By Kastriot Dervishi
The assets of Albanians abroad, in the predatory eye of the Commission Society
Memorie.al / Since 1956, the communist state with the Commission society, after having stolen the owners inside the country, started the process of devouring for the purpose of selling the assets of Albanians abroad. With powers of attorney obtained in dubious ways and under duress, the heirs of these assets abroad, but who lived in Albania, faced the obligation to sell their properties, bringing income that, in the maximum part, went to the communist regime .On 1.VI.1989, the Commissioning Company passed from the dependency of the General Directorate of the State Bank, to that dependency of the Ministry of Finance. The company gave 5% of the value to the property owners.
Activity in 1980
According to the report dated 7.8.1980, by the Minister of Finance Qirjako Mihali, the income from the Commissioning Society had been increasing. For three years, the following incomes were realized:
– Year 1977: 795 thousand dollars.
– Year 1978: 815 thousand dollars.
– Year 1979: 1 million and 100 thousand dollars.
– Year 1980 (prediction): 1 million and 300 thousand dollars.
In the treatment were 1300 practices (mostly in Greece and Turkey), with an approximate value of 50 million dollars. At this time, the Commissioning Society had the following issues:
1 – In the USA, 202 practices were followed, with about 3 million dollars, where 500 thousand dollars would be realized per year. For the courts of the American states, it was noted that they had opened numerous problems. The intervention in the USA was carried out through the French government, but this too had given up, because it did not see it as profitable.
2 – In Australia, in the years 1978-1979, 321 thousand pounds (700 thousand dollars) were realized. 41 practices worth about 500 thousand dollars were under treatment.
3 – In Egypt, there were many problems. The robbery of the property of the Qorraliu family and Papaj’s store, worth 55,000 and 40,000 Egyptian liras (about 133,000 dollars), respectively, came into focus.
4 – In Italy, the situation had not changed. Measures were being taken to realize $120,000 (in previous years many sales had been made here). The properties of Xhemal Ferra, (Count Ferra) Shefqet Vërlac and Ismail Sefa were being worked on.
5 – In Turkey, it was reported that because of the banks, assets were blocked. Their value was about 2.8 million dollars.
6 – In Yugoslavia, there were 28 internships, but the work continued.
7 – In Greece, the work was suspended, due to the problem of the law of war.
Following property problems, such as in Canada, Argentina, France, Mexico, 110 thousand dollars were realized. It was also worked in the Federal Republic of Germany, with refugees.
What was the state of the assets in the last year of the communist regime? According to the report dated 13.7.1990, of the Minister of Finance, Andrea Nako, addressed to the Council of Ministers, since 1956, which was established, the Commissioning Society had provided in foreign currency, about 23 million dollars. The structure of the company was 7 employees, 5 in Tirana and one each in Korça and Gjirokastër. In the years 1985-1990 alone, a profit of 6 million dollars was estimated.
For 1990, it was planned to provide an amount of 2 million dollars. In addition to those mentioned below, the company was also working in countries such as: Australia, France, Italy, Canada, Argentina, etc. The minister recommended a number of measures to increase income and among others to start talks with the Greek government. Assets were also found in Yugoslavia, but the process was stopped after 1981.
Valuation of assets
1-In Greece, there were assets worth 370-400 million dollars, consisting of: 309 houses, buildings and apartments; 62 plots; 66 shops, warehouses, social facilities; 30 thousand hectares of land, plots of land, vineyards; 65 thousand hectares of forests; 108 thousand hectares of pastures.
For the assets in question, the law of war existed as an obstacle. But nevertheless, efforts were being made to sell the assets of Albanians of the Orthodox faith, to whom the Greek state did not open any problems. Thus, for example, the sale of a house in Thessaloniki, in the value of 230 thousand dollars, was carried out, as well as other practices were completed, in Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Corfu, etc.
2-In Turkey, there were assets worth 10 million dollars, but the biggest problem was their age. The assets identified were: 77 apartments, 49 buildings, 39 agricultural plots, 15 plots, etc. The report left the issue open, that there could be more than that wealth, but that was not known and had not yet been identified.
The Turkish legislation was also not favorable for the company to carry out its sales. However, a store worth 240 thousand dollars was sold in Istanbul. It was pointed out that the assets had increased in value because they could be used for construction sites.
3-In the USA, Argentina, etc., since the creation of the Commission Society, about 1,500 property practices were handled, collecting about 10 million dollars. In the years 1985-1989, an average of 350 thousand dollars was realized every year. For 1990, 400 thousand dollars were expected to be realized. Here it was noted that from economic emigration to the USA, about 13 million dollars had come to their relatives in Albania in the last 5 years.
4-In Egypt, there were assets identified in the value of 5 million dollars. It was noted that there could be others. The eye was on the former building of the Albanian embassy there, worth 1.3 million dollars. The building was owned by an Albanian. With the secured money, a new building worth 600-700 thousand dollars would be bought, while much that was left over would be used “for the needs of the economy”! Memorie.al
