In 1999, Albania had an estimated population of around 3.5 million people. The majority of the population were ethnic Albanians, with smaller numbers of Greeks, Macedonians and Vlachs. The economy was largely based on agriculture and services, though there was a small manufacturing sector in Tirana and other major cities. Foreign relations were primarily with European countries such as Italy, Greece and Turkey due to Albania’s geographic proximity to them. In terms of politics, Albania was ruled by a coalition government which was supported by the Socialist Party and the Democratic Party. This government implemented a number of economic reforms that aimed to open up the country’s economy to foreign investment and strengthen its ties with the European Union. See ethnicityology for Albania in the year of 2018.
Yearbook 1999
Albania. Albania was severely affected by NATO’s war against Yugoslavia in the early summer, when it received close to half a million refugees from the Kosovo province of Serbia, In addition, Albania opened his airspace for NATO flights and allowed the Western Military Alliance to establish bases for ground troops in the country.
Visit Countryaah official website to get information about the capital city of Albania. The Albanians welcomed their fleeing compatriots from Kosovo with open arms. Albania, however, which is Europe’s poorest country, did not have the resources to meet the material needs of the refugees. A variety of organizations with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) at the head flocked, built camps and provided the needy with tents, blankets and food. The many national and private aid organizations at the site all had their views on how the work should be conducted, which is why coordination was taken. By the end of the year, almost all the refugees had returned to Kosovo.
- Also see Abbreviationfinder.org to see the acronym of ALB which stands for Albania and other definitions of this 3-letter abbreviation.
Albania had also allowed the Kosovo Albanian insurgents in the Kosovo Liberation Army (Ushtria Clirimtare e Kosovës, UCK), regarded by Yugoslavia as a terrorist organization, to establish bases in its territory. As a result, the Yugoslav army invaded Albanian soil on several occasions during the 78-day war and on some occasions fought firefighting with Albanian border guards.
The many aid workers, journalists and soldiers created a host of welcome, but temporary, jobs for the Albanians. The country’s poor economy got a boost for the moment. It was a fact that the Albanians saw the foreigners disappear, not only because of the loss of income, but also of the security that NATO’s presence had provided.
Albania’s trade was not significantly affected by the war, as it mostly goes over Italy and Greece, which were barely affected by the crisis. Despite the massive temporary international presence, the well-organized transit of heavy narcotics to Europe continued, among other things. to Sweden, through Albania. Stolen cars from the rest of Europe were smuggled into the country, while weapons were smuggled mainly to Kosovo.
The EU rewarded Albania for its way of receiving refugees and NATO by providing financial compensation and providing loans for war costs, including to roads that had been broken by heavy transport. At an EU meeting in Luxembourg, the EU expressed in its communique “admiration for Albania” because of the country’s attitude during the war.
Two political crises were resolved during the year. The Democratic Party, Partia Demokratike të Shqipërisë, canceled a summer-long boycott of Parliament at a special summit in the summer, directly calling on the United States. The next crisis came when the Socialist Party, Partia Socialiste e Shqipëriseë (SP), in the autumn elected a new chairman. Prime Minister Pandeli Majko lost. He was succeeded without much difficulty by Deputy Prime Minister Iler Meta.
