[20050915]RS22267_阿尔巴尼亚：当前问题和美国政策.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code RS22267September 15, 2005Albania: Current Issues and U.S. Policy name redactedSpecialist in International RelationsForeign Affairs, Defense, and Trade DivisionSummarySome two months after Albania held parliamentary elections, a new governmentwas sworn in on September 11, 2005. Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha, whosecontroversial term as President of Albania ended in 1997 amidst violent civil unrest,returned to power as the new Prime Minister and leads a center-right coalitiongovernment. Along with other states in the western Balkan region, Albania seeksmembership in NATO and the European Union, but its accession prospects are notcertain. This report may be updated as events warrant. A related CRS report isRL33012, Islamic Terrorism and the Balkans.Current Political SituationDuring the Cold War, Albania was ruled by a brutally repressive communist regimethat kept the country in near-total isolation and underdevelopment. The legacy of thisexperience - in addition to political instability, weak institutions, economic problems, andwars in neighboring states over the l