“Ambassador B. Komatina told that Turk: Enver Hoxha was not the same as before, because after him at the Congress, Mehmet Shehu did not speak, but…”/ The secret Security file on the Yugoslav embassy in ’82 is revealed.

By DASHNOR KALOÇI

Part two

Memorie.al / In mid-October 1982, immediately after the arrest of the former Minister of Internal Affairs, Kadri Hazbiu (at the time Minister of People’s Defence), and his deputy, Feçor Shehu (at the time Minister of Internal Affairs, arrested on March 22, 1982), upon the directive of Enver Hoxha and the order of Hekuran Isai, a Special Operative Group was created, headed by the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs and concurrently the Director of State Security (Sigurimi i Shtetit), Zylyftar Ramizi, whose assistants were Enver Zeneli and Hasan Ulqinaku. The main task of this group was: “The detection and investigation of the activity of the hostile group,” led by Kadri Hazbiu, which also included Feçor Shehu, Llambi Ziçishti, Nesti Nase, Mihallaq Ziçishti, Llambi Peçini, Fiqret Shehu, etc., as well as the connections they had with the former Prime Minister, Mehmet Shehu.

In addition to other duties, such as reviewing, studying, and analyzing a large number of files and archival documents belonging to a long period of time (1945-1982), the “Special Operative Group” also called upon and asked several former high officials of the AWP (Albanian Party of Labour) leadership and former high-level executives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Security officers, etc., to provide in writing what they knew or suspected regarding the “hostile activity” of Kadri Hazbiu, Feçor Shehu, or other individuals with whom they had worked or not, during the period they had served near that ministry, or in the Internal Branches in the districts, in the Political Intelligence sector, near our diplomatic representations accredited in various countries around the world, etc.

Just as he had done since 1945 with almost all the “hostile groups,” where many of his close associates, former high party and state officials, such as Koçi Xoxe, Nako Spiro, Kristo Themelko, Pandi Kristo, Nesti Kerenxhi, Tuk Jakova, Dali Ndreu, Liri Gega, Panajot Plaku, Koço Tashko, Beqir Balluku, Petrit Dume, Hito Çako, Koço Theodhosi, Abdyl Këllezi, Fiqret and Mehmet Shehu, etc., he had accused of being “UDB agents,” Enver Hoxha would not spare the so-called “hostile group of Kadri Hazbiu” that accusation either. Based on this, the Special Operative Group, led by the Director of State Security, Zylyftar Ramizi, which was established immediately after the arrest of Kadri Hazbiu in October 1982, immediately began work on studying the archival files concerning the Yugoslav embassy in Tirana, reviewing the documents belonging to that “object” dating back to 1945.

For the selection of the documents in question and the preparation of a detailed report-information that would be made available to the Special Operative Group and then to the special investigative group led by Pelivan Luçi and Thoma Tutulani, which would conduct the investigative process against the “hostile group of Kadri Hazbiu and Feçor Shehu,” the State Security investigator, Shkëlzen Bajraktari, was assigned (part of that investigative group). Due to his origin from the district of Tropojë, it was presumed that he would better know the “UDB agents” and the files against them. In this context, this archival document is included, which was extracted from the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (now part of the fund of the Authority for Information on Former State Security Documents), and is being published in full in this article along with the corresponding facsimiles, by Memorie.al.

Continued from the previous issue

THE SECRET DOCUMENT DRAFTED BY THE STATE SECURITY INVESTIGATOR, SHKËLZEN BAJRAKTARI, ON THE HOSTILE ACTIVITY OF THE YUGOSLAV EMBASSY IN ALBANIA IN THE PERIOD 1945-1983, THEIR “AGENCY,” AND THE SURVEILLANCE OF ITS DIPLOMATS

                                                                                                             Secret

                                                                                                         Single copy

                                                                                                        Tirana, 7.2.1983

                                    INFORMATION

Based on the investigator Shkëlzen Bajraktari, from February 4, 1983, until February 5, 1983, the file of the Yugoslav embassy object, belonging to the II-nd Branch of the State Security Directorate, was studied. From the study of this file, the following main points attract attention:

S….B….deposits that V…..D… spoke to him about a conversation he had with representatives of the Yugoslav legation; they asked V….if he knew a woman named B….who would be going to China, married to an officer who is a tank commander. They were interested in befriending this woman and learning from her what kind of unit this was, only for Tirana, or elsewhere? V… did not accept, says S….because B….was a Party Member. (p. 75).

