Industry of Albania factories of the city. Albanian economy. Abstract: Socio-economic development of Albania Products for export

national products

Burek with cheese and egg (Burek me djathë dhe vezë), Moussaka, Pilawa, Chevapchichi, Razhnichi, Meatballs "Chofte", Feta cheese (Djathë "Feta"), Yogurt "Kos" ("Kos"), Tuscan Cannelloni (Cannelloni në Toscana), Dried fruit "Oshaf" (Fruta e thatë "Oshaf"), White wheat bread (Bukë gruri), Cornbread ( Bukë misri), Rakia (Rakia), Shesh (Shesh), Zee (Komunikim).

Export to countries

Europe 93% Predominantly Italy, Serbia, Greece

Asia 5.6% Predominantly China, Turkey

North America 0.99% Predominantly USA

Africa 0.57% Predominantly Libya, Egypt

National drink - Skanderberg cognac

The pride of Albania is Skanderberg cognac. Its taste and organic qualities are so good that they have earned several international medals, and the drink itself is successfully exported. Skanderberg in Albania was considered a national hero, who was sung in songs. He is also known as Giorgi Kastrioti. The years of Skanderberg's life fell on the XIV-XIII centuries BC. He made a huge contribution to the anti-Ottoman movement of those times. Cognac is produced at the winery, called the "Liquor Factory". It was first produced in 1967. The composition of the drink includes mountain herbs, fruits, sugar syrup, caramel, etc. Cognac is made and stored only in oak barrels, which give it a special color and delicate aroma. Stores sell Skanderberg aged 3.5 years, 5, 6 and 13 years.

Albanian food industry does not use products containing GMOs

famous dish

One of the national dishes of Albania is Fergesa tirane, or in a simple way - Tirana casserole. The origin of the dish is attributed to the capital of the country - Tirana. Locals most often serve it for lunch. The main ingredients include paprika, tomatoes and pickled cheese, which is sometimes replaced with cottage cheese. All of the above is pre-fried, then baked in the oven. Ferges is popular among vegetarians who eat it with potatoes or rice. The main part of the population cooks it with meat, usually with veal. In this case, the Tirana casserole serves as a side dish. In restaurants, this dish is served, most often, with bread for dipping. Fergesa tirane is not only tasty, but also inexpensive - the price for it in catering establishments rarely exceeds $ 3.

Products for export

food industry

In Albania, a rather revered product is bread: wheat, rye and corn. Without it, the inhabitants of the country cannot imagine a single meal - even the local invitation to the table is translated as "let's go eat bread." Especially popular among Albanians are corn varieties that have been baked since ancient times. Previously, ordinary workers, mountaineers, ate such bread. Now corn and wheat cakes are neither more nor less than the national pride of the country. Here they are known under the name "burek". Cakes are prepared from many layers of dough, rolled out by hand. A filling is laid between the layers, which can be absolutely anything - greens, minced meat, custard. Burek is considered the most popular snack in Albania. It is sold in bakeries and fast food kiosks, served in cafes and restaurants, cooked at home for the festive table. Locals even snack on tortillas on their way to work.

There is no McDonald's in the country

Agriculture

The natural conditions of the country cannot be called favorable, but the share of the agricultural sector here is about 18% of GDP. The number of exported products is growing every year - in 2016 it was estimated at 855 million dollars. About 25% of the territory of Albania is allocated for this industry. Agriculture here specializes in the cultivation of tobacco, figs, wheat, corn, potatoes, etc. The specifics of the country include the active collection of medicinal and aromatic herbs. Albania is one of the top 20 olive growing countries in the world. Animal husbandry is actively engaged here: the number of livestock farms and apiaries is in the tens. Beekeeping is quite developed here: each region produces special honey, there are even quite rare species, for example, chestnut.

Fisheries in the country

Durres

Various fish soups, gyuvech stew with potatoes and vegetables, tave-kozi lamb in yoghurt are tasty here.

For 1970-2018 Albanian industry at current prices increased by $1.1 billion (2.3 times) to $1.9 billion; the change was $0.29 billion due to a population growth of $0.78 million, and $0.78 billion due to a $264.9 per capita industry growth. The average annual growth of the Albanian industry was at the level of 0.022 billion dollars or 1.8%. The average annual growth of Albanian industry in constant prices was 0.61%. The share in the world decreased by 0.068%. The share in Europe decreased by 0.13%. The industry's minimum was in 1997 ($0.21 billion). The industry peaked in 2018 ($1.9 billion).

For 1970-2018 industry per capita in Albania increased by $264.9 (up 71.7%) to $634.3. The average annual growth of industry per capita in current prices was at the level of $5.5 or 1.1%.

Albanian industry, 1970-1997 (fall)

For the period 1970-1997. the industry of Albania in current prices decreased by 0.59 billion dollars (by 73.9%) to 0.21 billion dollars; the change was $0.35 billion due to a population growth of $0.94 million, and also $0.94 billion due to a $302.2 drop in industry per capita. The average annual industrial growth in Albania was at the level of -0.022 billion dollars or -4.8%. The average annual growth of Albanian industry in constant prices is -2.2%. The share in the world decreased by 0.075%. The share in Europe decreased by 0.17%.

During 1970-1997. industry per capita in Albania increased by $302.2 (up 81.8%) to $67.1. The average annual growth of industry per capita in current prices is -11.2 dollars or -6.1%.

Albanian industry, 1997-2018 (growth)

During 1997-2018 Albanian industry at current prices increased by $1.7 billion (9.0 times) to $1.9 billion; the change was -0.011 billion dollars due to a fall in population by 0.16 million, and also by 1.7 billion dollars due to the growth of industry per capita by 567.2 dollars. The average annual growth of the industry in Albania amounted to 0.079 billion dollars or 11.0%. The average annual growth of Albanian industry in constant prices is 4.3%. The share in the world increased by 0.0072%. The share in Europe increased by 0.038%.

For the period 1997-2018. industry per capita in Albania increased by $567.2 (9.5 times) to $634.3. The average annual growth of industry per capita in current prices was $27.0 or 11.3%.

Albanian industry, 1970

Industry of Albania in 1970 it was 0.79 billion dollars, ranked 62nd in the world and was at the level of the industry of Cuba (0.85 billion dollars), the industry of Hong Kong (0.78 billion dollars), the industry of Ireland (0.76 billion dollars). The share of Albanian industry in the world was 0.078%.

In 1970, it was 369.3 dollars, ranked 39th in the world and was at the level of industry per capita in Bulgaria (393.1 dollars), industry per capita in Czechoslovakia (374.9 dollars), industry per capita in Poland (351.3 dollars). The industry per capita in Albania was more than the industry per capita in the world ($274.1) by $95.2.

Comparison of industry between Albania and neighbors in 1970. The industry of Albania was less than the industry of Greece (2.8 billion dollars) by 71.3%. Industry per capita in Albania was larger than industry per capita in Greece ($320.2) by 15.3%.

Comparison of Albanian industry and leaders in 1970. The industry of Albania was less than the industry of the USA (288.7 billion dollars) by 99.7%, the industry of the USSR (164.8 billion dollars) by 99.5%, the industry of Japan (80.8 billion dollars) by 99%, the industry of Germany (77.4 billion . dollars) by 99%, UK industry (41.4 billion dollars) by 98.1%. Industry per capita in Albania was less than industry per capita in the US ($1,377.4) by 73.2%, industry per capita in Germany ($985.6) by 62.5%, industry per capita in Japan ($770.2) by 52%, industry per capita in Great Britain ($744.2) by 50.4%, industry per capita in the USSR ($679.8) by 45.7%.

The potential of Albanian industry in 1970. With industry per capita at the same level as US industry per capita ($1,377.4), Albania's industry would be $3.0 billion, 3.7 times the actual level. With industry per capita at the same level as industry per capita in Europe ($632.1), Albania's industry would be $1.4 billion, which is 71.1% more than the actual level. With industry per capita at the same level as industry per capita in Southern Europe ($401.4), Albania's industry would be $0.86 billion, 8.7% more than the actual level.

Albanian industry, 1997

Industry of Albania in 1997 it was $0.21 billion, ranked 159th in the world and was at the level of Chad's industry ($0.20 billion). The share of Albanian industry in the world was 0.0029%.

Industry per capita in Albania in 1997 it was 67.1 dollars, ranked 173rd in the world and was at the level of industry per capita in Kyrgyzstan (71.3 dollars), industry per capita in Comoros (63.9 dollars). The industry per capita in Albania was less than the industry per capita in the world ($1,226.7) by $1,159.6.

Comparison of industry between Albania and neighbors in 1997. The industry of Albania was larger than the industry of Montenegro (0.2 billion dollars) by 27.7%, but was less than the industry of Greece (17.8 billion dollars) by 98.8%, the industry of Serbia (4.8 billion dollars) by 95.7%. Industry per capita in Albania was less than industry per capita in Greece ($1,623.4) by 95.9%, industry per capita in Serbia ($493.7) by 86.4%, industry per capita in Montenegro ($263.0) by 74.5%.

Comparison of Albanian industry and leaders in 1997. The industry of Albania was less than the industry of the USA (1671.4 billion dollars) by 100%, the industry of Japan (1178.8 billion dollars) by 100%, the industry of Germany (510.8 billion dollars) by 100%, the industry of China ( 398.4 billion dollars) by 99.9%, UK industry (303.1 billion dollars) by 99.9%. Industry per capita in Albania was less than industry per capita in Japan ($9,288.9) by 99.3%, industry per capita in Germany ($6,267.0) by 98.9%, industry per capita in the USA ($6,141.7). ) by 98.9%, industry per capita in the UK ($5,195.4) by 98.7%, industry per capita in China ($316.5) by 78.8%.

The potential of Albanian industry in 1997. With industry per capita at the same level as Japan's industry per capita ($9,288.9), Albania's industry would be $28.7 billion, 138.4 times the actual level. With industry per capita at the same level as Southern Europe's industry per capita ($3,020.1), Albania's industry would be $9.3 billion, 45.0 times the actual level. With industry per capita at the same level as industry per capita in Europe ($2,962.8), Albania's industry would be $9.2 billion, 44.2 times the actual level. With industry per capita at the same level as that of Greece ($1,623.4), the best neighbor, Albania's industry would be $5.0 billion, 24.2 times the actual level. With industry per capita at the same level as industry per capita in the world ($1,226.7), Albania's industry would be $3.8 billion, 18.3 times the actual level.

Industry of Albania, 2018

Industry of Albania in 2018 it was 1.9 billion dollars, ranked 137th in the world and was at the level of the industry of Mauritius (1.9 billion dollars), the industry of Nepal (1.9 billion dollars), the industry of Niger (1.8 billion dollars). The share of Albanian industry in the world was 0.010%.

