be able to accommodate about 6.150 people, not including here the visitors who come only for one day. Out of 6.150, about 4.650 tourists would stay at large accommodation complexes and the remainders would probably stay at smaller hotels. Hotel complexes in Palasa beach would have 1.300 rooms and would open in the “long-term”, while hotels erected on Dhermi beach would have 300 rooms. The Vuno and Jali area would have 210 rooms, the Himara area 350 rooms.

The theatre of Butrint

The Qeparo area would have 320 rooms, but projects managers plan to make a gradual transition to tourism in respect to the resident’s wishes. The project would also have other aspects for tourists besides sun bathing and swimming on the beach. Tourists should be able to try local dishes and drinks in restaurants, or cultural sites. Tourists should also be able to visit villages nearby. To make that easier; Villages like Palasa, Dhermi, Ilias, Vuno, Himara, Pilur, Kudhes and Qeparo would need better accommodations.

Visitors could come for classes in painting, photography, dancing or foreign languages. In the process of the construction of completed tourist structures (including the development of the centers for golf, tennis, discos, pools and casinos) is also foreseen the reconstruction of the Himara harbor with a minimal cost of $ 1-2 million, which will be capable for big ferries. Access to the area by sea is a good option because it helps protect the environment. Other alternatives to Himara might be by air, through reconstructed airports in Saranda, Vlora or Gjirokastra. The area is rich in olives, citrus fruit, honey and natural resources. At the same time, the beautiful nature, flora and fauna are a marvelous basis for the development of tourism in north of Albania. Theth, Lura, lakes, Alps, especially Valbona village (Tropoja district) and a series of picturesque places are very attractive for the tourists who prefer a mountainous climate.

NATO's role in Kosovo

NATO's objectives in relation to the conflict in Kosovo were set out in the Statement issued at the Extraordinary Meeting of the North Atlantic Council held at NATO on 12 April 1999 and were reaffirmed by Heads of State and Government in Washington on 23 April 1999:

* a verifiable stop to all military action and the immediate ending of violence and repression;

* the withdrawal from Kosovo of the military, police and paramilitary forces;

* the stationing in Kosovo of an international military presence;

* the unconditional and safe return of all refugees and displaced persons and unhindered access to them by humanitarian aid organisations;

* the establishment of a political framework agreement for Kosovo on the basis of the Rambouillet Accords, in conformity with international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

Throughout the conflict, the achievement of these objectives, accompanied by measures to ensure their full implementation, has been regarded by the Alliance as the prerequisite for bringing to an end the violence and human suffering in Kosovo.

Background to the conflict

Kosovo lies in southern Serbia and has a mixed population of which the majority are ethnic Albanians. Until 1989, the region enjoyed a high degree of autonomy within the former Yugoslavia, when Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic altered the status of the region, removing its autonomy and bringing it under the direct control of Belgrade, the Serbian capital. The Kosovar Albanians strenuously opposed the move.

During 1998, open conflict between Serbian military and police forces and Kosovar Albanian forces resulted in the deaths of over 1,500 Kosovar Albanians and forced 400,000 people from their homes. The international community became gravely concerned about the escalating conflict, its humanitarian consequences, and the risk of it spreading to other countries. President Milosevic's disregard for diplomatic efforts aimed at peacefully resolving the crisis and the destabilising role of militant Kosovar Albanian forces was also of concern.

On 28 May 1998, the North Atlantic Council, meeting at Foreign Minister level, set out NATO's two major objectives with respect to the crisis in Kosovo, namely:

* to help to achieve a peaceful resolution of the crisis by contributing to the response of the international community;
* to promote stability and security in neighbouring countries with particular emphasis on Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1).

On 12 June 1998 the North Atlantic Council, meeting at Defence Minister level, asked for an assessment of possible further measures that NATO might take with regard to the developing Kosovo Crisis. This led to consideration of a large number of possible military options.

On 13 October 1998, following a deterioration of the situation, the NATO Council authorised Activation Orders for air strikes. This move was designed to support diplomatic efforts to make the Milosevic regime withdraw forces from Kosovo, cooperate in bringing an end to the violence and facilitate the return of refugees to their homes. At the last moment, following further diplomatic initiatives including visits to Belgrade by NATO's Secretary General Solana, US Envoys Holbrooke and Hill, the Chairman of NATO's Military Committee, General Naumann, and the Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Clark, President Milosevic agreed to comply and the air strikes were called off.

UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1199, among other things, expressed deep concern about the excessive use of force by Serbian security forces and the Yugoslav army, and called for a cease-fire by both parties to the conflict. In the spirit of the UNSCR, limits were set on the number of Serbian forces in Kosovo, and on the scope of their operations, following a separate agreement with Generals Naumann and Clark.

It was agreed, in addition, that the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) would establish a Kosovo Verification Mission (KVM) to observe compliance on the ground and that NATO would establish an aerial surveillance mission. The establishment of the two missions was endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 1203. Several non-NATO nations that participate in Partnership for Peace (PfP) agreed to contribute to the surveillance mission organised by NATO.

In support of the OSCE, the Alliance established a special military task force to assist with the emergency evacuation of members of the KVM, if renewed conflict should put them at risk. This task force was deployed in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) under the overall direction of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Despite these steps, the situation in Kosovo flared up again at the beginning of 1999, following a number of acts of provocation on both sides and the use of excessive and disproportionate force by the Serbian Army and Special Police. Some of these incidents were defused through the mediation efforts of the OSCE verifiers but in mid-January, the situation deteriorated further after escalation of the Serbian offensive against Kosovar Albanians.

Renewed international efforts were made to give new political impetus to finding a peaceful solution to the conflict. The six-nation Contact Group (2) established by the 1992 London Conference on the Former Yugoslavia met on 29 January. It was agreed to convene urgent negotiations between the parties to the conflict, under international mediation.

NATO supported and reinforced the Contact Group efforts by agreeing on 30 January to the use of air strikes if required, and by issuing a warning to both sides in the conflict. These concerted initiatives culminated in initial negotiations in Rambouillet near Paris, from 6 to 23 February, followed by a second round in Paris, from 15 to 18 March. At the end of the second round of talks, the Kosovar Albanian delegation signed the proposed peace agreement, but the talks broke up without a signature from the Serbian delegation.

Immediately afterwards, Serbian military and police forces stepped up the intensity of their operations against the ethnic Albanians in Kosovo, moving extra troops and modern tanks into the region, in a clear breach of compliance with the October agreement. Tens of thousands of people began to flee their homes in the face of this systematic offensive.

On 20 March, the OSCE Kosovo Verification Mission was withdrawn from the region, having faced obstruction from Serbian forces to the extent that they could no longer continue to fulfil their task. US Ambassador Holbrooke then flew to Belgrade, in a final attempt to persuade President Milosevic to stop attacks on the Kosovar Albanians or face imminent NATO air strikes.

Milosevic refused to comply, and on 23 March the order was given to commence air strikes (Operation Allied Force).

On 10 June 1999, after an air campaign lasting seventy-seven days, NATO Secretary General Javier Solana announced that he had instructed General Wesley Clark, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, temporarily to suspend NATO's air operations against Yugoslavia. This decision was taken after consultations with the North Atlantic Council and confirmation from General Clark that the full withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo had begun.

The withdrawal was in accordance with a Military-Technical Agreement concluded between NATO and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia on the evening of 9 June. The agreement was signed by Lt. General Sir Michael Jackson, on behalf of NATO, and by Colonel General Svetozar Marjanovic of the Yugoslav Army and Lieutenant General Obrad Stevanovic of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, on behalf of the Governments of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Republic of Serbia. The withdrawal was also consistent with the agreement between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the European Union and Russian special envoys, President Ahtisaari of Finland and Mr. Victor Chernomyrdin, former Prime Minister of Russia, reached on 3 June.

