By Dashnor Kaloçi
Part Two
Memorie.al – A full 35 years ago, at the beginning of January 1991, when not even two or three weeks had passed since the declaration of pluralism in Albania and the first opposition parties had been formed, the government of Prime Minister Ylli Bufi – which had almost entirely replaced the “Çarçani” cabinet –, within the framework of the economic and political reforms undertaken at that time and Albania’s opening to the outside world, had also begun to respond positively to the numerous invitations coming to official Tirana’s address for the country’s representation in various international activities. Such as the Davos World Economic Forum in Switzerland (established in 1971), which would be held at the beginning of February of that year, attended by numerous personalities from political and economic life from all over the world, such as heads of state, prime ministers, ministers, well-known businessmen and entrepreneurs, members of various organizations from five continents, etc.
In this context, according to the invitation that the President of the Davos World Forum, Klaus Schwab, had formally presented to the Albanian Mission in Geneva on November 14, 1990, the Albanian government of Prime Minister Ylli Bufi had decided to be represented at the highest level, sending there the Secretary-General of the Prime Minister’s Office, Fatos Nano, Doctor of Economic Sciences, a well-known economist and lecturer at the State University of Tirana, who, besides being part of the government cabinet since December 1990 and coordinator and responsible for the economic reform of that cabinet, had also made a big name at that time through several interviews given to Radio “Voice of America,” etc.
But how was it possible for Fatos Nano to go to that international forum, where Albania, just emerging from 45 years of communist rule, was represented for the first time? Who were some of the high-profile personalities that Fatos Nano met at the Davos World Economic Forum, and what were the impressions they had about the small communist country of the Balkans, which most of them hardly knew at all, or had heard very little about? What did they suggest and promise to the head of the Albanian delegation, Fatos Nano, and what were the conditions placed on Albania within the framework of the aid that would be given to it? Also, why did Albania’s further participation in the Davos World Forum fail in June of that year, and what is said in the strained correspondence between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the organizers of that economic activity, regarding the low level at which Albania would be represented there? Regarding this, etc., we are informed by some archival documents recently extracted from the Archive of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which are published for the first time with the relevant facsimiles by Memorie.al.
Continued from the previous issue
ARCHIVAL DOCUMENT WITH THE CV OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, FATOS NANO, WHICH WAS REQUESTED BY THE ORGANIZING AUTHORITIES OF THE DAVOS FORUM
Curriculum Vitae
of Mr. Fatos Nano
Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers of the People’s Socialist Republic of Albania
Personal data: Fatos NANO, born in 1952.
Education: Completed higher education in political economy at the University of Tirana in 1975.
Academic degrees: Doctor of Economic Sciences.
Professional experience:
In the period 1975-1978, worked as an economist at the Metallurgical Combine.
Lecturer, researcher, and scientific associate at the University of Tirana and in various economic institutions (1978-1990).
Secretary-General of the Council of Ministers, member of the government and government coordinator, responsible for economic reform since December 1990.
Marital status: Married, with two children.
Foreign languages: Speaks French, English, Russian, and Italian.
TELEGRAM FROM THE ALBANIAN TRADE REPRESENTATION IN GENEVA, SENT TO DIPLOMAT MAXHUN PEKA AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN TIRANA, REGARDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION THAT WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
2164 MPJ AB
412278 MALB CH
VERY URGENT
TO COMRADE MAXHUN PEKA
Forgive me for disturbing you, but given the fact that the previous telexes have reached you, please take an interest in having them inform me about the composition of the Albanian delegation to the symposium of the World Economic Forum to be held in Geneva on June 9 and 10, 1991.
Awaiting your response to make the relevant communications.
Geneva, May 21, 1991 TRADE REPRESENTATION
TELEGRAM FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN TIRANA, SENT TO THE ALBANIAN MISSION IN GENEVA, INFORMING ABOUT THE TWO DIPLOMATS WHO WOULD BE PART OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Telex
Directorate of International Organizations
TO THE GENEVA MISSION
In the symposium of the World Economic Forum to be held in Geneva on June 9 and 10, 1991, comrades Kadri Cenko and Vaso Pilo shall participate.
