From DASHNOR KALOÇI
Part Six
Memorie.al/ 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 Party of Labor of Albania and also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Socialist People’s 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, since it was the first time that one of the main leaders of communist Albania participated in the works of the UN 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 works for about three consecutive weeks, until the middle of October 1990.
Such as: 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; of how many persons did the auxiliary staff that accompanied the Albanian delegation consist 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 all that 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 emigration” with whom the head of communist Albania met during that visit, what was discussed in those meetings and were there incidents with the “reactionary Albanian emigration,” escaped 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 emigration 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 what 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 in 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 weapons and ammunition with them? Who were the members of the Albanian Radio-Television filming group 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 PLA) acquaint us, which are published for the first time and with the relevant facsimiles by Memorie.al
Continues from the previous issue
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE PROTOCOL OF MEETINGS OF THE HEAD OF THE ALBANIAN STATE, RAMIZ ALIA, DURING HIS VISIT TO THE USA
Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly:
- With Dr. Armand Hammer, chairman and chief executive of the American corporation “Occidental Petroleum Corporation,” date 27.9.1990
- With the Turkish president, Turgut Özal, date 27.9.1990
- With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Soviet Union, Eduard Shevardnadze, date 27.9.1990
- With the Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, Qian Qichen, date 28.9.1990
- With the chairman of the 45th Session of the UN General Assembly, Guido de Marco, dt. 28.9.1990
- With the Secretary-General of the UN, Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, date 28 September 1990
- With the president of Romania, Ion Iliescu, dt. 28.9.1990
- With the prime minister of Finland, Harri Holkeri, date 29.9.1990
- With the president of Tanzania, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, date 29.9.1990
- With the vice-president of the Oil Corporation “Occidental Petroleum,” Jerome Williams, dt. 29 September 1990
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING BETWEEN THE HEAD OF THE ALBANIAN STATE, RAMIZ ALIA AND DR. ARMAND HAMMER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF THE AMERICAN CORPORATION “OCCIDENTAL PETROLEUM,” WHICH TOOK PLACE AT THE “PENINSULA” HOTEL, NEW YORK
FROM THE MEETING OF COMRADE RAMIZ ALIA WITH Dr. ARMAND HAMMER
On the date 26.9.1990, the Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, comrade Ramiz Alia, met with Dr. Armand Hammer, chairman and chief executive of the American corporation “Occidental Petroleum Corporation” at the request of the latter. This meeting was requested through the American citizen of Albanian origin, an employee of this company, Michael Kute. It took place in Dr. A. Hammer’s office in New York.
After the customary greetings, Dr. A. Hammer asked a series of questions:
Dr. A. Hammer: Will you also go to Washington during your stay in the United States of America? It would be good if President Bush received you.
Comrade Ramiz: Told him that he too would gladly meet him, but that such a meeting had not yet been discussed by the American side. Then he told him about the talks and contacts that have been undertaken with the American side for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Dr. A. Hammer: I will send a letter by fax to President Bush and tell him to meet with you, because this is very important. I have learned about the changes that are happening in your country. I have also learned about the decisions you have taken to allow foreign investments, joint projects, etc. I want to know how your relations with the Soviet Union are, are they friendly? What do you think of Gorbachev?
Comrade Ramiz Alia: Now we have just re-established relations with the Soviet Union and are normalizing them. We have also started trade relations, which are at an initial stage, but we believe they will develop.
Dr. A. Hammer: What is Albania’s position regarding Iraq’s aggression and the annexation of Kuwait?
Comrade Ramiz Alia: We have been and are against this aggression and the occupation of Kuwait. We have condemned it as a highly condemnable act. We consider it a very dangerous precedent in international relations, therefore we oppose it forcefully.
Dr. A. Hammer: I am very glad that you hold such a position. This position of yours will make a good impression on President Bush as well. I have known him for many years. He is a very good man and fights a lot for peaceful coexistence and peace. I hope that in December of this year Bush will go to Moscow and sign with Gorbachev a new agreement that will be extraordinarily important for the whole world.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: You Dr. Hammer is a very well-known personality. I have read a lot about you. We have followed your activity with much sympathy. You are a historic personality. You have met in turn many world leaders. You are also known as a personality who has contributed to the development of various countries. This fact gives you credit and awakens respect in us.