V….B….deposits: “The brother of the wife of K….Th…..who is an officer in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to whom V….brought letters from T….’s family in Tirana through his daughter. (p. 174).

-In the history “On the hostile activity of the Yugoslav legation intelligence and their connections in the center and periphery in 1965,” made by the Operative Worker, Eqerem Manjaku, on page 5, it is stated, among other things: “….we have not been able to exploit TO (Operative Technique), due to the fact that we do not have it at the headquarters, while placing it in the residences was not deemed appropriate…!

In the plans for 1965, a highly secret surveillance was also planned at the branch level, with the aim of creating the conviction that they were not being surveilled, this was to observe and discover any interesting contact they might have.

But the fact is that their surveillance continued as usual, meaning with a vehicle, which made it difficult to discover connections with any possible combination…”. (p. 212) in the information No. 4932, dated 10.9.1971, of the First Branch, it results that Yugoslav espionage is interested in S…Ll….G….Ll…And A….Ll…!

Dossier No. 3/2

In the information: “on the conversation of Metin O Karaca, Turkish Ambassador, with the Yugoslav Ambassador, Branko Komatina, dated 16.1.1982:

Metin O Karaca: “….I am of the opinion that he did not kill himself, but was murdered. We are not dealing with a voluntary act here…..he was not one of those who would kill himself; there might be a rivalry issue in between (referring to the enemy Mehmet Shehu, our note).

Branko Komatina: “….something was noticeable during the Congress. There was something that had changed in Enver Hoxha’s stance. He was no longer the same as before. Similarly, this time, after Hoxha’s exit from the hall, not Shehu, but R. Alia, K. Hazbiu, S. Stefani, etc., came out, and then a third group with other members of the Political Bureau….you know that Shehu was not patient.

As long as Hoxha was alive, he could not even think of replacing him. Something or someone must have hastened this. So, an internal struggle for power.” Something was wrong, perhaps Shehu thought many people were of his opinion, but in the critical moment, everyone sided with the great leader and thus he remained alone…”!

-In the information dated 8.5.1980, (p. 92), from the conversations held between the Greek Attaché, Michel Mazaris, and the Second Secretary of the Yugoslav embassy, Miodrag Perunović, the latter expressed: “…fundamental measures are being taken in this direction, because the Albanian Leader foresees everything, regarding the ideology and its full implementation.

The recent measures also speak to this. Such as the changes in the two most important departments, the Ministry of Defence, where the former Minister of Internal Affairs is appointed, and in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the former Deputy Minister, the right-hand man of the former and loyal to the ideology of the Albanian Leader.

By appointing a new person to the post of Minister of Defence, the Prime Minister is relieved of this duty, to be able to better perform the duty as Head of the Government and as secretary of the Central Committee of the AWP, instead of the one who died.” /

                                                   Dossier No. 2

-On page 107, in the “List of connections of the Yugoslav legation for the city of Tirana, in serial number 93, (crossed out with a pencil), is the name of Z….H….”!

-On page 113, in the “Report on the photographic album of the personnel of the Yugoslav embassy, are:

