Republic of Albania

Republika é Shqipërisë

CAPITAL: Tiranë

FLAG: The flag consists of a red background at the center of which is a black double-headed eagle.

ANTHEM: Hymni i Flamúrit (Anthem of the Flag) begins "Rreth flamúrit të për bashkuar" ("The flag that united us in the struggle").

MONETARY UNIT: The lek (L) of 100 qindarka is a convertible paper currency. There are coins of 5, 10, 20, 50 qindarka, and 1 lek, and notes of 1, 3, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 leks. L1 = $0.0079 (or $1 = L126.53) as of May 2003.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard.

HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; Small Bayram, end of Ramadan, 16 December 2001*; International Women's Day, 8 March; Catholic Easter, April**; Orthodox Easter, April**; Great Bayram, Feast of the Sacrifice, 6 March 2001*; Independence Day, 28 November; Christmas Day, 25 December.

*Dependent on the Islamic lunar calendar and will vary from the dates given.

** Dependent on religious calendar, and also will vary.

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