Albania: Current Issues and U.S. Policy

RS22267 -- Albania: Current Issues and U.S. Policy

September 15, 2005

Summary

Some two months after Albania held parliamentary elections, a new government was sworn in on September 11, 2005. Democratic Party leader Sali Berisha, whose controversial 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 coalition government. Along with other states in the western Balkan region, Albania seeks membership in NATO and the European Union, but its accession prospects are not certain. This report may be updated as events warrant. A related CRS paper is CRS Report RL33012, Islamic Terrorism and the Balkans.