1. Nikolla Kajtič – Lt. Colonel, was military attaché, 1945-’46.
2. Gjubo Ostrič – Second Secretary – year 1945-1948.
3. Živan Radajković – Attaché, Year 1945-1946.
4. Janko Havliček – In 1942, came to Albania with his brother, from here he went to Italy. In 1944, he came back to Albania, was in the 23rd Albanian Brigade, and was wounded at the end of 1944. In 1946, he was appointed Press Attaché at the Yugoslav legation, until 1949. The data shows that he was an UDB intelligence officer and carried out activity against our country.
5. Dimitri Dushan – attaché in 1948-1949.
6. Drago Kassmeljan – counselor 1947-1949.
7. Vaisllav Kostiç – II-nd Secretary – 1948-1948.
8. Petrič Jashka – In 1948, Minister, left for Yugoslavia on August 28, and returned again on 10.XI.1949.
9. Kristič Dragoljubs – arrived in our country in 1948, press attaché candidate, left in June 1950.
10. Mitar Damjonoviç – employee, 1948-1949.
11. Janko Urbančiç – arrived in 1949, driver. Was in the UDB. Transported secret mail across the border to Yugoslavia.
12. Pashko Mishko – 1948, radio operator, left in 1950.
13. Mirko Kodiq – arrived in 1946, translator. In 1948, appointed guard. Carried out activity against our country.
14. Drago Flis – 1949, First Secretary, left in 1950.
15. Tom Lončar – arrived in 1948 as an employee, left in 1950.
16. Gavro Lakoviq – arrived in 1948 as a guard, in fact was an intelligence officer, left in 1950.
17. Vitamir Ribiç – arrived in 1947, initially worked in the Albanian-Yugoslav Association, for the construction of the Durrës-Peqin railway.
18. Ziko Sharkiq, arrived in 1947 as military attaché. Was a Lt. Colonel. Today Ziko is the Chief of Intelligence for the Ulqin region in the direction of Albania. Left in 1948. It is said that he came in 1957 with sports fans in Shkodër, when Potgorica-Shkodra played.
19. Savo Bozhidaroviq – arrived in 1946, was deputy director of the Albanian-Yugoslav Association, for the construction of the Durrës-Peqin railway. Carried out recruitments on the railway, such as Vera Kokalari, Feti Dvorani, etc.

In 1948, after the resolution of the Inform Bureau, Savo was appointed counselor near the Yugoslav legation in our country. Organized the first group in our country with Hysen Sejdini and sought to attract Koçi Xoxe to Yugoslavia. Savo was expelled from our country as undesirable.

20. Arso Milatoviq – arrived in 1956, as Minister of the legation, instead of Predrag Ajtiç, was an UDB officer since after World War II. Was interested in Koçi Xoxe’s children. Recruited Zija Dibra. Left in 1958.
21. Rexhep Xhiha – attended school in Albania, up to the penultimate class of the Technical School. On 26.1.1954, he came to Albania and carried out much recruitment, such as Petro Bullati, etc. Due to his activity against our country, he was expelled as undesirable.
22. Streçko Kovaçiç – arrived in 1955, as second secretary and left in 1950.
23. Radovan Urashejev – arrived on 5.6.1957, first secretary. Until 1958, he had the rank of Major. In 1950, when the Intelligence Center in Pristina was organized, he was an Intelligence instructor for Albania. Prepared and sent saboteurs to Albania. Had……! Left in 1958.
24. Radivoje Ganiç – Press Attaché. Was an UDB cadre. Left in 1959 and Murat Agović came in his place.
25. Aleksandër Miletiç – arrived in 1954, driver. According to the data, he had the rank of UDB Major. Associated with Rexhep Xhiha.
26. Tom Bukleçki – arrived in 1954, as counselor. Since 1944, he worked in the OZNA organs. In 1947, he worked in the UDB. Has the rank of Lt. Colonel.
27. Svetozar Koçiç – arrived in 1955 as counselor. Was in our country during the war and after liberation. Worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a counselor for Army Security, until June 1948, holding the rank of First Captain and later Lt. Colonel.

Recruited several anti-Party elements, such as Dhora Leka, Liri Gega, etc. Organized the Tirana Conference and sought to split the Party. Was expelled from our country as an undesirable person.

28. Murat Agoviç – arrived on March 15, 1959 in place of the intelligence officer Radivoje Genić. Arrived as press attaché. Has the rank of Colonel. Tried to learn the whereabouts of General Vaskë Gjino, Arif Hasko, etc. Tried to learn whether Abdi Mati was arrested along with Teme Sejko.

Tried to learn whether experts from the Ministry of People’s Defence and the Ministry of Internal Affairs participated in the delegation led by Comrade Koleka that went to China. Was interested in the whereabouts of Liri Belishova, Maqo Çomo, Koço Tashko after the crackdown. On 8.4.1961, he was expelled from our country as an undesirable person.

29. Gajko Zduiç – was an UDB officer with the rank of Colonel. Arrived in 1954, III-rd Secretary, left in 1962.
30. Joze Cikatiç – arrived on 4.XI.1959 and was expelled as undesirable on 23.2.1961. Was a driver. / Memorie.al

                                               To be continued in the next issue.