The NATO Secretary General announced that he had written to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan, and to the President of the United Nations Security Council, informing them of these developments. The Secretary General of NATO urged all parties to the conflict to seize the opportunity for peace and called on them to comply with their obligations under the agreements which had now been concluded and under all relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

Paying tribute to General Clark and to the forces which had contributed to Operation Allied Force, and to the cohesion and determination of all the Allies, the Secretary General stated that NATO was ready to undertake its new mission to bring the people back to their homes and to build a lasting and just peace in Kosovo.

On 10 June the UN Security Council passed a resolution (UNSCR 1244) welcoming the acceptance by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia of the principles on a political solution to the Kosovo crisis, including an immediate end to violence and a rapid withdrawal of its military, police and paramilitary forces. The Resolution, adopted by a vote of 14 in favour and none against, with one abstention (China), announced the Security Council's decision to deploy international civil and security presences in Kosovo, under United Nations auspices.

Acting under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Security Council also decided that the political solution to the crisis would be based on the general principles adopted on 6 May by the Foreign Ministers of the Group of Seven industrialised countries and the Russian Federation - the Group of 8 - and the principles contained in the paper presented in Belgrade by the President of Finland and the Special Representative of the Russian Federation which was accepted by the Government of the Federal Republic on 3 June. Both documents were included as annexes to the Resolution.

The principles included, among others, an immediate and verifiable end to violence and repression in Kosovo; the withdrawal of the military, police and paramilitary forces of the Federal Republic; deployment of effective international and security presences, with substantial NATO participation in the security presence and unified command and control; establishment of an interim administration; the safe and free return of all refugees; a political process providing for substantial self-government, as well as the demilitarisation of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA); and a comprehensive approach to the economic development of the crisis region.

The Security Council authorised Member States and relevant international organisations to establish the international security presence, and decided that its responsibilities would include deterring renewed hostilities, demilitarising the KLA and establishing a secure environment for the return of refugees and in which the international civil presence could operate. The Security Council also authorised the UN Secretary-General to establish the international civil presence and requested him to appoint a Special Representative to control its implementation.

Following the adoption of UNSCR 1244, General Jackson, acting on the instructions of the North Atlantic Council, made immediate preparations for the rapid deployment of the security force (Operation Joint Guardian), mandated by the United Nations Security Council.

The first elements entered Kosovo on 12 June. As agreed in the Military Technical Agreement, the deployment of the security force - KFOR - was synchronised with the departure of Serb security forces from Kosovo. By 20 June, the Serb withdrawal was complete and KFOR was well established in Kosovo.

At its full strength KFOR will comprise some 50,000 personnel. It is a multinational force under unified command and control with substantial NATO participation. Agreement has been reached on the arrangements for participation by the Russian Federation. More than twelve other non-NATO nations have also indicated their intention to contribute to KFOR.

Also on 20 June, following confirmation by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) that Serb security forces had vacated Kosovo, the Secretary General of NATO announced that, in accordance with the Military Technical Agreement, he had formally terminated the air campaign.

NATO forces have been at the forefront of the humanitarian efforts to relieve the suffering of the many thousands of refugees forced to flee Kosovo by the Serbian ethnic cleansing campaign. In the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) NATO troops built refugee camps, refugee reception centres and emergency feeding stations, as well as moving many hundreds of tons of humanitarian aid to those in need. In Albania, NATO deployed substantial forces to provide similar forms of assistance. NATO has also assisted the UNHCR with co-ordination of humanitarian aid flights as well as supplementing these flights by using aircraft from member countries. The Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC) established at NATO in May 1998 has also played an important role in the coordination of support to UNHCR relief operations.

Of particular concern to NATO countries and to the international community as a whole, from the outset of the crisis, has been the situation of the Kosovar Albanians remaining in Kosovo, whose plight has been described by refugees leaving the province. All indications pointed to organised persecution involving mass executions; exploitation as human shields; rape; mass expulsions; burning and looting of homes and villages; destruction of crops and livestock; suppression of identity, origins and property ownership by confiscation of documents; hunger, starvation and exhaustion; and many other abuses of human rights and international norms of civilised behaviour.

Support for neighbouring countries

The Alliance has fully recognised the immense humanitarian, political, and economic problems facing the countries in the region as a result of the conflict in Kosovo. In particular, Alliance efforts have focused on providing immediate practical assistance in dealing with the refugee crisis by reassigning NATO forces in the region to humanitarian tasks.

At the beginning of April 1999, the NATO Commander in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) was given full authority to coordinate NATO's assistance to that country and to establish a forward headquarters in Albania, in coordination with the Albanian authorities and the UNHCR, in order to assess the humanitarian situation and provide support. The North Atlantic Council also tasked the NATO Military Authorities to undertake further planning to this end. Subsequent assistance has included the provision of emergency accommodation and building of refugee camps, and assisting humanitarian aid organisations by providing transport and other forms of help including the distribution of food and aid. NATO countries are providing financial and other support to Albania and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1) and have given reassurances that they would respond to any challenges by Yugoslavia to their security stemming from the presence of NATO forces and their activities on their territories.

NATO Heads of State and Government in Washington set out their vision for achieving lasting peace, stability and future prosperity, based on increasing integration into the European mainstream, working hand in hand with other institutions towards these goals. They established a process of individual consultations and discussions between the nineteen NATO countries and the countries of the region on a 19+1 basis and undertook to promote regional cooperation within the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC). They also agreed to use the resources of the Partnership for Peace (PfP) to provide more direct and focussed assistance in addressing their security concerns. The Alliance also welcomed related measures being taken in other forums, including the European Union proposal to convene a conference on a stability pact for south-eastern Europe at the end of May 1999, as well as recognising the role of the G7 group of countries and of financial institutions, like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, in the process of reconstruction which would have to follow the end of the Kosovo crisis.

Facts and figures

* Between March 1998 and March 1999, before NATO governments decided upon military action, over 2000 people were killed as a result of the Serb government's policies in Kosovo.

* During the summer of 1998, a quarter of a million Kosovar Albanians were forced from their homes as their houses, villages and crops were destroyed.

* In January 1999, evidence was discovered, by a United Nations humanitarian team, of the massacre of over 40 people in the village of Racak.

* By the beginning of April 1999, the United Nations High Commission for Refugees estimated that the campaign of ethnic cleansing had resulted in 226,000 refugees in Albania, 125,000 in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1), and 33,000 in Montenegro.

* Assistance given by NATO forces to alleviate the refugee situation included providing equipment and building camps to house 50,000 refugees in Albania; assistance in expanding camps in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1); providing medical support and undertaking emergency surgery on the victims of shootings by Serb forces; transporting refugees to safety; and providing transport for humanitarian aid and supplies.

* By the end of May 1999, over 230,000 refugees had arrived in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (1), over 430,000 in Albania and some 64,000 in Montenegro. Approximately 21,500 had reached Bosnia and over 61,000 had been evacuated to other countries. Within Kosovo itself, an estimated 580,000 people had been rendered homeless.

* It is estimated that by the end of May, 1.5 million people, i.e. 90% of the population of Kosovo, had been expelled from their homes. Some 225,000 Kosovar men were believed to be missing. At least 5000 Kosvars had been executed.

* NATO forces have flown in many thousands of tons of food and equipment into the area. By the end of May 1999, over 4666 tons of food and water, 4325 tons of other goods, 2624 tons of tents and nearly 1600 tons of medical supplies had been transported to the area.

Footnotes

1. Turkey recognises the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name
2. France, Italy, Germany, Russia, United Kingdom and United States.

A brief History of Kosovo

Since prehistoric times - The southeastern corner of Europe, including the nowdays Kosovo region as well, was settled by the Illyrians, ancestors of present-day Albanians, in Paleolithic times.

