By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part Ten
Memorie.al / A 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 the time, not only within the country but also in the international arena, as it was the first time that one of the main leaders of communist Albania participated 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 continues even today to remain shrouded in mystery, since with the exception of some testimonies of members of that delegation (the memoirs of Reiz Mailes, 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; how many persons did the auxiliary staff that accompanied the Albanian delegation consist of 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 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 any 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 Albanian delegation’s journey from Tirana to the USA, why were they divided into several groups and the reasons for staying one night 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 at the UN Mission take care to give Ramiz Alia an accurate 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 armament and ammunition with them? Who were the members of the filming group of Albanian Radio-Television that 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) will acquaint us, which are published for the first time with the relevant facsimiles by Memorie.al
Continued from the previous issue
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE HEAD OF THE ALBANIAN STATE, RAMIZ ALIA, WITH THE PRESIDENT OF ROMANIA, ION ILIESCU, ON SEPTEMBER 28, 1990, AT HOTEL “PLAZA”
BALKAN PROBLEMS ARE FACED WITH WILL AND GOOD DESIRE BY ALL BALKAN COUNTRIES
The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, Comrade Ramiz Alia, met on 28.9.1990 in New York at hotel “Plaza” with the President of Romania, Ion Iliescu.
Between Comrade Ramiz Alia and Ion Iliescu the following conversation took place:
Ion Iliescu: I am very glad to meet you, Comrade Ramiz.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: I am also very glad that we meet. Between Albania and Romania there are traditions of friendship. Romania has been a hearth of Albanian patriots. Many Albanian emigrants found shelter and suitable conditions there. Even today there are many Albanians in Romania.
The two countries and our peoples are walking on different paths. The goal is that both our countries be independent, two countries where the people build the country for their own good, for socialism and for the future.
We are predisposed to have the best possible relations, so that the relations between Albania and Romania are strengthened in the political, economic, cultural field, etc. We are two Balkan countries. There is no problem between our two countries, so we should develop friendly relations. I believe you are of this opinion too.
Ion Iliescu: Comrade President, I thank you very warmly for your assessments. That is so. There are very good traditions between our two countries. Between our two countries there has always existed sympathy and solidarity. I was in Albania in 1947. I worked on the youth railway.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: Ah, I am very glad. At that time I was Secretary of Youth.
Ion Iliescu: Yes. I worked in Durrës, in Rrogozhina and we completed the railway. Then we made a visit to Vlora, to a wonderful coast. Gjirokastra was very beautiful. So, we have had direct contacts. I met many Albanians who were studying in Romania, but I also became friends with many Albanians of various youth brigades.
Between our two countries there are great traditions, bilateral interests, in the new conditions we are going through, in quite difficult periods. We are trying to adapt to the new conditions to raise the economy. We are passing through the renewal of economic, political, democratic life, etc.
There are numerous difficulties that must be overcome, but we hope that with the people we will strengthen the foundations of economic development. We must adapt to the new international conditions on the basis of respect, sovereignty and genuine mutual cooperation. We think that these things are of great importance.
We are also of the opinion that the Balkans should play a positive role, because it is a region that has had very turbulent histories. The empire and various occupations have passed, such as the Turkish, Russian, etc. We also think that relations between the Balkan countries should be strengthened, in order to turn the Balkans into a region of peace.
I believe we will find common ground in the development of international relations. Relations between Europe and the East from a strategic point of view are of great importance. Therefore we view with interest the cooperation of these countries. The deputy foreign ministers of the Balkan countries gathered in Bucharest. The meeting was very positive.
In October the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Balkans will be held in Tirana. I hope that it will be an auspicious beginning of the further strengthening of Balkan cooperation. We see these developments as very important. Our bilateral relations are of great interest, but they should be consolidated not only in the economic field but also in the political one. Multilateral Balkan relations are also important.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: I fully agree that we Balkan people have much work. The Balkans, as I said also today in my speech, has been and is a powder keg. There are quite a few problems, but they are not insurmountable. If there exists good will, if there exists good desire, I think these problems are solved.
It is time to move away from some prejudices, because there are many prejudices. Without their liquidation it is difficult to open the way for the solution of problems. I do not want to enter into certain problems of the Balkans, but let us look at the possibilities of cooperation and of moving forward.
There are problems that with courage and wisdom are solved, and here I have in mind in particular the situation in Yugoslavia, and especially the attitude toward Albanians, which is very archaic and which does not go in accordance with today’s developments. Certainly, this is a problem that belongs to us and the Yugoslavs, but also a Balkan problem. Common ground must be found.
The situation in our country in general is good, but we have much to do. Changes are being made in the economic life of the country, in social relations, as well as in the field of foreign policy. All the measures taken in the life of the country go in the path of development.
