Dashnor Kaloçi
Second part
Memorie.al/ publishes some archival documents extracted from the Central State Archive in Tirana (fund of the former Central Committee of the ALP), where there is an information report belonging to the months of March 1973, where the functionary of the Committee apparatus Central Committee of the ALP, (in the sector of legality), Enver Halili, informs the senior leadership about the general meeting of the communists that took place in the first days of that month at the Opera and Ballet Theater and the State Song Ensemble of Folk dances, for “accountability and choice”. The full report of the senior official of the Central Committee of the ALP, which was seen and signed first by Enver Hoxha and then by Hysni Kapo, Ramiz Alia, Manush Myftiu, Haki Toska, Petro Dode, etc., regarding the problems that troubled the institution of the Opera and Ballet Theater and the Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances, where he described in detail all the discussions held at that meeting, where various communists criticized and blamed the director, Koço Vasili, the artistic director, Zhani Ciko, director Milto Vako, scenographer Ali Oseku, etc., who “had worked under the influence of Fadil Paçrami and had done what he wanted, to the point of dismissing the secretary of the basic organization of the party, Comrade Haxhiu Tafaj ”, etc.
The archival document that we are publishing in this part of the book is an information report dated March 30, 1973, where Enver Halili, then a senior official in the Central Committee of the ALP (in the legality sector), informs the leadership of regarding the problems that had arisen from the analysis of the two-year work at the Opera and Ballet Theater and the State Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances, where he had been himself a delegate and had attended several meetings of that institution, among the most important Arts and Culture.
This can be seen from the document in question (see the relevant facsimiles), as the report-information of Enver Halili was seen not only by Enver Hoxha (who saw and signed it), but also by the main leaders of the party and state leadership of that time, as the Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu, the secretaries of the Central Committee of the ALP, Hysni Kapo, Ramiz Alia, Manush Myftiu and Haki Toska, as well as Petro Dode, which is rarely found in other archival documents of that period and more pas. (This is also evident from the notes and signatures they have put on the document).
As we will see from the information-report prepared by that meeting, which took place only two weeks after Enver Hoxha’s speech, held at the extended meeting of the communists in the apparatus of the Central Committee of the ALP, where the main topic was : “Foreign liberal performances and their impact on art, culture, literature…”, a discussion which was preceded by the blow and anathema that Enver himself had made, the 11th National Song Festival on Radio-Television, where in the center of the accusations and attacks in that institution, were: Mihallaq Luarasi, (director,) Koço Vasili, (director of the Opera Theater), Zhani Ciko (artistic director of the Opera), Milto Vako (artistic director and director) and Ali Oseku, painter and author of decorations at that institution.
All of them were accused that under the influence of Fadil Paçrami they had done in the Opera, Ballet and the State Ensemble, everything he had asked for and suggested! As a result, they were initially sentenced to various measures, removing them from that institution and later some of them, such as: Mihallaq Luarasi, Milto Vako and Ali Oseku, ended up for years in the political prisons of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, while Koço Vasili, was initially sent to the small town of Laç, where he worked as a mortar and concrete worker with a shovel, at the construction site (Industrial Construction Company) and then in exile, while Zhani Ciko, was sent as a music teacher and in charge of a village cultural center near the town of Ballsh. And the whole beginning of their punishment had as a starting point exactly these meetings, which are mentioned in the document that we are publishing in this part of the book.
Continued from the previous issue
The archival document that we are publishing in this part of the book is an information report dated March 30, 1973, where Enver Halili, then a senior official in the Central Committee of the ALP, informs the senior leadership about the problems that had arisen. from the analysis of his two-year work at the Opera, Ballet Theater and the State Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances, where he had been himself a delegate and had participated in several meetings of that institution, among the most important of Arts and Culture.
This can be seen from the document in question (see the relevant facsimiles), as the report-information of Enver Halili was seen not only by Enver Hoxha, but also by the main leaders of the party and state leadership of that time, such as Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu, secretaries of the Central Committee of the ALP, Hysni Kapo, Ramiz Alia, Manush Myftiu and Haki Toska, as well as Petro Dode, which is rarely found in other archival documents of that period and beyond. (This is also evident from the notes and signatures they have put on the document).