Tirana, May 21, 1991 Ministry of Foreign Affairs
TELEGRAM FROM THE ALBANIAN TRADE REPRESENTATION IN GENEVA, SENT TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN TIRANA, INFORMING ABOUT THE LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION THAT WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM
BHECM +
2164 MPJ AB
412278 MALB AB
VERY URGENT
TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
In response to your telex no. 3611 dated 21.5.1991, regarding participation in the symposium of the World Economic Forum to be held in Geneva on June 9 and 10, 1991, where you inform that comrades Kadri Cenko and Vaso Pilo will participate, we thank you for the notification and clarify that the minimum level for heads of delegations must be at least minister. We have also made this known to you in the materials we sent you previously. Awaiting your notification.
Geneva, May 21, 1991 TRADE REPRESENTATION
TELEGRAM FROM THE ALBANIAN TRADE REPRESENTATION IN GENEVA, SENT TO THE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IN TIRANA, SOKRAT PLAKA, INFORMING THAT FATOS NANO’S NON-PARTICIPATION AT THE HEAD OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM WOULD HAVE VERY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALBANIA
BHECM +
2164 MPJ AB
412278 MALB AB
VERY URGENT
TO COMRADE SOKRAT PLAKA
After the telephone conversation we had today regarding our country’s participation in the meeting of the Economic Forum, Mr. Lustig, who deals with the organization of the meeting, called me on the phone and, after hearing our opinion regarding the representation, among other things, said:
“Even now there are many doubts regarding the future of Albania. The non-participation of Mr. Nano, or of any other high Albanian personality, in this very important European activity, will have very negative consequences for Albania.
This will be interpreted as proof that things in Albania are not moving forward. So it will be taken badly, especially by European business circles.
The consequences will be very severe for Albania, because many representatives of these circles come to this meeting especially to learn about Albania, about the state and prospects of its development, the depth of reforms, etc.”
Furthermore, Mr. Lustig emphasized that other countries also have problems, even more acute than those of Albania, for example he mentioned Yugoslavia and especially the Republic of Serbia, which, despite the serious situation they are experiencing, will be represented at very high levels.
“Your failure to be represented at such levels – he said – will create the impression that the situation in Albania is serious, that the Albanian movement is declining, etc.”
In the end, he emphasized that they want to help Albania, but under these conditions they cannot do anything for it, therefore he requested that our side review its stance and participate in the meeting at the highest possible level, considering this as very beneficial and solely in the interest of Albania.”
I told him that I would inform Tirana about the above, but the forum awaits our final decision within these days, until the beginning of next week, since it definitely wants the level of our country’s representative to be reviewed.
Please inform us of any news.
GENEVA MISSION
Geneva, May 22, 1991
TELEGRAM FROM THE ALBANIAN TRADE REPRESENTATION IN GENEVA, SENT TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN TIRANA, REGARDING THE MESSAGE FROM THE ORGANIZERS OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM THAT THE ALBANIAN SIDE MUST REVISE THE LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION OF ITS DELEGATION AT THE JUNE 1991 MEETING
URGENT TELEGRAM FROM GENEVA (MAY 23, 1991)
2164 MPJ AB
412278 MALB CH
Classification: VERY URGENT
TO: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
For: COMRADE BASHKIM PITARKA
Mr. Lustig of the Economic Forum called me on the phone again today to inquire about their request for our side to review the level of Albania’s representation at the upcoming meeting of this forum.
He told me that he had also spoken with Ms. Mature, a director at the forum, who had qualified Albania’s non-participation at the highest possible level, preferably at the level of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, as a misfortune, a catastrophe, which would result in nothing being able to be done for Albania for a long time.
Mr. Lustig added on his part that this would disappoint European and other business circles and would create a very sad situation, in which only Albania would be the loser.
I told him that I had informed Tirana about yesterday’s conversation. He told me that the forum awaits a satisfactory and prompt response.
I emphasize once again my opinion that the level of representation should be reviewed. It should be at least at the ministerial level. / Memorie.al
KADRI CENKO
GENEVA MISSION, MAY 23, 1991
To be continued in the next issue