Situated where it is and surrounded by powerful, warring empires, Albania Region has seen a lot of violence throughout its history.

Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Ottomans swept through, leaving their mark and their ruins.

During the Mid-Ages - The Kosovo region has been taken, retaken, and ruled by several empires. It lay both on the outer fringes of the Byzantine Empire and directly in the path of Slavic expansion.

850 untill about 1014 - The Kosovo region it was ruled by Bulgaria.

12th century Kosovo lies at the heart of the empire, under the Nemanjic dynasty. The period sees the building of many Orthodox churches and monasteries.

1389 28th June Epic Battle of Kosovo heralds 500 years of Ottoman rule. Over the ensuing decades many Christians leave the region. Over the centuries the religious and ethnic balance tips in favour of Muslims and Albanians.

1689-90 Austrian invasion is repelled.

1912 Balkan Wars: Serbia regains control of Kosovo, recognised by 1913 Treaty of London.

1918 Collapse of the Ottoman empire; Kosovo becomes part of the kingdom of Serbia.

1941 World War II: Much of Kosovo becomes part of an Italian-controlled greater Albania.

1946 Kosovo is absorbed into the Yugoslav federation.

1960s Belgrade shows increasing tolerance for Kosovan autonomy.

1974 Yugoslav constitution recognises the autonomous status of Kosovo, giving the province de facto self-government.

1981 Troops suppress separatist rioting in the province.

1987 In a key moment in his rise to power, future president Slobodan Milosevic rallies a crowd of Kosovo Serbs, who are protesting against alleged harassment by the majority Albanian community.

1989 Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic proceeds to strip rights of autonomy laid down in the 1974 constitution.

1990 July Ethnic Albanian leaders declare independence from Serbia. Belgrade dissolves the Kosovo government.

1990 September Sacking of more than 100,000 ethnic Albanian workers, including government employees and media workers, prompts general strike.

1992 July An academic, Ibrahim Rugova, is elected president of the self-proclaimed republic.

1993-97 Ethnic tension and armed unrest escalate.

1998 Open conflict between Serb police and separatist Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Serb forces launch a brutal crackdown. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are driven from their homes.

1998 September Nato gives an ultimatum to President Milosevic to halt the crackdown on Kosovo Albanians.

1999 March Belgrade rejects an internationally-brokered peace deal, which had been signed by the Kosovo Albanian side.

1999 March Nato launches air strikes against Yugoslavia.

1999 March "Moral Combat : NATO AT WAR" this program was made to mark one year after the NATO attacks.

1999 April Facing death in fields of SQUALOR, In Blace on the Kosovo-Macedonia border

1999 June President Milosevic agrees to withdraw troops from Kosovo. Nato calls off air strikes. The UN sets up a Kosovo Peace Implementation Force (Kfor) and Nato forces arrive in the province. The KLA agrees to disarm.

1999 September In Pristina, reports on the Allied threat to refugees in Kosovo.

2000 February Returned to Blace, the scene of suffering of Kosovo people

2002 February Ibrahim Rugova is elected as president by the Kosovan parliament after ethnic Albanian parties reach a power-sharing deal. Bajram Rexhepi becomes prime minister.

2003 October First direct talks between Serbian and Kosovo Albanian leaders since 1999.

2003 December UN sets out conditions for final status talks in 2005.

2004 March 19 people are killed in the worst clashes between Serbs and ethnic Albanians since 1999. The violence started in the divided town of Mitrovica.

2004 October President Rugova's pro-independence Democratic League tops poll in general election, winning 47 seats in 120-seat parliament. Poll is boycotted by Serbs.

2004 December Parliament re-elects President Rugova and elects former rebel commander Ramush Haradinaj as prime minister. Mr Haradinaj's party had entered into a coalition with the president's Democratic League.

2005 February Serbian President Boris Tadic visits, promises to defend rights of Serbs in Kosovo.

2005 March Mr Haradinaj indicted to face UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague, resigns as prime minister. He is succeeded by Bajram Kosumi.

President Rugova unhurt when explosion rocks convoy of vehicles in which he is travelling through Pristina.

2005 July Nearly-simultaneous blasts go off near UN, OSCE and Kosovo parliament buildings in Pristina. No-one is hurt.

2006 January President Rugova dies in Pristina after losing his battle with lung cancer. He is succeeded in February by Fatmir Sejdiu.

2006 February UN-sponsored talks on the future status of Kosovo begin.

2006 March Prime Minister Kosumi resigns following criticism of his performance from within his own party. He is succeeded by former KLA commander Agim Ceku.

2006 July First direct talks since 1999 between ethnic Serbian and Kosovan leaders on future status of Kosovo take place in Vienna.

2006 October Voters in a referendum in Serbia approve a new constitution which declares that Kosovo is an integral part of the country. Kosovo's Albanian majority boycotts the ballot and UN sponsored talks on the future of the disputed province continue.

2007 February United Nations envoy Martti Ahtisaari unveils a plan to set Kosovo on a path to independence, which is immediately welcomed by Kosovo Albanians and rejected by Serbia.

2007 1st June Russia says a new draft UN resolution supporting a plan for supervised independence for Kosovo is unacceptable and has hinted it could be vetoed.

2007 9th June US President George W Bush has said a plan for Kosovo's UN-backed independence should take effect now, despite Russian and Serbian opposition.

2007 14th June Britain in favour of independence through the Security Council

2007 21st June Kostunica Urges Withdrawal of Latest UN Draft Resolution on Kosovo.

2007 22nd June EU says declaring Kosovo independence would create problems, not solve them.

2007 12th July Slovenia's FM Tells "The Independent" SE Europe an Opportunity, not a Burden.

2007 20th July UN Kosovo vote plan put on hold.

Regarding to Montenegro, Macedonia, and Greece there is another discussion, especially this last one, which has ripped most part of Albanian south territory, and shameless still is eager to take some more of them.

Chameria

Chameria geographically is situated on the to-day north-west Greece. This beautiful region, has a rich Albanian heritage and it was only in the 1912 that it was annexed unfairly and unjustifiably from Greece. This was the aftermath of the decision of the great powers to give Chameria to Greece, just as the great powers had made similar decisions to give Kosova and other Albanian territories to Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro.

The word Cham is an evolution of the word "t'chiam" which is the name of an ancient river passing right through Chameria (The word T'chamis appears on many ancient Roman and even Hellenic maps, indicating that the word Chameria is older than the word Epirus, and it's used only by Albanians). Another branch of this river remains to be known to this day as the "lumi i kalamait" (Kalamait River - Childrens Rivier). What's most important is that everything about Chameria is Albanian in every sense of the word. The word Chameria has more of a topological meaning, but Chams have a very strong Albanian ethnicity, tradition and customs. Chameria has a very well-defined ethno-geographical meaning, which is strongly Albanian.

A large number of Cham population is situated on the seaside and goes up to the Gulf of Preveza. Another considerable number of towns and villages are situated on both sides of the river of "kalamait". The rest of of the Cham villages and towns are situated in more remote places and often on hills and mountains.

The Greek government has been very hostile toward Chams and the main reason is the fact that Chams have a very strong Albanian identity. Another reason of the Greek hostilities is the fact that Greeks inherited a very hostile policy towards us. During the period of time, from 1854 till 1877 the Albanians of Chameria resisted successfully the attacks from Greek "Andartes". During the WWI and WWII the greek troops attacked Chameria again. The (provisional) government of Vlora (Albania) responded by sending Albanian military troops to assist the Albanian population of Chameria , but the decision of the Ambassadors Conference assigned Chameria to Greece. As a result of this decision by the great powers, Greeks forces led by the hateful figure of N. Zervas launched attackers that ended up with many innocent Albanian locals killed.