Industry per capita in Albania in 2018 was equal to 634.3 dollars, ranked 134th in the world and was at the level of industry per capita in Morocco (668.7 dollars), industry per capita in Grenada (657.3 dollars), industry per capita in Laos (633.6 dollars), industry per capita in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ($627.7), industry per capita in Ukraine ($623.3). The industry per capita in Albania was less than the industry per capita in the world ($2,420.7) by $1,786.5.

Comparison of industry in Albania and neighbors in 2018. The industry of Albania was 3.3 times larger than the industry of Montenegro (0.6 billion dollars), but was less than the industry of Greece (28.8 billion dollars) by 93.5%, the industry of Serbia (10.6 billion dollars) by 82.5%. Industry per capita in Albania was less than industry per capita in Greece ($2,586.2) by 75.5%, industry per capita in Serbia ($1,516.9) by 58.2%, industry per capita in Montenegro ($894.6) by 29.1%.

Comparison of Albanian industry and leaders in 2018. The industry of Albania was less than the industry of China (4612.5 billion dollars) by 100%, the industry of the USA (3050.0 billion dollars) by 99.9%, the industry of Japan (1133.3 billion dollars) by 99.8%, the industry of Germany (904.1 billion dollars) by 99.8%, the industry of India (542.2 billion dollars) by 99.7%. Industry per capita in Albania was greater than industry per capita in India ($400.5) by 58.4%, but was less than industry per capita in Germany ($10,986.5) by 94.2%, industry per capita in the USA ($9,333.8) by 93.2%, industry per capita in Japan ($8,910.5) by 92.9%, industry per capita in China ($3,259.7) by 80.5%.

Potential of Albanian industry in 2018. With industry per capita at the same level as industry per capita in Germany ($10,986.5), Albania's industry would be $32.2 billion, 17.3 times the actual level. With industry per capita at the same level as industry per capita in Europe ($5,300.5), Albania's industry would be $15.6 billion, which is 8.4 times the actual level. With industry per capita at the same level as industry per capita in Southern Europe ($4,494.2), Albania's industry would be $13.2 billion, which is 7.1 times the actual level. With industry per capita at the same level as that of Greece ($2,586.2), the best neighbor, Albania's industry would be $7.6 billion, 4.1 times the actual level. With industry per capita at the same level as industry per capita in the world ($2,420.7), Albania's industry would be $7.1 billion, which is 3.8 times the actual level.

Authors: S. A. Tarkhov (Nature: physical-geographical sketch, Population, Economy), B. A. Strashun (State system), A. A. Zarshchikov (Nature: geological structure and minerals), V. Khusainov (Population ), G. L. Arsh (Historical essay), G. A. Nalyotov (Armed forces), V. I. Linder (Sports), G. V. Pruttskov (Mass media), P. S. Pavlinov. (Architecture and fine arts), V. S. Modestov (Literature, Theater, Cinema)Authors: S. A. Tarkhov (Nature: a physical-geographical sketch, Population, Economy), B. A. Strashun (State system), A. A. Zarshchikov (Nature: geological structure and minerals); >>

ALBANIA (Shqipëria), Republic of Albania (Republika e Shqipërisë).

General information

A. is a state in southeastern Europe, in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula. It is stretched from north to south along the coast of the Adriatic and Ionian Seas for 340 km. The Strait of Otranto separates Argentina from Italy. It borders Serbia in the northeast, Montenegro in the northwest, Macedonia in the east, and Greece in the southeast. The length of the land borders is 691 km, the length of the coastline is 362 km. The area is 28.7 thousand km 2. Population 2886.0 thousand people (2016). The capital is Tirana. The official language is Albanian. Monetary unit - lek. Administrative-territorial division: 12 regions (kark) (table), which include 36 districts (reti).

Administrative-territorial division

A. is a member of the UN (1955), OSCE (1991), IBRD (1991), IMF (1991), Council of Europe (1996), WTO (2000), NATO (2009).

Political system

A. is a unitary state. The Constitution of Azerbaijan was adopted on 10/21/1998. The form of government is a parliamentary republic.

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

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

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

Nature

Relief

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

Geological structure and minerals

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

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

Climate

On the coastal lowland, the climate is subtropical Mediterranean, with warm, humid winters and hot summers. Average air temperatures in January are from 4 °C in the north to 7 °C in the south, in July, respectively, 25 and 28 °C. Atmospheric precipitation (1000–1800 mm per year) falls mainly in autumn and winter. Droughts are frequent in the southwestern part of Africa in summer. It is cooler in the mountains, the air temperature in winter is down to -20 ° C and atmospheric precipitation is up to 2500 mm per year.

Inland waters

Rivers flow for the most part in a latitudinal direction from the mountainous regions of Africa to the Adriatic Sea; the largest of them are Drin (with tributaries of the White and Black Drin), Mati, Erzeni, Shkumbini, Semani (with tributaries of Devoli and Osumi), Vyosa (with tributaries of Drino and Shushitsa). In the mountainous part of the river there are rapids, with deep valleys-gorges, high flow rates and significant reserves of hydropower. A system of irrigation canals has been built between the Shkumbini and Seman rivers. Lake Shkoder (Skadar) is located in the northwest of Azerbaijan, and lakes Ohrid, Prespa, and Mikra-Prespa are located in the east. Along the sea coast there are swampy lagoons and small lakes. Annually renewable water resources are 30.2 km 3 , water supply is 10.4 thousand m 3 per person per year (2014). No more than 4% of the available water resources are used annually, of which 43% is used for domestic water supply, 40% for agricultural needs, and 17% is consumed by industrial enterprises (2006).

Soils, flora and fauna

On the sea coast and in the lower parts of the slopes, subtropical brown soils of dry forests and shrubs predominate. On the coastal lowland and in the mountains, brown forest soils are found, which change with height to brown podzolized forest and mountain-meadow soils. Forests cover 31% of the territory (2015). Up to a height of 1000 m - oak and hornbeam, above - beech and coniferous forests; at altitudes over 1700 m - alpine meadows. The coastal lowlands are dominated by evergreen shrubs such as maquis, boxwood, shiblyak and other formations of summer green plants.

A. has a high level of biological diversity. 476 species of vascular plants, 70 species of mammals, over 320 species of birds, 36 species of reptiles and 15 species of amphibians are known. Brown bear, wolf, roe deer, and chamois are found in sparsely populated mountainous regions; in the coastal part there are many waterfowl (curly pelican, small cormorant). The Atlantic sturgeon lives in coastal waters (almost the entire population of this rare species is concentrated in Argentina).

State and environmental protection

A high and very high degree of degradation of the soil cover due to erosion as a result of deforestation and overgrazing is noted in ¼ of the country's territory. The rate of biodiversity decline is high (over the past 25 years, the populations of over 120 animal species have decreased by 50%). The national Red Book includes 405 plant species and 575 animal species. The national system of protected areas includes 802 territories, occupying 12.5% ​​of the country's area, including the national parks Shebenik-Yablanica, Daiti, Lyura, Tomori (2015).

Population

98% of the population of A. are Albanians(2011 census). In the south (south of the regions of Vlora and Gjirokastra) live Greeks (0.9%), in the east (northeast of the region of Korca) - Macedonians (0.2%); Gypsies, Aromanians, Serbs and others also live. Before the beginning 1990s population increased rapidly due to high birth rates (1.1 million in 1945; 1.6 million in 1960; 3 million in 1986; 3.3 million in 1990), but for 1990–2015 decreased by 12.1%, mainly due to a decrease in the birth rate and mass emigration (3.3 per 1,000 people in 2015). The birth rate (12.9 per 1000 people in 2015) is constantly declining (in 1960 - about 5 children per 1 woman, in 2015 - 1.5), the death rate is 6.6 per 1000 inhabitants. (2015). Age structure (2015): up to 15 years old - 18.8%, 15–65 years old - 69.9%, 65 years and older - 11.3%. Average age 32 (2015; 27.4 in 1990). The average life expectancy of the population of Azerbaijan is 75.5 years for men and 81 years for women. The policy of assimilation of the Greeks, carried out since 1975, led to a reduction in their numbers and mass repatriation in 1990–91. In the 1990s more than 300 thousand Albanians left the country. In 1999, about 450,000 Albanian refugees arrived in Albania from Kosovo. The average population density is 100.6 people/km2 (2016). The most densely populated are the western coastal regions (approx. 33% of the country's population; density up to 400 people / km 2 in the Durres region) and the Korchinskaya hollow; mountainous areas are poorly populated (20–40 people/km2). Urban population 57.4% (2015; 20% in 1950; 33% in 1995). The largest cities (thousand people, 2013): Tirana 622, Durres 204, Vlora 135, Elbasan 124, Shkoder 112, Korca 87, Fier 85. The economically active population is 53.7% (2014), of which they are employed in agriculture 41.8%, in industry - 11.4%, in the service sector - 46.8%. The official unemployment rate is 17.3% (2015).

Religion

OK. 60% of the population of Albania are Muslims, approx. 17% - Christians (including approx. 10% - Catholics and approx. 7% - Orthodox), approx. 23% do not identify themselves with any religious group (2011 census).

The majority of Muslims are Sunnis, there are adherents of the Bektashiyya Sufi order (in 1925–67 Armenia was its world center). There are 2 metropolias and 3 dioceses of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as the apostolic administration of the Uniate (see. Uniatism) of the Albanian Greek Catholic Church. Orthodox parishes - in the jurisdiction Albanian Orthodox Church.

Christian communities appeared in Armenia in the 1st century; their foundation, according to legend, is associated with the activities of the Apostle Paul, who appointed his disciple Caesar as the first bishop of the city of Dyrrhachium (now Durres). In con. 15th c. the territory of modern Albania was occupied by the Ottoman Turks, but until the 2nd half. 16th century the majority of the population remained Christian. As a result of active Islamization in the 17th century. Armenia became a predominantly Muslim country. The Albanian Orthodox Autocephalous Church was established in 1922 (autocephaly was recognized in 1937). In 1967, the Albanian government launched repressions against all believers, and all mosques and churches were closed. In 1991, after the first free elections were held and the constitutional guarantees of religious freedom were adopted, a revival of both Islam and Christianity began in Armenia.

Historical outline

Albania from antiquity to the beginning of the 16th century.

