“From H. Kapo, T. Jakova and R. Çitaku, to Ruhi Hado, the list of 114 diplomats who represented Albania in the international arena…” / Interview with the well-known diplomacy scholar.

By Armand Jonuzi

Part Three

Memorie.al / “During Zog’s time, it was more difficult to become a diplomat than it is today.” Uran Asllani, a scholar of Albanian diplomacy from 1914-1944 and the son of one of the most distinguished Albanian diplomats of the ’30s, explains that a diplomat in that period had to pass through several “sieves” to be appointed to this post. In an exclusive interview, he recounts all the criteria a person had to meet to become a diplomat. He also explains when Albanian diplomacy originated, with which countries we established diplomatic relations, and what their mission was.

Which are the most important figures of Albanian diplomacy of that time? In this article, we are also publishing the list of the names of diplomats from 1914-1944, and in the next issue; we will publish the list of all diplomats from 1944 to 2007.

                                            Continued from the previous issue

114 ALBANIAN DIPLOMATS FROM 1945-2007 – FROM HYSNI KAPO, TUK JAKOVA, TO RUHI HADO

There are nearly 114 Albanian ambassadors who have represented Albania in the international arena from 1944 to 2007. Following the previous issue, which published the list of 80 Albanian diplomats, ambassadors, and consuls from the creation of the state until 1944, in this issue, we are publishing the names of those diplomats who represented Albania from 1944 to the present. Unlike the pre-’44 period, where ambassadors were career diplomats, after the communist regime came to power, Albania was represented in the world by political figures who had distinguished themselves during the National Liberation War.

Some of them were Hysni Kapo, Tuk Jakova, and Ramadan Çitaku, who were also the first Albanian ambassadors to Yugoslavia, an allied and friendly country of Albania at the time. But in postwar diplomacy, there was no lack of well-known names, such as Koço Tashko, who in the ’20s had also been the Albanian consul in the USA. In the first years after liberation, he was Albania’s representative in the Soviet Union, one of the most important diplomatic posts at the time. But only a short time later, the communist regime prepared a large number of diplomats who graduated abroad, restoring the tradition of selecting ambassadors. This selection continued even after the ’90s, after the fall of the communist regime.

