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The flags of the 100th anniversary
The special date of 28 November is approaching, and little by little all of Albania is getting ready to celebrate its 100th year of independence. As in previous years, but more widely this year, a flag has been placed in every window. Everyone is ready to celebrate.
But something is spoiling the celebration, because this year’s flags are different. Our national symbol has been “disfigured”. The tongues of the eagle’s two heads have been joined to the lower beaks, producing an entirely different appearance.
Not an eagle, but a “viper”. As if that were not enough, the talons have mutated too. From talons they have turned into “paws”.
Over the Albanian state’s 100-year history, our flag has often changed from one period to another. From the flag of 1912 to that of the Kingdom, to that of the communist system and then to today’s flag of democracy. But this 100th-anniversary flag has nothing to do with those changes.
Surely this flag could have come about “by accident”. 
Credit for this transformation goes to 3 Chinese companies from the city of Wuhan, near the Yangtze River, and another Chinese company from Shanghai. Wuhan Jarmoo Garden Co; Wenzhou Fly Craft Product Co; Wuhan Qianxi Flag Co and Shanghai Tensel Flag Co are the companies that have produced this distinctive distorted flag. The companies have also made flags for other countries, such as Canada, the United States and so on.
But it seems our eagle proved difficult to design, so it arrived in this version.
The Chinese-made flags, like every other product that comes from there, are the cheapest on the market. They range from 400 to 3000 lek depending on size. They are currently the most widespread, accounting for around 80% of the market and making their way not only into every Albanian’s home but into institutions too.
Nobody can say who put them on the market. 
Faced with this poor representation of our state, the only institution to respond has been the Institute for National Affairs. Those responsible should be punished, since Law No. 8926 clearly defines the flag’s appearance and also prohibits the debasement of national symbols.
Happy 100th anniversary!