The oldest finds associated with human activity on the territory of Armenia date back to the Middle Paleolithic (Dzare). The Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic are represented by a number of monuments, including stratified cave sites (Konispoli). Monuments of the Bronze Age and Hallstatt belong to the circle of cultures of the North-West. Balkans associated with Illyrians. From con. 7 - beginning. 6th century BC e. on the coast of A., the Greek colonies of Epidamnus (modern. Durres), Apollonia Illyrian and others. In the early Iron Age, settlements with stone walls appeared in hard-to-reach places (around the city of Shkoder and others). For 4-3 centuries. A number of political associations of local tribes headed by kings are known: Enkelei, Taulantians, Ardians, and others. After several wars in 168, the Illyrian tribes submitted to Rome; n. e. new cities arose here (Scampa, Clodiana, etc.); the strategically and economically important road Egnatia connected the coast of A. with Thessalonica on the Aegean Sea. Already from the 1st c. there is data on Christian communities. After the division of the Roman Empire in 395 A. as part of the provinces of New Epirus, Old Epirus, Prevalitana retreats to its eastern part. In the 5th c. the Goths repeatedly passed through A. From the 6th–7th centuries A. is located in the zone of Slavic colonization (to the west of Lake Ohrid, the Berzites tribe is localized). Based on local and imported traditions under Byzantine influence by the 7th century. in A. and Western Macedonia is formed Koman culture. In coastal Armenia, Byzantine administration has been preserved (since the 9th century, it has been part of the Dyrrachian theme). In 989 Armenia was conquered by the Bulgarian Tsar Samuil, and after the defeat of the First Bulgarian Kingdom in 1018, Byzantine administration was restored. Under Byzantine and Bulgarian influence, Orthodoxy spread throughout the territory of Armenia (the Dirrach metropolis of the Patriarchate of Constantinople). Attacks by the Normans began in 1081, briefly capturing part of the coast of Armenia. In 1096, the crusaders passed through the territory of Armenia. After the defeat of Byzantium during the 4th crusade (1204), Dyrrhachium captured Venice on the coast of A., the influence of the Roman Catholic Church increased, in the end. 13 - 1st floor. 14th century coastal A. is included in the Kingdom of Naples. In con. 12 - 1st floor. 13th centuries in the north of A. there was the Arberian Principate - the first own political formation Albanians. Most of A. in the 2nd floor. 13th c. part of the Despotate of Epirus. From con. 12th c. part of A. belongs to Serbia, and in the middle. 14th c. it is almost completely included in the Serbian-Greek kingdom Stefan Dusan. After its collapse, independent principalities existed on the territory of Armenia, headed by the feudal clans of Topia, Balshi, Muzaka, and others. Their internecine struggle facilitated the expansion of the Ottoman Turks, who after Battle of Kosovo 1389 regular trips to A. To the beginning. 15th c. the Turks, who intervened in the conflict between Balshi and Topia on the side of the latter, managed to conquer a significant part of Armenia. At the same time, some princely families were vassals of the Ottoman Empire only nominally and even supported Venice in its struggle against the Turks. In 1443, the anti-Ottoman struggle was led by Skanderbeg from the princely family of Kastrioti, who established himself in Kruja (Northern Asia). In 1444 he founded the so-called. The Lezha League of Albanian princes, which contributed to the temporary cessation of fragmentation and the rallying of the Arberians. An army of 12-15 thousand people was formed. After his death (1468), the league of princes disintegrated, and the Turks succeeded in completing the conquest of Azerbaijan: in 1478 Kruya fell, in 1479 Shkoder, and in 1501 Durres, which had been occupied since the end of the 14th century. under the rule of Venice.

Albania within the Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman conquest dealt a heavy blow to the economy and culture of Armenia and hindered its social and political development. The Ottoman military system was introduced in the country. The population was subjected to heavy taxes and duties. Albanians emigrated to other areas of the Ottoman Empire, southern Italy, and others. Unlike other Balkan countries, in Armenia the estate of military feudal lords turned out to be largely Albanian in origin: it included Albanian feudal families who converted to Islam. The territory of Armenia was included in the Rumeli Eyalet, which was divided into six sanjaks: Shkodrinsky, Dukagini, Elbasan, Ohrid, Vlora, and Delvina. However, in some mountainous regions (Himara, Great Malsia, Dukagini, Mirdita), the Turks failed to establish themselves completely, liberation actions continued here, against which punitive expeditions were sent (1537, 1610, 1612, 1686, 1716). From con. 17th century there is a decline in anti-Ottoman speeches. This was facilitated by the process of Islamization of the population, accompanied by economic and legal pressure on it from the authorities (by the beginning of the 19th century, at least half of the Albanians had become Muslims). From the 17th century in a situation of decomposition of the military fief system and the spread of hereditary possessions - chiftliks, the economy was revived. The power of large Albanian feudal lords increased, which, in the conditions of the crisis of the Ottoman Empire, which intensified in the 2nd half. 18th century, strove for political independence. A semi-state formation, the Shkodra pashalyk, was formed in the north of Azerbaijan, ruled by the surname Bushati from 1756. He achieved the greatest independence under Kara Mahmud Pasha (1778–96), who twice (1787, 1793) defeated the Sultan's armies. The territories in the south of present-day Greece and northwest Greece became part of the Yaninsky pashalyk, which was ruled in 1787–1822 by Ali Pasha Tepelensky. Turkish troops liquidated the Yaninsky pashalyk in 1822, and the Shkodrinsky pashalyk in 1831. The spread of the Tanzimat reforms to the territory of Armenia, which had the goal of modernizing the Ottoman Empire and preventing its collapse, was accompanied by a deterioration in the position of the masses, which caused anti-Turkish uprisings in 1833–35 and in 1847.

In the 1840s the ideology of the Albanian national revival began to take shape. In 1844, the Albanian educator Naum Vekilhardji published the first Albanian primer. The first Albanian national liberation organization was the League of Prizren, founded in 1878 in Kosovo, where there was a significant Albanian population. Having broken with the Turkish government, the league came up with a program of autonomy for Armenia. In some regions of Armenia, power passed to the committees of the league, and in January 1881 its national committee was transformed into a provisional government. In 1881 the league was crushed; leadership of the national liberation movement passed to the national societies created by Albanian émigrés in Istanbul, Bucharest, Sofia, and elsewhere. In 1910–12, uprisings by Albanians took place in the territory of the north of present-day Albania and Kosovo.

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

Albania in 1912–39

Armenia's independence was recognized by the London Peace Treaty of 1913 and by the Conference of Ambassadors of the Great Powers (July 29, 1913), which determined its borders. By decision of the powers, the administration of Armenia was transferred to Prince Wilhelm Wied (Wilhelm I; March - September 1914), who was unable to extend his power to the entire country. During World War I on the territory of A. there were military operations. The London Treaty of 1915 provided for the abolition of Azerbaijan's independence and its division among Italy, Greece, Serbia, and Montenegro. However, after the end of the war, the leaders of some powers (in particular, US President W. Wilson) refused to support this plan. In the wake of the liberation movement, the national congress in Lushn (January 1920) formed a provisional government in Tirana, which became the capital of Armenia. The development of the democratic movement led to the June Revolution of 1924. The government headed by F. Noli came up with a program of bourgeois-democratic reforms. In December 1924, a counter-revolutionary coup was carried out. On January 31, 1925, Armenia was proclaimed a republic, and A. Zogu, who led the coup, was elected president. On September 1, 1928, the Constituent Assembly proclaimed Zogu "King of the Albanians" under the name Zogu I, and on December 1 adopted a monarchical constitution. The country fell into economic (Italian companies occupied key positions in oil production and a number of other sectors of the Albanian economy) and political dependence on Italy, fixed Albanian-Italian treaties and agreements. On April 7, 1939, Italy annexed Argentina, which was annexed to Italy (April 12, 1939) in accordance with a “personal union” (Italian King Victor Emmanuel III was proclaimed king of Argentina). The Italians abolished the Albanian constitution, although they left the Albanian government and parliament practically devoid of authority. The Albanian army became part of the Italian one. A local fascist party was created in Azerbaijan.

Albania from 1939 to the mid-1980s

In September 1942, the patriotic forces united to form the National Liberation Front. The Communist Party of Armenia (CPA, founded in 1941) played an important role in organizing the national liberation struggle. Beginning in April 1942, partisan detachments arose, from which the National Liberation Army (NOA) was formed in the summer of 1943; in May 1944, General Secretary of the CPA Central Committee E. Hoxha became its commander-in-chief. The PLA, whose number reached 70,000, liberated the territory of Azerbaijan in battles with the Italian, and after the capitulation of Italy (September 1943) with the German troops, until the complete liberation of the country on November 29, 1944.

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

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

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

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

Albania since the mid-1980s

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

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

The extraordinary elections in June 1997, which were won by the ASP, contributed to overcoming the chaos. Its program included the restoration of public order, the completion of privatization reforms, integration into the structures of the EEC and NATO. R. Meidani was elected President. In 1998 a new constitution was adopted. In 1999, A. supported the actions of NATO in Kosovo and Yugoslavia, which led to the rupture of Albanian-Yugoslav relations.

During the hostilities in Kosovo, about half a million refugees from Kosovo found temporary shelter in Armenia. This led to a deterioration in relations with neighboring Greece, which, throughout the history of independent Greece, tried to influence the position of the Greek minority in the territory of Armenia, while the majority Kosovo refugees are located precisely in the south of the country - the territory of compact residence of the Greeks. Relations with neighbors (first of all, with Greece and Macedonia) are complicated by the growth of nationalism in Armenia, the popularization of the idea of ​​the so-called. Greater Albania, which should cover all the territories inhabited by Albanians that were not part of the Republic of Albania. At the turn of the millennium, the economy of Armenia was in catastrophic decline. Most of the national income (about 56%) came from agriculture, while industry accounted for 12%. The Albanian diaspora in the West provided significant assistance to the country's economy, which, working as a low-paid labor force, transferred the money they earned to their families who remained in the country. The general devastation since the events of the last decade, as well as the decline of infrastructure and rampant corruption, has hampered foreign investment. The situation changed somewhat after the end of the war in Yugoslavia. The country's orientation towards European and North Atlantic structures allowed it to receive financial support to overcome the crisis. With the help of Western instructors, a police reform was carried out. In the elections in the summer of 2001, the bloc of left-wing parties "Union for the State" headed by the ASP won. At the same time, observers from the OSCE, the EU and the Council of Europe recorded numerous falsifications and expressed general dissatisfaction with the election process. The socialist Ilir Meta was appointed prime minister of the country, who, less than a year later, as a result of a party crisis, was forced to give way to Pandeli Maiko. In July 2002, A. moisiu, a supporter of A.'s entry into NATO structures. Moisiu dissolved the Maiko cabinet, and the new government was headed by Fatos Nano, head of the ASP. Despite another victory of the socialists in the local elections in October 2003, already in February 2004 mass demonstrations took place in Azerbaijan against the administration of the ASP, which was accused of corruption and insufficient growth of the country's economy. In Jan. 2003 the government began negotiations on the admission of A. to the EEC as an associate member. The elections of 2005 brought victory to the Democratic Party, the government was headed by Sali Berisha (president of A. in 1992–97). Feb. 2006 signed an association agreement with the European Union. In the same year, a resolution was adopted condemning the communist past and the regime established by Enver Hoxha. In the 2007 presidential election, the ASP again suffered a defeat, the country was headed by the candidate of the Democratic Party, Bamir Topi. In 2009 A. together with Croatia officially became members of NATO. Then A. filed a formal application for membership in the EU. The 2009 parliamentary elections were narrowly won by the Democrats, the ASP challenged the results, declaring fraud. The refusal of Prime Minister Berisha to recount the votes led to protests in Tirana, which in May 2010 turned into a campaign of civil disobedience. Opposition leaders went on a hunger strike, the EU demanded a settlement of the political crisis, threatening otherwise to freeze A.'s application for membership in the union. In 2011, political The crisis escalated into riots with casualties. Berisha blamed their deaths on his political opponents. The growth of public dissatisfaction with the policies of the Democrats allowed the Socialists to gain a majority in the local elections in May 2011 in several large cities, but the overall victory remained with the Democrats. This allowed Berisha to keep the post of prime minister. The presidential elections (June 2012) brought victory to the Democratic candidate Buyar Nishani. The next parliamentary elections in June 2013 were of great importance, since the correctness of their conduct was declared by the EU Commission to be decisive in deciding on the future of A. in the EU. The victory was won by the ASP, whose candidate Edi Rama headed the government. Rama called the fight against organized crime and the general increase in the level of security in the country one of his main priorities. In June 2014, A. received the official status of a candidate for EU membership.