To this day, we Chams in greece are described as bad people from an increasing "suffocating" Greek propaganda based on the fact that we refuse to be assimilated as it is the case with some of "Arvanites" in south and central Greece.

The today exact number of Albanians of Chameria in Greece is approx. one million people, taking into the account some relativly newly formed Cham villages and towns elsewhere in Greece..if all the number of Albanians in Chameria is added to the number of Arvanites in other areas of Greece, then the total number of Albanians in Greece is around 3.000.000 people. However only Albanians in Chameria call themselves real Shqiptars (Albanians). Arvanites elsewhere in Greece are under greater assimilating pressure from the Greek government and Anti-Albanian Greek circles.

This section is dedicated to hundreds of thousands of Albanians from the region of Chameria expelled by force, from the Greek forces in 1944 and residing now in the Republic of Albania and in the memory of 850,000 Cham Albanians sent to Turkey during the period between 1913-44.

During the summer of 1944, the neo-nazi forces led by Zervas attacked many villages and towns of Chameria and as a result 9,000 Albanians (including children, women and old folks) were killed indiscriminately. A considerable number of Albanians were expelled and live now in the Republic of Albania. The official number of those Albanian refugees from Chameria is between 150,000 and 300,000.

Today they have formed their own Albanian patriotic and cultural association based in Tirana and which is active right across Albania. Among other they are asking from the Greek government in Athens-Greece, to be repatriated and their lands and other assets be returned to them as well as compensations for the usage of the lands for the past 50 years. Also they are rallying for the opening of Albanian schools to the Albanians living in Chameria.

The policy of expulsion of Cham Albanians from Chameria had started earlier than 1944. Greeks as well as Serbs followed the same pattern in politics with respect to Albanians. Often they had signed documents with the Turkish government for the exchange of Muslims with Christians. During all this not a single Cham Albanian was asked! As a result of such policy around 850,000 Cham Albanians from Chameria were sent to Turkey, where they are settled in the region of Asia minor in Turkey.

Prior to WWI and WWII, the population in Chameria was around 93% Albanian, the rest were other ethnic groups such as Greeks, Vlachs, gypsies, etc.. On the 19th century, 80% of the Albanian population in Chameria was of Muslim Religion (the process of conversion to Islam started in the 18th century) and a 20% Christian Orthodox, however the first world war, found the the Albanian community as made up of 50% muslim and 50% orthodox believers (this shift happened in a matter of 70 years). After the world wars a fraction of the Muslim Populations was expelled by the Greek special forces, leaving intact the mainly orthodox Albanian population (50%) and a small fraction of molsims(13%) who by now mostly converted to orthodoxy to survive. The conversion back and forth from one religion to the other, before the World War I, was common among families!

However both Albanian religious communities were extremely close to each-other before the war and to this day, the Greek government has not managed to assimilate the Albanians of Chameria. The Albanian language is spoken indoors and outdoors as much as on everyday working places, but the Greek government with very little pressure from outside refuses to recognize Albanian minority in Greece and refuses to open schools on Albanian language.

The region is officially known as Epirus by the Greek government, but on the further north western corner of Greece, every single people knows the place as Chameria. Anyone from this region stating that he or she is a Cham, makes a political statement saying that he or she is an Albanian. That's why the Greek government doesn't know officially the region as Chameria. The heartland of Chameria is also called Thesprotia.

My own opinion is that this region has still an Albanian majority (since many people of other ethnic groups have emigrated away, which has compensated somehow for the displacement of some Albanians during WWI and WWII!) and all the Chams expelled unjustifiably from Greece are very welcomed by all the Albanian people here, there is a UN resolution which asks the Greek government to repatriate our brothers and sisters back to their homes, where they belong among the rest of us.

Albanian Fighter from Chamëria (in the south of Balkans). The only reason this is different from the dress of Albanians in the north of Balkans is the difference of the weather climate.. south Balkans is very warm and thus the dress reflects suitability and confort to that..! Althought the kilt (Fustanella) was worn also by Albanians on the North of Balkans. The Hungarian sociologist, Baron Nopcsa, believed that the Albanian, or Illyrian, kilt became the original pattern for the Roman military dress, and, because of its similarity to the Celtic kilt, he also theorized that the Roman legions in Britain, through the presence of its Illyrian element, probably started the fashion among the Celts (it may also be interesting to note that the Celtic word for "Scotland" is "Alban").

Brief Historical Facts

Albania has been inhabited since the ancient times. (100 thousand years ago). With the passage to the third millennium B.C., due to Indo-European invasions and assimilation with the local population, it was created a population with general cultural and linguistic features for the whole of the Balkan Peninsula (Pellazgs). It is claimed that their descendants are the Illyrians, Greeks, Thracians, even the Turkish.

The Illyrians spread over the Western part of the Balkan Peninsula, from Sava and Danub Rivers in the North and Sava and Vardar River in the East. The most outstanding Illyrian tribes have been : Mollose, Dardans, Desares, Ardians, Taulants, Liburnes, Enkeleas. The socio-economic development found its reflection in the emergence of the Illyrian cities such as Scutari (Shkodra), Lissus (Lezha), Amantia, Antipatria (Berat), Albanopoli (Zgerdhesh), Antigonea, Tronioni, Belsh, etc (IV-II centuries BC).

The Illyrians, ancestors of today's Albanians, occupied the western Balkans in the 2nd millennium BC, and a convoy of interested warring states followed. The Greeks arrived in the 7th century BC, set up self governing colonies and in the main traded peacefully with the Illyrians, who set up their own tribal states by the 4th century BC. The Greeks took over the south, and still have a claim on it today. The expanding Roman Empire came to blows with an expanding Illyrian Empire based around Shkodra in present day northern Albania, and the Illyrians came off the worse after the Romans sent 200 warships there in 228 BC. The Romans spread their rule to the whole of the Balkans by 167 BC, and in the main Illyria enjoyed peace and prosperity - as long as you weren't one of the slaves working on the agricultural estates.

When the Romans couldn't hold on any longer, the Visigoths, Huns, Ostrogoths and Slavs salivating outside city limits struck poses and compared armies during the 5th and 6th centuries AD. In the 11th century, the Byzantines, Bulgarians and Normans squabbled over the northern region of Illyria, which, before Roman times, had stretched north to the Danube.

The country's name "Arberi" is testified as early back as the second century by Greek geographer Ptolemeu. The later for Albania has served as a basis for the different names applied to the country at present. Arbers had their common language, culture and territory. Arberi was transformed into an arena of wars between the armies of southern Italy and Byzantium. The coast of Arberia became the first settlements of the crusaders of the first crusade.

The first mediaeval Albanian state, having Kruja as its Capital failed to resist the foreign Byzantine and Serbian occupations. After the collapse of the Serbian Empire (1355), a number of Albanian feudal principalities were set up.

The ottoman feudal regime was established in the greater part of the country in the years 1419-1421. The Albanian resistance reached its climax with the 25 year long war (1443-1468), led by Gjergj-Kastrioti-Scanderbeg.

The Ottomans invaded and ruled until 1912, letting the region languish as the most backward part of Europe. In 1878, the Albanian League at Prizen (in present day Kosovo, Yugoslavia) began a struggle for autonomy that continues today. The Turkish army squashed the first glimmers of independence in 1881, but further uprisings followed.

Uprisings between 1910 and 1912 culminated in the declaration of independence and the formation of a provincial government led by Ismail Qemali. The London Ambassadors' Conference of 1913, however, put paid to aspirations of independence by handing Kosova, (you're less likely to cause offence if you call it Kosova) - nearly half of Albania - over to the Serbs.

