![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-02/3931573963.jpg)
Enver Hoxha with arms around Central Committee Secretary Hysni Kapo (L) and Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu (R), with Central Committee Secretary Ramiz Alia at far right, May 1, 1979. © Gani Xhengo
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/05/Pogradec-August-19832/3343195479.jpg)
Left to right, Interior Minister Hekuran Isai, Enver Hoxha, Ramiz Alia and Nexhmije Hoxha in Pogradec, August 1983. © Muharrem Ymeri
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/05/Nov-29-1983-in-Qemal-Stafa-Stadium-for-Liberation-Day3/3580438639.jpg)
Ramiz Alia and Enver Hoxha on November 29, 1983, Albania's Liberation Day, in Tirana's Qemal Stafa Stadium. © Muharrem Ymeri
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/05/Ramiz-Alia-Ninth-Congress-No-86-Kongresi-i-Vazhdimesise/2393891353.jpg)
First Secretary Ramiz Alia at the Ninth Congress of the Party of Labor ("Congress of Continuity") on November 5, 1986. © ATA
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-04/4203137458.jpg)
Party head Ramiz Alia, flanked by Lisen Bashkurti (L) and Skënder Gjinushi (R), tells students and young professors on December 11, 1990 that pluralism has been legalized. © ATA
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-05/745564597.jpg)
“Long Live Democratic Albania”—a Democratic Party rally in Student City on December 22, 1990. © Gani Xhengo
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-06/2026903474.jpg)
Sali Berisha at a Democratic Party rally in Student City on December 22, 1990 with Azem Hajdari (L) and Gramoz Pashko (R). © Gani Xhengo
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/05/firstRD013/875054136.jpg)
The first edition of the Democratic Party newspaper, Rilindje Demokratike, on January 5, 1991 © Fred Abrahams
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-07/24812353.jpg)
Students enjoy speeches at an anti-government demonstration in Student City, February 1991. © Gani Xhengo
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-10/2006704484.jpg)
Neritan Ceka, with megaphone, tries to calm a crowd that feared a pro-Hoxha coup on February 21, 1990. © Gani Xhengo
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-12/1519457168.jpg)
Deputies from the opposition Democratic Party stand in parliament on April 10, 1991 to honor four anti-government protesters killed by the army. © Gani Xhengo
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-13/2594874388.jpg)
Members of the first pluralist parliament, Fatos Nano of the Albanian Party of Labor (L) and Genc Ruli (C) and Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party, on May 3, 1991. © ATA
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/05/Berisha-Shehu-Meksi/2386906783.jpg)
Democratic Party MPs Sali Berisha, Tritan Shehu and Aleksander Meksi in the first democratically elected parliament. © Gani Xhengo
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/05/Imami-Pashko/2419204120.jpg)
Democratic Party MPs Arben Imami (L) and Gramoz Pashko in the first democratically elected parliament. © Gani Xhengo
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/05/Dritero-Agolli-speech/2906421804.jpg)
Central Committee member Ditero Agolli getting jeered during his speech at the 10th Congress of the Party of Labor on June 10, 1991. © ATA
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-14/1245762793.jpg)
U.S. Secretary of State James Baker addresses a massive crowd in Skanderbeg Square on June 22, 1991. © ATA
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/05/James-Baker-visit/1951641134.jpg)
Ecstatic reception in Skanderbeg Square for Secretary of State James Baker on June 22, 1991. © Gani Xhengo
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-15/3328513339.jpg)
U.S. Secretary of State Baker meets President Alia. In back are future U.S. ambassador William Ryerson (L), VOA Albanian service head Elez Biberaj (C) and Albanian Foreign Minister Muhamet Kapllani. © ATA
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/05/Hoxha-monument1/2379448837.jpg)
Workers remove the statue of Enver Hoxha from the Enver Hoxha Museum on August 31, 1991. © Lulzim Lika
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-16/2462411580.jpg)
President Sali Berisha and President George Bush in the Oval Office on June 15, 1992. © George Bush Presidential Library and Museum
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-19/1335225190.jpg)
Protesters in Vlora burn copies of the Democratic Party newspaper Rilindje Demokratike on February 14, 1997. © Reuters
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-20/3011032428.jpg)
Socialist Party head Fatos Nano (L), just out of prison, and newly appointed Prime Minister Bashkim Fino at a press conference in Tirana on March 17, 1997. © Reuters
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-21/3402774943.jpg)
An armed protester watches a Greek navy boat with humanitarian aid approach Albania on March 19, 1997. © Reuters
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-24/2393080033.jpg)
Anti-government protesters atop tanks on Tirana’s boulevard after the killing of Azem Hajdari, September 14, 1998. © Reuters
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-26/217407201.jpg)
Albanian President Rexhep Meidani (C) talks with Kosovo Liberation Army leaders Xhavit Haliti (L) and Hashim Thaçi in Tirana on March 1, 1999. © Reuters
![](http://www.modern-albania.com/wp-content/uploads/cache/2015/04/modern-albania-27/1969213970.jpg)
Opposition leader Sali Berisha during a “Nano Go” anti-government protest in Skanderbeg Square on February 20, 2004. © Fred Abrahams