Documents from Ramiz Ali’s visit to the UN, September-October 1990, are revealed: From the 27-person delegation, led by his son, Arben, to the expensive silver gifts, 74 kg. of Skrapari brandy, “Bato” cognac, etc.

By DASHNOR KALOÇI

Part One

Memorie.al / Full 36 years ago, in the last week of September 1990, the head of communist Albania at that time, Ramiz Alia, who held the functions of Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the PPSh (Party of Labour of Albania) and also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, at the head of a large delegation, set off to participate in the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Ramiz Alia’s participation in the 45th session of the UN had a great echo at that time, not only within the country, but also in the international arena, since it was the first time that one of the main leaders of communist Albania took part in the proceedings of the UN General Assembly, something which had not happened since 1961, when official Tirana was represented in that high forum of world politics and diplomacy by the prime minister of that time, Mehmet Shehu.

Even though 36 years have passed since that time, it still continues to remain shrouded in mystery, since with the exception of some testimonies of members of that delegation (the memoirs of Reis Malile, or Lisen Bashkurti), as well as very few archival documents published in the press, nothing else is known about the visit of the head of the Albanian state of that time, Ramiz Alia, to the 45th session of the United Nations in New York, which held its proceedings for about three consecutive weeks, until the middle of October 1990.

For example: When did the preparation and drafting of the relevant protocol for the participation of the Albanian delegation in that high forum of world politics begin, who were the other members of the delegation who accompanied Ramiz Alia on that long journey across the Atlantic and what functions did they hold; of how many persons consisted the supporting staff that accompanied the Albanian delegation and who were they?! When did the preparation begin and what did the program of visits and meetings of Ramiz Alia contain during the entire period that they would stay in the USA? Was that entire program realized according to the relevant protocol and who were the heads of foreign delegations that Ramiz Alia met during all the days of the stay in the USA and what did he discuss with them? Who were the Albanians of the “old diaspora” with whom the head of communist Albania met during that visit, what was discussed in those meetings and were there incidents with the “reactionary Albanian diaspora,” who had fled from Albania after 1945? Who organized the reception that Ramiz Alia gave for compatriots in Boston, who were some of the exponents of the Albanian diaspora who assisted there and how did that meeting go?

What was the itinerary of the journey of the Albanian delegation from Tirana to the USA, why were they divided into several groups and the reasons for the one-night stay in Switzerland? Why was Arben Alia, the son of the head of state, Ramiz Alia, also part of the Albanian delegation and how was his participation in the composition of the delegation in question “justified”? How many and which were the gifts that the Albanian delegation headed by Ramiz Alia took with them and to whom were they given in Switzerland and the USA? Why was Hotel “Plaza” (the hotel owned by the current president of the USA, Donald Trump) designated for the accommodation of Ramiz Alia and some other members of that delegation? How much did that entire visit cost financially, why were other funds added during the period that the delegation was in the USA and how were those expenses justified?

Why did the staff of Albanian diplomats serving in the UN Mission take care to give Ramiz Alia also an exact floor plan of the hall where the 45th session of the UN would be held, specifying even the place where the main representative of the delegation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia would sit?! Who were the two bodyguards (the doctor and the driver) who accompanied Ramiz Alia during that entire visit and how was it possible for them to travel on the plane with weapons and ammunition with them? Who were the members of the filming group of Albanian Radio-Television who accompanied the delegation and what tasks were given to them? Regarding these etc., the archival documents extracted from the Central State Archive (the fund of the former Central Committee of the PPSh) acquaint us, which are published for the first time and with the respective facsimiles by Memorie.al

ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE COMPOSITION OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION THAT WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN NEW YORK

COMPOSITION OF OUR DELEGATION AT THE 45th SESSION OF THE UN

MEMBERS

1. Ramiz Alia – Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, Chairman;
2. Reis Malile – Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Chairman;
3. Sofokli Lazri – Special Adviser, Member;
4. Muhamet Kapllani – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Member;
5. Bashkim Pitarka – Permanent Representative of Albania to the UN, Member.

