“Members of Congress, such as the representative of Massachusetts, Joseph P. Kennedy, as well as the senator of Arizona, Denis DeConcini, asked to visit Albania…”/ Writing of the New York Times, in the 1990s

By David Binder

Memorie.al / The government of Albania, one of the most loyal communist regimes in the world, signaled today that it is ready to start relations with the United States of America and the Soviet Union. President Ramiz Alia announced the change in the public policy of enmity with Washington and Moscow in these three decades, as a result of recent international developments. He said that; “the problem of reestablishing diplomatic relations with the USA and the Soviet Union is on the agenda”. 

In a speech he gave on Tuesday before the Central Committee of the Communist Party, which was made public today by the Albanian Telegraphic Agency, President Alia spoke about the great gap separating his country from the two superpowers, but he added that; “We will meet, like a friend with a friend.”

The proposal since 1974

“If now the United States and Russia express their willingness to really change their attitude towards Albania, we have no reason not to welcome this”, said Alia, who is the First Secretary of Party in these last five years.

According to State Department officials, there have been indirect talks between representatives of Tirana and Washington about diplomatic relations, although the United States government has made public proposals about its desire to normalize relations with Albania since 1974.

Last November 28, when Albania had its national holiday, in the position of the director for Eastern European Affairs, James W. Swihart, given for the Albanian service of “Voice of America”, he said that; “Of course, we do not see any major obstacles to establishing diplomatic relations with Tirana” and added that; “the administration is always ready for dialogue”.

Interruption of relations in 1939

The official relations of the United States of America were interrupted with Albania in June 1939, after the occupation of the country by Benito Mussolini’s fascist Italy.

The United States mission was sent to Tirana in 1945, in order to prepare the resumption of governmental relations, but the negotiations with the newly installed communist government were difficult and, as a result, the following year, it returned to the country his. Albania, a country with 3.3 million inhabitants, created the state 78 years ago.

From the beginning, a creature of the great European powers, it has subsequently been occupied at various intervals by Italy, Germany, Yugoslavia, the Soviet Union and China.

The Soviet Union, for its period, had strong interests in developing close ties with Albania, from the moment of the creation of the Communist Party, in 1941, which was under the supervision of the Yugoslav communists.

The Yugoslav Communist Party, led by Josif Broz Tito, remained dominant in Tirana until Stalin disbanded them in 1949. From then until 1960, Albania was a satellite state of the Soviet Union, allowing it to expand, located there Soviet air and naval bases.

In 1961, the main leader of the Communist Party, Enver Hoxha, used the splits between Mao Zedong and Nikita S. Khrushchev to escape (free himself) from Russian influence, turning a little later to China, as a master in relations which , ended in 1978.

For the last 25 years, Moscow has, strictly speaking, come around Albania, especially with more intensity five years ago, since Enver Hoxha died. Until the beginning of this year, official Tirana rejected the Russian proposals.

In February 1990, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sokrat Plaka, said in an interview for “Reuters” that; his country can resume relations with Moscow and Washington.

Connections with the Russians can start quickly

According to the diplomats, since then, the Albanian and Russian ambassadors accredited to Turkey have met in Ankara, where they discussed diplomatic relations. An American diplomat stationed in the Balkans said that in the last month, Tirana and Moscow have expressed their desire to normalize relations as soon as possible.

The restoration of relations between the United States and Albania has been promoted by members of the Albanian-American community for several years and who have been encouraged without much fanfare by the “Alia” government, which last fall invited several Albanian-Americans. in Tirana.

According to US government officials, “several Democratic members of Congress, including the representative of Massachusetts, Josef P. Kennedy, as well as the senator of Arizona, Denis DeConcini, have requested to visit Albania.

James E. Mahoney, executive assistant to Mr. Kennedy said that the congressman’s request received a positive response a few weeks ago, with an invitation offered by Bashkim Pitarka, the representative of Albania, at the United Nations.

Mr. Mahoney said in a telephone interview, for the newspaper, that; “He has stated that he will accompany Mr. Kennedy to Tirana, during the month of June.”

Community links are required

In his speech on Tuesday, President Alia made the findings about relations with Moscow and Washington, in the context of broader talks about the role of Albania, in the light of changes in Eastern and Western Europe.

Without specifics, he announced his government’s position in the process of European cooperation and security and the participation of his country in the meetings organized for this purpose. This lets you understand that Albania will participate in the so-called Helsinki meetings, where 35 countries are currently present, including the USA and Canada.

He said that Albania will move towards the Common European Market, including diplomatic ties with the Community.

More specifically, he said that Albania is interested in normalizing relations with Britain, saying that this can be achieved if London returns the hidden Albanian gold, confiscated at the end of the Second World War, and renounces the claims of Alliance, against Albania.

Talks about gold claims have only been making noise these years, but to no avail. Memorie.al

Prepared by: Albert Gjoka