Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al publishes an unknown archival document issued by the Central State Archive in Tirana (fund of the former Central Committee of the ALP), which is dated August 27, 1968, where the Director of State Security at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Interior, Feçor Shehu, through an information report informs Xhafer Spahiu, the secretary of the Central Committee of the ALP, regarding the various comments that were made in some districts of the country after the event that occurred on August 21 of that year, when the Union The Soviet Union and several other Warsaw Pact member states, such as East Germany, Hungary, Poland, and Bulgaria, undertook military aggression by invading Czechoslovakia. What is said in that report-information compiled by the State Security regarding the comments made by the “enemy element” after the events in Czechoslovakia, as well as those spoken and discussed by some of the ambassadors and diplomats of foreign missions accredited in Tirana, as ambassador Veyseli, Secretary of the Turkish Embassy, Tansu Bleda, Officials of the Italian Embassy, Giuzeppe Dams and Natalina Surdo, Charge d’Affaires of the Cuban Embassy, Gilberto, and Attaché Eduart Aveja, Attaché of the French Embassy of the RAB Embassy, Faruk Muhamet, Secretary of the Polish Trade Mission, Danuta Walter, Chargé d’Affaires of the Yugoslav Legation, Ljubomir Hrnjak, Driver of the Czech Trade Mission, Vaslav Mocka, Driver of the Romanian Embassy, Marchel Vezure, Secretary of the Romanian Embassy , George Miku and his wife, etc., who were under surveillance by the “House of Leaves” in the center of Tirana ?!
The events that took place in the first months of 1968 in some Eastern European countries, such as the demonstrations in Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia, but also in some western countries (mainly with students), such as France, Italy, etc., which culminated with the military aggression and invasion of Czechoslovakia on August 21 of that year by the Soviet Union and some of its other allies (East Germany, Bulgaria, Hungary and Poland), had a strong impact and greatly alarmed the communist regime of Enver Hoxha, who feared a “domino effect” on our country, as Albania of that time was considered one of the “weakest links” in the entire Communist East. Among other things, this is made known by this archival document dated 27.VIII.1968 (Fund of the former Central Committee of the ALP) and titled “Top secret”, which is a report-information of The Director of the First Directorate in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, (State Security), Feçor Shehu, sent to the Secretary of the Central Committee of the ALP, Xhafer Spahiu. As we will see from the information-report in question on the topic “On hostile comments”, given the tense situation in the international arena, with a high degree of sensitivity (typical of dictatorial communist countries and regimes), official Tirana was being shown quite attentive, as he feared those events, that they could happen in Albania as well. And this is clear from the numerous archival documents found in the Fund of the Central Committee of the ALP, where the Ministry of Internal Affairs, through the Minister, Kadri Hazbiu and his deputies, such as Feçorr Shehu, Rexhep Kolli, etc. ., who were also the main leaders of the State Security, sent a series of information and reports to the senior leadership, starting with Enver Hoxha, Hysni Kapo, Ramiz Alia, Xhaferr Spahiu, etc., through which he informed with details, on what was happening in every corner of the country, from south to north. In the main focus of those reports-information, were the comments made by the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana, as well as by various intellectuals, mainly the “enemy element”, about the events that were taking place in some Eastern European countries, such as Czechoslovakia. , Poland etc. And not without reason, as it seems from this document, but also from a series of other archival documents that are in the relevant files in the state archives, the situation at that time was precipitating in such a way that the communist regime of Tirana, after the intervention of Soviet military troops in Czechoslovakia on August 21 of that year, passed the army into readiness No. 1, the same as in a state of war. And more than any aggression from outside, the communist regime feared any movement from within. In this context of the logical course of events, this period of time (throughout 1968), seems to have been one of the most alarming and frightening periods that that regime has gone through, (until 1990 when the embassy event took place), which can be seen from the document in question that Memorie.al publishes in full as it is in the relevant file in the Central State Archive.
