Part Sixteen
Memorie.al / The CIA has revealed the major role that the Soviet Union played in communist Albania. Several “Top Secret” documents, declassified for years, show that the USSR built several important military bases, especially in the South of the country. There, details are provided regarding the submarines that Moscow had on Sazan Island and the Vlora Gulf, as well as air bases, such as those in Rinas, Kuçova, etc. Furthermore, an overview of political developments is given, mentioning the dismissal of the Minister of Defense, Beqir Balluku, in the summer of 1974 from all functions in the army and the party. Likewise, a special place in the documents declassified by the CIA is occupied by those discussing Albanian political emigrants in Yugoslavia, who were enrolled in the Prizren Committee, initially headed by Apostol Tanefi under pressure from the UDB, which recruited them through coercive measures, such as forced return to Albania, etc.
May 5, 1961
Radio propaganda report
Rising tension between Moscow and Albania
Since the February congress of the Party of Labour of Albania, signs of deteriorating relations between Albania and the Soviet satellite states have been accumulating. At the congress, Albania expressed defiance toward Soviet tutelage. In April, the Prague-based communist radio station “Oggi in Italia” published an article from an Italian communist newspaper, which spoke of direct criticism aimed at Albania by a senior communist spokesman. Over the past two months, Albanian-Polish relations have been characterized by increasingly open antagonism.
While Albania’s relations with the USSR have remained outwardly correct, they have been aggravated by Russia’s efforts to move closer to Albania’s long-standing enemy, Yugoslavia, as well as by favorable Soviet propaganda regarding a conference in Berlin, from which Albania was excluded. These developments are occurring against a backdrop of propaganda and activities that indicate a close relationship between Tirana and Beijing.
Strengthening of communist ties between Albania and China
Albania’s relations with China have become increasingly cordial since the Fourth Congress of the Party of Labour of Albania, which concluded on February 20. The two countries are giving favorable coverage to developments in Albania and China. Furthermore, on several occasions, Tirana has demonstrated sympathy for the People’s Republic of China and independence from the Soviet Union.
One such example was the absence of delegations from China and Albania at Senegal’s independence celebrations, where China protested the presence of a Chinese nationalist leader, at a time when the Soviets had sent a large delegation alongside representatives from other Soviet satellite countries.
Aid and trade agreement with China
The main event in Sino-Albanian relations since the party congress is the trade agreement signed in April, which aims to strengthen Albania against Soviet pressure – something that was evident from the propaganda generated by both sides.
The statement issued at the conclusion of the economic talks, described as an unprecedented candid pact, stated that China agreed to provide a loan of 112 million rubles to finance 25 industrial complexes and agricultural equipment – fields where Soviet assistance had been essential in the past. Every phase of the negotiations leading up to the final agreement was accompanied by displays of bilateral friendship.
On March 14, the Albanian delegation arrived in Beijing with Deputy Chairman Pupo Shyti (at that point, neither Beijing nor Tirana had announced the name of the head of the delegation, who had not yet arrived). A banquet was held in honor of the delegation, where Chinese speakers praised Enver Hoxha and declared that Albania supported the same core principles and policies as the People’s Republic of China.
The later arrival of the head of the Albanian delegation, Abdyl Këllezi, a month later, gave them another opportunity to declare mutual support. Chinese Vice Premier Li Xiannian declared: “Any provocation against Albania is a provocation against all socialist countries and against the Chinese people.”
Statements in the media
The conclusion of the economic protocols also brought demonstrations of gratitude, while Radio Tirana declared: “The Chinese people, their party, and government are making a valuable contribution to preserving the purity of Marxism-Leninism against the fierce attacks of certain deviant elements, of modern revisionists headed by Belgrade.” The broadcast sang the praises of Mao Zedong and called for closer relations.
Warsaw Pact meeting
The close relationship between the countries was also demonstrated following the Warsaw Pact meeting in Moscow, which concluded on March 30. The Albanian delegation there consisted of very low-level officials who left immediately after the conclusion of the meeting. The delegation was led by Behar Shtylla and included Abdyl Këllezi, who would later go to Beijing as the head of the Albanian delegation in Beijing.
