Study of the Nations: Albania

Albania, the world’s first recognized atheist state in the 1940s after a totalitarian regime separated religion from the culture. 80 years later, in 1992, religious freedom was attained after a regime change. However, Albania still suffers spiritually. Just because religious freedom is back doesn’t mean everything is good to go now. In fact, they may be worse off now because change doesn’t come easily. The majority of Albanians today do not practice any religion, however, the two major religions are Christianity and Islam.

Christianity is represented by the Albanian Byzantine Catholic Church with 11 churches, 9 parishes, 10 schools, and 20 charitable organizations.

Islam is represented through the United Nations by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference with half the amount of Mosques compared to Churches.

U.S.-ALBANIAN RELATIONS (From http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3235.htm)
Albania enjoys friendly and cooperative bilateral relations with the U.S. Pro-U.S. sentiment is widespread among the population. Even while the U.S., which had closed its mission to Albania in 1946, was being vilified by communist propaganda during the Hoxha regime, ordinary Albanians remembered that Woodrow Wilson had protected Albanian independence in 1919. Albanians credit the NATO bombing of Serbia in 1999 with saving thousands of Kosovar-Albanian lives, and they greatly appreciate the U.S. Government’s commitment to resolving the status of Kosovo.

In 2003, Albania and the U.S. signed and ratified a number of agreements, including a treaty on the Prevention of Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction and the Promotion of Defense and Military Relations; the Adriatic Charter; and an Agreement regarding the non-surrender of persons to the International Criminal Court. The U.S. strongly supports Albania’s EU and NATO membership goals. Working towards NATO membership, the U.S. and Albania signed a Supplementary Agreement to the Partnership for Peace Status of Forces Agreement, an important step in strengthening bilateral cooperation and enhancing security, peace, and stability in the region.

Since FY 1991, the U.S. has provided Albania with more than $616 million in assistance, not counting U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) food aid. The aid has served to facilitate Albania’s transition from the most isolated and repressive communist state in Europe to a modern democracy with a market-oriented economy, and to support long-term development. In 2007, the U.S. gave over $21.1 million to Albania under the Support for East European Democracy (SEED) Act program. Albania was among the first countries selected to participate in the Threshold Program under the Millennium Challenge Account, winning a grant of $13.8 million. In September 2006, Albania began implementation of the program, which targets two critical stumbling blocks to development–corruption and rule of law.

Despite daunting problems at home, Albania has wholeheartedly supported the U.S. in the global war on terrorism by freezing terrorist assets, shutting down non-governmental organizations (NGOs) with possible links to terrorist financing, expelling extremists, and providing military and diplomatic support for the U.S.-led actions in Afghanistan and Iraq. Albania has played a moderating role in the region and has fully supported UN mediation efforts in Kosovo.

Albania is on the verge of joining NATO and the European Union all at once, probably by 2009. The U.S. has been there for support through government organizations but what about missions? There are many spiritual strongholds of the enemy throughout the country that need to be broken through and down.

A couple of friends of mine went on a mission trip to Albania and saw first hand the spiritual warfare that was throughout the region they visited. Travel was not easy, I heard stories of them hiking for days just to get to one village. (I’m sure this is real comforting to hear if your thinking about going there someday). Another friend has been bringing up Albania lately as a mission for Remnant. Is this something that Remnant would want to do as a body? Maybe we’ll explore that in the future.