Then Dr. A. Hammer asked how the economic situation in Albania is and comrade Ramiz gave him a brief exposition of the developments achieved in our country in these 45 years of free life, as well as for the economic development of Albania.
Dr. A. Hammer: How are you with oil do you have considerable oil production? We know that there is oil in Albania, can you tell me what interest cooperation with our corporation would have from your side, because our corporation is interested in coming to Albania, to see the possibilities of this cooperation. Whom should we contact for this? What is the name of your Minister of Energy? (Comrade Ramiz gave the name of com. Besnik Bekteshi and Dr. Hammer asked for his address and phone number).
Comrade Ramiz Alia: among other things, said: “We produce a quantity of oil, but not a large one. We know that in our territory, on land and at sea, there is oil. But in the oil sector we are somewhat behind, because we have old equipment and especially we have weaknesses in exploration and drilling technology. For example, before I came here an oil well was drilled at 4600 meters depth. In the processing we are doing to this well, it has started to give us production from it, but compared to the expenses and work, with this drilling depth and the pressures it has, we get only 10 tons per day. This shows that the technology is not at the level, it does not give yield.
Oil in Albania will have prospects especially at sea. At sea we have not started drilling at all. We are finalizing a cooperation agreement with a firm of the Federal Republic of Germany, but so far we have not completed negotiations with it. We have designated a region where the drilling will be done. But, as I told you, the work with this firm has not been completed yet. It seems that political factors that influence are also in the middle.
Dr. A. Hammer: I will talk with the president of our company, to enter into contact with the responsible persons in your country and to carefully study the matter of cooperation in this field. I can assure you that I will personally urge the work so that you are given better technology. This would be the best way to help Albania. If there is oil we will have concrete possibilities to help you and cooperate in a fruitful way.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: There is oil in Albania. So far for cooperation and joint production with us, many oil companies of the Nordic countries, France, Italy, Holland, etc. have shown interest. There has been and there is interest also from some US oil companies. As far as I know, an American firm, the company “Chevron Overseas Inc.,” is preparing to send a group of experts. I would prefer your company. We do not have much experience in economic relations with foreign companies. It plays a great role when you know the firms and when you are known to their leaders. In you we have trust.
Dr. A. Hammer: Right now I am calling the president of our company and telling him what we are discussing, so that he takes measures to prepare the work to enter into contact with the relevant institutions and enterprises in Albania. (Then he spoke on the phone with the president of the firm, who was in Switzerland and discussed with him what he was discussing with comrade Ramiz and asked him to find out where the vice-president was, to assign him to follow up the matters).
Comrade Ramiz Alia pointed out to Hammer that he himself would take interest as soon as he returned to Albania and would assign that the appropriate measures be taken to organize the reception and talks with the specialists that Dr. Hammer’s firm would send. He also pointed out to him that from our country’s side there would be readiness to work with their corporation, not only in the field of oil and gas, but also in that of minerals and in other fields.
Dr. A. Hammer: We have a lot of work to do. We will need some time to make the preparations for sending our people to Albania, to talk and see things concretely in the country. I will order it myself. Our corporation has a very good reputation in the field of oil exploration and research. We have found oil even where other companies have worked for a long time and failed. I will help your country.
Comrade Ramiz Alia expressed gratitude and then said: “We judge that the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries will be a good thing and will open more paths for economic cooperation and work with your firm. Here perhaps you Dr. Hammer, can give your contribution to speed up the process of completing the establishment of relations between the two countries. It has also been completed in the talks held in diplomatic channels.
When Dr. A. Hammer asked comrade Ramiz whether we had friends in the USA, comrade Ramiz answered him that we do not have friends in the full sense of the word. He then told him about the visits to Albania of congressman Tom Lantos and of the group of senator D. DeConcini. Before leaving, Dr. Hammer gave comrade Ramiz a book of his with his autograph.