Russian-Albanian relations

The first diplomatic contacts between the Albanians and the Russian Empire date back to the middle of the 18th century. Himariots, residents of the southern regions of Albania, in October 1759 sent an appeal to Empress Elizaveta Petrovna with a request for patronage and protection from the arbitrariness of the Ottoman authorities (it was rejected by the Russian government, which at that moment did not want to violate peace with the Ottoman Empire). In October-December 1924, the government of F. Noli began the process of establishing diplomatic relations with the USSR, but it was curtailed after the coup by A. Zog. Diplomatic relations between the USSR and Armenia were established in Sept. 1934, actually stopped after the occupation of A. Italy (April 1939), restored in November. 1945 (in full - from Dec. 1946). Due to ideological disagreements between the PLA and the CPSU, diplomatic relations between the USSR and Armenia were severed in December. 1961, restored in the summer of 1990 (embassies resumed work in February - April 1991). In Apr. 1995 Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania A. Meksi paid an official visit to Russia. During his talks with Prime Minister of the Russian Federation V. S. Chernomyrdin, questions of bilateral economic, scientific, technical and cultural cooperation were discussed. A number of documents were signed that laid the foundation for the contractual and legal basis of Russian-Albanian relations: the Consular Convention, trade, economic and scientific and technical agreements, as well as the initialing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Russia and Albania. Albanian presidents S. Berisha and A. Moisiu visited Russia on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary (1995) and 60th anniversary (2005) of the victory over fascism. Since the summer of 2015, A. has been included in the list of countries against which Russia has taken countermeasures in connection with A. joining the anti-Russian sanctions of a number of Western states. In 2015, the total trade turnover between Russia and Azerbaijan amounted to 79.2 million US dollars (decreased by 23% compared to 2014).

economy

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

Industry

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

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

Agriculture

agriculture inefficiently and does not satisfy the domestic need for food (A. imports grain and foodstuffs). Agriculture suffers from drought (irrigation canals were built in coastal areas in the 1950s–70s; about 1/2 of arable land is irrigated), lack of agricultural crops. inventory, fragmentation of land plots (in the early 1990s, there were 120 state farms and 420 collective farms, which were disbanded in the early 2000s, and land and inventory were privatized). Cultivated land occupies 21% of the country's territory (of which approx. 1 / 2 - under grain crops), pastures - 15%. The main pages - x. crops - wheat and corn (in the coastal zone and the Korchinskaya hollow). They also grow barley, sugar beets (in the Korcha basin), sunflowers, potatoes, melons, vegetables (legumes, onions, tomatoes, cabbage, eggplants), tobacco (along the southern coast), fruits (including citrus fruits in the south, peaches ), grapes (winemaking in the region of Tirana and in the south of the country), olives (along the sea coast). The main traditional branch of animal husbandry is grazing sheep (more than 1.4 million heads in 2002; in the 1990s, the number decreased by almost 3 times). They breed goats (900 thousand heads), cattle (800 thousand heads), poultry (4.1 million heads), horses, donkeys. Meat predominates in the south dairy, in the north and east - mountain pasture animal husbandry, with farming centers in the valleys. Oxen and donkeys are used as draft power. Handicraft production of white Albanian cheese. Fishing in the coastal waters of the Adriatic Sea (fishing for sardines, mullet).

Transport

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

Foreign economic relations

Imports of goods ($1.5 billion in 2002) significantly exceed exports ($340 million). Azerbaijan imports foodstuffs, consumer goods, machines and machine tools, used cars, fertilizers, etc. The main export items are chrome ore (about 18% of the value), copper, nickel, bitumen, tobacco, and wine. The main trading partners are Italy, Greece, Turkey, Germany.

Foreign tourism

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

Military establishment

The total strength of the Armed Forces (AF) approx. 30 thousand people (2004); consist of ground forces (SV), air force and navy, two commands (operational and combat training, rear support), as well as formations and units of central subordination. In wartime, paramilitary formations of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (about 17 thousand people) are transferred to the operational subordination of the Chief of the General Staff (General Staff). The supreme commander in chief is the president. In peacetime, the general leadership of the Armed Forces is carried out by the Minister of Defense (civilian), operational management is carried out by the head of the General Staff. According to the operational mission, the Armed Forces of Armenia are divided into rapid reaction forces (staffed and 100% equipped with weapons and equipment), main defensive forces (50% manned and 100% equipped), and territorial defense forces. The recruitment of the army is carried out according to a mixed principle: due to conscription in accordance with the Law on General Conscription, recruitment by contract and regular military personnel. SV (about 17.5 thousand people) have 11 brigades (infantry - 7, tank - 1, special purpose - 1, artillery - 2), 10 artillery regiments, other units and subunits. Armed with approx. 400 tanks, more than 350 field artillery pieces, mortars and MLRS, armored fighting vehicles. The Air Force includes: an aviation wing (fighter-bomber, fighter, training, combat training squadrons and a transport link); anti-aircraft missile brigade; helicopter regiment; transport squadron. In service with the Air Force ca. 30 combat aircraft (mainly MiG-19, MiG-21), more than 10 auxiliary aircraft, approx. 10 helicopters and more than 20 missile launchers. The Navy includes a fleet and a coastal artillery regiment. The fleet consists of 5 warships and more than 30 combat boats.

healthcare

Total health care spending (the sum of public and private spending on health care) covers the provision of medical services (preventive and curative), family planning, nutrition, emergency care, etc. If health care spending in 2000 amounted to 3% of GDP, then in 2015 it was 6% . Total health care costs per capita $272 (2014). Doctors are trained at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Tirana. In 2014, the number of doctors was 4,000 (1.3 doctors per 1,000 people) and 12,455 nurses. The number of beds is 320 per 100 thousand inhabitants (2014). The leading causes of death are cardiovascular disease, trauma, cancer and respiratory disease. Albania has a rather low incidence of HIV/AIDS. Resorts: Durres, Pogradets and others.

Sport

Prior to World War II, Albania had approx. 1000 athletes. In 1945 a sports federation was established, and in 1947 the Committee for Physical Culture and Sports. Since 1951, the complex “Ready for Labor and Defense of Albania” has been actively introduced. In the early 1950s The Faculty of Physical Education was opened at the Tirana State University. Since the mid 1940s. several large stadiums have been built in the country, including in Tirana - "Kemal Stafa" ("Qemal Stafa"; 1946–2016, ca. 20 thousand seats), Dynamo ("Dinamo"; 1956.20 thousand places), which in 1991 changed its name first to "Tirana" ( Tirana ), and after restoration (1995–2015) on"Selman Stërmasi Stadium" . In 1967, the multifunctional Elbasan Arena was built (12.8 thousand seats); after restoration in 2014, it became the venue for the matches of the national team and the Elbasani football club ( Elbasani).

The promotion and development of sports in the country was facilitated by the holding of 6 Albanian sports days (1959, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989). The most developed approx. 20 sports, including games - football, mini-football, basketball, volleyball, as well as wrestling, cycling, athletics, swimming, gymnastics, shooting, weightlifting, chess. The National Olympic Committee of Albania was created in 1958; recognized by the IOC (International Olympic Committee) in 1959. Since 1972 (Munich), Albanian athletes have been participating in the Olympic Games, since 2006 (Turin) in the Olympic Winter Games (in alpine skiing competitions three times - Turin, 2006, Vancouver, 2010, Sochi, 2014 - E. Tola took part); no awards won. The Albanian national football team achieved its first international success in 1946, winning the Balkan Cup at the Kemal Stafa stadium and ahead of the national teams of Yugoslavia, Romania and Bulgaria (a special stamp issued by the Albanian post was dedicated to this event). In 2016, the Albanian national team for the first time in history received the right to play in the final part of the European Championship (held in France) and performed with dignity, gaining 3 points in their group (defeated the Romanian national team); it included footballers from many European clubs, including goalkeeper E. Berisha from Lazio (S. S. Lazio; Rome), defenders - L. Tsana from Nantes ( FC Nantes; team captain, made the most appearances for the national team– 93), E. Hysay from Napoli ( SSC Naples; Naples), M. Mavray from Cologne ("one. FC Koln» ), midfielder T. Jaka (“Basel”; “FC Basel”), etc. The team was coached by the Italian J. de Biazi. The strongest football clubs in Albania are the multiple champions of the country Dynamo ("Dinamo"; Tirana, 18 wins in 1950–2010), "Tirana" ("Tirana"; 17 in 1930–2009), Partizani (Tirana, 15 in 1947–93). The winner of the last 6 national championships in 2011–16 was the Skenderbeu club ("Skenderbeu" ) from the city of Korca, performing at the stadium of the same name (7.5 thousand seats). In 2003, the Tirana futsal team was founded, successfully participating in national and international championships.

One of the first most famous athletes in the international arena was the hockey player T. Domi - the first Albanian in the history of the NHL (National Hockey League), club defender New York Rangers(1992-93), "Winnipeg Jets" ("Winnipeg Jets"; 1993–95) and the Toronto Maple Leafs ("Toronto Maple Leafs"; 1995–2006); played over 1,000 matches and scored over 100 goals, had a fighting spirit and was one of the most frequently sent off players. Among the successful athletes are representatives of weightlifting - D. Godelli (in the weight category up to 77 kg he became the world champion in 2014, a multiple winner of the European Championships in 2011–14), K. Erkand (in the weight category up to 77 kg he won the gold medal of the European Championship in 2014 and silver in 2009), among women - R. Begay (in the weight category up to 55 kg, winner of 5 European Championships in 2008–13); track and field athlete L. Gega is the winner of two championships of the Balkan countries (2011, 2015) and the bronze medalist of the Universiade (2013; the only award of Albanian athletes at these sports forums on 1.1.2016) in the 1500 m run, etc. the first European Games in Baku; 28 athletes competed in 9 sports, but did not win any awards.

