By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part Thirteen
Memorie.al/ When not even a week had passed since July 2, 1990, when thousands of Albanian citizens climbed over the railings and walls of foreign embassies in Tirana and entered their premises with the aim of leaving Albania, the high leadership of the PPSh (Party of Labor of Albania), headed by General Secretary Ramiz Alia, held the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee, which convened on July 6 and 7. Although the agenda was set with three main points, dominated by the one on the development of education in Albania, almost throughout the entire proceedings of that plenum (especially under point 4, “Miscellaneous”), the event of those days, otherwise known as “July 2 of the Embassies,” was discussed and debated. At that plenum, in which all members and candidate members of the Central Committee of the PPSh, the first secretaries of the district party committees, ministers, leading cadres of the sectors of education, culture, science, and economy, heads of the organization of the Union of Working Youth of Albania, from the apparatus of the Central Committee of the PPSh, Radio-Television, ATA (Albanian Telegraphic Agency), etc., took part, absent were Nimet Cani, Ali Vukatana, Reiz Malile, Shpëtim Çaushi, Zylyftar Ramizi, Qemal Lame, Zef Loka, Pirro Kondi, and Hekuran Isai, who for several days had been “in the field,” “managing” the embassy event.
After the opening of the meeting by Ramiz Alia, the floor was given to the Minister of Education, Skënder Gjinushi, who also delivered the relevant report (“On the perfection of the educational system and the further qualitative strengthening of the school”). The main topic of that plenum was the “embassy event,” discussing and analyzing in detail how and why it happened (“the role of foreign intelligence agencies”), to the tasks that emerged for managing that situation in those hot July days, when over five thousand Albanian citizens from all districts of the country were inside the premises of some of the main embassies in Tirana, waiting to leave Albania.
In addition, throughout that meeting, but mainly under item no. 4 of the agenda (which was discussed in the final session), several of the main events that had occurred in various districts of the country during that year were also analyzed, such as: the protests in Shkodër in January for the removal of Stalin’s bust; the events in the city of Kavajë where the people of that city clashed with police forces; mass escapes across the state borders with Yugoslavia and Greece; mass gatherings at holy religious sites, such as the Church of Saint Ndou in Laç of Kurbin; the legal permission of religious faiths and the opening of places of worship; or other problems raised for solution, such as: the talks of the international factor for the reestablishment of diplomatic relations with the USA and the Soviet Union (the talks held with the Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister in Sofia by Sofokli Lazri); the Kosovo problem; international pressure for Albania’s opening to the world and its accession to several international conventions; the privileges of the high leadership of the PPSh and their families who lived mainly in the “Block”; the words circulating among the people about Enver Hoxha’s family and Ramiz’s relations with Nexhmije; the change of legislation and the penal code; the release of political prisoners; the stamping with passports of citizens who sought to leave as visitors to their relatives abroad; the new economic mechanism; housing and employment for the many additions in all districts of the country; the granting of land and livestock to the cooperative peasantry; to the supply of the urban population with basic food products and various industrial goods.
As we will also see from archival documents belonging to the 11th Plenum of the Central Committee of the PPSh, which we emphasize are being published for the first time, in addition to the leadership and some of the high officials of that time, several other high figures who continued their political careers even after the 1990s also discussed or were mentioned at that meeting, such as: Skënder Gjinushi, Fatos Nano, Sali Berisha, Rexhep Mejdani, Gramoz Pashko, Spiro Dede, Dritëro Agolli, Ismail Kadare, Moikom Zeqo, Mehmet Elezi, Lisen Bashkurti, Koço Kokëdhima, Ylli Popa, Aleks Luarasi, etc.
Likewise, in the voluminous file of this plenum, of great interest are also those documents belonging to the secretaries of the Party Committees of the districts or the “Information Group” who went to all districts of the country and documented all the main issues that emerged in the meetings of the basic party organizations, where “On the Letter of the Central Committee” was discussed — documents that constitute the largest and also the most important part of the file in question. It can even be said to be among the most important of the entire period of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha and his successor Ramiz Alia, since that period of time with the events that unfolded also marked the prologue of the fall of that regime.
