The official
National Flag of Albania adopted on April 7, 1992 is red with a two-headed eagle at the center and it is the only known emblem of its kind of a recognized sovereign state. Some attribute the creation of the flag as a replica of a similar seal of Gjergj Kastriot Skanderbeg, a 15th century Albanian patriot who led the revolt against the Ottoman Empire. The revolt resulted in the brief independence for some regions of Albania from 1443 to 1448.
Albania is located along the Adriatic Sea in southeastern Europe. The narrow coastal plain is characterized by the presence of mountains that rises to over 6,500 feet, which covers almost the entire country. Though these mountains are rich in natural resources (chrome, iron, nickel, and copper), Albania could not tap the bounty because mining requires huge investment, which the country does not have. Due to this, Albania is considered the poorest country in Europe and the only one with a Muslim majority.
The economic condition in Albania turned to worst after 40years of communist rule, which ended only in 1991. Adding to the economic turn around is the war in neighboring Kosovo that brought in 480,000 ethnic Albanian refugees in 1999, further straining the already fragile economy. Only the resolve of its citizens, particularly the remittances from Albanian workers abroad (mostly in Greece and Italy) had propped up the largely agricultural based economy.
The over 3million residents of Albania made extra effort to sustain its growing economy through industry (food processing, textiles and clothing, lumber, oil); on agriculture produce (wheat, corn, potatoes, vegetables, meat); and exports as well (textiles and footwear, asphalt, metals and metallic ores, crude oil).
by:
The Flagman