In recent years, international competitions of various levels have been increasingly held in Albania; among them - the match for the World Women's Chess Championship (Tirana, 2011) between Hou Yifan (China) and H. Koneru (India), in which the Chinese chess player won (5.5:2.5); two junior karate tournaments (sekotan) - the 6th European Championship and the 3rd World Cup (Tirana, 2014); orienteering competitions (Shkoder, 2015), etc.

Education. Scientific and cultural institutions

The general management of educational institutions is carried out by the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities, the National Agency for Vocational Education and Training. The main regulatory documents are the laws: on higher education (2007, amendments 2010), on the educational system (1995), on private education (1995), on vocational education and training (2002), on the system of pre-university education (2012), on the system of higher Education and Research in Higher Education Institutions (2015) and Regulations on Public Schools in Albania (1995). The education system includes optional 3-year pre-school education, 9-year compulsory general education (5-year primary and 4-year incomplete secondary education), 3-year complete secondary education, higher education. Vocational education is provided by lower (1–2 years of study) and secondary (3–4 years of study) schools, as well as technical schools based on incomplete secondary schools. Pre-school education covers 81.3% of children, primary education - 95.5%, secondary education - no data (2014, data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics). The literacy rate of the population over the age of 15 is 97.6% (2015). There are 13 state universities in the system of higher education.

The main scientific institutions, universities, libraries and museums of Albania are located in Tirana [incl. Academy of Sciences (established in 1972, reorganized in 2006), University of Tirana (founded in 1957), National Library (1922), National Historical Museum (1981). There are also universities in Shkodra (1957), Korce (1971), Gjirokastra (1971), Elbasan (1991), Vlora (1994)]. Large museum centers are also concentrated in Gjirokastra (ethnographic, weapons, etc.), Berat [Museum of Onufry (named after the icon painter of the 16th century), ethnographic (1979), historical, archaeological, etc.], Korca (Albanian medieval art, historical , national education). Of great value are the Museum of Independence in Vlora and the Museum of History in Durres, as well as the Archaeological Museums in Butrint (1950), Durres (1951) and Apollonia (1958).

Mass media

The largest national daily newspapers are published in Tirana: "Zeri i Popullit" ["Zёri i Popullit" - Alb. "Voice of the people"; founded in 1942; organ of the Socialist Party of Albania (until 1991 - the Party of Labor of Albania)], "Rilindja Demokratike" ("Rilindja Demokratike" - Alb. "Democratic Revival"; since 1991; organ of the Democratic Party of Albania), "Koha Jonë" - Albanian Our Time, since 1991), Gazeta Shqiptare (Alb. Albanian Newspaper, since 1993), Albania (Albania, since 1995), Newspaper 55 ( Gazeta 55", since 1997), "Shekulli" ("Shekulli" - Alb. "Century", since 1997), "Theme" ("Tema", since 2000), "Panorama" ("Panorama", since 2002) and etc. A number of newspapers are published in Greek, including Laiko Vima (Greek: "People's Tribune"; in Gjirokastra; since 1945). The newspapers published in English are Albanian Daily News (since 1995) and Tirana Times (since 2005).

Regular radio broadcasting since 1938, television broadcasting since 1960. There is a state television and radio company RTSH (Radio Televizioni Shqiptar - Albanian radio and television), private Top Channel (since 2001), TV Klan (since 1997), Vizion Plus (since 1999), etc. Private radio stations include Top Albania Radio, +2 Radio, etc. The state news agency is the Albanian Telegraph Agency (ATA, Alb. Agjencia Telegrafike Shqiptare). Internet penetration depth – approx. 60% (2014).

Literature

The literature of A. was formed on the territory of modern A. and beyond its borders. The first surviving written monument in Albanian is the Baptismal Formula (1462), the first book is Meshari (Missbook, translation of religious texts by G. Buzuku, 1555). In Albanian literature of the 18th century. flourishes the genre of beiteji, which has developed under the influence of Middle Eastern culture - improvised quatrains of satirical, moral and everyday content (N. Frakula, S. Naibi, H. Zyuko-Kambury). In the 2nd floor. 19 - beg. 20th century Romantic tendencies develop in the works of the Arberes, Albanians living since the 16th century. in Southern Italy (poems by I. De Rada, poems by Z. Serembe, dramaturgy by F. A. Santori, etc.); the brothers Naim and Sami Frasheri are fighting for the unity and self-consciousness of the nation in poetry and journalism; the main theme of literature during this period is the “great time” for the liberation of the Albanians from the Ottoman yoke. In the beginning. 20th century new genres appeared in the literature of A.: in poetry, the ballad, elegy, sonnet, and lyrical-epic poem; in prose - plot story, epic drama, everyday comedy (A. Zako-Chayupi, N. Mieda, G. Fishta, M. Grameno, Asdreni, H. Mosi, R. Silichi). The foundations of the new realistic literature were laid in the first half. 20th century F. S. Noli, Z. Harapi, F. Konica, H. Stermili, E. Kolici, M. Kuteli, L. Poradetsi; prose was dominated by social motives. After the fascist occupation (1939–44), under the conditions of the totalitarian regime, Russian and Soviet literature had a significant influence, many of whose works were translated into Albanian. Despite the strict party censorship, in prose (J. Dzodzi, N. Prifti, D. Chapleau, D. Agola, I. Kadare, F. Arapi, D. Juvani), dedicated to the life of pre-war Albania and the Albanian resistance, along with the novel- Chronicles appeared novels that gravitated towards the symbolic-mythological interpretation of history. The fall of the totalitarian regime gave a powerful impetus to journalism, small prose (K. Blyushi, N. Lera) and poetry, which turned to eternal topics in a confessional-philosophical monologue (B. Lendo).

Architecture and fine arts

The most ancient monuments of art on the territory of Armenia are ornamented ceramics, Neolithic anthropomorphic figurines and vases, weapons and ceramics from Bronze Age necropolises, metal ornaments and figurines from Early Iron Age necropolises (the necropolises in Mati; Barchi and Kuch-i-Zi near Korchi, 1st millennium BC), gold jewelry from the Gaitan settlement near Shkoder. In the 1st millennium, fortresses of the Illyrians were erected (Gaitan, Tren, Trayan, Karos, etc.).

Coast of the Adriatic Sea from the 7th–5th centuries. fell under the influence of ancient culture, in connection with the founding of Greek colonies: Epidamnus (founded around 627; now Durres), Butrot (now Butrint; late 7th century; included in the list world heritage), Apollonia Illyrian (founded around 588; walls of the 6th-3rd centuries; ruins of the acropolis, 5th century, theater and nymphaeum, 3rd century), Orikum (from the 6th century), Avlona (now Vlora), Triport (from the end of the 6th century BC). ; walls of the 4th–3rd centuries); also Olympia (fortifications of the end of the 5th - 4th centuries), Lissos (now Lezha; from the 4th century BC) and others. Acropolises, theaters, amphitheaters, stadiums, temples, baths, aqueducts, villas with mosaic floors; were created on the spot, and also brought works of antique bronze and marble sculpture, painting, mosaics (“Durres Beauty”, 4th century BC, National Historical Museum, Tirana; in Butrint, Apollonia, Saranda), painted ceramics, jewelry art. Greek cities influenced settlements with a dominant Illyrian and Epirus population on the mainland - Klos (fortifications of the 5th–4th centuries, the ruins of a theater of the 3rd century), Amantia (the ruins of a stadium and the foundations of the temple of Aphrodite, 3rd century), Byulis (fortifications of the 4th century ., theater of the middle of the 3rd century), Foinike (fortifications of the 4th century, theater of the late 3rd century), Simizu, Skodra (now Shkodra; in both - the remains of the walls of the 2nd half of the 4th century), Antigony (rebuilt around 297– 295), Antipatria (now Berat), Dorezi, Zgerjesh and others. By the 4th-3rd centuries. include the so-called. The royal tombs of the Illyrians in the village of Selce-e-Poshtme, copying the architecture of Greek Macedonia. After the conquest of Illyria by Rome and the construction of the Egnatia road from Dyrrhachia to Thessaloniki (3rd quarter of the 2nd century) from the 2nd century. BC. ancient Roman fortresses were erected (Scampa, now Elbasan; Clodiana, now Beijing); Greek cities continued to develop; a theater was built in Orikum (1st century AD), an amphitheater in Dyrrhachia (now Durres), a bouleuterium and an odeon in Apollonia, baths in Ad-Quintum (all 2nd century); Sculpture (including tombstones) and floor mosaics (in Apollonia, Dyrrhachia, Byulis, and others) reached a special flowering. Traditional culture continued to develop in the mountainous regions.

From the 1st–3rd centuries early Christian culture developed (reliefs of sarcophagi in Butrint, Durres). From the 4th c. Christian churches were erected; sometimes residential buildings were rebuilt in the church (in Zaradishte near Korca). The most active time of early Christian construction was the end of the 5th - the middle of the 6th centuries. Temples of the basilica type dominated, studied by archaeological excavations: simple 1-nave (in Durres, Antigonia, Apollonia, Saranda, etc.), 3-nave with one (Amantia, Butrint) or three (Balshi) apses. The naves were divided by rows of pylons (Butrinti, Tepe in Elbasan, Saranda, Mesaplik, Foinike, Byulis, Goritsa) or columns (Amantia), or by an alternation of columns and pilasters (Balshi). A more complex type is represented by basilicas with a transept in front of the apse (the basilica of Our Lady in Butrint, 6th century; in Foinik; basilica B in Byulis), related to the basilicas in Nikopol (Greece). In the Basilica of the Archangel Michael in Arapai near Durres (6th century), the transept arms have semicircular ends in plan (similar to the basilicas in Dodona and Paramita in Old Epirus, Greece). Most of the basilicas had a narthex (porch), and atriums adjoined the basilicas in Arapai and Byulis. Slightly less common was the centric type of buildings: martyria (rare according to the plan, the 7-conch church of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste near Saranda, possibly the end of the 5th century), churches with triconch plans (in Antigonia, Butrint), baptistery (in Butrint, 6th century, based on the therms of the 4th century, in Foinik, in the village of Lin). Perhaps the martyrium was a temple of the 6th century. in Lina on the shore of Lake Ohrid, one of the most complex early Byzantine monuments on the territory of Armenia (a developed narthex with a baptistery and an atrium adjoined the main centric building with three conchs from the west). All temples of the 4th-6th centuries. survived only at the level of foundations and the lower masonry of the walls (only the Basilica of Our Lady in Butrint, rebuilt in the 9th century, preserved the walls to the base of the unpreserved ceilings). In the 5th–6th centuries the old fortifications of cities were restored and new ones were built (Pulcheriopolis, now Berat; Dyrrhachia; Kanina near Vlora), the Petrel fortress was erected (end of the 5th–6th centuries, rebuilt in the 7th–10th and 12th–15th centuries).

