Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al publishes an archival document issued by the Central State Archive (fund of the former Central Committee of the ALP), where there is a relationship with the initials “Top secret”, which belongs to the month of August 1968, where the deputy The Minister of Internal Affairs, Rexhep Kolli, who also held the position of Director of State Security, informs the Secretary of the Central Committee of the ALP, Ramiz Alia, regarding the arrival in Albania of three leading officials of the Kosovo press, such as: Gjon Shiroka , director of the newspaper “Rilindja”, Ramiz Kelmendi, director of the Publishing House “Rilindja” and Idriz Rexha, Director of the Textbook Publishing Office, who would enter into an agreement with Arteksport for the purchase of cultural, cultural and educational literature. The full report of the State Security for the three officials from Kosovo, where during the interceptions that were made to them, among others, they had expressed: “Our work in Kosovo is being hampered by the very serious attacks you are directing against Tito. In the conjuncture created in Yugoslavia, where Tito is held thanks to the army, he is obliged to support our demands, so we, overcoming every organ, turn to him directly, and he fulfills what we demand. But when you criticize it, our work in Kosovo becomes difficult. I was instructed by Fadil Hoxha, Veli Deva, Rezak Shala (Provincial Prosecutor), etc., to convey this to them “.
“On the current situation in Kosovo, Gjon Shiroka and Idriz Rexha presented it as very good and positive for Albanians, while Ramiz Kelmendi stated the opposite. He said: I was wrong when I thought that after Brion, Kosovo gains freedom. Shortly after the 14th Plenum of L.K. of Kosovo, the situation in Kosovo is no longer the first. The pressure for restraining measures against Albanians is clearly visible. Today’s Kosovar leadership is not positive. Even if they did something in favor of the Albanians, this was forced by the pressure of the masses. All these leaders have been those who in 1956 held important positions, so their hands are stained with the innocent blood of patriotic Kosovars. Regarding the concessions in the political field that the federal leadership should make for this autonomous province, that 28 November should be an official holiday, that the flag should be allowed to rise, that the Albanian language should be an official language, etc., that all three expressed optimism and they said that all this should be realized. According to them, the credit belongs to the efforts made by Fadil Hoxha and some other Kosovar leaders who follow him “.
This is stated, among other things, in a “Top Secret” report of the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Rexhep Kolli, who also held the post of Director of State Security, addressed to the Secretary of the Central Committee of the ALP, Ramiz Alia, dated August 6, 1968, where he informs in detail about the wiretaps made to three leading officials of the Kosovo press, such as: Gjon Shiroka, director of the newspaper “Rilindja”, Ramiz Kelmendi, director of the Publishing House “Rilindja” ”And Idriz Rexha, Director of the Textbook Publishing Office, during the visit they had made in those days in Albania, where they had come to enter into an agreement with Arteksport for the purchase of artistic, cultural and educational literature. For more about, conversations, comments and opinions of three officials from Kosovo, we know the document in question, which Memorie.al publishes in full and for the first time.
The “Top Secret” report of the Director of State Security for Ramiz Alia
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA VERY SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
FIRST DIRECTORY Tirana, on 6/8/1968
No.1426 Prot.
Subject: On the representative group of the Kosovo publishing house
SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PP OF ALBANIA
SHOKUT RAMIZ ALIA
From 7/21/1968 to 7/27/1968, came and stayed in our country: Gjon Shiroka, director of the newspaper “Rilindja”, Ramiz Kelmendi, director of the Publishing House “Rilindja” and Idriz Rexha, Director of the Entity of Textbook Publications: to conclude with Arteksport an agreement for the purchase of a cultural, cultural and educational literature.
During the meetings and conversations with them we were able to learn the following:
- Regarding the open controversy that our Party develops towards the Yugoslav revisionist clique, Gjon Shiroka and Idriz Rexha had almost equal views, while Ramiz Kelmendi had opposite views with them. Gjon Shiroka said: The war you are waging against Yugoslavia, which has recently intensified, undermines our efforts to ensure Kosovo’s autonomy. Experience has shown that whenever the relations between Albania and Yugoslavia are strained, the situation of the Albanians in Yugoslavia has become more difficult.
Idriz Rexha said about this: Our work in Kosovo is being hampered by the very serious attacks you are directing against Tito. In the conjuncture created in Yugoslavia, where Tito is held thanks to the army, he is obliged to support our demands, so we, overcoming every organ, turn to him directly, and he fulfills what we demand. But when you criticize it, our work in Kosovo becomes difficult. I was instructed by Fadil Hoxha, Veli Deva, Rezak Shala (Provincial Prosecutor), etc., to convey this to them.