ALBANIAN AMBASSADORS FROM 1945-2007

1. Koço Tashko, Ambassador of Albania to the Soviet Union, in the years 1945-1948
2. Hysni Kapo, Ambassador of Albania to Yugoslavia, in the years 1945-1946
3. Tuk Jakova, Ambassador of Albania to Yugoslavia, in the years 1946-1947
4. Ramadan Çitaku, Ambassador of Albania to Yugoslavia, in the years 1947-1948
5. Frederik Nosi, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the years 1945-1948
6. Zenel Hamiti, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1949-1952
7. Kahreman Ylli, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the years 1948-1950
8. Behar Shtylla, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the years 1950-1952 and Ambassador to Italy, in the years 1952-1954
9. Edip Çuçi, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1954-1958
10. Koço Prifti, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1958-1961
11. Delo Balili, Ambassador of Albania to Vietnam, in the ’60s
12. Dhimitër Lamani, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the years 1958-1965
13. Kristaq Misha, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the ’60s
14. Javer Malo, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the years 1970-1977
15. Mihal Prifti, Ambassador of Albania to the Soviet Union, in the years 1948-1954
16. Jordan Pani, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1961-1967
17. Ksenofon Nushi, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1967-1972, Ambassador to France, in the years 1986-1989
18. Vasil Nathanaili, Ambassador of Albania to the Soviet Union, in the years 1954-1957
19. Nesti Nase, Ambassador of Albania to the Soviet Union until 1958-1961, Ambassador to China, in the ’70s
20. Spiro Rusha, Ambassador of Albania to China, in the ’60s
21. Misto Treska, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the years 1978-1984
22. Pirro Koçi, Ambassador of Albania to Italy in the years 1972-1977
23. Pertef Hasamataj, Ambassador of Albania to Cuba in the years 1978-1986, Ambassador to Russia from 1991-1992
24. Musin Kroi, Ambassador of Albania to Egypt and Algeria in the ’50s
25. Nesip Kaçi, Ambassador of Albania to Egypt and Algeria, in the ’60s
26. Pirro Bita, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1980-1982
27. Bashkim Dino, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1982-1988
28. Kujtim Myzyri, Ambassador of Albania to Italy in the years 1977-1980, and to Czechoslovakia, in the ’80s
29. Riza Paushani, Ambassador of Albania to Algeria, in the years 1965-1968
30. Idriz Bano, Ambassador of Albania to Czechoslovakia, during the communist regime
31. Dhimitër Spaho, Ambassador of Albania to Algeria, in the years 1972-1976
32. Syrja Laze, Ambassador of Albania to Algeria, in the years 1976-1980, Ambassador to Vietnam, in the years 1983-1989
33. Kujtim Hysenaj, Ambassador of Albania to Yugoslavia, in the years 1986-1992
34. Latif Shehu, Ambassador of Albania to Hungary, during the communist regime
35. Petraq Pojani, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the ’70s
36. Sokrat Plaka, Ambassador of Albania to Yugoslavia in the years 1982-1988
37. Dashnor Dervishi, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1988-1992, Ambassador to Romania, from 2006
38. Arqile Semini, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the years 1989-1991
39. Luan Rama, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the years 1991-1992 and in the years 1997-2001
40. Besnik Mustafaj, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the years 1992-1997
41. Qemal Minxhozi, Ambassador of Albania to Denmark, in the years 2002-2005
42. Thanas Shkurti, Ambassador of Albania to the UN, in the years 1992-1994
43. Edmond Dule, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1992-1995
44. Pandeli Pasko, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1995-1998
45. Roland Bimo, Ambassador of Albania to the USA, in the years 1992-1993, Ambassador Extraordinary to Hungary, in the years 1994-1997, Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, from 2002
46. Lublin Dilja, Ambassador Plenipotentiary of Albania to the USA in the years 1994-1997
47. Petrit Bushati, Ambassador to Sweden in the years 1988-1991, Ambassador to the USA, in the years 1997-2001, Ambassador to Yugoslavia, in the years 2002-2006
48. Fatos Tarifa, Ambassador of Albania to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in the years 1998-2001, Ambassador to the USA, in the years 2001-2005.
49. Agim Nesho, Ambassador to the United Nations in the years 2001-2005, Ambassador to the USA, in the years 2005-2006
50. Bardhyl Agasi, Ambassador of Albania to Denmark, in the years 2005-2006
51. Ejup Tabaku, Ambassador of Albania to Sweden, in 2005
52. Banush Gozhdari, Ambassador of Albania to Argentina, in 2005
53. Arben Cici, Ambassador of Albania to Russia, in the years 1992-1997