Excavations have unearthed floor mosaics of Christian churches of the 5th–6th centuries: in Arapai, Byulis, Saranda, Tirana, Antigonia, Mesaplik (now partly in the National Museum of Archeology, Tirana); in the baptistery in Butrint (6th century), in the village. Lin. Preserved: the remains of frescoes in the Church of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste in Saranda (probably the end of the 5th - 6th centuries), frescoes (5th - 6th centuries) and mosaics (between the 6th and 10th centuries; Saint Stephen, archangels, ktitors, the Virgin in the imperial vestments) of the chapel of the Hieromartyr Bishop Astius of Dyrrhachia in the amphitheater in Durres; fragments of marble altar barriers (from the temple in Lina, 6th century).

After the "dark" ages (the end of the 6th - 8th centuries) in the 9th century. building activity is restored. Architecture (especially in the southern part of modern Armenia) was influenced by Byzantium and Bulgaria (from the 10th century). From the 9th century chapels have been preserved (in the Basilica of Our Lady in Butrint). In quantitative terms, small 1-nave churches (in Butrint, 9th-10th centuries) with wooden ceilings and round ones dominated (St. Sergius and Bacchus in Himare, late 10th - early 11th centuries; Archangel Michael in Himare, 13th century), faceted (Prophet Elijah in Bouala near Permet, 11-12 centuries; Savior Not Made by Hands in Herbel near the border with Macedonia, 12 century; St. John the Baptist in Boboshtitsa, St. Demetrius in Bezmishti, the church in Kamenitsa, all - 14 century) and rectangular outside (St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa in Chet, late 13th century) apses. Presumably from the 11th century. arches began to be used for ceilings (the churches of Our Lady in Tsertska near the border with Greece, 11th century; St. Paraskeva Friday in Sopa near Fier, 13th century; St. Andrew in Himara, near the village of Mulet near the Tirana-Elbasan road, both - 13-14 centuries; Nativity of the Virgin in a cave on the island of Mali Grad on Lake Prespa, 1345). In the 11th-12th centuries. single-nave churches were also built in the north of present-day Armenia: in Sarda (now the settlement of Shurdakh) on the Drin River (ruins have been preserved), and in Drivastum (now ruins in the Drishti fortress).

Among the rare 3-nave basilicas of the 10th-14th centuries: the foundations of the cathedral (presumably the Apostle Andrew) in Durres (late 10th - early 11th centuries, in 1502 rebuilt into the mosque of Sultan Mehmed Fatih), the ruins of the Church of St. Stephen in Dhermi (11-12 cc.), a basilica near the village of Chiflik near the border with Greece (end of the 13th century) and in Klos near Elbasan (13th-14th centuries). The only well-preserved basilica in Albania of this time is the church of St. Nicholas in Perondi (late 11th - early 12th centuries; a bell tower was added in the 14th century) with a central nave rising above the side ones, with columns separating the naves (related to the churches of Kastoria, Nessebar and Arty). In the 12th-14th centuries. 1-nave churches with a dome (“dome halls”) were erected: St. Nicholas in the village of Armeni with an oval dome plan (12th century), the Virgin in Dhermi (13-14th centuries), Christ the Life-Giver in the village of Mborya (1380s .), the church of the Archangel Michael in Berat (14th century) attached to the rock.

From the 10th c. temples began to spread in the south of present-day Africa cross-domed system. To so-called. the transitional subtype (with rectangular supports extended along the naves) includes the churches of the Virgin in the village of Peshkepia (presumably the beginning of the 10th century) and in the village of Kosina near Permet (possibly the 12th century). In the 12th-15th centuries. on the territory of southern Africa, a type of so-called. an inscribed cross (in which the arms of the cross do not go beyond the general outline of the plan) with four free-standing pillars: the Church of Our Lady of Blachernae (13th century, rebuilt in the 16th century) and the Holy Trinity (between 1302 and 1326) in Berat, the ruins of the Church of St. George in Bratai near Vlora (13th-14th centuries), the Church of the Holy Trinity in Lavdar (presumably around 1470). The only temple of this type in Armenia with six pillars is the Assumption Cathedral of the former monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos in Apollonia (1st half of the 13th century), akin to the Athenian churches of the 11th-13th centuries. The search for a spatial solution with a wide rectangle under the dome, bounded from the north, west and south by pairs of pillars with triple arcades in two tiers, manifested itself in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin in the village of Verkhnyaya Labova (presumably 12-13 centuries; apses and exonarthex - 1776; western gallery and the southern aisle - 19th century), close to the temples Constantinople 11th–13th centuries

Temples of the so-called type have also been preserved. free cross (with protruding arms of the cross in plan) without free-standing internal supports: the Church of the Virgin in Zervat on the Gjirokastra-Joannina road (presumably 11th century; rebuilt in the 16th century), Marmiroit in Orikum (12-13th centuries), in monastery of the Virgin on the island of Zvernets near Vlora (13-14 centuries). Rare temples with additional northern and southern conchs: the ruins of a small church in Drishti near Shkoder (possibly 11th century), the church of St. Nicholas in Kuryani (13-14th centuries) and the refectory church of the monastery in Apollonia (presumably the beginning of the 14th century). The unique church of St. Nicholas in the village of Mesopotamus near Delvina is a symmetrical 2-nave, 2-apse, 4-domed temple, originally surrounded by an open gallery, conducive to the creation of a composition with a gradual increase in height to the two eastern domes (built in the 13th century, taking into account elements of the architecture of southern Italy ; restructuring in 1793 and 1845). In the 2nd half of the 13th c. in the territories close to the shore of the Adriatic Sea, the influence of culture was manifested Kingdom of Naples led by representatives Angevin dynasty(capitals of the exonarthex of the Cathedral of the Monastery of the Virgin in Apollonia, architectural details and reliefs on the walls of the Church of St. Nicholas in the village of Kuryani).

In the north of modern Armenia in the 12th–14th centuries. temples were built with elements Romanesque style and Gothic: the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Rubik (about 1166), the Church of St. Stephen in the village of Blinishti (12th century, rebuilt at the beginning of the 14th century), the Church of Our Lady in Wau-i-Deyes (13th century; not preserved), ruins St. Stephen's Cathedral in Shkodra (end of the 13th century), the churches of St. Sergius and Bacchus in the village of Shirch (1290), St. Nicholas in Lezh (14th century), St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa in the village. Baldre (14th century, restored in 1462), the monastery of St. Anthony of Padua on Cape Rodoni (church of the 14th century). In 1240, the first Franciscan monastery on the territory of A. was founded in Lezhe (it has not survived). In the 14th century, during the reign of Stefan Dushan, Serbian churches were built mainly along the Drin River (they have not survived).

12th–15th centuries - the time of active construction of fortresses: Kalivo near Butrint (12th century), Krui (12-13th centuries), Argyrokastro (now Gjirokastra; 2nd half of the 13th century; together with the city center included in the World Heritage List), Preza clan Topia (14th - early 15th centuries), Kardiki of the Zenevisi family (late 14th - early 15th centuries), Skanderbeg on Cape Rodoni (about 1451-52). Despot of Epirus Michael I Komnenos Duca rebuilt a fortress in Berat (13th century; together with the city center included in the World Heritage List). At the end of the 14th - 15th centuries. the Venetians erected the fortress of Bashtov on the Shkumbini River (15th century), reconstructed the fortifications in Shkoder, Butrint, Durres, Drivastum, Lezhe (1440; the place where the Lezh League was founded).

From the 11th–12th centuries painting in the territory of Armenia was strongly influenced by the art of Byzantium. Presumably in the 12th century. the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin in the village of Verkhnyaya Labova was painted (the fresco "Deesis"). A rare monument of painting of the 13th century. in A. - a ktitor fresco in the exonarthex of the Assumption Cathedral of the former monastery of the Most Holy Theotokos in Apollonia (presumably a family portrait of Emperor Michael VIII Palaiologos, his wife Theodora and son Andronicus II, the upcoming Mother of God with a model of the church in her hands, 1270–80s). Murals, presumably from the beginning of the 14th century, have also been preserved: in the refectory of the monastery in Apollonia (scenes from the life of Christ, “Deesis”, figures of saints), in the Church of the Holy Trinity in Berat (“Trinity” in the conch of the apse, prophets and angels in the drum, evangelists on sails, scenes from the life of Christ on vaults and walls, "Assumption" on the western wall, figures of saints, etc.). Presumably, several temples on the territory of Armenia at the beginning of the 14th century. were painted by the Thessalonica masters Mikhail Astrap and Eutychius (the church of St. Nicholas in the village of Kuryan, recorded in 1578), who worked more on the territory of Macedonia and Kosovo. According to the chronicles, the icon painter Gjon (John) from Durres (14th century) is known. The murals in the northern part of modern Armenia were also created according to the models of Byzantine iconography: in the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Rubik (1272), in the Church of Our Lady in Wau y Deyes (three layers of painting from the late 13th-14th centuries have not survived), in the church Holy Paraksevy Fridays in the village. Baldre.

Byzantine monumental paintings of the 14th century have been preserved in the Korca region, many of which were created by masters of the Kastoria school in the spirit of the so-called. Palaiologan Renaissance: in the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin in a cave on the island of Mali Grad on Lake Prespa (1345 - "Our Lady of the Sign" and "Adoration of the Sacrifice" in the apse, etc.; 1369 - ktitor portrait of Caesar Novak with his wife Kali (Catherine) and children Amiral and Mary, "Deesis", two "Saviors Not Made by Hands", "Annunciation", "Assumption", scenes from the life of Christ, etc.; restored in 1981-82), in the Church of Christ the Life-Giver in the village of Mborya (1389; Pantokrator in the dome, prophets in the drum, evangelists on sails, "Our Lady of the Sign" and "Adoration of the Sacrifice" in the apse, "Assumption" on the western wall, etc.), in the Church of St. Demetrius in the village of Boboshtitsa (last third of the 14th century). Many cave temples on the territory of southern and central Armenia in the 13th-15th centuries. were covered with paintings (in the caves of Vlastojne, Letmi near Kalmeti, Kosharist in Librazhdi, Virgin Eleusa to the east of the village of Tuminets on the shore of Lake Prespa, etc.).

From the 14th century icons from Berat, Mborya, from the island of Mali Grad, etc. have been preserved. Rare icons can be attributed to the classical Byzantine trend (“Odigitria the Mother of God” from the cave church of the Annunciation near the village of Globochani, 14th century, National Museum of Medieval Art, Korca). A more numerous group consists of icons of the 14th-15th centuries. the school of Kastoria (“Archangel Michael”, 14–15th centuries; the royal doors with the image of the Annunciation from the cave church of the Annunciation near the village of Globochan, 15th century, in the museum in Korca), as well as icons of the so-called. local direction (“St. Spyridon” from Mborya, 14–16 centuries, National Gallery of Fine Arts, Tirana; “Virgin Hodegetria” from Mali Grad, 15 century, Korca), which showed features of provincial art with a deviation from classical proportions and harmonized color combinations, but with the addition of expression.

