IPLS SERVICES: A brief "constitutional history" of Albania

(Courtesy of Mr. Darian PAVLI, LL.M.)

Nov. 28, 1998: New Constitution adopted on Independence Day. An ad hoc parliamentary committee through an open and participatory process drafted it. It was then approved by the Kuvendi (the parliament) and voted by the people in a national referendum. Prominent constitutional experts alike Mr. La Pergola, head of the well-known Venice Commission of CoE, have stated that the new Albanian Constitution fully complies with European democratic standards.

1997: A national referendum confirms the republican form of government.

1995: Albania becomes a member of the Council of Europe and ratifies the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950).

1994: A draft constitution submitted to a national referendum, entirely and unconstitutionally bypassing the Parliament, is rejected by the voters.

1993: Bill of Rights approved.

1992: Amendments to the Main Constitutional provisions concerning the judicial system and local government.

1991, Apr.: The Main Constitutional Provisions (dispositions?), an interim constitution, approved by consensus by the first post-communist parliament, established the principles of political pluralism, free elections and separation of powers.

Dec. 1990: The first anticommunist party (DP), after decades of single-party regime, opens way to multiparty system.

1976: The Constitution of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania: a Communist manifesto.

1968: Albania denounces the Warsaw Treaty.

1955: Membership in the United Nations.

1946: The Constitution of the Second Republic is adopted by a directly elected Constitutional Assembly.

1945: Albania participates in the Paris Peace Conference as a member the Coalition.

Jan. 11, 1945: The People’s Republic of Albania is proclaimed.

1945 - 1990: The totalitarian dictatorship imposed by Albanian Communist Party (later on called the Labor Party).

1944, Nov.: Liberation of Albania.

1939 - 1944: Albanian Resistance.

1943, Sept. – 1944, Nov.: Nazi - German occupation.

1939, Apr. – 1943, Sept.: Fascist - Italian occupation and annexation.

1928: The Constitution of the Kingdom. Zog I becomes King of the Albanians.

1925: The Constitution of the First Republic, based on the French model of the Third Republic.

1924, Jun. – Dec.: The June Revolution. The government of bishop Noli. The restoration of the legal government.

1922: The first parliamentary election.

1921: Albania becomes member of the League of Nations.

1920: The Vlora War: Italian troops are forced out of the city – port of Vlora, thus ending any possibility of partition of the country on the grounds of the secret Treaty of London, 1915.

1920, Jan.: The Interim Constitution of Lushnje. The establishment of the four member Regency.

1914: The Organic Statute of the Princedom makes Albania a constitutional monarchy.

1913, Nov.: The Ambassadors Conference appoints Wilhelm Von Wied, Prince of Albania.

1913, Jul.: The Ambassadors’ Conference recognizes the independent state of Albania. The settling of the international frontiers with Serbia, Montenegro and Greece: entire regions populated by ethnic Albanians are left out.

Nov.28, 1912: Declaration of Independence and subsequent formation of a National Government headed by Ismail Qemali.

1911 – 1912: War of Independence.

1878 – 1881: The League of Prizren proclaims the autonomy of the Albanian vilajets within Ottoman Empire, and organizes armed and diplomatic resistance against the incorporation of Albanian territories into Serbia and Montenegro.

1870s – 1912: National Rebirth Movement sets up political and cultural ends toward national awakening and independence from the Sublime Porte and unification of Albanian Land.

1478 – 1912: Ottoman Empire’s Rule.

1443 – 1468: George Kastriot Skanderbeg leads the Albanian Resistance against the Ottomans. Due to his contributes on protecting Christianity; Pope Clement VI gives Skanderbeg the title of " Champion of Christianity".

1444,Mar.: At Lezha Convention is founded the League of Albanian Princes, a political and military alliance against the Ottomans.

XV c. : Leke Dukagjini, a landlord of North, codifies the century-long customary layoff Albania into a Kanun (Code) bearing his own name: Kanuni i Leke Dukagjinit.

XIV c.: Three independent Albanian Princedoms are created (respectively, of Balshaj, Topia and Gjin Bue Shpata).

1190: Princedom of Arberia (the name of Albania in the Albanian language).

330 AC: Byzantine Empire.

168 BC: Beginning of Roman Rule.

400 BC: The first Illyrian state.

2^nd millennium BC: Illyrian civilization.