On this path we will walk with consistency, developing the country in the economic, political, social field, but always taking into account two factors: our traditions, the national conditions of Albania and, secondly, which depends on the first, not to rush the final word, because we have a popular saying: “measure seven times and act once.”
We judge that haste brings perturbations. Democracy is not a phenomenon that was discovered today, but existed since the time of ancient Greece. Therefore the conditions of the country must be taken into account. Yes, there have been many copies, imitations, dictates. Condemning the imitations, copies and the old dictate, we are for democratizing both the old and today’s, because templates, new or old, remain templates. Templates are not in the interest of the country. We keep these conclusions and lessons very much in mind. When you came to Albania there was no railway, today there is, but there is still much to do.
There have been, there are and there will be difficulties, but we are not frightened by them. One must be wise, but also determined to carry forward the cause of the people. Relations between our two countries will always go forward because there exists the common desire. The current difficulties I think should be removed.
To tell the truth, about Romania we do not know many things; I say this in the sense of economic, political, social development, because the picture has changed entirely. I met Romanian comrades and after ten days everything changed. All that I heard from these comrades was erased. I believe that now you have solved many problems.
Ion Iliescu: Not yet.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: In what direction are the difficulties?
Ion Iliescu: First of all in the economic direction. Right-wing forces are trying to exploit the situation for their political aims. Today the offensive of the right in Europe is known. We must find forces to defend the country and to face the right. This thing is not easy. The explosions are the result of an unrealistic policy that had been followed, even of an anti-national policy that sacrificed the masses of the people that created an economic and social situation that led to great explosions.
One of the problems, not only with us, but starting from the Soviet Union and a series of other countries, was the neglect of the people, of minorities. There are many such problems, as for example in Bulgaria, the Romanians in the Soviet Union. A great political defect was the ignoring of social problems. Life showed that there were formulas, problems were not solved. There are many problems and difficulties that must be grasped.
The pluralist problem should not be treated as before, avoiding what was said that everything is in order. I think we should discuss openly for the solution of problems, for the respect of interests, to find ways to create real bases for the good solution of difficulties. I think that in the Balkans too a climate of stability should be created, in order that the most complicated problems be grasped and solved.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: This is an important problem for the Balkans. It must be entered and discussed because there are great difficulties in some directions. We have been and are of the opinion that we should speak openly. This has been done throughout the history of our relations with others. We have spoken openly, but we have suffered for it. We cannot call white black or black white. We speak openly, but we see today that many recipes are given; many professors have come out who say what Albania should do, what Romania should do, Bulgaria, etc. Well, professors give many lectures, but life is different.
Since life is different, these issues should be discussed well, they should not be deepened because it is worse. I know that the Yugoslav did not like what I said, but the truth must be said openly. There are three million Albanians in Yugoslavia. The Albanian deputies were all arrested, the television was closed, the newspapers were closed, people are being killed and imprisoned, but they are not finding Quislings. The situation there is not normal. When I say this I do not have in mind and I do not say it in the sense that the matter will be solved immediately, on the contrary, it will take time, because it is connected with all of Yugoslavia, because it is a Yugoslav problem.
The idea that you have is rational and, there is no doubt, that efforts must be made. I believe that the Foreign Ministers at the meeting in Tirana will face the problems of the Balkans. Let it begin where we will go, how we will emerge from the difficulties. This depends on good will. This will and this desire have not been lacking to us, and I believe neither to you. So, we became two, this is a good thing, a third will also be found, a fourth and so on. Let us look at things not with pessimism, but with optimism, for if we see them this way the ways of solution will also be found.
Regarding our bilateral relations we desire and must find the possibilities for more frequent contacts in the economic, political, cultural field, etc. It is not good when peoples do not know each other, when contacts are limited. For this we do not blame you or anyone else. The situations have been such that we have had few contacts. To speak openly, more contacts are needed; possibilities should be found not only official but also others.
We have much to do. The Foreign Ministers have imagination, so let them find the ways in order that our relations are as close as possible. We want these relations not only in the reciprocal framework, but also for the benefit of the peoples of the Balkans. We do not want these relations to the detriment of anyone, we want friendship with each other, but this friendship should serve others too.
Ion Iliescu: That is right.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: When will you speak at the UN?
Ion Iliescu: On October 3.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: I will leave on October 1. I will participate in the children’s meeting, and then I will meet the Albanians and return to the homeland.
Ion Iliescu: I thank you very much for the reception. It was a very good occasion that we met. We have many issues of common interest. I wish you all the best!
Comrade Ramiz Alia: Many thanks, I wish you success too. I wish that Romania be a strong, free and independent Romania. For the Romanian people we have a special sympathy, and for you as a Romanian and as a former Albanian.
Ion Iliescu: Many, many thanks! / Memorie.al
(Taken by stenogram)
Continued in the next issue