Monuments are preserved in the Central State Archives in Tirana book miniatures 9th–18th centuries: Berat Codex of the Gospel (“The Golden Code of Anthima”; 9th–11th centuries, figures of the evangelists Mark, John and Luke), close to the scriptorium manuscripts in Constantinople; two Avlonian codes (late 11th - early 12th centuries), etc.

In the 11th-15th centuries. reliefs were created with images of animals (in the church in the village of Mesopotam), heraldic symbols on the facades and in the interiors of churches and palaces (marble relief with the emblem of the Principality of Arberia, late 12th century; coat of arms of the Topia family, 14th century, both in the National Archaeological Museum, Tirana). From the 14th century works of facial sewing have been preserved (the Glavinichskaya shroud from the monastery in Balshi, 1373, the National Historical Museum, Tirana), wooden iconostases (the church on the island of Mali Grad). In the north of modern Armenia in the 6th–14th centuries. developed Koman culture (weapons, metal jewelry, ceramics).

In the 15th century, after the occupation of the territory of Albania by the Turks, many Albanian craftsmen left for Italy (sculptor and architect Alexa from Durres, 1420–1505). Aleksa Tarketa, an Albanian, was the patron of the sculptural "Albanian Altar" in Milan (1478-80, sculptor G. A. Amadeo).

During the period of Ottoman domination (from the end of the 15th century), Muslim traditions of architecture and arts and crafts developed. City fortifications were built (in Elbasan, about 1466), fortresses (in Lezhe, 1515–21; Shkoder; in Lecures, 1537; in Porto Palermo, 1660s, rebuilt at the beginning of the 19th century), tekke (in Berat , 1782; Dolma in Kruja, last quarter of the 18th century; in Tirana, 1798; Melan in Gjirokastra, 1870), palaces of the nobility (sheds), clock towers (in Kavai, 1817; Pekini, 1822–23; Tirana, about 1822 –30), baths, inns (khans; in Korce), covered markets (bezistene), bridges (near the village of Mesi near Shkodra, 17–18 centuries; in Berat, 1780). Among mosques, the following are common: the hall type (Mbret in Elbasan and Berat, both around 1492; the Market in Kruja, 1533, rebuilt in 1837; Bekarlar in Berat, early 19th century) and the domed type (Mirahor in Korce, 1494; Muradiye in Vlora, 1542–57; Plumbi in Berat, 1553–54; Market in Gjirokastra, 1757; Plumbi in Shkodra, 1773–74; Hadji Ethem Bey in Tirana, circa 1791 – circa 1821). Some buildings from the 16th century erected according to the designs of Albanians taken to Istanbul (Mehmed Aga, Kasim Aga, etc.). There was a type of city house with covered balconies and external stairs; in Berat and Korça, the top floor protrudes above the street. In the northern regions, high fortified houses with hinged loopholes (kula) were built.

The process of Islamization of the Albanians took place gradually and in the 16th-19th centuries. the construction of Christian churches continued (primarily in the south of present-day Africa). One of the most common forms in the post-Byzantine period: 1-nave churches with a wooden ceiling (the churches of St. George in Upper Leshnitsa and St. Athanasius in Pec near Saranda, painted in 1525; the church of St. rotundal apse, 16th century; elongated churches of the Archangel Michael and the Mother of God in Vuno, 1783, etc.) and vaulted (two-tiered churches of St. Anna in Dervicani, 16th century, St. with four successive barrel vaults, 1770, etc.).

Under the influence of political conditions (including restrictions by the Turkish government on the construction of domes visible from the outside), local features developed and new types of temples appeared. All the wealth of volumetric and spatial solutions was transferred mainly to interiors and open galleries. For the 17th century characteristic of the so-called. domed halls covered with gable roofs (the Church of the Virgin in Barmashi with five inner domes in a row, painted in 1616). Also common are 3-nave basilicas with hidden inner domes in the central (the Church of the Archangel Michael in Vitkuki, 1682, and in the Varosh region in Gjirokastra, 1776), as well as in the side naves (the Church of the Virgin in Rather, 1773; St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa in Permet , 1776; Virgin in Sopika, 1770s) and a narthex (St. Nicholas in Topov, 1788). A rarer type is a church with a transverse vault (the church in Chatishte, 1584; the church of the Trinity Monastery in Karvikach near Saranda, 17th century); it met the new requirements for the appearance of the church and the desire to highlight the cross in the structure.

In the 18th century Voskopoya became a particularly active religious and cultural center (with book printing); 5 temples, erected between the 1700s, have been preserved here. and 1751; four of them - with two inner domes of the central nave, quarter-circular vaults of the side aisles and with a southern open gallery (Church of St. Nicholas, 1721). Instead of hidden domes, simple semicircular vaults were also used (in the monastery church of the Virgin in Viver, painted in 1604; in the churches of St. Nicholas in Lipa near Permet, 18th century; the Virgin in Kontsk, 1789). In the middle of the 18th - early 19th centuries. mainly in the region of Lushnya and Fier, a simplification of the basilica type took place - 3-nave ones were built (the monastery church of the Virgin in Ardenitsa, 1743; the churches of St. George in Libofsh, 1776; the Virgin in Lasov; St. in Struma, painted in 1801; St. Nicholas in Toshkez, 1811) basilicas with single-level flat wooden ceilings. In the Korchi region in the middle of the 18th century. basilicas were built with a light elevated central nave (Prophet Elijah in Voskopoy, 1751; St. George in Vitkuki).

Despite the restriction on the construction of domes, in the 16th–17th centuries, the archaic type of domed basilica was restored (the churches of St. Athanasius the Great in Polichan, 1513; the Virgin Mary in Vlakhogorandzi, painted in 1622; the Virgin Mary in Postenani, 17–18 centuries); in some churches, the central dome that stands out from the outside is complemented by the domes of the side aisles hidden from the outside (the churches of the Archangel Michael in Mingul, 18th century; St. In the second half of the 16th - the middle of the 17th centuries. in the regions of Gjirokastra and Saranda (as in other regions of Epirus), they continued, mainly in monasteries, to build cross-domed 1-domed 1-apse churches of the type of an inscribed cross with separate supports (monastic churches of the Virgin Mary near the village of Zervat, 1569; Saints Cyric and Julites near the village of Duvyan, 1588; St. Athanasius in Polichani, painted in 1601; Virgin Mary in Krorezi, 1st half of the 17th century; Virgin Mary near Sarachinisht, about 1630; etc.). The belated and last church of this type is the Church of St. Demetrius in Qeparo on the Ionian Sea (1760). Less developed subtypes with a hidden dome (monastery church in Kameno near Delvina, 1580) and with supports adjacent to the walls (monastic church of St. in.).

At the end of the 16th - 17th centuries. in the southern regions, triconch churches (with additional northern and southern apses) were built mainly of the cross-domed type in monasteries: the Annunciation near the village of Vanishte (1582), the Virgin Mary near the village of Gorandzi (late 16th century), the Prophet Elijah in Stegopol (1624, p. Baroque trends), St. John the Baptist in Voskopje (1632), the Virgin in Kosovice (1669), the Virgin in Pikerasi (1672), the Virgin in Kakom, the icon of the Mother of God "Life-Giving Spring" near Dervichan (both - the middle of the 17th century). Among the triconch temples there are also: the monastery church of the Savior Not Made by Hands in Chatista (1584), the churches of the monastery of the Prophet Elijah near the village of Yorgutsat (1586), St. Nicholas in Upper Vrovyan (late 16th century), in the monastery of St. Nicholas in Viver (16-17 centuries .), in the Archangel Monastery near Dervichan (17–18 centuries), the Virgin in Niche (18 century), the monastery church of St. Cosmas in Kolkondasi on the Seman River near Fier (1813–14).

Ballet

The first experiences of stage dance date back to the 2nd half of the 1940s, when, after the Second World War, experienced professionals came to lead the rapidly developing amateur art activity. In 1944, the first professional group, the Choir of the People's Army (now the Art Ensemble of the People's Army), was founded in Tirana. The State Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances was established in 1957 and is now known far beyond the borders of the country. The art of ballet began to develop in the mid-1940s. In 1946, a children's dance studio was organized at the Tirana Youth House, which formed the core of the choreographic group of the State Philharmonic. During the period of active cultural cooperation between the USSR and Azerbaijan, Soviet choreographers and teachers (M. M. Gaziev, G. V. Perkun, K. D. Karpinskaya, V. I. Tsaplin, and others) worked in the country; study at the Moscow and Leningrad choreographic schools. Leading Soviet ballet dancers toured to A. as part of concert brigades. In 1951, Perkun staged scenes from the ballet The Fountain of Bakhchisaray by B. V. Asafiev with the help of the studio staff, in 1953 the ballet Esmeralda to the music of C. Pugna and R. M. Glier (among the performers were P. Kanachi, I. Marina, M . Terza). In 1956, the opening of the State Opera and Ballet Theater with a ballet school took place in Tirana. This event coincided with the return to their homeland of the first certified ballet dancers who graduated from choreographic schools in Moscow and Leningrad, among them: Z. Hadjo, G. Vendresh, A. Aliay, J. Simigiu, P. Vorpsi (one of the Albanian students - M. Bebezichi was invited after graduating from the Moscow Art School to the Bolshoi Theatre). The ballet youth devoted the opening of the theater in Tirana to the play “Vain Precaution” by P. L. Gertel, which largely repeated Soviet productions, and the main parts were prepared as graduation works with the teachers of the MCU. In 1957 Karpinskaya staged the ballet "Romeo and Juliet" to the music of P. I. Tchaikovsky, in 1958 Gaziev staged the ballet "Lola" by S. N. Vasilenko. At the same time, the ballet troupe actively participated in the theater's tours around the country. In 1959–61, a graduate of the choreographer's department of GITIS, S. Selimi, staged the ballets Shurale by F. Z. Yarullin, Fadetta by L. Delibes, and Laurencia by A. A. Krein. Premiere of the first Albanian ballet Khalil and Khayria by T. Daya, conceived by choreographer P. Kanachi as a lyric-epic canvas dedicated to the liberation struggle of the Albanians in the 18th century. against the yoke of the Ottoman Empire, which took place in 1963, after the break in relations between the USSR and Azerbaijan. , was turned by the country's party leadership into a propaganda campaign. However, along with national ballets (The Fearless Eaglet by C. Zadeya, choreographer M. Papa, 1971; The Tenth Wound of Gyorgy-Elez Alia by F. Ibrahimi, choreographer Aliai, 1986) in these and subsequent years, ballets to the music of Russian composers continued to be staged Kanachi (Paganini to music by S. V. Rachmaninov, 1965), Selimi (Scheherazade to music by N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, 1963; Peter and the Wolf to music by S. S. Prokofiev, 1964), Aliai (“Lola” Vasilenko, 1980; “Romeo and Juliet” by Prokofiev, 1993) and others. In the 2010s. Albanian and foreign choreographers work with the troupe: A. Sukniti (“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to music by F. Mendelssohn, 2013), A. Preljocaj (“La Stravaganza” to music by A. Vivaldi, 2013; “The Wedding” by I. F. Stravinsky, 2015), I. Kearney ("Graduation Ball" to music by I. Strauss, 2014; "The Nutcracker" by P. I. Tchaikovsky, 2016), M. Stefanescu ("Risveglio dell "Umanita" to music by Stravinsky, B. Smetana and J. Enescu, 2014), D. Cardoso [ballets to the music of contemporary composers "Impact & Table" (2014) and "4 suites" (2015) ], Y. Vamos (“Carmina Burana” to music by C. Orff, 2015), B. Marshall (“Monger” to music by G. F. Handel, G. Verdi, T. Dorsey and others, 2016).