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING BETWEEN THE HEAD OF THE ALBANIAN STATE, RAMIZ ALIA AND THE PRESIDENT OF TURKEY, TURGUT OZAL, WHICH TOOK PLACE IN THE PREMISES OF THE “PENINSULA” HOTEL IN NEW YORK
THE FURTHER CONCRETIZATION OF RELATIONS BETWEEN ALBANIA AND TURKEY STRENGTHENS THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE TWO PEOPLES
The Chairman of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, comrade Ramiz Alia, on 27.9.1990, met in New York at the “Peninsula” hotel with the Turkish president, Turgut Özal, with whom he held this conversation:
Turgut Özal: I am very pleased to meet you. I have had various meetings with Albanian ministers who have come to Turkey.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: Comrade Adil Çarçani returned with very good impressions from Turkey. I too have the great pleasure to meet you. Between our two countries there are traditional relations, and this pleases us. If in the Balkan Peninsula there are various problems, between our two countries, between Albania and Turkey, there is no political problem, on the contrary, all the premises are for very good relations.
Turgut Özal: In the Balkans historically we have the best relations with Albania. With the new developments that are happening, with the changes that have been made and are being made in the Balkans, I am again sure that we will increase and expand relations. I believe you will also visit my country Turkey and I will be very happy to receive you. There are many Albanians in Turkey, who are very good people.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: It is true that Albanians are very good, we are very glad that they have a good name in Turkey. This thing constitutes an element that the relations between our two countries are very good. As for my visit to Turkey, I accept with very great pleasure the invitation, but I would like to receive you in Albania, because you had it in plan.
Turgut Özal: The first visit I will make in the Balkans will be in Albania.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: Agreed. Your visit will be a great political event in the framework of the very good relations between our two countries.
Turgut Özal: I wanted to ask you a question, addressing you as my brother. What are the political and other changes that are being made in Albania, and what problems do you have?
Comrade Ramiz Alia: I too will talk with you as with a brother. With brothers one discusses the good and the bad. The situation in Albania, from the political side, in the first place, is very good. We have said several times that Albania differs from other countries. It must be kept in mind that it has been over 30 years that we have been detached from the Eastern countries and since that time we have drawn many lessons. In the development of our country we have inherited a great backwardness. You know Albania and there is no need to enter into history, but in 1945 when we were liberated, there was almost nothing.
The people secured bread only for 6 months, when the population was only 1 million. The average life was about 40 years. This was Albania. And to reach what has been done today, a very great work has been needed from us. We have sacrificed a lot, we have tightened the belt. The historical conditions have been such. We cannot say that we have Greek friends, because the law of war, which was an absurdity, they kept until 1988. It was like Nastradin’s nail.
Turgut Özal: Is there an Albanian people in Greece?
Comrade Ramiz Alia: There have been many, but in 1944 the Greeks took them out. There are Albanians in Greece, but they are few.
Turgut Özal: Are there Greeks in Albania?
Comrade Ramiz Alia: Yes, there are 50 thousand people. They enjoy all the rights like all Albanians, neither more nor less. The development of our country has simultaneously required restrictions, a great centralization of the economy, a great control in the use of means, in accumulation, etc. Now the situation has changed, Albania is no longer as it was. The average life of the Albanian is 72 years. There is a possibility that now the belt may be loosened a little, not the belt of the waist, but in the sense of centralization. So, we are going toward further democratization of social life.
Improvements have been made in the field of legislation, for example, something that was previously considered a serious crime, now is not. If before going abroad was more limited, now it is less, people get passports and can go abroad. In order for enterprises to be self-sufficient, the trade of individuals can also be developed. Before, small private trade was not allowed, now yes. Likewise in the village, each has his own land. We are moving toward having cooperation with everyone, even up to the creation of joint companies, with financing from outside, etc. But, not everything goes like on a boulevard, because there are gaps, there are holes, even large ones. We also have obstacles.
In this world, especially after the events in Eastern Europe, there are many advisers, who advise fast paces, according to their tastes. We are of the opinion that each country has its own traditions, has its own economic, political and social base. Following the recipes of others brings not good consequences. Haste does not announce good times. We prefer to walk with sure steps. Any kind of internal perturbation can cause worries not only in Albania, but also in the Balkans and beyond. Let us take the situation in Yugoslavia. The Albanian people in Kosovo are discriminated against, imprisoned.
Turgut Özal: How much is the number of Albanians in Kosovo?
Comrade Ramiz Alia: Three million, as many as there are in Albania.
We must be careful, in order that the results in our country are as good as possible, not to put our foot in the void, but to throw it on good and strong ground, this is our philosophy.