WWI temporarily wiped away further moves for independence as Albania was occupied by Greece, Serbia, France, Italy and Austria-Hungary in succession. From 1920 to 1939 the country governed itself, but Ahmet Zogu, representing the landed aristocracy, went to bed with Mussolini's Italy. That move sprang back to hit him in the face when the Italians invaded at the outbreak of WWII. The communists, under Enver Hoxha, led the resistance against Italy and, after 1943, Germany. By October 1944 they'd thrown the Germans out, the only East European nation to do so without the assistance of Soviet troops. The communists consolidated power after the war, and proclaimed the People's Republic of Albania in 1946.

Two years later the country broke off relations with Yugoslavia and allied itself with Stalin's USSR. Britain and the USA backed a few Balkan-style Bay of Pigs operations - landings by right-wing Albanian émigrés - that nevertheless failed to topple the communists. When Khruschchev demanded submarine bases in 1960, Albania broke off diplomatic relations. After the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, Albania left the Warsaw Pact altogether. It embarked on a self-reliant defence policy that has left the country littered with around 750,000 igloo-shaped concrete bunkers and pillboxes, some of which have since been painted in bright colours. After the break with the USSR in 1960, Albania turned toward China for its inspiration, even embarking on its own cultural revolution in 1966-67. Albania's special relationship with China ended in 1978.

Hoxha died in 1985, and the new leader, Ramiz Alia, embarked on a liberalisation program and strengthened Albania's ties abroad. By early 1990 the collapse of communism in most of eastern Europe had created a sense of expectation in Albania, and after student demonstrations in December the government agreed to allow opposition parties to exist. The communists won the 1991 elections, but by mid-May a general strike forced the ruling Socialist Party into a coalition with the opposition Democrats. Central economic planning was now on the skids, factories ceased production and the food distribution network broke down. By late 1991 the country faced chaos, and food riots broke out in December. The EU, fearful of a refugee crisis, stepped up economic aid, and the Italian army set up a large military base south of Durrës to supervise food shipments.

The 1992 elections ended 47 years of communist rule, and the Democratic Party wasted no time in launching a witch hunt against former communists and party officials. By 1993, Amnesty International was prompted to condemn increasing human-rights violations in the country. Albania signed a military agreement with Turkey in 1992 and joined the Islamic Conference Association in a move to counter Greek territorial claims to southern Albania (which the Greeks call Northern Epiros). The mid- to late 90s saw quick changes in prime ministers and presidents as the new democracy stumbled and nearly collapsed, and many Albanians left the country in search of work. As much as 20% of the labour force currently works abroad, mainly in Greece and Italy. When NATO bombed Yugoslavia in spring 1999, nearly half a million ethnic Albanian refugees from Kosovo spilled over the border into neighbouring Albania.

In 2001, the first national census in 12 years found that the population had decreased by 3%, largely because of emigration. Refugee smugglers are thriving, and the bulk of refugees end up in Italy. The tragic underside of this human traffic became clear in January 2004, when a 20 refugees drowned in the Adriatic when their boat capsized. With the two-steps-forward, one-step-back that marks Albania's national life, recent years have been distinguished by attempts to integrate the country with its European neighbours. Albania was a participant in the US-led occupation of Iraq, and in January 2003 began Stabilisation and Association Agreement talks with the EU, seen as the first step to eventual membership.

Holocaust
Albania is unique in that it is the only European country occupied by the Nazis that ended World War II with a larger Jewish population than before the War. The Albanian response to the Holocaust is especially notable because it was Europe's only largely Muslim country. Even so only a Jewish family of six was deported and killed during the Nazi occupation of Albania.
Not only did the Albanians protect their own Jews, but they provided refuge for Jews from neighboring countries. The Albanians refused to comply and hand over lists of Jews. Instead they provided the Jewish families with forged documents and helped them disperse in the Albanian population.

In February 1944, when the Nazis descended upon the mountain hiding place, not a single Jew fell into their hands. During the Holocaust, Albania was the only country in Europe that protected and sheltered its entire Jewish population, both native and foreign.There was no history of ideological anti-Semitism in Albania so it was unique in this regard. The small number of Jews in Albania also played a key role in the possibility to protect them all. During the Italian occupation, they were able to disperse and blend in with the general population. However, the role of the Albanian population as a whole in saving Jews is undeniable.

The national flag of Albania
The national flag of Albania is a red flag with a black two-headed eagle in the center. It is claimed to be derived from the similar seal of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, a 15th century Albanian who led the revolt against the Ottoman Empire that resulted in brief independence for some regions of Albania from 1443 to 1478. The current flag was officially adopted on April 7, 1992, but previous Albanian states such as the Kingdom of Albania and the post-war communist state had used much the same flag, with the former sporting the "Helmet of Skanderbeg" above the eagle and the latter a red star with a yellow rim.

The National Assembly of Vlora which proclaimed Albanian Independence on 28 November 1912 approved the flag as a symbol of the Albanian nation.

The National Eldery of Durres which created the governemt of Muslim Albania in 1914 approved the flag of Esat Pasha as the symbol of Albania. While the Muslim Albanian's that created their parallel government until 1915 used their old Ottoman flag as their symbol.

The horizontal open-winged eagle symbolises the lack of submission of the highland Albanians to foreign conquest. The communist regime added a yellow five-pointed star to the flag, which was removed by the first Albanian pluralist parliament in 1992 after the communist collapse.

Albania's civil ensign and naval ensign, both maritime flags are different from the national flag. The civil ensign consists of three horizontal bands of red, black, and red. The naval ensign is similar to the national flag, except that the eagle is on a white field, and the lower portion of the flag has a red stripe.

The flag of Albania may be the inspiration for the flag of the fictional nation of Syldavia in Hergé's Tintin comics. It also influenced the revival of the Navarrese arrano beltza.

The presidential flag of the Albanian-populated province of Kosovo is also based on the flag of Albania.

Albanian Anthem
United all around the flag,
with one wish and a sole cause,
to it we pledge our allegiance
and give our word of honor for salvation.

Only he who is a born traitor
deserts from the fight.
Whoever is a true man doesn’t back down,
but falls, but falls and becomes a martyr to the cause.

We will hold the arms in our hands
to guard the Fatherland everywhere.
We won’t give up our rights,
cause the enemies here have no place.

For God himself has spoken,
from the earth nations keep on vanishing,
but Albania will live on,
cause for it, for it we keep on fighting.

Berati City

Berati, a city in south central Albania. Located near the Osum River, Berat is the commercial center for the surrounding agricultural region in which tobacco, grapes, and fruits are grown. The town of Berat, overshadowed to the east by mount Tomorr (2400m), is built on an ancient Illyrian dwelling site, which goes back to the sixth century B.C. Its innumerable monuments and beautiful and characteristic architecture of its houses have proclaimed Berat, a museum town.

Much of the city is built on terraces in the steep hills overlooking the Osum. The city has many historical monuments, including mosques dating from the 15th to 19th centuries and an 18th-century seven-arched stone bridge. A 13th-century citadel built along a ridge high above the river gorge houses a museum and several old churches.

The castle and its fortified walls are interrelated just like a mosaic where various stages of buildings such as " Kala ", " Mangalem ", " Gorice " which are settled on hills units of the toun make up an impressive example of our genius creative people.
Gorica, on the far side of the river ; Mangalem, on the fortress side of the river; and the residential quarter within the fortress (known as Kalaja). The houses on the fortress side which date from the seventeenth century, have typically two stores, with the upper storey slightly overhanging and rich wood carving within. With their wide facades and large windows, they seem to be built almost on top of one another, giving Berat its name of : The town of a thousand windows.

Berati has a population of 37,000 inhabitants. The hills and the mountain slopes around Berat, are planted with fig trees olive trees and other fruits.
Cult buildings and important monuments are well-known for a prominent architecture. Their foundations belong to paleochristian buildings. Monuments that preserve a complete view are of XIV centuries .