Report of the Director of State Security for Xhaferr Spahiu
THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA VERY SECRET
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS, Copy No.2
FIRST DIRECTORY Tirana, on 27/8/1968
No.1558 Prot.
Subject: Hostile comments on the invasion of Warsaw Pact troops in Czechoslovakia
SECRETARY OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF THE PP OF ALBANIA
COMRADE XHAFER SPAHIU
TIRANA
From various contingent elements, it is said that the BS and other forces of the Warsaw Pact, after taking the Czech Republic, will attack other countries, such as Romania, Yugoslavia and our country. This is a tactic like that of Hitler, who took the countries of Europe one by one. The attack against the Czech Republic is not good, but even ours who are against revisionism, now the Greeks are reiterating their demands for North Epirus and will certainly repeat the opportunity to attack us.
The Soviets in this case were discredited at all, because their word did not go. After putting the Czechs to sleep at a meeting of revisionist countries, they suddenly attacked them, but this showed that today, if you did not act as the great states want, the force of arms decides. In this case the Soviet Union lost its prestige, as it is not the protector of the peoples, but the slave.
The Soviets in this case showed the Russian chauvinist spirit of the occupation. This spirit has been and has been felt by other federated peoples, but to get this far was unthinkable.
Czech composure may be the most lucrative route for them, as this will not give them a chance…, but in this case it would be good for the Russians to learn a lesson, the Czechs to have sent at least one missile in the direction of Moscow .
Some persons who are not hostile contingents, but politically ambiguous, have expressed some hostile thoughts. A worker from Lezha said: “It is not only the Czech leadership that makes those changes there, but it seems to us that the people were passionate about that job, because they were interested. Let me assure you that tomorrow, just a sign to be given here against socialism, all the people are ready, especially the peasantry that has suffered so much and that thinks of taking the cattle that belong to it. This is not only our position, but also that of some communist families. “But this day will come, as it did in the Soviet Union after 50 years.”
There are such expressions from some workers in Tirana: “Nobody loves socialism. The introduction of the Warsaw Pact powers into Czechoslovakia is not an invasion, but in agreement with Czech leaders. Say as much as you want that we are strong, as it has been will be, the big fish eats the small, so the one who has weapons and strength, dominates; the Czechs are on their way, the Soviets are calling on them to elect another government, but they are not obeying. “The Soviets invaded the Czech Republic, but even here they will not go long.
Comments of some officials of foreign representations
Turkish Ambassador Veyseli said: “Czechoslovakia is over and the Czechs are to blame for this. They rushed to their reformist plans, with their actions severely affecting the prestige of the Soviet Union. Dubcek welcomed Tito as if he were a god, as did Ceausescu. Dubcek’s attitude and actions would inevitably lead to countermeasures by the Soviets. The Czechoslovaks remembered that they would be helped by the West.
What disillusionment! America does not risk itself for Czechoslovakia. Today the big ones have the floor and no one asks about the views of the small ones. “Everyone should rely on their own strengths and not expect anything big from others.”
The secretary of the Turkish embassy, Tanush Bleda, also commented: “The Albanian press has described quite well the action of the Russians towards Czechoslovakia as aggression, fascist action. “The world and Europe are currently influenced by great powers, each of which maintains its own spheres of influence.”
Italian embassy official Giuzeppe Dams said: “The Soviets attacked Czechoslovakia by surprise, here lies their vileness. The Soviets are like that dog that will lick and then bite, they want socialist countries to do as they say. Czechoslovakia is over, but concern for Romania is also important. Ceausescu is speaking out against the Soviets, and they do not forget that. The Romanians are prepared that in the event of an attack by the Soviets they will fight.
The events in Czechoslovakia fully confirm the justice of the Albanians and Enver’s words about the Soviet leadership. “The position of the Albanian leadership on the Czech issue is right.”