Turgut Özal: When I was prime minister I met your minister, Mrs. Kapo, and as far as I remember in Albania the taking of credits from abroad was not allowed. Is there a change in this direction?
Comrade Ramiz Alia: Yes, there is a change. With special laws changes have been made. In the month of October our People’s Assembly will convene and it will be proposed from the side of the Presidium of the People’s Assembly, to create a commission to review some matters of the constitution, we have in mind some articles so that they do not conflict with those things that the development of the country requires. We are acting with special firms, in order that they invest foreign capital in Albania. If Turkey wishes such a thing, we will welcome it.
Turgut Özal: I have told the Albanian prime minister too that we are ready to help; we are ready for reciprocal visits, depending on the conditions and at different levels. I for example agree that we bring groups of experts to talk with your people, and yours to come to Turkey, to see what we have done. If during these talks our support is requested, even in the financial aspect, we will gladly do such a thing. It is known that things are done by the people of a country themselves and from outside only a certain help can come.
As is known, in 1923 when the Turkish republic was founded, after the Balkan War, the First World War and other wars, all of Anatolia was undeveloped, there was no industry, the people were peasants or soldiers, and trade was done by Armenians, Greeks or Jews. After the creation of the republic we needed a lot of time, we have made great changes. Today we are 57 million inhabitants, with a population increase of 2.2 percent, so as far as I know, as much as yours.
Great changes happened in these last 10 years in Turkey, we passed widely into the free market trade. Now the Turkish money is convertible, like all other monies, like the German one, etc. We have a large number of universities. The total number of those who attend school is over 13 million, so more than the entire population of Greece. Today we have a large industry, we produce many things ourselves, we export a large number of products, starting from textiles, electrical equipment up to fibers and steels.
We, through our large construction companies, build not only in Turkey and in the Arab countries, but also in Russia and here in the United States of America. We also have a developed industry for defense. I am suggesting to my brother that depending on each of these fields we can cooperate. It is good that a team of Turkish experts be sent to Albania before my visit to your country.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: I fully agree.
Turgut Özal: We have experience also in the field of tourism. I believe your coast is very good.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: We have a very good coast, but a bad infrastructure. In this field there are problems, but we can have cooperation here too. I fully agree with the ideas you gave. They are very encouraging, and I think such a practice should be followed. There have existed Albanian-Turkish commissions in various fields, but they have held many speeches.
Whereas your concrete idea that things be studied beforehand by the groups, to see what is useful not only in the interest of one side, since we are a small country, you are over 50 million and it is understood that we will gain more, but I am of the opinion that the interests of both sides be taken into consideration. We give great political importance to relations with Turkey. The Balkans is a powder keg, so the smell of powder blows. Situations are created and are of the most various. We can talk about beautiful weather, but there are many destabilizations.
Turgut Özal: Do you border with Yugoslavia and Greece?
Comrade Ramiz Alia: Whereas opposite, with Italy. With Greece and Yugoslavia various situations are created. With Greece we wish to have good relations. One does not choose one’s neighbor, but with Greece we have problems. We wish that relations be good. With the coming of Mitsotakis’s government, relations are not so good. It came to the point that the Greek deputy prime minister declared openly, that now the question can be raised that the South of Albania be united with Greece. I could say that this is an aberration (dizziness).
In Tirana the meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs will be held. We are interested that the relations of each country be clean. We follow the line that relations be carried forward. I am very glad that President Özal has the same thoughts as ours regarding the relations between the two countries. I assure you that we will strengthen these relations more. They are not to the detriment of anyone, neither of Greece, nor of Yugoslavia, nor of Bulgaria. You said it yourself that the Albanians in Turkey are good people.
Turgut Özal: The wives of two of my colleagues are of Albanian origin.
Comrade Ramiz Alia: To the former chairman of the Turkish Parliament, Karaduman, during the visit he made to Albania, together with his wife, I hosted a lunch. When I was talking with his wife, she told me that she was from Shkodra. I returned to her; don’t prolong it more because we might turn out to be cousins, since I too am from Shkodra. I thank you very much for all those rational ideas that you gave. I am of the opinion that the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of our two countries will work for the further concretization of the relations between us./ Memorie.al
Taken by stenogram
Continues next issue