Within these monuments there are some masterpieces of our distinguished painters just like : Onufri, Nikolla , Qipriot , Cetir and many other nameless persons, whereas the institution fund of cultural monuments in Berat preserve abaut 400 religions objects and icons which in the greatest part of them as the result of the missing of financial sources are still unrestored.

Mosques and small mosques are brilliant examples in their rising skill of architecture execution, but in particular the iterior part of ceilings and stained glass windows too.
Institute affilation of cultural monuments in Berat is an institution that, restores and propogates all these inheritable values.

Museums such as Onufri, Ethnographic and Historic preserve and devote prior importance to this treasury placing the bases of a cultural tourism.
Being proposed as a world property, Berati is going to be sooner under protection. There is very developed home tourism in Berat where foreigner's preference is the characteristic native kitchen.

The distance of some main sea' beaches is about 80 km away. Taking in consideration the conditions of our country its difficult for a further preservation of monuments and art's works so Berati needs a tecnichal assistence of developed countries.

Tirana, the Capital City

Tirana, Albanian: Tiranë or Tirana also Tirona in the local dialect, is the capital and largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded in 1614 by Sulejman Pasha. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920.

The Municipality of Tirana lies on the river Ishëm, about 20 miles (32 km) inland and is located at (41.33°N, 19.82°E) in Tirana District, Tirana County. Tirana's average altitude is 110 meters (361 ft) above sea level and its highest point measures 1,828 m (5,997.38 ft) at Mali me Gropa. The city is on the same parallel as Naples, Madrid and Istanbul and on the same meridian as Budapest and Krakow.

In addition to Ishëm the Tiranë runs through the city, whereas the Lanë river, which is more often viewed in downtown Tirana, is a brook. The city also contains a total of four artificial lakes: Tirana Lake, Kodër-Kamëz Lake, Farka Lake, and Tufina Lake.

Early period to 1418

The area now occupied by the city of Tirane has been populated since Paleolithic times dating back 30,000 to 10,000 years ago as some tools were found near Mount Dajt's quarry terrain, as well as inside the Cave of the Pellumba. It can be said that Tirane's precincts are one of the earliest regions in Albania to be inhabited. Various remains discovered in fortresses, churches, villages and during urban constructions in and around Tirana, give evidence to a continuous activity throughout the chronological stages of human development. The oldest discovery in the area of Tirane has been a mosaic with several other remains of buildings of the later antiquity, found at the Kroi i Shengjinit (Fountain of Shengjin), near a Medieval temple. A castle, possibly called Tirkan, was built by Emperor Justinian in 520 AD and restored by Ahmed Pasha Toptani in the 18th century. The area had no especial importance in Illyrian and Classical times. There were medieval settlements in the area at Prezë, Ndroq, Lalmë and Petrelë. In 1418, Marin Barleti, an Albanian Catholic priest and scholar, the first to write The History of Albania, in a Venetian document of "Plenum Tyrenae", referred to this area as a small village. There are references to "Tirana e Madhe" and "Tirana e Vogël" (Greater and Smaller Tirana).

Under Ottoman rule

The records of the first land registrations under the Ottomans in 1431-32 show that Tirana consisted of 60 inhabited areas, with nearly 2,028 houses and 7,300 inhabitants. The 1583 census records show that Tirana had 110 inhabited areas, with 2,900 houses and 20,000 inhabitants. Süleiman Pasha Mulleti (or Sulejman Pashë Bargjini), a local ruler, established the Ottoman town in 1614 with a mosque, a commercial centre and a hammam (Turkish sauna). The town was located along caravan routes and grew rapidly in importance until the early 19th century.

During this period, the mosque in the centre of Tirana, the Et'hem Bey Mosque designed by Molla Bey of Petrela, began to be constructed. It employed the best artisans in the country and was completed in 1821 by Molla's son, who was also Sulejman Pasha's grandnephew. In 1800, the first new comers arrived in the settlement, the so-called ortodoksit. They were Vlachs from villages of Korçë and Pogradec who settled around the area of today's Artificial Lake of Tirana.[4] Later, they started to be known as the llacifac and were the first Christians to arrive after the foundation of the town. In 1807, Tirana became the center of the Sub-Prefecture of Krujë-Tirana. After 1816, Tirana languished under the control of the Toptani family of Krujë. In 1865, Tirana became a Sub-Prefecture of the newly created Vilayet of Shkodër and Sanjak of Durrës. The Albanian language started to be taught in Tirana's schools in 1889. The patriotic club "Bashkimi" was founded in 1908 while on 26 November 1912, the national flag was raised in agreement with Ismail Qemali. During the Balkan Wars, the town was temporarily occupied by the Serbian army, and in 1914-15, it took part in uprising of the villages lead by Haxhi Qamili.

As a capital city

On February 8, 1920, Tirana was chosen as the temporary capital of Albania, which had acquired independence in 1912, by the Congress of Lushnja. The city retained that status permanently on December 31, 1925. From 1920 to 1924 Tirana experienced attacks from the army of the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes and the forces of Zogu at the Shkalla e Tujanit (Step of Tujan). The first regulatory plan of the city was compiled in 1923 by Eshref Frashëri, and completed by the Geographic Institute of Florence. Durrës Street was opened in 1922 and called Nana Mbretneshë (Mother Queen). Many houses and surrounding properties were demolished to make way for it. In 1924, Tirana was the center of the Revolution of June lead by Fan S. Noli. Since 1925, when they were banned in Turkey, the Bektashis, an order of dervishes who take their name from Haji Bektash, a Sufi saint of the 13th and 14th centuries, made Tirana their primary settlement. The city was the venue where the Pact of Tirana was signed. The existing parliamentary building was raised in 1924 and first served as a club for officers. It was there, in September 1928, that King Zog I was crowned King.

Monarchy and World War II

The center of Tirana was the project of Florestano de Fausto and Armando Brasini, well known architects of the Benito Mussolini period in Italy. The Royal Palace (Palace of the Brigades), the Town Hall, the government ministry buildings, and the National Bank are their work. Dëshmorët e Kombit (National Martyrs) Boulevard was built in 1930 and named "Zogu I Boulevard". In the communist period, the part from Skanderbeg Square up to the train station was named "Stalin Boulevard". In 1939, Tirana was captured by Fascist forces. In November 1941, Enver Hoxha with other Albanian communists founded the Communist Party of Albania. The town became the center of the Albanian communists' in mobilizing the people of Tirana to fight against the Italian fascists and later Nazi Germans, while spreading ideological propaganda. The town was liberated after a fierce battle between the Communists and the people of Tirana against the German forces, on November 17, 1944. The Nazis eventually withdrew and the communists seized power.

Under communist rule

Following the coming to power of the communists, the city experienced a significant period of development in every aspect. On the urbanization field, the city saw the creation of socialist styled apartment complexes, and factories. In the 60s, the historical identity of the city faced a critical moment as the central square was redesigned. As a result, a number of buildings of cultural and historical significance were demolished to make way for the formation of modern day Skanderbeg Square. In the place of today's "Hotel Tirana International" building used to be established the Autocephalus Orthodox Cathedral, the biggest in the country. Near the grounds of today's Opera house at the Palace of Culture used to be the Old Bazaar (Pazari i Vjetër). The National Historic Museum is built on the grounds of the former building of the Municipality of Tirana, which was demolished in the 60s. The first structure which used to house the Parliament of Albania in King Zog's period, was turned into a children's theater and named the Dolls' Theater (Teatri i Kukullave).

