Memorie.al / This are how the elite of Durrës would paraphrase their city in a public letter sent to the Albanian Ministry of Internal Affairs, dated January 19, 1919. After the end of the First World War, like most cities in Albania, Durrës had emerged with great damage. The occupying Italian and Austro-Hungarian armies, one after the other, had bombarded this city several times, thus bringing material damage and casualties. At that time, after the war, Durrës continued to be the capital of Albania, chosen since 1914, the moment when Prince Wied would officially take office as the Prince of Albania, as decided by the Great Powers.
And after the Congress of Durrës, from which its government emerged in 1918, its destination as the capital would not change, despite various attempts by influential people to move the capital to another location such as Tirana, Shkodra, Vlora, or Elbasan. This matter began to be discussed in Durrës, saying that the government would move the center toward Tirana and that one of the causes was the lack of housing for government officials.
On this occasion, the influential people of the city, or the “paria” (the elite) as we shall call them, decided to meet and discuss this problem, which for them was very concerning. This meeting would take place in the premises of the “Katundaria” (Municipality), and participants would include figures such as: Perikli Spiru, Jusuf and Aqif Çelkupa, Eqrem Beshiri, Myslim Katroshi, Kasem Durrësi, Perikli Goga, Vanc Goga, Sabri Dermani, etc., as well as all representatives of the Catholic, Orthodox, and Muslim Clergy of Durrës.
Together, they drafted a declaration addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs, highlighting the positive aspects and benefits that this city provided to the government of Albania. This letter was sent to the government on 19.I.1919, while on 22.I.1919, another letter was sent, but this time from a special commission elected by the city’s elite, detailing the reasons why the city of Durrës had housing problems and the causes that had brought it to this point.
On one hand were the destructions of many buildings during the war; on the other hand, many houses were in use by the Italian army, which was present in Durrës. Thus, they were ready to make sacrifices, solely so the capital would not leave Durrës. They requested from the Minister a kind of special permit to bring in a range of construction materials, which would serve for the reconstruction of houses damaged by the bombardments of World War I.
They also requested a number of 50 to 60 workers to work on these damaged structures. The commission informed that the housing problem for government officials and the buildings for the Courts were already secured, and there was no reason for the capital to move toward Tirana, but rather it should continue to remain in Durrës.
Nevertheless, after the Congress of Lushnja, the center of the government was practically changed and established in Tirana, because its placement in Durrës was seen as impossible by the Minister of Interior, Ahmet Zogu, the reason being that the Italian army continued to stay in Durrës, and this did not provide security for the Government emerging from the Congress of Lushnja. However, legally, Durrës continued to be the capital until January 31, 1925, with Tirana as part of the prefecture of Durrës.
From these two letters, we will notice that Durrës at that time had several men who loved the city dearly; perhaps their love might be called “localism” by some today, but this is what has been missing from Durrës for many, many years – their localism stemmed from the love for the city where they lived and worked.
Transcribed below are the two letters sent by the City Elite to the Albanian Government:
The first letter of the Durrës elite, sent to the government on 19.I.1919
To the Excellent Ministry of Internal Affairs in Durrës.
“We have the honor to address you collectively in the exalted office of Your Lordship, to present the general desire of the People Here.
Illustrious Minister, who are the reflection and the true guardian of the National right: It has been reported to us that for some personal reasons of the Officials, it is being considered to Choose Tirana as the general center, and not Durrës, which from every point of view, is the Mother of all Albanian lands and which possesses civic qualities more complete than the others.
It is known that until today, all governments formed by those natural and diplomatic causes and by the indispensable National necessity for a Capital, have Chosen and established this beautiful Durrës.
Is it not this Durrës, both in terms of the tranquility of the place – upon which the spirit of the Nation rests – and in terms of general civic living that is deserving of having the importance and honor of a European site?
Durrës is a more brilliant mirror than Tirana for performing the service of protecting and proving National rights before Europe, which today holds our fate in its hands.