It would suffice for you to criticize only the League of Communists without mentioning Tito. While Ramiz Kelmendi said that: The open controversy against the Titoist regime that takes place in the press and on the radio by Albania is positive. However, there are opinions that this should be stopped for the sake of rapprochement with Kosovo. If that happens, it would be more difficult for Kosovo and the Serbian-Kosovo leadership would be given the opportunity to act against the Albanians, perhaps even more bloody than those of 1956, so this controversy must continue.
- On the current situation in Kosovo, Gjon Shiroka and Idriz Rexha presented it as quite good and positive for Albanians, while Ramiz Kelmendi stated the opposite. He said: I was wrong when I thought that after Brion, Kosovo gains freedom. Shortly after the 14th Plenum of L.K. of Kosovo, the situation in Kosovo is no longer the first. The pressure for restraining measures against Albanians is clearly visible. Today’s Kosovar leadership is not positive. Even if they did something in favor of the Albanians, this was forced by the pressure of the masses. All these leaders have been those who in 1956 held important positions, so their hands are stained with the innocent blood of patriotic Kosovars.
- Regarding the concessions in the political field that the federal leadership should make for this autonomous province, that 28 November should be an official holiday, that the flag should be allowed to rise, that the Albanian language should be an official language, etc., that all three expressed optimism and they said that all this should be realized. According to them, the merit belongs to the efforts made by Fadil Hoxha and some other Kosovar leaders who follow him.
- Speaking about the patriotism of some Kosovar leaders, Idriz Hoxha said: Kosovo Albanian leaders who enjoy a certain authority, have a certain allergy to the Albanian leadership and this is related to their positions. With the unification of Kosovo with Albania, they think they are losing the positions they hold, so they ask for some guarantees. This is also observed in intellectuals who hold important positions.
- It is starting to become clear that today’s UDB is starting to follow the same path as the old UDB. Xhevdet Hamza, the head of the UDB for the province of Kosovo, has asked the Provincial Committee of the Communist League of Kosovo to take measures to curb the situation. A few weeks ago, when the Artistic Group “Liman Kaba” of Velika Dibra gave several performances in Kosovo with a completely Albanian repertoire and patriotic content, Xhevdeti demanded that not only the performances be banned, but also that restraining measures be taken.
The wood factory that was burnt some time ago in Obiliq and that they tried to use as an argument to convince the public that Albania interferes in the internal affairs of Yugoslavia, not only did it become clear that the burning was hatched by the former UDBs. removed, but also by new UDBs. The group of Albanian albanologists that participated in the Pristina symposium was kept under strong control by the UDB at all times.
- The migrations of Albanians to Yugoslavia have not stopped. Albanian families are always leaving Kosovo for Turkey. The departure of Albanians is also observed in Montenegro, while in Macedonia this phenomenon is more pronounced.
- The Albanian reactionary emigration that has lived in Kosovo, for the most part has left not only Kosovo, but also Yugoslavia. Only those emigrants who have close ties with UDB remain in Kosovo. These are people without credit that the people have hated. Even the arrival of Panajot Plakut in Kosovo does not improve their situation. According to Ramiz Kelmendi, after Panajot’s death, he had met in Belgrade with a person who knew him and had told him that Panajot had tried to commit suicide three times. Ramiz Kelmendi’s opinion was that the death of Panajot Plakut was not natural.
- There were different opinions on the situation in our country. Gjon Shiroka expressed the opinion that the propaganda in Albania has made people lose their individuality and turn into machines that all speak the same, while Ramiz Kelmendi objected to this saying: This is the most positive thing, because it shows that the people are connected to the Party, and when people all think the same, it is better that Albania becomes stronger and time will prove it.
Gjon Shiroka expressed the opinion that in Albania there is a lack of freedom of the press, art and music, freedom in the social sciences and philosophy, while in Yugoslavia there is complete freedom, and for this, Ramizi and Idriz Rexha did not agree with Gjoni. They told him: There is only complete anarchy in Yugoslavia.
They also submitted the following requests:
- To open an exhibition of Albanian books in Prishtina, to send an artistic ensemble, to exchange journalists, to give you the opportunity to visit the editorial office of the newspaper “Zeri i Popullit” or “Bashkimi” to see the organization of work.
- To treat warmly Kosovars coming to Albania and not to be considered as official Yugoslav representatives, but as Albanians.
- For the conclusion of the contract, and especially for the purchase price of the books remained very satisfied, saying that this is a double success for you and for Kosovo. On the other hand, it was good for us as persons, because if we had not completed the agreement this time as well, they would have accused us that we do not come to Albania to buy books, but out of love for the Homeland./Memorie.al
Tirana, on 6/8/1968
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
(REXHEP KOLLI)