Likewise, of great interest are also the documents belonging to the final session of that meeting with item no. 4 of the agenda “Miscellaneous,” which constitutes the hottest point of the entire plenum, where the release from duties and sending into retirement of three members of the Political Bureau (Rita Marko, Manush Myftiu, and Prokop Murra) was discussed, even with harsh debates, as well as the release from ministerial duties or other high functions that several other “leaders” had held for years, such as Simon Stefani, Pali Miska, Muho Asllani, Lenka Çuko, Vito Kapo, Pirro Kondi, Jovan Bardhi, etc., and the appointment of “new comrades” to the leadership of the high forums of the Party and State, such as: Xhelil Gjoni, Abdyl Backa, Niko Gjyzari, Kiço Mustaqi, etc. Regarding these etc., we are made aware by the documents in question extracted from the Central State Archive (Fund of the former Central Committee of the PPSh), which are being published for the first time and with the corresponding facsimiles by Memorie.al
Continues from the previous issue
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE 11TH PLENUM OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PPSh, HELD ON JULY 6 AND 7, 1990
MISCELLANEOUS
Several issues of today’s situations and the political problems that flow from them.
COMRADE SOFOKLI LAZRI: Even during the War, such people went to clarify the masses through conversations and in families. I also agree with the opinion that some special staffs should be created for these situations. Even Genscher in Germany is creating a staff for the crisis situation in Albania, while we are not moving even in these situations. Especially in Tirana, a staff of three or four people should be created as soon as possible for this purpose.
In this staff there could be a comrade from the Party committee, one from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, etc. We must have the situation in hand. Care must be taken, especially the comrades of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must be careful not to fall into mistakes, into enemy provocations, etc. In every case, one should act with logic and wisdom, but also maintain a firm stance on that issue where we are right.
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: There too, in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a staff should be created.
COMRADE JOVAN BARDHI: I had a thought, Comrade Ramiz. We have an early experience for the small agitation that was done with people head to head. This kind of agitation is missing today in Tirana.
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: Today both large and small agitation is missing.
COMRADE JOVAN BARDHI: In Tirana there are 25 thousand communists, who would do great work if they were activated for this purpose.
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: It is precisely for this issue that we are worried, because the work of the communists is not being felt in this situation. They are in retreat, they are frightened. Don’t you feel this?!
COMRADE JOVAN BARDHI: We feel it.
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: Starting from the secretaries of the Party committees of the regions, we can say that they are in retreat; they are not at the forefront of the struggle. Kostandini said it well that this situation requires nerve to raise people to their feet. The question is not to create alarm, but to fight with more courage and bravery, and bravery is shown with wisdom, with cool-headedness. A man does not become brave from hot-headedness or by clapping his hands. Brave is the one who foresees the dangers and evils and with cool-headedness prepares to prevent them, to face them.
But even this hot-headedness requires nerve, to fight to the end, to choose with prudence the words and means of struggle. Cool-headedness and wisdom have nothing in common with apathy. Communists must set themselves to talk with people, to find and choose the appropriate language for these conversations and not to shout: “What did the vagabonds do to us”!! It is easy to call “vagabonds” all those who were involved in these events. It is more difficult to work with other people in their work centers, in the tribal circle, in the narrow social opinion, to find the common language, to use the word of healthy opinion to raise everyone against such actions.
Where an appropriate atmosphere is created, it can even be said: “Come, let’s send a telegram together to the Party”! In this way, people’s morale is also raised, because there are also people who quickly lose morale, there are those who become alarmed and frightened and transmit this feeling of alarm to others. Therefore, each of us in these moments must be close to the people, to clarify and give them courage.
COMRADE NEXHMIJE HOXHA: Even Radio-Television should not be satisfied with those news broadcasts it gave last night on this issue. These broadcasts should be enriched and repeated.
