
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

Left to right, Interior Minister Hekuran Isai, Enver Hoxha, Ramiz Alia and Nexhmije Hoxha in Pogradec, August 1983. © Muharrem Ymeri

Ramiz Alia and Enver Hoxha on November 29, 1983, Albania's Liberation Day, in Tirana's Qemal Stafa Stadium. © Muharrem Ymeri

First Secretary Ramiz Alia at the Ninth Congress of the Party of Labor ("Congress of Continuity") on November 5, 1986. © ATA

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

“Long Live Democratic Albania”—a Democratic Party rally in Student City on December 22, 1990. © Gani Xhengo

Sali Berisha at a Democratic Party rally in Student City on December 22, 1990 with Azem Hajdari (L) and Gramoz Pashko (R). © Gani Xhengo

The first edition of the Democratic Party newspaper, Rilindje Demokratike, on January 5, 1991 © Fred Abrahams

Students enjoy speeches at an anti-government demonstration in Student City, February 1991. © Gani Xhengo

Neritan Ceka, with megaphone, tries to calm a crowd that feared a pro-Hoxha coup on February 21, 1990. © Gani Xhengo

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

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

Democratic Party MPs Sali Berisha, Tritan Shehu and Aleksander Meksi in the first democratically elected parliament. © Gani Xhengo

Democratic Party MPs Arben Imami (L) and Gramoz Pashko in the first democratically elected parliament. © Gani Xhengo

Central Committee member Ditero Agolli getting jeered during his speech at the 10th Congress of the Party of Labor on June 10, 1991. © ATA

U.S. Secretary of State James Baker addresses a massive crowd in Skanderbeg Square on June 22, 1991. © ATA

Ecstatic reception in Skanderbeg Square for Secretary of State James Baker on June 22, 1991. © Gani Xhengo

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

Workers remove the statue of Enver Hoxha from the Enver Hoxha Museum on August 31, 1991. © Lulzim Lika

President Sali Berisha and President George Bush in the Oval Office on June 15, 1992. © George Bush Presidential Library and Museum

Protesters in Vlora burn copies of the Democratic Party newspaper Rilindje Demokratike on February 14, 1997. © Reuters

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

An armed protester watches a Greek navy boat with humanitarian aid approach Albania on March 19, 1997. © Reuters

Anti-government protesters atop tanks on Tirana’s boulevard after the killing of Azem Hajdari, September 14, 1998. © Reuters

Albanian President Rexhep Meidani (C) talks with Kosovo Liberation Army leaders Xhavit Haliti (L) and Hashim Thaçi in Tirana on March 1, 1999. © Reuters

Opposition leader Sali Berisha during a “Nano Go” anti-government protest in Skanderbeg Square on February 20, 2004. © Fred Abrahams