Yugoslav media reports claimed that among the topics discussed in Moscow was the rebellious behavior of Tirana and the measures that should be taken regarding it. On April 3, Tirana announced that Shehu had received Chinese Ambassador Lo Shih-gao on the same day for a discussion on unspecified topics, showing that Albania and China were staying in touch on the matter.
Congress of Albanian trade unions
Clear pro-Chinese themes were evident at the fifth party congress that opened on April 24. The main speakers, Rita Marko and Gogo Nushi, made special reference to the Soviet Union and China, and according to Radio Tirana broadcasts, speeches regarding trade unions occupied only a small portion of the discussions.
They attacked revisionism and imperialism, praising the unity of the party with leader Enver Hoxha, and in contrast to the Soviet foreign policy line, Albania denied the possibility of a peaceful transition to socialism. In language similar to that of Beijing, the Albanians insisted on violent revolution.
Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Rita Marko, said: “Can it be believed that imperialism, seeking a balance of power, would voluntarily give up its interests in favor of socialism? Only modern revisionists and a few lapdogs of imperialism try to convince the working people of a peaceful integration of capitalism into socialism, so that the people suffer for socialism and never reach it. No, comrades. Peace, freedom, and socialism cannot be achieved with hands tied. They do not come as a gift; they are won through struggle, effort, and organized revolutionary activity.”
Moves toward isolating Tirana in communist Europe
The Party of Labour of Albania has not been harshly criticized by a spokesman for the Communist Bloc, but by one of the well-known communists of the West, the Italian Palmiro Togliatti. In an article titled “A Distorted Policy,” the Yugoslavs summarized Togliatti’s critique in this manner:
“Following Walter Ulbricht’s statement on the dogmatism and sectarianism of the Albanian leaders at the conference of communist parties in Moscow, now comes an article by Palmiro Togliatti declaring that in Albania ‘vital issues and discussions within the party are handled in a way that to us is wrong and dangerous.'”
Togliatti’s article was published in the Italian journal “Rinascita” in April 1961, and was broadcast by Czechoslovak radio on April 1, 1961. In the article, Togliatti states: “Thus, we learned from comrades who attended the last congress of the Albanian party that internal party life issues were handled in a way that seems wrong and dangerous to us. We expressed our opinion, but the responsibility for correction does not lie with us.”
Albania’s relations with Poland have taken a turn for the worse since the strong Soviet support for Polish communist party secretary Roman Nowak and his criticism of the Albanian Communist Party congress. Following this development, the Polish ambassador in Tirana departed and has neither returned nor been replaced. Albania is the only Communist Bloc country that did not send an official message to Polish President Cyrankiewicz for his 50th birthday.
Relations with the USSR
Meanwhile, relations between the Soviet state and Yugoslavia have improved, bringing considerable disappointment to Tirana. The Albanian Communist Party is deeply disappointed that it must show less hatred toward its old enemy. The USSR initiated negotiations for a long-term trade agreement with Yugoslavia five days after the close of the Albanian party congress.
The negotiations concluded in favor of the Yugoslavs, with an agreement to double the trade volume of 1960, whereas with Albania, the Soviets signed a one-year accord yielding only a seven percent increase compared to the previous year.
Direct Sino-Albanian [Albanian-Soviet] relations have not changed much since the Albanian party congress in February. The non-participation of Hoxha and Shehu in the Warsaw Pact demonstrated a strain in relations, but Moscow’s propaganda has tried hard to advertise the Soviets’ past services to Albania.
Moscow also exploited the anniversary of Albania’s invasion by Italy (April 21, 1939) to remind the country of its debt of liberation by fascist armies, as well as the current line of foreign policy. Albanians were also reminded of the advantages of membership in the Warsaw Pact.
Additionally, while the signing of the economic agreement between China and Albania was being finalized in Beijing, Radio Moscow was praising the fourth anniversary (April 18) of the 1957 declaration between Albania and the USSR in Moscow.
It nostalgically reminded the Albanian audience of the “sunny days” when Albanian leaders were greeted with enthusiasm wherever they went, detailing furthers the gifts the Albanian people had received as a result of the friendship. According to their calculations, the gifts reached 435 million rubles in economic goods. Meanwhile, the economic loans being offered by China reached 500 million rubles. / Memorie.al
To be continued in the next issue