54. Shpëtim Çuçko, Ambassador of Albania to Russia, in the years 1997-1998
55. Adhurim Resuli, Ambassador of Albania to Hungary, in the years 1998-2002
56. Pirro Milkani, Ambassador of Albania to the Czech Republic, in the years 1999-2002
57. Shaqir Vukaj, Ambassador of Albania to Russia, in the years 1998-2001, Ambassador to the Czech Republic, in the years 2002-2005
58. Qazim Tepshi, Ambassador of Albania to the Czech Republic, from 2005
59. Bashkim Zeneli, Ambassador of Albania to Germany, in the years 1998-2002; Ambassador to Greece, in the years 2002-2005
60. Kastriot Robo, Ambassador of Albania to Greece in the years 1998-2002, Ambassador to Great Britain, from 2006
61. Vili Minarolli, Ambassador of Albania to Greece, from 2005
62. Avni Xhelili, Ambassador of Albania to Russia, from 2001-2005
63. Halit Furriku, Ambassador of Albania to Russia, from 2005-2006
64. Maxhun Peka, Ambassador of Albania to France, Ambassador to Vietnam, in the years 1980-1983, Ambassador to China, from 2005
65. Lisen Bashkurti, Ambassador of Albania to Hungary, in the years 1992-1997
66. Pëllumb Xhufi, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 2001-2004
67. Pavli Zëri, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 2004-2005
68. Llesh Kola, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, from 2005
69. Mehdi Hoxha, Ambassador of Albania to France, from 2006
70. Shpëtim Çaushi, Ambassador to Argentina and Ambassador to the Council of Europe
71. Ylli Pollo, Ambassador of Albania to Argentina, from 2007
72. Osman Kraja, Ambassador of Albania to Poland, in 2000
73. Zef Mazi, Ambassador of Albania to the OSCE, in the years 1992-1997 and 2002-2007
74. Leonidha Mërtiri, Ambassador of Albania to Romania, in the years 2002-2006
75. Ferit Hoxha, Ambassador of Albania to France, in the years 2001-2006
76. Eduart Sulo, Ambassador of Albania to Hungary, in the years 2002-2006
77. Kujtim Xhani, Ambassador of Albania to China, in the years 2001-2005
78. Shpresa Kureta, Ambassador of Albania to Austria, in the years 2002-2005
79. Fatmir Kumbaro, Ambassador of Albania to Bulgaria, in the years 2001-2005
80. Leontiev Çuçi, Ambassador of Albania to Italy, in the years 1998-2001, Ambassador to Switzerland, in the years 2001-2005
81. Zef Bushati, Ambassador of Albania to the Vatican, in the years 2001-2005
82. Adhurim Resuli, Ambassador of Albania to Hungary, in the years 2000-2002, Ambassador to Canada, in the years 2002-2005
83. Viktor Kalemi, Ambassador of Albania to Egypt, in the years 2002-2005
84. Agim Fagu, Ambassador of Albania to Great Britain, in the years 1998-2002, Ambassador to Germany, in the years 2002-2005
85. Gëzim Arapi, Ambassador of Albania to Spain, in the years 2000-2002
86. Shahin Kadare, Ambassador of Albania to Sweden, in the years 2001-2004
87. Sokol Gjoka, Ambassador to Poland, from 2005
88. Ilir Hoxha, Ambassador to Egypt, from 2005
89. Tonin Gjuraj, Ambassador of Albania to Israel, in the years 2005-2007
90. Ruhi Hado, Ambassador of Albania to the Kingdom of Sweden, as well as Ambassador to the Republic of Finland, the Republic of Iceland, and the Kingdom of Norway, from 2007
91. Mehmet Elezi, Ambassador of Albania to Switzerland, from 2005
92. Admirim Banaj, Ambassador of Albania to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from 2006
93. Bujar Skëndo, Ambassador of Albania to the Republic of Bulgaria, from 2006
94. Aleksandër Sallabanda, Ambassador to the USA, from 2006
95. Valter Ibrahimi, Ambassador of Albania to Austria, from 2006.
96. Spiro Koçi, Ambassador of Albania to Serbia, from 2006
97. Florian Nova, Ambassador of Albania to Hungary, from 2006
98. Artur Kuko, Ambassador of Albania to Belgium, from 2005
99. Gazmend Turdiu, Ambassador of Albania to Germany, from 2005
100. Afërdita Dalla, Ambassador of Albania to Denmark, from 2006
101. Besnik Konçi, Ambassador to Canada, from 2005
102. Bujar Muharremi, Ambassador to Kosovo, from 2005
103. Xhelal Fejzo, Ambassador of Albania to Croatia, from 2005
104. Qirjako Kureta, Ambassador of Albania to Israel from 2007
105. Vladimir Prela, Ambassador of Albania to Macedonia, from 2006
106. Dilaver Qesja, Ambassador of Albania to Malaysia, from 2005
107. Teodor Laço, Ambassador of Albania to Russia, from 2006
108. Edmond Trako, Ambassador of Albania to Argentina, in the years 1997-2004
109. Anila Bitri, Ambassador of Albania to Spain, from 2002
110. Shaban Murati, Ambassador of Albania to Sweden, in the years 2004-2007
111. Adrian Neritani, Ambassador of Albania to the UN, from 2006
112. Neritan Kolgjini, Ambassador of Albania to Turkey from 2006
113. Rrok Logu, Ambassador of Albania to the Vatican from 2005
114. Ruhi Hado, Ambassador of Albania to the Netherlands, in the years 1994-1996, Ambassador of Albania to Sweden, from 2007 / Memorie.al