| 1992 | : | In the midst of economic freefall and social chaos, Alia resigns as president and is succeeded on April 9 by Sali Berisha, the first democratic leader of Albania since Bishop Noli. The Albanian Communist Party is outlawed, and its chairman, Hysni Milloshi, is arrested in Tirana and charged with illegally carrying a gun. Former President Alia is detained. Albania is granted membership of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and in the same month applies to join NATO. |
| 1992 | : | Pope John Paul II makes a historic visit. (The last pope to travel to Albania – in 1464 – died en route.) Alia is arrested on charges of abuse of power. |
| 1994 | : | Albania’s postcommunist transformation continues, with more progress in some areas than others. Some $400 million sent home by Albanian emigrants play a vital role in boosting the domestic economy by increasing the volume of disposable income. |
| 1995 | : | The process of privatization continues, with some 1,400 small-sized enterprises privatized. Albania is admitted to the Council of Europe. |
| 1996 | : | The former chief of the Sigurimi is arrested following bomb attacks in Tirana on February 26 and in Durrës on March 6. The third postcommunist parliamentary elections plunge Albania into its deepest political crisis since the demise of communist rule. Hours before the polls close, all major opposition parties pull out their candidates, accusing the ruling Democratic Party of engineering widespread election irregularities. Riot police violently break up a protest rally. |
| 1997 | : | In the 1997 unrest in Albania the general elections of June 1997 brought the Socialists and their allies to power. Following the collapse of several “get-rich-quick” pyramid schemes, in which hundreds of thousands of Albanians lost their life savings, enraged investors go on the rampage in the southern town of Lushnjë. On January 26, thousands of people converge on central Tirana and clash with riot police. Government buildings are set ablaze in towns and cities across the country. In February unrest engulfs Vlorë, causing several deaths. A national state of emergency is declared. Rioters take control of the town of Sarandë, seizing weapons from police headquarters and army barracks. With astonishing speed the entire military establishment melts away, the security service dissolves, and the people arm themselves with every type of weapon, including Kalashnikovs and even tanks – an estimated 650,000 weapons are seized. Most of the southern half of the country falls into the hands of ragtag rebels and criminal gangs. President Berisha resigns. |
(Source: Wikipedia.org)