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: Yes, such broadcasts should be repeated. They are quite effective in these moments. We must fight with all forms to affirm healthy opinion. Meanwhile, meetings and gatherings with the people should also be held, where opinions are raised and conclusions are drawn for the stance that should be maintained. 60 members of the Central Committee of the Party are here, in this hall. If each of us were to go to a work center, an entire opinion would rise to its feet. People need to hear the word of the Party. The 25 thousand communists and nearly 30 thousand cadres that Tirana has are a great army of agitators. Therefore there is the possibility to organize a careful and prudent work, so that we have the situation in hand.
Comrades Pirro Kondi, Naunka Bozo, Nimet Cani and the other comrades of Tirana who are members of the Central Committee of the Party must be aware that the situation in Tirana has slipped from their hands. The work of the Party is quite weak not only among the intellectuals, but also in the Party organizations in the work centers. This situation must be seen with a critical eye, because the comrades of the Party apparatuses are accustomed to gathering only the secretaries of the organizations and consider the work finished, without knowing the real situation. It is not enough for the secretaries to gather formally; they must be convinced to work with people and to fight all together for the solution of problems.
COMRADE FARUDIN HOXHA: I fully agree with all that was said here, but I wanted to add something about the issue of the connection of cadres with the people. I fully support Your great concern, Comrade Ramiz, because a certain detachment of cadres from the masses is being noticed.
Criticism: 1. Albanian Radio-Television broadcast in the news program filmed footage in front of the embassies, where parents and relatives called on their people to come out of there and expressed hatred against the foreigners who incited and organized these hostile actions.
Your word is very right. We, the cadres, must be more modest, get closer to the base of the people and the tradition of the people. Our children are not recognizing reality and are dismissive of others, because they ride in cars. They don’t even know the train route to Durrës, because to go there they use our cars. Such attitudes distance us from the people.
COMRADE VASIL ANAGNOSTI: Why do we allow these attitudes?
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: You too in Sarandë have such problems.
COMRADE FARUDIN HOXHA: It is regrettable that a race is quietly developing among cadres over who will buy the best car, and our cars are of all kinds of models, when even the urban buses in Tirana are delayed and create difficulties for people’s movement. I think that we, the ministers, can move to carry out our work even with “Aro” [a type of vehicle], perhaps there is no need for us to use cars.
People don’t look at us with a good eye when we stroll around in cars. This luxury is not your very right answer. We, the cadres, must be more modest, get closer to the base of the people and the tradition of the people. Our children are not recognizing reality and are dismissive of others, because they ride in cars. They don’t even know the train route to Durrës, because to go there they use our cars. Such attitudes distance us from the people. Our children should take the bus to go to school or work.
If they have the possibility, they can even go by bicycle, but not by car at a time when the difficulties for movement around the city are not small. By being closer to the people not only in words, but also in deeds, we serve the Party better and the duty entrusted to us. We need both our shoes to wear out and our feet to get tired. In this way, we will not talk to the people so much in meetings, but through our deeds and our example.
COMRADE VASIL ANAGNOSTI: Why do we allow these attitudes?
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: You too in Sarandë have such problems.
COMRADE FARUDIN HOXHA: Our children should take the bus to go to school or work. If they have the possibility, they can even go by bicycle, but not by car at a time when the difficulties for movement around the city are not small. By being closer to the people not only in words, but also in deeds, we serve the Party better and the duty entrusted to us. We need both our shoes to wear out and our feet to get tired. In this way, we will not talk to the people so much in meetings, but through our deeds and our example.
COMRADE HARILLA PAPAJORGJI: I also had a couple of thoughts. I was at a meeting at the Textile Combine and they raised the issue that there are many cadres there. At the wood combine “Misto Mame” they had raised the issue that it seems there is a softening of the class struggle. Or some people complain that our police near the embassies maintain a different attitude in the morning and a different one in the afternoon. Likewise, workers in meetings have made remarks and criticisms that some inappropriate attitudes and behaviors are also encouraged by articles written in newspapers, such as those about the “rock” dance, about wearing long hair, etc.
