Alia, Ramiz (b. 18 Oct. 1925) Albanian; head of state 1982–92 Alia is the son of poor Muslim parents from the Gheg clan who fled Kosovo after the Balkan Wars. During the Second World War he fought in the Communist guerrilla organization, the Army of National Liberation, and attained the rank of lieutenantcolonel. In 1949 his political career within the Albanian Labour Party (ALP—the Communist party) was advanced when he became a member of the Central Committee. From 1955 to 1958 he was Minister for Education and Culture. Then he moved to the party post of Central Committee secretary with responsibility for the Agitation and Propaganda Department. In 1966 he was elected ...