SUBSTITUTE MEMBERS

6. Petrit Bushati – Ambassador;
7. Vahid Boriçi – Head of Branch in the Presidium of the People’s Assembly;
8. Genc Mlloja – Adviser of the Permanent Mission of Albania to the UN;
9. Eqerem Gaxholli – First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Albania to the UN;
10. Kadri Cenko – Official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

EXPERTS

11. Arben Alia
12. Mikel Gjika
13. Viktor Kalemi
14. Zef Mazi
15. Roland Llupo

ACCOMPANYING

1. Behar Zhurda
2. Sinan Hoxha

DOCTOR

1. Arben Fino

JOURNALISTS

1. Alfons Gurashi
2. Gazmir Shtino

DRIVER

1. Vladimir Beci

Tirana, 7 September 1990

ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE FAX OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN TIRANA, ADDRESSED TO THE ALBANIAN EMBASSY IN VIENNA, REGARDING THE RECEPTION OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION IN SWITZERLAND

DIRECTORATE OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

3243

FAX

TO THE EMBASSY

VIENNA

According to your request, we are transmitting to you by fax the list of the comrades of the delegation who will pass one night in Switzerland. Besides the head of the delegation for whom you are aware, there will also be the following persons:

Reis Malile, Minister of Foreign Affairs,

Sofokli Lazri, Special Adviser,

Vahid Boriçi, Head of Branch in the Presidium of the People’s Assembly,

Arben Alia, Expert,

Viktor Kalemi, Official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Zef Mazi, Official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

Behar Zhurda, Accompanying,

Sinan Hoxha, Accompanying,

Arben Fino, Doctor.

We also inform you that the accompanying persons will have:

Behar Zhurda, pistol type “BO 1120” and 7 cartridges,

Sinan Hoxha, pistol type “BO 1212” and 7 cartridges.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Tirana, 17 September 1990

ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE CERTIFICATE OF THE DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, SOKRAT PLAKA, FOR THE EQUIPPING WITH WEAPONS AND CARTRIDGES OF RAMIZ ALIA’S ACCOMPANYING PERSON, BEHAR ZHURDA

PEOPLE’S SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

CERTIFICATE

I the undersigned declare that, for reasons of service;

Behar ZHURDA is equipped with a pistol of the type Makarov, model “M 56”, caliber 9 mm., series BO 1120, and with seven cartridges.

Sinan HOXHA is equipped with a pistol of the type “Makarov”, model M 56, caliber 9 mm, series 1212, and with seven cartridges.

DEPUTY MINISTER

Sokrat PLAKA

ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE LIST OF NAMES OF THE DELEGATION OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS THAT WOULD ACCOMPANY RAMIZ ALIA DURING HIS VISIT TO THE USA FOR THE UN MEETING

Tirana, 22 September 1990

LIST OF THE DELEGATION OF THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Reis Malile

Muhamet Kapllani

Mikel Gjika

Viktor Kalemi

Zef Mazi

Kadri Çenko

Vladimir Beci

Alfons Gurashi

Gazmir Shtino

DATES OF DEPARTURE OF THE DELEGATION FOR NEW YORK ACCORDING TO GROUPS

ON 24 SEPTEMBER 1990

Ramiz Alia

Reis Malile

Sofokli Lazri

Vehid Boriçi

Arben Alia

Viktor Kalemi

Zef Mazi

Behar Zhurda

Sinan Hoxha

Arben Fino

ON 19 SEPTEMBER 1990

Muhamet Kapllani

Mikel Gjika

ON 21 SEPTEMBER 1990

Kadri Çenko

Alfons Gurashi

Gazmir Shtino

Vladimir Beci

DEPARTING FROM VIENNA

Petrit Bushati

ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE BIOGRAPHY OF THE HEAD OF THE ALBANIAN STATE, RAMIZ ALIA, WHICH WOULD BE SENT TO THE RELEVANT OFFICE IN THE UNITED NATIONS ASSEMBLY IN NEW YORK

RAMIZ ALIA

Government official; born in Shkodra, 1925.

Participated in the Second World War 1939-45, political leader of the 7th Assault Brigade, political leader of the 2nd Division, fought in Kosovo, Metohija and Sandžak, Yugoslavia;

Political Commissar of the 5th Division;

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Youth, 1955;

Minister of Education;

Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party, from the 1st Congress;

Member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Central Committee from the 4th Congress;

First Secretary of the Central Committee, 1985;

Deputy Chairman of the General Council of the Democratic Front of Albania;

Deputy from the 2nd Legislature in the People’s Assembly;

Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly (Head of State) of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania, 1982.

Tirana, 10 September 1990

Biography of Ramiz Alia

RAMIZ ALIA

Born on 18 October 1925 in Shkodra.

Has completed higher studies in philosophy.

Has participated actively in the National Liberation War and has held important political and military functions in the National Liberation Army.

1949 First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Union of Youth of Albania.

Is one of the most distinguished leading figures of the Party of Labour of Albania and of the Albanian state? Close collaborator of the leader of the Albanian people Enver Hoxha, both during the National Liberation War and in the era of the construction of socialism.

