History of Post-Communist Albania facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Albania has gone through many changes since the early 1990s. After years of being a communist country, Albania started to become more democratic and open to the world. This period brought new challenges and opportunities for the country. Albania began working to join important groups like the Council of Europe and NATO, and it hopes to join the European Union one day. Many Albanians also moved to other countries, especially Greece and Italy, to find work.

Albania in the Early 1990s

After communism ended in Albania, many people who had been living there for a long time, like the Jewish community, moved to other countries, especially Israel. This was a big change for the country.

Changes and Challenges in 1994

Albania kept changing after communism, but some things improved faster than others. For example, relations with Greece became difficult, which made it harder for Albania to get help from the European Union.

However, Albania's economy started to grow, and prices stopped rising so quickly. Even with this growth, many people did not have jobs. Money sent home by Albanians working in other countries helped the economy a lot. Still, many people faced tough times and poverty. Albania also made progress in its relationships with other countries, like Bulgaria, Turkey, North Macedonia, and Italy.

Progress and Problems in 1995

In 1995, Albania's leaders still faced many challenges. The government worked on new laws about land and property, which helped bring in money from inside and outside the country. Many small businesses became private instead of being owned by the government.

The country's debt was reduced, and the economy continued to grow. Farming, construction, and private services grew very fast. However, the industrial sector (factories) was still struggling. Albania also improved its military cooperation with the United States, working together on different projects.

Economic Growth and International Ties in 1996

Albania's economy continued to grow in 1996. More people found jobs, and money sent home by Albanians living abroad still helped the economy a lot. Relations with Greece improved, and important agreements were signed.

For the first time in its history, Albania sent its soldiers abroad to help keep the peace. A group of 33 Albanian soldiers joined an international force in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Civil Unrest and Political Changes in 1997

In 1997, Albania faced a big crisis. Many people lost their savings because of something called "pyramid schemes," which are risky investments that often collapse. This led to widespread anger and protests.

After the unrest, new elections were held. The Socialist Party and its allies won, and Rexhep Meidani became the new president. Fatos Nano became Prime Minister but later resigned. Albania also approved a new constitution in 1998, which is like a rulebook for the country.

Kosovo Conflict and Albania's Role in 1998

In 1998, a civil war broke out in the neighboring region of Kosovo, between Serbian police and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). Thousands of refugees from Kosovo fled into Albania. Albania's government asked NATO to step in and stop the fighting.

Later that year, Pandeli Majko became Albania's new Prime Minister. He was only 30 years old, making him one of Europe's youngest leaders. Albania's parliament also approved a new constitution, which was then supported by the people in a vote. This new constitution set out rules for how the government should work, protecting human rights and minorities.

Refugee Crisis and NATO Operations in 1999

During the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, about 450,000 refugees from Kosovo came to Albania. This was a huge number, almost 15% of Albania's total population! Albania became a key place for international aid groups and NATO forces to help the refugees.

NATO forces also brought military equipment to northern Albania. The border areas saw fighting between Yugoslav forces and KLA fighters. After the conflict, Albania's relationships with its neighbors improved. Albania started working with other countries on projects to help the region grow.

Regional Cooperation and Foreign Policy in 2000

In 2000, Albania received a lot of money to fix roads, railroads, ports, and power lines as part of a plan to bring peace and stability to the region. This plan, called the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, also helped Albania work with other countries on human rights, democracy, and security.

Albania's president visited Kosovo, emphasizing that Albania wanted to be part of a "Europe of regions" rather than seeking a "Greater Albania" that would include ethnic Albanians from other countries.

Economic Progress and Political Challenges in 2001

Albania's economy continued to grow in 2001, and unemployment dropped. This was partly due to government programs that created jobs, especially in building new infrastructure.

However, there were still problems with elections. International observers said the 2001 parliamentary elections were acceptable, but some political parties disagreed with the results. This led to political disagreements and changes in who was Prime Minister.

Economic Setbacks and Political Changes in 2002

In 2002, Albania's economy faced a small setback, and unemployment increased. A report showed that many people in Albania lived in poverty.

The Prime Minister, Ilir Meta, resigned because of disagreements within his party. Later, Alfred Moisiu was elected as the new president, and Fatos Nano became Prime Minister again. In February, Albania started talks with the European Union about joining, which was a big step.

Steps Towards NATO Membership in 2003

In May 2003, the United States signed an agreement with Albania, North Macedonia, and Croatia. This agreement was meant to help these countries become members of NATO.

Protests and Political Unrest in 2004

In January 2004, a sad event occurred when 20 people died trying to cross the Adriatic Sea to reach Italy illegally. This led to a national day of mourning.

In February, thousands of protesters gathered in Tirana, calling for the Prime Minister to resign. There were clashes, and some people tried to storm the government building.

New Government in 2005

In July 2005, new parliamentary elections were held. The opposition Democratic Party of Albania won, and former president Sali Berisha became the new Prime Minister.

Agreement with the European Union in 2006

In June 2006, Albania signed an important agreement with the European Union. This agreement, called a Stabilisation and Association Agreement, was a key step towards Albania eventually joining the EU.

Economic Growth and US Presidential Visit in 2007

Despite political issues, Albania's economy grew by about 5% in 2007. The Albanian currency also became stronger.

In June, US President George W. Bush visited Albania. He was the first sitting US president to visit the country. In July, Bamir Topi was elected as the new President of Albania by the parliament.

Tragedy and Political Tensions in 2008

On March 15, 2008, a terrible explosion happened at an old arms depot. Sixteen people died, and over 300 were injured. This event also damaged the Tirana airport. The defense minister resigned after this incident.

Later in June, the opposition Socialist Party left the parliament, accusing the ruling party of delaying important decisions.

Joining NATO and Political Gridlock in 2009

In April 2009, Albania officially joined NATO, becoming its 27th member. Albania also applied to join the European Union that same month.

In July, the Democratic Party won the parliamentary elections by a small margin. They had to form a coalition government with another party, the Socialist Movement for Integration. This was the first time since 1991 that a ruling party needed a coalition to govern.

However, the election results led to a political crisis. The Socialist Party accused the government of cheating in the vote count. They started protests in Tirana, demanding a recount. The Prime Minister refused, saying the constitution did not allow it. This disagreement made the political situation very tense.

Continuing Crisis and EU Warnings in 2010

The political crisis continued into 2010. The Socialist Party started new protests and even went on a hunger strike to demand a vote recount. The European Union warned Albania that it might not be allowed to become an EU candidate if the political parties could not find a compromise.

In November, the European Union did not grant Albania official candidate status, partly because of the ongoing political crisis. However, it did make it easier for Albanians to travel to EU countries without a visa.

Escalation of the Crisis in 2011

In January 2011, the Central Election Commission started burning the ballots from the 2009 elections. This made a recount impossible, and the Socialist Party accused the government of trying to hide vote manipulation.

Later that month, the Deputy Prime Minister resigned after being involved in a corruption scandal. This led to violent protests in Tirana. Three people were shot and killed during clashes between police and protesters. The EU urged all Albanian politicians to avoid violence. Both sides blamed each other for the events.

In May, local elections were held. The results were very close, especially in Tirana. The counting process was disputed, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe noted problems. The EU Commission president even canceled a visit to Albania because of the political situation.