And thus, great Albanian benefits are expected from the illustrious Body of Your Lordship, by having Durrës as the general center, which even in terms of internal impression, holds a high and special place in all National Hearts and Albanian lands.
Therefore, for the securing of patriotic benefits, in the choosing of the general center, one must not regard the personal needs of the Officials, but only the general benefit of the shared fatherland must be considered, and for domestic hardships, one must endure until today’s deficiencies can be fulfilled.
Therefore, in the name of the People of Durrës, we pray to the illustrious Body of Your Lordship, considering the expected benefits, not to remove the general center from the established Capital.
With special and humble honors.”
The Elder of Varosh, The Elder of the Castle, The Imam of the Castle, The Imam of Varosh, The Myderris of Durrës, Truja, Perikli Spiru, Neki Libohova, Gjorg Vlashi, Vlash Dovana, Mati Fishta, The Catholic Parish Priest of Durrës, The Imam of the Mosque, Kaja Hanëmi, Vasil Roço, Eqrem Beshiri, Vanc Goga, Jusuf Çelkupa, Perikli Goga, Vangel Spiru, Dr. A. Zaguridhi, Myrteza Goci, Pieter Vlashi, K. Durrësi (Kasem), H. Myshketa (Hysen), I. Kadiu, Sabri Dermani, Myslim Katroshi.
(Other signatures are not clearly legible or are written in Arabic characters).
The second letter of the Durrës elite, sent to the government on 22.I.1919
To His Excellency
Delegate of Internal Affairs, Durrës
“The undersigned have the honor to show Your Excellency that as soon as the voice was heard that our Government, citing as a reason the lack of offices and housing for Officials, wishes to remove from here the Center and place it in Tirana, the people of Durrës immediately took interest and with a General Meeting held in the Katundari (Municipality Building), formed a Commission to deliberate upon this matter; how and in what way to dismiss every extinguishing thought aimed at the removal of the Center of the Government.
Taking into account, not only why the City of Durrës for its beautiful History and for its geographical position – generally known as the most significant economically and politically, a thing proven and favored as the Capital of Albania by all the Great Powers when the independence of Albania was first proclaimed; but also because of the current state caused by the war, the removal of the Center will make a [negative] impression, and for this reason the burden was undertaken, which we took with desire and have come to these conclusions:
a) The people are sacrificing as much as they can by constraining themselves to vacate housing for Officials; besides 124 houses that are occupied by the army, 36 sufficient houses have also been designated for Officials.
b) For bachelor Officials; besides those mentioned, we have foreseen [housing] for at least 20.
c) We have the Hotels “Royal” and “Aristide Sarvall” (“Aristill Shallvari”), the houses of Hysen Ef. Kruetani, Thoma Teokaridi, Ismail Beshiri, which with little expense can be repaired by the Owners of the Property and the Government for the account of….. (Illegible) designated by the Commission.
From those houses that are occupied by the army, we have petitioned the Command to release to us 5 large houses, which are: Vll. Margariti, Aristide Sarvalli, Giumurteka, Sul Met Rama, and Hani Kristaqi Spiru.
The Commission has also petitioned to be granted a special permit to bring in ready materials: 1000 kg. of lime, 40000 Bricks, 40000 roof tiles, 200 crates of Glass, 100 barrels of all kinds of nails, 250 kg. of cement – Therefore, we pray Your Excellency to take measures and record the need we have for these materials and besides these, to also give us approximately 50-60 workers.
Since the special Commission for housing has found a place (residence) for all Officials, as well as for the highest Courts – which according to the rule generally favored by all powers, should by reason remain in the Capital and for no cause should be removed from Here, as for other matters, so for the High Courts, we have almost designated a location. –
With the hope that we will also have the help of the honorable Government for the fulfillment of the National desire, we conclude with special honor.”
Durrës, 22.I/1919
Signatures:
Neki Libohova, Ilia Llavda, Dr. Zaguridhi, Eqrem Beshiri, Vanghel Spiru, (signature in Arabic characters), Perikli Spiru. / Memorie.al