Member of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania since its First Congress and member of the Politburo and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party since the Fourth Congress of the Party (1961).

President of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania (1982).

First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party of Labour of Albania (1985).

Deputy in the People’s Assembly in all legislatures, starting from 1950.

ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE FLOOR PLAN OF THE HALL OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, WHERE THE HEAD OF THE ALBANIAN STATE, RAMIZ ALIA, ALSO PARTICIPATED AND SPOKE

Plan of the General Assembly Hall

“General Assembly Hall (Yugoslavia at the arrow ->)

The graphic plan shows the placement of seats in the semicircle for member countries. At the top center are: On the left side of the arc, with an arrow, the seat of Yugoslavia is shown, which is located near countries such as Uruguay, Thailand, Togo, Tajikistan, etc. The plan continues with the alphabetical ordering of member states, in the English language.

ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE LIST OF ITEMS THAT THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION TOOK WITH THEM AS GIFTS FOR THE UN SESSION

LIST OF ARTISTIC ITEMS OF THE PRESIDIUM OF THE PEOPLE’S ASSEMBLY FOR THE UN

GROUP II

Round embroidered carpet…. piece 1

Silver filigree vase ……………… piece 1

Silver filigree box (small)…….. Piece 1

Filigree plate (medium) ………piece 1

Bag ………………………………………….piece 1

Box (medium)………………………… Piece 1

Earrings…………………………………… Pair 1

Bracelets (large)…………………….. Piece 1

Plate…. (Small gliko) ……………. piece 2

Basket…… (Small) ………………… piece 1

GROUP III

Embroidered blouse …………..piece 1

Silver filigree box ………………. piece 1

Silver filigree bracelet (medium) piece 2

Silver filigree bracelet (small) piece 2

Copper filigree plate (large) ……piece 1

Copper filigree plate (medium)……piece 2

Wooden cigarette tray …………………. piece 1

Ceramic cigarette tray……………. piece 1

Albanian pipe …………………………. piece 1

Women’s xunkth bag …………………. piece 1

Kept on the date 24.9.1990 in three copies and delivered to the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, comrade Vehid Boriçi.

HANDER-OVER                                          RECEIVER

Ramiz Dade                                                      Vahid Boriçi

The values of the above gifts were distributed to personalities, accompanying and official leading persons in the name of com. Ramiz Alia during the stay in Switzerland

3.10.1990

Ambassador

Engjëll Kolaneci

ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE LIST OF GIFTS FOR THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION THAT WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE UN MEETING IN NEW YORK

LIST OF GIFTS FOR THE DELEGATION AT THE UN

Box nr. 1      Skrapar Raki   piece 12

Box nr. 2        Perla Raki     piece 12

Box nr. 3     Bato Cognac    piece 9

Box nr. 4     Bato Cognac     piece 9

Box nr. 5     Bato Cognac     piece 9

Box nr. 6     Bato Cognac     piece 9

Box nr. 7     Bato Cognac     piece 9

Box nr. 8     Perla Raki      piece 12

Box nr. 9     Perla Raki      piece 12

Box nr. 10   Muscat Raki    piece 10

Box nr.11    Muscat Raki     piece 10

Box nr. 12    Bato Cognac      piece 5

Box nr. 13      Perla Raki       piece 2

ARTISTIC ITEMS

Large copper filigree plate….piece 6

Medium copper filigree plate….piece 4

Copper brazier…………………piece 2

Copper bonbonniere………………piece 2

Large silver filigree plate…..     piece 3

Medium silver filigree plate….piece 5

Medium silver filigree box…piece 2

Embroidered blouses…………….piece 2

Silk scarf……………….piece 1

Woolen bag………………….piece 3

Woolen telephone doilies…..piece 3

Silver earrings……………….piece 6

Silver pendants……………….piece 5

Silver rings……………….piece 2

Silver roses (flowers)………..piece 2

Silver roses (baskets)……..piece 2

It was signed today, on 26.9.1990

The suitcases of artistic products of the above list, as well as 40 (forty) bottles of raki and 50 (fifty) bottles of cognac raki and 50 packs of cigarettes, were used for gifts to foreign personalities, activists of the Albanian colonies, as well as for the reception given to comrade Ramiz Alia in Boston. / Memorie.al

Vehid Boriçi                       Bashkim Pitarka

Permanent Representative of the PSR of Albania to the UN

New York, 26.9.1990

                                           Continued in the next issue