As we will see from the information-report prepared by that meeting, which took place only two weeks after Enver Hoxha’s speech, held at the extended meeting of the communists in the apparatus of the Central Committee of the ALP, where the main topic was : “Foreign liberal performances and their impact on art, culture, literature…”, a discussion which was preceded by the blow and anathema that Enver himself had made, the 11th National Song Festival on Radio-Television, where in the center of the accusations and attacks in that institution, were: Mihallaq Luarasi, (director,) Koço Vasili, (director of the Opera Theater), Zhani Ciko (artistic director of the Opera), Milto Vako (artistic director and director) and Ali Oseku, painter and author of decorations at that institution.
All of them were accused that under the influence of Fadil Paçrami they had done in the Opera, Ballet and the State Ensemble, everything he had asked for and suggested! As a result, they were initially sentenced to various measures, removing them from that institution and later some of them, such as: Mihallaq Luarasi, Milto Vako and Ali Oseku, ended up for years in the political prisons of the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, while Koço Vasili, was initially sent to the small town of Laç, where he worked as a mortar and concrete worker with a shovel, at the construction site (Industrial Construction Company) and then in exile, while Zhani Ciko, was sent as a music teacher and in charge of a village cultural center near the town of Ballsh. And the whole beginning of their punishment had as a starting point exactly these meetings, which are mentioned in the document that we are publishing in this part of the book.
Report of Enver Halili, sent to Enver Hoxha and the senior leadership of the Central Committee of the ALP, regarding the problems in the Opera and Ballet Theater and the Ensemble of Folk Songs and Dances
I N F O R M A T I O N
FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GENERAL MEETING IN OPERA
The general conclusion of the meeting about these foreign influences and performances is that there has been a tendency by a group of people to displace sound forces, in order to lower vigilance and do as they please. Damage has been caused by the relocation of all relevant bodies set up by the grassroots organization, the district executive committee to the Ministry of Education and Culture, using the shadow of the person of the secretary of the party committee of the district friend, Fadil Paçrami.
4- Thoughts and criticism on the work and attitude of the director Koço Vasili.
Koço Vasili has deliberately made serious mistakes, displaced bureaus, party organizations and state bodies, in order to ignore them; to be independent, away from any control, to do what he wants. His other goal has been to hide his flaws and weaknesses and work in institutions. He identified the party in a man with Fadil Paçrami, avoided control and even meetings with friends of the Party Committee of the region no.1
It has created shy psychosis among communists and workers, finding support in the person of Fadil Paçrami. He has often retaliated, using his name to instill fear in others and to quell other criticisms. The member of the bureau, Hysen Kurti on this issue said: “Koçua has fallen into liberalism, has embraced the liberal concepts of a specialist, has negatively influenced his work Fadil Paçrami, after whose shadow he has done what he wanted not only for the problems of state governance, but also in the treatment of people ”.
The artistic council has not been run and treated fairly and well, without a sense of responsibility and not in job positions. All these actions have created a false authority in his person.
Many communists, comrades and friends criticized the bad performances, for which even 4 years ago he was advised by the first secretary of the district. Koço Vasili, Rifat Teqjen and the two artistic leaders Zhani Ciko and Milto Vako, were severely criticized for the very wrong method they followed for the limited employment of 50 artists based on the decision of the Council of Ministers.
The communists rightly said in their discussions that in this case the above-mentioned comrades created a difficult political situation in the collective, made the people much more dissatisfied, took advantage of the government’s decision which was in fact very fair and favorable to them. realized their subjective desires against some people, made such mistakes, fired the secretary of the basic organization of the party Song and Dance Ensemble Haxhi Tafaj, without talking at all not only in the basic organization nor in the party bureau and regional committee.
Comrade Fadil Paçrami was also criticized for these very crooked actions, who encouraged this method followed by the leaders, even when some communists made it a problem, they called him to his office and pressured them to remain silent and make self-criticism. that they allegedly came out on the decision of the party committee. In conclusion the general meeting of the communists took and proposed the following measures:
- He fired the secretary of the party bureau, Rifat Teqjen, and gave him severe remarks on the registration card.
2- Koço gave Vasili serious remarks on the registration card and proposed his dismissal from the post of director.
3-Nevzat Agolli was dismissed from the post of Deputy Secretary of the Bureau.
4-Proposed the dismissal of Zhani Cikos from the post of artistic director.
Comrade Manush Myftiu also spoke at the end of the meeting, who assisted throughout the meeting.
Instructor of the Central Committee of the ALP
Enver Halili
30.3.1973
Copies of this report were sent to friends: 1. Hysni Kapo, 2. Manush Myftiu. /Memorie.al
