So who has been to Albania. They were ruled by a Communist Stalinist type of government from 1945 to 1991. During that time they were Yugoslavias allie. Then became Soviets allie. Then they dropped the Soviets and became Chinas allie. Today they are NATO and US allie.

Today Albania is still struggling economically but slowly working its way out of its financial problems.


This is a video of Albania in 1945. It was filmed by the Germans who occupied Albania for 14 months after the Italians who had invaded Albania years before surrendered to the Allies.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=401647824663678278

This modern video shows the rural areas of Albania. Those people in the video are following the english writer Byrons route when he traveled through Albania over a century ago.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-8...86839&hl=en

If you really want to know about Albania watch this video which also shows the Capital and talks about Albania today. This video seems to be a shorter version of a longer video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYTtny0OP2k

This video shows some of Albanias famous concrete bunkers. Many were movable. Supposedly, there are 750.000 concrete bunkers in Albania. They were built by the Communist Stalinist government in order to defend Albania from an invasion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwaF4YyLqOI

I will look into it when I come back from work. You'll get my comment later.

I know it's totally off topic, but islander are you Albanian??

No not Albanian.

I watched all of the videos and it seems like the first video could have been some kind of propaganda video. But regardless, it is amazing to see how Albania has prospered. I just got a whole lot smarter about that stuff

More information.

Since 1949, 60 years, Albania and China have had diplomatic ties.

When Albania was under communist control:


Has Chinas Communist government became less hardline, relations with Albania, whose government was still hardline, became not has tight.

Today, China is investing in Albania and might be making it there economic base of operation in Europe. And Albania will get to sell to the Chinese market. Also, China leases Albanian radio transmitters to transmit programs from China to Eastern Europe over shortwave radio.

This following is from Wall Street Journal article from this year:


This is a joint statement agreed by Albania and China:
http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjdt/2649/t562027.htm