By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Memorie.al / The tragic event involving the former U.S. Ambassador to Albania, Joseph Limprecht, who passed away on May 19, 2002, from a cardiac arrest while hiking in the Lura mountains, is not the only instance where high-ranking foreign diplomats have lost their lives in our country. Unfortunately, similar tragedies occurred even before the 1990s, during Enver Hoxha’s communist regime, when two other ambassadors died – reportedly from “cardiac attacks.”
The first case was the French Ambassador to Tirana, Yves Pagniez (referred to in the documents as Iv Pino), who died on October 28, 1968. The second was the Turkish Ambassador, Bülent Kestelli (Bulen Kostell), who died on August 16, 1977. Under what circumstances did these key diplomats lose their lives? France was Enver Hoxha’s only “gateway” to the West, and Turkey shared deep historical and cultural ties with Albania.
Could the French ambassador’s life have been saved? Why did the Albanian doctor assigned to foreigners arrive an hour and a half late? What did the ambassador’s wife insist upon, and what did she ask the Albanian chef? Most importantly, did the Turkish ambassador truly die from consuming “five bottles of beer” in his embassy courtyard, or was there something hidden behind these “cardiac attacks”?
The following archival documents, released for the first time from the Archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, shed light on these mysterious events.
SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED 29 OCTOBER 1968, ANNOUNCING THE DEATH OF THE FRENCH AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA, IV PINO, DUE TO THE DELAY OF THE ALBANIAN DOCTOR
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
“GENERAL BRANCH” Tirana, 29.10.1968
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 258
BRANCH II
Reports that on 28.X.1968, the French Ambassador, Yves Pagniez, died of a myocardial infarction. It has been learned that during the afternoon, the Ambassador complained to his wife that he did not feel well. At 19:20, the Poly-Ambulance was notified to send a doctor as his condition was worsening.
The specific doctor assigned to foreigners was not present and, despite searches, could not be found. Consequently, the Director of the Poly-Ambulance ordered Dr. Besnik Petrela, accompanied by a nurse, to see the Ambassador. By the time the doctor arrived – over an hour late – the Ambassador had passed away.
The Ambassador’s family and the French embassy staff have not raised any formal complaints. However, this was noted by Damesi, an official from the Italian embassy.
The Ambassador’s wife appears to have suspected poisoning, as she summoned the (Albanian) chef and requested that the intestines (organs) be placed in a crate – presumably to take them back to France for a forensic examination.
The body was sent to the hospital for an autopsy, and on the morning of 29.X.1968, it will be returned to the family for transport to France.
DEPUTY HEAD OF THE GENERAL BRANCH:
KOLI SHUKE
NOTE BY HYSNI KAPO (High-ranking Party Official)
Written on the secret communiqué:
“To the 1st Directorate: Why is the Poly-Ambulance in such a bad state? This does not honor us. See if these things – like the requested doctor or the emergency doctor – are being hindered; they should move quickly when necessary!”
SECRET OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED AUGUST 17, 1977, ANNOUNCING THE DEATH OF THE TURKISH AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA, BULEN KOSTELL, AFTER DRINKING FIVE BEERS
PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS Copy No. 1
“GENERAL BRANCH” Tirana, 17.8.1977
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 193
TIRANA
Subject: The death of Turkish Ambassador Bülent Kestelli after consuming five beers.
On 16.8.1977, at 13:30, the Turkish Ambassador, Bülent Kestelli, was found dead in the courtyard of the Turkish embassy by the embassy staff. He had consumed five bottles of beer in that location.
Doctors determined that he died of an acute myocardial infarction. He had been previously ill with this diagnosis and had been hospitalized twice before.
Officials from the Protocol Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Diplomatic Corps Office, and the Central Polyclinic attended the scene./Memorie.al
CHAIRMAN
PILO SHANTO