In the political aspect, the city was visited by a number of important political figures. In 1959, Soviet president Nikita Khruschev visited Tirana, and while in the capital took the opportunity to lay the first brick on the foundations of the new Palace of Culture. In 1964, the Premier of the People's Republic of China, Zhou Enlai met with Enver Hoxha upon his arrival. In 1984, the city was visited by the Minister-President of the German state of Bavaria Franz Josef Strauss. Tirana served as the venue upon which the ceremony of death of the First Secretary of the Albanian Party of Labour took place, in 1985. Four years later, in 1989, Oskar Fischer, Minister for Foreign Matters of the German Democratic Republic visited Tirana.

The transition period

The post communist period is described to have been the worst one in terms of the urban development of the city. Tirana experienced a chaotic development as high rise buildings started to be constructed without planning, and illegal structures rose on public areas. New informal districts started to form around the city as internal migrants gathered from around the country. During this period Tirana was transofrmed from a centrally planned economy to a market oriented economy. All the builidings and the apartaments were denationalized. A modern water-supply system and electrical-supply system was build during 1992-1996. These systems form the backbone of the modern Tirana.

The rebirth

Tirana saw a radical change at the turn of the millennium. Beginning in the year 2000, Tirana's Municipality undertook a massive political campaign to return public space to the general public. The campaign called "Return to Identity" included the transformation of Lana River banks, the Rinia Park and others to their pre-1990 communist state. The overall infrastructure has improved as considerable number of roads have been reconstructed. More parks and squares have also been built giving Tirana a more "European" look. Common spaces between apartment buildings have been targeted by a subsequent campaign in bringing back green spaces and a vast number of illegal buildings have been demolished. It is observered that some existing green spaces are used for the construction of skyscrapers and multi-functional centers. Apartment buildings are being built on grounds of former residential houses. Tirana's mayor, Edi Rama, has led an initiative to paint the façades of Tirana's buildings in bright colours, although interiors of those building are still falling into ruins.

There are future regulatory and building plans for Tirana. Some of them include: Skanderbeg's Square Rehabilitation, The Zone of the Lake, Priority Zone "E", etc.

Demographics

As of September 2008, the city's urban population was officially estimated at 616,396.

In 1703, Tirana had about 4,000 inhabitants and by 1820 the number tripled to 12,000. The first census, conducted in 1923 (a few years after Tirana became capital city of Albania) showed a total population of 10,845.

During the 1950s, Tirana experienced rapid industrial growth, and the population increased to about 137,000 by 1960.

After the end of communist rule in 1991, Tirana experienced its fastest population growth as people from rural areas moved to the capital in search of a better life. In 1990, Tirana had 250,000 inhabitants, but the large-scale influx since then from other parts of the country has increased the population to well over 800,000.

Health

The largest hospital in Tirana is called Mother Theresa Hospital (Qëndra Spitalore Universitare Nënë Tereza), which is associated with University of Tirana, Faculty of Medicine. The Hospital is a 1,456-bed facility that offers comprehensive inpatient tertiary care to over 12,000 patients annually. The hospital is currently undergoing major changes in infrastructure and equipment.

Climate

Tirana has a generally temperate Mediterranean climate.The climate is characterized by warm to hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Csb type from Koppen's climate classification. The average temperature varies from a low of −3 °C (27 °F) in February to a high of 35 °C (95 °F) in August which is also the driest month, with around 3 cm of precipitation on average. The wettest months are November, and December averaging around 19 cm. Snow is rare, but negative temperatures are registered pretty often in Tirana. Winters usually start around 20 November and last till the middle of March. November's average temperature is 9–10 °C (48 to(-) 50 °F) and snow is rare in this month,or never occurs. Last time it was registered was in 1981. December is the coldest month in 30% of winters. Its average temperature is 4–7 °C (39 to(-) 45 °F). Snow falls like 1 or 2 (the coldest winters) times a year, and it usually falls on the last days of December or February. The average temperatures are 6–8 °C (43 to(-) 46 °F) in January, 4–6 °C (39 to(-) 43 °F) in February,9 °C (48 °F) in March and 13 °C (55 °F) in April. The first ten days of January,and the first 10 days of February are the coldest of the winter,where temperatures can go down to −11 °C (12.2 °F) (Record Low). Winters can be two types. Mild with 10–13 °C (50 to(-) 55 °F) temperatures and rainy, or cold and dry.

Culture

The main cultural and artistic institutions of Tirana are the National Theater, the National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania, the National Gallery of Figurative Arts of Albania (Galeria Kombëtare e Arteve), and the Ensemble of Folk Music and Dances. Another cultural event includes performances of renown world composers performed by the Symphonic Orchestra of the Albanian Radio and Television. The city has been a venue for the Tirana Biennale and Tirana Jazz Festival.

Tirana is home to historical and cultural sites:

* Tirana Castle (Kalaja e Tiranës), the historical core of the capital
* Church of Kroi of Shëngjin (Kisha e Kroit të Shëngjinit)
* Prezë Castle (Kalaja e Prezës)
* Petrelë Castle (Kalaja e Petrelës)
* Tirana's Mosque of Et'hem Bej (Xhamia e Tiranës)
* The Center of Tirana, as a monumental ensemble,
* The Bridge of Tobaccoes (Ura e Tabakëve),
* Kapllan Pasha's Grave (Varri i Kapllan Pashës)
* The Clock Tower (Kulla e Sahatit)

Tirana has 8 public libraries, one being the National Library of Albania (Biblioteka Kombëtare), 5 museum-houses and 56 cultural monuments.

Education

Tirana is host to the University of Tirana, Polytechnic University of Tirana, Agricultural University of Tirana, Academy of Physical Education and Sports, national and international academic research institutions, as well as NGOs.

Tirana has seen the creation of a vast number of private academic institutions. They include University of New York, Tirana, Luarasi University, Zoja e Këshillit të Mirë, Academy of Film and Multimedia "Marubi", and many others.

Additional public academic institutions include the Academy of Music and Arts of Albania, the Academy of Sciences of Albania, the Skanderbeg Military University and the Institute of the Ministry of the Interior.

Districts

The Municipality of Tirana is divided into 11 smaller administrative units referred to as Njësi Bashkiake (Municipal Units). These are made up of their own mayor and council, and sometimes are also known as Mini-Bashki (Mini-Municipality).

In 2000, the centre of Tirana, from the central campus of Tirana University up to Skanderbeg Square was declared the place of Cultural Assembly, and given special claims to state protection. In the same year, the area began a process of restoration under the name ‘Return to Identity’. The area to the west of the university, adjacent to Shën Prokopi Park, was formerly reserved for the occupation of important government and party officials. It remains a desirable residential area.

Economy

Tirana is Albania's major industrial centre. It has experienced rapid growth and established many new industries since the 1920s. The principal industries include agricultural products and machinery, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and metal products.

Tirana began to develop in the beginning of the 16th century, when a bazaar was established, and its craftsmen manufactured silk and cotton fabrics, leather, ceramics and iron, silver, and gold artifacts. Sited in a fertile plain, the Tirana area exported 2,600 barrels of olive oil and 14,000 packages of tobacco to Venice by 1769. In 1901, it had 140,000 olive trees, 400 oil mills, and 700 shops. The TID tower at 85 meters is being constructed in the city. It will redefine architecture in Albania.Tirana has also huge trade centers like City Park at 3 km square.

Environment

The city suffers from problems related to overpopulation, such as waste management, lack of running water and electricity as well as extremely high levels of air pollution from the 300,000 cars moving around the city. The problem is exacerbated by aging infrastructure. Despite the problems, Tirana has also experienced a very rapid growth in the construction of new buildings.[15] In recent years pollution has worsened as the number of cars has increased by several orders of magnitude. These are mostly older, diesel cars that pollute much more than the newer models in circulation elsewhere in Europe. Additionally, most of the fuel used in Albania contains larger amounts of sulfur and lead than that allowed in European Union countries. In recent years pollution from construction has become a major concern for the inhabitants of the city. Another peril to the city comes from untreated solid waste. The National Park (former Saint Prokopius Park), a vast forested park in the outskirts of the city, has some effect on absorbing CO2 emissions. Tirana is cleaned by government workers everyday, and trees have been planted around many sidewalks. Mayor Edi Rama has promised that he will plant 100,000 more trees in Tirana. He has claimed that by 2012-2014 Tirana will have the cleanest air in the Balkans. This will increase Albania's life expectancy. So far over 2000 trees have been planted.

