iz ALIA (since 22
November 1982);

Head of Government--Prime Minister of the interim Council of
Ministers Ylli BUFI (since 5 June 1991);

_#_Political parties and leaders: Albanian Workers Party (AWP),
Ramiz ALIA, first secretary;
Democratic Party (DP), Sali BERISHA, chairman and cofounder with
Gramoz PASHKO;
Albanian Republican Party, Sabri GODO;
Ecology Party, Namik HOTI;
Omonia (Greek minority party), leader NA;
Agrarian Party, leader NA;

note--in December 1990 President ALIA allowed new political parties
to be formed in addition to the AWP for the first time since 1944

_#_Suffrage: universal and compulsory at age 18

_#_Elections:

President--last held 30 April 1991 (next to be held spring 1992);
results--President Ramiz ALIA was reelected with token opposition;

People's Assembly--last held 31 March 1991 (next to be held
spring 1992);
results--AWP 68%, DP 25%;
seats--(250 total) preliminary results AWP 168, DP 75, Omonia 5,
Veterans Association 1, other 1;

note--the AWP's votes came mostly from the countryside while the DP
won majorities in the six-largest cities;

_#_Communists: 147,000 party members (November 1986); note--in
March 1991 the Albanian Workers' Party announced that it considered
itself no longer Communist but socialist

_#_Member of: ECE, FAO, IAEA, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO

_#_Diplomatic representation: the Governments of the United States and
Albania agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations to be effective
from 15 March 1991 and to exchange diplomatic missions at the level
of ambassador

_#_Flag: red with a black two-headed eagle in the center below a red
five-pointed star outlined in yellow

_*_Economy
_#_Overview: As the poorest country in Europe, Albania's development
lags behind even the least favored areas of the Yugoslav economy.
For over 40 years, the Stalinist-type economy has operated on the
principles of central planning and state ownership of the means of
production. In recent years Albania has implemented limited economic
reforms to stimulate its lagging economy, provide incentives, and
decentralize decisionmaking. In an effort to expand international
ties, Tirane has reestablished diplomatic relations with the Soviet
Union and the US. The Albanians have also passed legislation allowing
foreign investment. Albania possesses considerable mineral
resources and, until 1990, was largely self-sufficient i