Theatre

The first national drama "The Oath of Allegiance" was created by Sami Frashëri in 1875 in Turkish. In 1887, the drama Emira by F. A. Suntory appeared, plays by A. Zako-Chayupi (The Fourteen-Year-Old Groom, 1902; After Death, The Son of His Land, both published in 1937), and plays by M. Grameno ( The Curse of the Albanian Language", 1905; "The Death of Pyrrhus", 1906), the drama of F. Postoli "The Curse of the Mother" (1919), the dramas of H. Stermili ("The Unfortunate Dibrans", 1923; "Love and Fidelity", 1923), etc. The first theatrical performances were staged in the early 19th century. in Shkoder (“Brotherhood”, “Oath of the Albanians”, “Bogdani”), Korca (“Friend of Art”, “Youth of Korcha”), Tirana, Elbasan, Durres, Gjirokastra by amateur troupes. The foundations of modern theatrical art were laid during the 2nd World War in partisan detachments (short plays, sketches by the fire). In 1944, the Central Theater of the Partisan Army was established in Permet; its actors became the core of the first professional Albanian State (later People's) Drama Theater in Tirana (1945, with a theater school). Among the first productions: "The Government Inspector" by N.V. Gogol, "Mother" based on the story by M. Gorky, "Othello" by W. Shakespeare, "The Epic of Bally Kombetar" based on the poem by Sh. Musaray, "The Prefect" by B. Levoni. The performance based on the historical drama "Khalil and Khairiya" by K. Yakova (1949) became a milestone. Following Tirana, theaters arose in Shkodra (Micheni Theatre, Teatri Migjeni, 1949), Korce (A. Zako-Chayupi Theatre, Teatri Çajupi, 1950), Durres (A. Moisiu Theatre, Teatri Aleksandër Moisiu, 1953) , Elbasan and Vlore (1962), Gjirokastra (1968), Fier (1971), Berate and Peshkopia (1984). An important contribution to the development of the Armenian theater was made by Soviet directors (V. F. Dudin, A. I. Krichko, and others) and teachers (N. V. Chefranova). In 1950, the Central Puppet Theater was opened in Tirana. In 1959, the A. Moisiu Higher School of Theater Arts (university) was founded (Shkolla e Lartë për Aktorë Aleksandër Moisiu). In 1956–65, a professional theater was formed in Azerbaijan with a repertoire of world classics: F. Schiller’s Insidiousness and Love (directed by M. Luarasi), Molière’s The Tradesman in the Nobility, and Shakespeare’s King Lear (directed by P. Stylou). Uncle Vanya” by A. P. Chekhov (director A. Male). The subsequent years (until 1992) of the development of the theater of Armenia fell on a difficult period of ideological restrictions, party control, strict censorship, and the country's self-isolation in the international arena (including the works of foreign authors were removed from the repertoire). Continuing to work, theater groups turned to folklore and national classics. The most significant for the theatrical art of that time were performances based on national plays - Zako-Chayupi (“After Death” and “The Fourteen-Year-Old Groom”), V. Efthymiou (“The Man Who Seeed Death”), S. Chamora (“Carnivals in Korce”), R. Pulyakhi (“Lady from the City”) and Western European playwrights; dramatizations based on the novels “Dead River” by Y. Dzodzy, “General of the Dead Army” and “Who Brought Doruntina?” I. Kadare, "The Rise and Fall of Comrade Zyulyo" by D. Agola. In 1992, there were 9 drama theatres, 15 variety theatres, 26 puppet theaters in Albania. From the 1950s amateur and professional theater festivals were held. The stage directors S. Mio, Stylou, K. Spahivogli, P. Mani, and Z. Andri made major contributions to the development of the theater. actors N. Frashëri, B. Imami, T. Kurti, M. Popi, M. Logoreci, L. Kovachi, V. Manushi, S. Ask, K. Roshi; artists H. Devoli, A. Zaimi, K. Dilo and others. From 1961 to the mid-1990s. The magazine "Teatri" was published.

At the turn of the 1990s-2010s. theaters independently form their repertoire policy (including performances based on plays by G. Ibsen, E. Ionesco, Tsikliropoulos, O. Wilde, A.P. Chekhov, etc.). The directors are D. Petsani, F. Radi, G. Kame, A. Imam, S. Fanko, K. Londo, D. Agola, M. Luarasi, H. Muliti and others.

Cinema

Cinematography arose after World War II (until the end of the 1940s, only chronicle films were produced). The first screening took place in Shkodër (1912), the first newsreel film was shot in Vlora (1920), the first National cinema was opened in Tirana (1926). In the 1950s the development of documentary films. With the help of the USSR, the film studio "New Albania" (1952) was built and the first feature film was shot - "The Great Warrior of Albania Skanderbeg" (1954, script by M. G. Papava, director S. I. Yutkevich, cameraman E. N. Andrikanis, prize of the International Film Festival in Cannes). The first independent full-length feature film is "Tana" (1958, director K. Damo). Since 1976, a national film festival has been held (once every 2 years). Until the early 1990s. The main themes of Albanian cinema were heroic-patriotic and military. Significant films were made by directors of the older generation, graduates of the universities of the USSR and other socialist countries - P. Milkani, V. Giki; D. Anagnosti ("Poppies on the Walls", 1976; Grand Prize of the International Film Festival in Belgrade). The films of K. Chashku, S. Petsani, V. Prifti are addressed to moral problems, intimate experiences of the characters; B. Bisci (“Mother’s Heart”, 1993, prize of the International Film Festival in Salerno), K. Cascu (“Colonel Bunker”, 1996, prize of the International Film Festival in Saint-Etienne) and others. Army” by Prifti (1976, based on the novel by I. Kadare), “A Tale from the Past” by Anagnosti (1987, based on the comedy by A. Zako-Chayupi) and others. A. Ming). Among the films of the turn of the 20th and 21st centuries: "The Magic Eye" (2005) by K. Kashku, "Mao Tse Tung" by B. Bishi (2007), "Albanian" by Y. Naber (2009).

Animated films are on the rise. The first animated film "Zana and Miri" was released in 1975, the first puppet "Little Bird - White Fluff" - in 1983. Since 1976, the Albanian Film Festival has been held in Tirana.

Albania, despite its small size, is rich in various minerals, which creates the basis for the development of industry (see Appendix 1, Fig. 2).

At present, the country's leading positions are occupied by the extractive industries. Chromites, iron-nickel, copper ore, brown coal, natural bitumen, oil and natural gas are mined.

In the structure of the manufacturing industry in Albania, the light industry occupies a leading position.

The most important industries are metallurgy, construction, woodworking, production of textiles, knitwear and footwear, industrial processing of agricultural products and animal husbandry. And at the heart of the entire industrial complex of the country is the energy industry.

Energy is one of the fundamental industries in the industry of each state. Nowadays, electricity is the basis of any production. The fuel and energy industry of Albania is developing mainly on the basis of the use of hydropower resources and oil. The oil-producing and oil-refining industries are of great importance in the country's industry. Albania has its own oil and gas fields, but it should be noted that there are certain problems associated with the incomplete and irrational use of natural resources, as well as insufficient technical equipment for power plants. For example, according to estimates for 2005. the country produced 7,006 barrels of oil per day, while 29,000 barrels per day were consumed. From the given data it is not difficult to estimate the volume of oil imports. Here it is worth mentioning the fact that one of the export items of Albania is crude oil, and it imports processed high-quality oil.

It should also be noted this feature of the Albanian energy sector: 97% of electricity is produced by hydroelectric power plants (HPPs). HPPs are located on the rivers Mati, Bistrica, Drina and others, and the capacity of HPPs on the Drin River is twice the total capacity of other operating HPPs. It can be concluded that the country's electric power industry is mainly based on the use of hydropower resources.

The use of mountain rivers to generate electricity is undoubtedly profitable and promising, but there are certain problems with the operation of hydroelectric power plants. Thus, one of the main disadvantages of hydroelectric power plants is their dependence on climatic conditions. For example, Albania experienced an acute energy crisis in 2005, caused by the worst drought in the last 20 years, which led to the shutdown of most hydroelectric power plants.

The electricity sector is given great attention in Albania and its development is going in two directions:

1. The leadership of the National Energy Corporation (NEC) is improving; correct calculation of electricity consumption; reduction of losses in the transmission of energy over a distance.

2. Construction of a new heating plant in the city of Vlore and a hydroelectric power station in the city of Shkodra.

It is also worth emphasizing that the government is interested in attracting foreign investors. It is known that Italian, Greek and Austrian companies are showing interest in building a cascade of 11 HPPs (on the Devola River) with a total capacity of 250 MW. Also, in connection with the inefficiency of the management of the Albanian energy system, the government is developing conditions for the transfer of KES to the management of foreign companies. Italian and German companies are showing interest in the project.

Also, steps have been taken in the country to create metallurgy, mechanical engineering and the chemical industry.

Another reason that Albania is now one of the economically backward European states is the fact that for a long time the mining and metallurgical complex occupied only a small part of industrial production, despite the fact that the country has unique deposits of non-ferrous metal ores. Non-metallic materials are also being developed, primarily dolomite. However, in the mid-2000s deposits of mainly chromite ores and, to a small extent, bauxites (which are now mined a little - 5 thousand tons per year - despite the fact that bauxite reserves are estimated at 12 million tons) were industrially developed.

The main chromite mining area is located to the northeast (Burkiza) and north of Tirana, there is also a ferrochromium plant in Burreli. A few decades ago, from the 1960s to the 1980s, Albania was one of the top three producers and exporters of chromite, second only to the raw material giants - South Africa and the Soviet Union. At that time, the country produced more than 1 million tons of chromites per year, while in our time production is at the level of 0.3 million tons annually. Moreover, more than half of the volume is just sinter ore, and only 10 thousand tons is concentrate.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Non-metallic building materials — sands, crushed stone — are being mined in an open way.

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