Another Italian embassy official, Natalina Surdo, said: “The Soviets together with their satellites attacked Czechoslovakia, this is a vicious act. Czechoslovakia was attacked because Dubcek was seceding from them and approaching Western countries. “This attack is a measure to prevent other countries from seceding from the US, because the fate of Czechoslovakia would be followed by others.”
Cuban Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Gilberto said: “The Czechs are resisting the Soviet occupiers with protests and demonstrations, the Soviets were badly unmasked in the Czech Republic as fascists and the world realized that they and the Americans had divided their spheres of influence in world, but peoples do not become market loot from the strongest. I liked the statement of the Albanian party and government extremely much and I completely agree with the assessment made of Soviet revisionism as invasive and fascist. The claims of Soviet revisionists that they went to the Czech Republic to save the socialist order were rejected by the whole world and especially Czechoslovakia itself. “Their demagoguery has come to the fore, now not only the capitalist states, but also the revisionist ones do not trust them.”
The Cuban attaché, Eduart Avejes, also commented: “I really like the attitude of the party and the Albanian government towards the events in Czechoslovakia. The Soviets were rightly called fascist aggressors, the right attitude of the Albanians towards the revisionist Soviet leadership was confirmed. We Cubans also remember the events in the Caribbean and do not believe in Soviet revisionism. Some diplomats of revisionist states get upset with the arguments they present to justify the Soviet intervention and that of their allies in Czechoslovakia. “We Cubans say that this is not how Czechoslovakia is liberated, it is liberated only by rifles.”
The attaché of the French embassy, Emil Guninard, said: “Czechoslovakia is over, the Soviet Union has occupied it inhumanely. Why interfere in the internal affairs of other states? The statement of the party and the Albanian government is fair, clear, principled and strong “.
The wife of the second secretary of the RAB embassy, Faruk Muhamet, said: “Romanians, although members of the Warsaw Pact, do not trust the Soviets. Their army is on alert. “Yugoslavs are not afraid of any aggression from the Warsaw Pact member states.”
The secretary of the Polish trade mission, Danuta Walter, said: “I am afraid that Poland will be attacked by the Soviets. “These are bad and no one believes them.”
The Charge d’Affaires of the Yugoslav Legation, Ljubomir Hrnjak, said: “The Soviets were mean to us, they stabbed us in the back. The revisionists here, the Germans, the Poles, the Hungarians, are clowns. “Congratulations to the Albanian party and government that has long maintained this attitude towards the Soviet revisionists.”
The driver of the Czech trade mission, Vaslav Moçkaka, also commented: “The Soviets in the Czech Republic are acting like fascists. Congratulations to the Albanian party and government that has taken a firm stand against the wicked. “We were very pleased with the statement.”
The driver of the Romanian embassy, Marchel Vezure, said: “The Soviets attacked Czechoslovakia, but they will not be able to do that in the direction of Romania, because Ceausescu defined his position in his speech in Bucharest. “We have declared general readiness, the people are armed and we are ready to respond to the aggression with weapons.”
The Secretary of the Romanian Embassy, George Miku, said: “The statement of the Albanian party and government is a fair and strong statement; the Soviet attack on the Czech Republic is treacherous, there is nothing communist in this act. Kosygin did not agree with the invasion of Czechoslovakia. When Stalin lived, such things did not happen, then the Soviet Union was the protector of socialist countries. “I do not understand why Vietnam, which is a victim of aggression, supports the Soviet aggressors.”
The wife of the Romanian embassy secretary, George Miku, said: “It is a mess in Romania now, so I will not send the children. We are very afraid that the Russians will attack Romania as well. “Soviet and Bulgarian forces are stationed near the Romanian border, the Russians are looking for Moldova, the Bulgarians for a part of Dobruja, the Hungarians for Transylvania, but Romania will fight, its land will be irrigated with blood.”/Memorie.al
DEPUTY MINISTER OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS
(Feçor Shehu)