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: There are many such observations. But did you have any concrete conclusion or proposal for these issues?
COMRADE HARILLA PAPAJORGJI: A good part of the residents in the neighborhood of the Textile Combine “Stalin” do not have drinking water.
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: Clear.
COMRADE ABDYL BACKA: Excuse me, Comrade Ramiz, I wanted to clarify that in general in the meetings that our comrades have had with working collectives regarding the embassy events, people immediately pronounce themselves with the line of the Party and express the concern of the whole society for these problems, then they also raise other problems and concerns of work and daily life.
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: Therefore do not confuse these phenomena. We must not fall into the positions of those who complain and raise only concerns; we must not become slaves of words and comments. Even in the information that comes to us, I have noticed that there are more observations than fundamental problems. The essence of today’s situations must be understood; otherwise we cannot fight to overcome the difficulties. For example, you, Harilla, raised here the issue of drinking water, which cannot be solved immediately?
Do you have anything in hand to fix this issue within a week or within a month, at a time when the sources have dried up from the drought?! If we enter into these issues, we will fall into theories, because practically we cannot solve them immediately. Naturally, those defects and weaknesses that exist and are subjective must be fought and stigmatized, but we must also be aware that there are and will be more difficulties. We have had difficulties before too, but against them we have fought with patriotism and have known how to overcome them.
Did we have fewer difficulties at the time when bands of saboteurs operated in Albania, or when every food item was given with ration cards? That time was very dangerous. But the success of our work was achieved because in such extremely difficult situations, the issue of patriotism was seen as a priority. Therefore even today it must be distinguished which issue has come to the forefront. And when we say that we must merge with the masses, we must fight together with the masses, precisely for this great purpose, for the defense of freedom, independence, and national dignity.
Farudin said it well: the people must see us, the cadres, how we walk on foot together with them, how we overcome difficulties together, how we defend their interests and those of the homeland. But if we stay and count only the difficulties, if we wait for the difficulties to be placed before us, it seems as if we justify all the actions that happened, and we expect “miracles” from someone else. No, the people will not forgive us such mistakes. The people demand that we be simple and fighters alongside them, to overcome every difficulty.
COMRADE KOSTANDIN HOXHA: I think, Comrade Ramiz that not only should we go and give account before the masses, as some comrades have understood, but also make an appeal to the patriotic feeling of the working class, of all our working masses.
COMRADE ABDYL BACKA: Some vital problems, like those the comrades mentioned, are worrying, but they cannot be solved immediately. For their solution, everyone must be mobilized, and some special measure must also be taken. But, above all, there must be social justice; there must also be a spirit of sacrifice and patriotism. The problems of housing, employment, and market supply are among the most acute and most difficult to solve immediately, so people must be convinced.
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: Good.
COMRADE HAMIT SHANKU: I also wanted to say a few thoughts briefly. First of all, I feel my responsibility that I did not participate in the trial that was held at the combine.
COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA: Good, fix those issues now.
COMRADE HAMIT SHANKU: I also agree with the criticisms that you and other comrades made about cadres who create privileges for themselves. I think that each one, starting from me, should turn the mirror on himself and look at and correct the mistakes he has. As for the issue of implementing the new economic mechanism, I had a concern that I also raised in the Party committee of the region. Enterprise leaders should not use this mechanism to mess up the Party’s affairs, but, on the contrary, to fix them.
Enterprise directors must put their chest to the work. They must also accept at work people who have come out of prison, and from those who are currently unemployed, otherwise the social problems we have will not be solved. In our combine we will accept at work 200 such workers. But there are many leaders who avoid concerns and try to create obstacles for people who want to enter work, justifying themselves with the difficulties of securing the material base. I think that for these issues we who lead have the main responsibility. / Memorie.al
Continues in the next issue