Media

Tirana is the media hub of Albania. The city is home to the headquarters of the Albanian Radio and Television (RTSH), Albania's public broadcaster, and national commercial broadcasters such as Top Channel and TV Klan. Numerous radio stations operate in the capital, the most notable being Radio Tirana, followed by commercial Top Albania Radio and Plus 2 Radio. Tirana is home to the publication of a vast number of dailies: Shqip, Zëri i Popullit, Shekulli, Gazeta Shqiptare and Koha Jonë being the most famous.

Notable people

Below are some of the most notable personalities born in Tirana or that spent most of their lives in Tirana:

* Albert Brojka - Former Tirana Mayor
* Aleksander Meksi - Former Prime Minister
* Beqir Balluku - Former member of the Politburo he was accused as organizer of a coup d'etat in 1974, and sentenced to death.
* Bamir Topi - current President of Albania
* Blendi Nallbani- football player
* Edi Rama - current Tirana Mayor
* Elsa Lila - singer
* Erjon Bogdani - football player
* Essad Pasha - politician
* Fatos Nano - former Prime Minister of Albania
* Inva Mula - opera singer
* Kledi Kadiu - dancer and actor who lives and works in Italy
* Leka, Crown Prince of Albania - heir of King Zog I
* Masiela Lusha - actress, poet, and writer
* Panajot Pano - soccer player
* Pandeli Majko - twice Prime Minister of Albania
* Rexhep Meidani - former President of Albania
* Saimir Kumbaro - film director
* Sali Kelmendi - Former Tirana Mayor
* Vedat Kokona - Albanian translator

Sports

Tirana is the major centre for sport in Albania. Tirana's football clubs are the biggest in Albania. Tirana has two stadiums, Qemal Stafa stadium with a capacity of 20,000 people. This is the main and biggest stadium in Albania. The second stadium is Selman Stermasi stadium which can hold 11,000 people. The Tirana sportive infrastructure is developing fast because of Municipality and MTKRS investments. From 2007 Tirana Municipality has build up to 80 sport gardens in most of Tirana neighbourhoods.

Transport

Municipal, national and international transport links have developed over recent years as demand has increased. Until recent years, overland connections through Greece and Montenegro have had various problems with bureaucracy or security. The following section is liable to change and is only indicative.

Bus

Local transport within Tirana is by bus or taxi. Group taxis (known as 'furgons') running multiple passengers operate on many pre-determined but unofficial routes and departure times are dictated by when sufficient passenger numbers justufy running costs. Coach and minibus services also run, again according to demand, to the coast and northern and southern Albania from different locations in Tirana. International coach services connect to Greece, via Korçë or Kakavije, to Kosovo via the new Durres-Morine highway, and to the Republic of Macedonia via Struge.

Rail

There are regular passenger services to Durrës and Pogradec, via Elbasan. The railway station is north of Skanderbeg Square, in Boulevard Zogu I. There are no international passenger services, although there is a freight-only railway through Shkodër to Montenegro (though this is currently disused).

Air

Tirana International Airport Mother Theresa (Nënë Tereza in Albanian), also known as Rinas Airport, was reconstructed in 2007. It is located 15 kilometres northwest of the city, off the road to Durrës. Airlines using Rinas include Albanian Airlines. Flights run to Athens, London, Rimini, Bari, Genoa, Rome, Bologna, Munich, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Vienna among other places. It is one of the biggest airports in the region.

Several foreign airlines also serve Rinas Airport: Alitalia (from Rome and Milan), British Airways (from London Gatwick Airport), Austrian Airlines (from Vienna), Adria Airways (Ljubljana), Jat Airways (Belgrade), Malev (Budapest), Olympic Air (Athens), Hemus Air (Sofia) and Turkish Airlines (Istanbul). In summer there is a direct charter flight from JFK, New York.

Sea

Tirana uses the port city of Durrës that is only 36 km distant from the capital. Passenger ferries from Durrës sail to Trieste, Ancona, Otranto, Brindisi, Bari, Lecce, Genova (Italy), Zadar, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Maribor, Koper (Slovenia), Gdansk (Poland), Bar (Montenegro), Corfu (Greece), etc.

Around Skanderbeg Square

* Skanderbeg Square: the central hub of the city, named after the Albanian hero, Skanderbeg. Around the square can be found:
* Skanderbeg monument "Skënderbeu", raised in 1968, is the work of Odhise Paskali in collaboration with Andrea Mana and Janaq Paço. It commemorated the 500th anniversary of the death of the national hero.
* Palace of Culture of Tirana (Pallati i Kulturës). The Palace was completed in 1963 on the site of the former Trade of Tirana building, with the first brick being placed by Soviet president Nikita Khruschev in 1959. Inside the Palace can be found:
o National Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Albania
o National Library of Albania
* Et'hem Bey Mosque: at the south east corner of Skanderbeg Square - begun in 1789 by Molla Bey and finished in 1821 by his son, Haxhi Et'hem Bey, great-grandson of Sulejman Pasha.
* Clock Tower of Tirana ("Kulla e Sahatit") next to the Et'hem Bey Mosque, was started by Haxhi Et’hem Bej around 1821-22 and was finished with the help of the richest families of Tirana. Its installation was the work of the Tufina family. In 1928 the Albanian state bought a modern German clock and the tower was raised to a height of 35 metres. The clock was damaged during World War II and it was repaired in July 1946.
* Albanian National Historic Museum, built in 1981. The ornamental mosaic on its facade is called "The Albanians".

Other Museums

* National Gallery of Figurative Arts of Albania was created in 1976 and includes around 4,000 works by Albanian and foreign artists.
* International Center of Culture of Albania, formerly the Enver Hoxha Museum, was inaugurated in 1988. Popularly referred to as "the Pyramid", it was designed by a group of architects under the direction of the dictator's daughter, Pranvera Hoxha, and her husband Klement Kolaneci.
* Presidential Palace of Tirana, also known as the Palace of Brigades, was built by King Zog as his residence in the 1930s.
o Government buildings: at the south end of Skanderbeg Square

Important Religious Objects

* The headquarters of the Bektashi Sufi Order can be found in the eastern edge of the city.
* Roman Catholic Church of Saint Paul: completed in 2001, the largest church in Tirana.
* Orthodox Church of St Prokop, built in 1780.
* Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Tirana, built in 1865, and paid for by Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria.
* The mosque that is also the tomb of Kapllan Hysa, near the monument to Ushtari i Panjohur (‘the unknown soldier’), built in 1816.

Old Bridges

* Tabak Bridge "Ura e Tabakëve" (in front of the Parliament building)
* Terzi Bridge "Ura e Terzive" (on Elbasani Street).

Forts

* Petrelë Castle, 12 kilometres from Tirana, dates from the fourth century BC. It took its current form in the 13th century, during Kingdom of Albania era. Later it became the property of Karl Thopia and eventually the Kastrioti family.

Other

* Mother Albania monument, 12 metres high: it was inaugurated in the Dëshmoret e Kombit (Martyrs of the Nation) cemetery in 1971.
* Academy of Sciences of Albania building was completed in April 1972. The building housed the first Albanian Parliament, and is depicted on the reverse of the Albanian 100 lekë banknote issued in 1996.