By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Memorie.al / Fully 41 years ago, on Thursday, April 11, 1985, via Albanian Radio and Television, the official announcement of the Central Committee of the PPSH, the Presidium of the People’s Assembly of the Socialist People’s Republic of Albania, and the Council of Ministers was transmitted, regarding the death of Albania’s main leader, Enver Hoxha. This announcement was also published the same day in the newspaper “Zëri i Popullit” (People’s Voice), where on the front page under a large, capital-letter headline it was written: “Deep grief for the party and the entire Albanian people – our beloved leader Enver Hoxha has died.” At the bottom of the first page, the announcement was also given: “Decision on the creation of the commission for organizing the burial of Comrade Enver Hoxha,” as well as the Medical Communiqué signed by the team of his personal doctors and those of the Special Leadership Clinic (Prof. Petrit Gaçe, Prof. Fejzi Hoxha, Candidate of Medical Sciences Isuf Kalo, Docent Ylli Popa, Prof. Bajram Preza, Doctor Ahmet Kamberi, Candidate of Medical Sciences Zabit Brokaj, Doctor Arben Fino), which gave a brief history of the illnesses he had since 1948, as a result of which he died at 02:15 on April 11, 1985.
The above, as well as the figure of Enver Hoxha, the man who ruled his country with an iron fist from November 1944 when he came to power at the end of the war until his death on April 11, 1985, is very well known, because immediately after the collapse of the communist regime in the early 1990s, he became the object of writings, books, shows, documentaries, analyses, debates, etc., etc., where, with testimonies or archival documents, almost the majority of his activities and crimes have been brought to light and made public. Both those committed against his political opponents during the war period (Balli Kombëtar and Legaliteti), as well as those against his closest collaborators, commanders and commissars of partisan brigades, former cadres of the Anti-Fascist National Liberation War, members of the Political Bureau and Central Committee of the Communist Party, deputies of the People’s Assembly, first secretaries of the Party Committees of districts, Committees and Executives, branches of Internal Affairs, etc., etc.
Based on this, in this article we are publishing some archival documents taken from the Archive of the Ministry of Internal Affairs with the classification “Top Secret” (now declassified), where, through the operational communications of the General Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the situation along the entire Albanian border with Yugoslavia and Greece, as well as the maritime border with Italy and Greece, is reported. There we will see two diametrically opposite pictures: while on the border with Yugoslavia there are large movements of military troops and exercises up to the vicinity of our border pyramids, at all Greek border posts, the Greek flag is lowered to half-mast, as a sign of respect for the death of the leader of communist Albania, Enver Hoxha.
While in our territorial waters, in the Gulf of Cape Rodon in the Adriatic Sea, on the morning of April 11, 1985, just after the official news of Enver Hoxha’s death was given, a Soviet ship was anchored, and two days later, on April 13, very close to Ksamil, another Soviet ship had approached there?! Regarding these and other matters, the archival documents in question, which are published for the first time along with the respective facsimiles by Memorie.al, inform us.
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED APRIL 11, 1985, REPORTING ON MOVEMENTS OF YUGOSLAV FIGHTER AIRCRAFT IN THE AREA OF THE HAN I HOTIT BORDER CROSSING POINT
SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA “Top Secret”
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL DEPARTMENT Tirana, 11.4.1985
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 85
SHKODRA
On 10.4.1985, the commander of the Hot Border Post reported that at 22:05, in Yugoslav airspace, in square 593, there is movement of aircraft. The number, altitude, and lights are not visible. They say there is an airfield in this square.
CHIEF OF THE GENERAL DEPARTMENT
BAUDIN KAZANI
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED APRIL 12, 1985, REPORTING ON MOVEMENTS OF MILITARY TROOPS AND THEIR EXERCISES ON THE BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA AND GREECE
SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA “Top Secret”
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL DEPARTMENT Tirana, 12.4.1985
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 86
PESHKOPIA
On 11.4.1985, around 11:30, square 0359 D, Kërçisht border post, 15 soldiers began training about 500 meters from the border line. They approached, continuing the training, 200-300 meters from the border line. They left around 15:50.
On 11.4.1985 at 13:10, a covered military truck came in the direction of Dibra e Madhe (Yugoslavia), at the Spas border post, where several soldiers got off. The truck was accompanied by a “Gaz” vehicle.
On 11.4.1985, at 15:40, in the region of our Lladomericë border pyramid, two cows from Yugoslav territory entered 150 m deep into our territory. The comrades at the border post were instructed to return them to Yugoslav territory.
On 11.4.1985, at 18:50, it was observed that several crates were unloaded from the truck that arrived at the Spas border post. An optical device has also been placed facing our Blladë border post.
TROPOJA
On 11.4.1985, from 10:30 to 10:40, from the Morinë post towards the Gjashta post, 15 Yugoslav soldiers with three service dogs moved along the border. After that, they left in the direction of their own territory.
On 11.4.1985, at 10:00, pyramid 10, square 8739, 30 Yugoslav soldiers conducted training 200 m from the border line. They returned again to their post. During this time, two “Zuk” cars left the post into the depths of their territory, and two other cars arrived.
SARANDA
On 11.4.1985, at 12:00, in the region of pyramid 54, in square 3796, a flock of goats belonging to a Greek without a shepherd entered about 100 m into our territory. At 13:00, they returned. On 11.4.1985, at 15:10, in the region of pyramid 74, square 9520, two armed Greek soldiers and a civilian dressed as a shepherd came out. They also had a search dog with them. They observed for about 15 minutes in the direction of our territory and then headed along the border line towards pyramid 75, at the Greek observation point. They then returned into the depths of Greek territory. At the same place and same time, two soldiers without caps, armed, came out to their observation point and observed in the direction of our territory.
On 11.4.1985, at 20:00, a Greek motorboat came from Corfu, entered square 1103 C, region of the Ksamil border post, about 300 m into our waters. At 11:00 (23:00?), it returned to Greek waters after being warned by our motorboat.
SHKODRA
On 11.4.1985, at 12:50, at the Sukobinë border post, opposite our Muriqan border post, a car with 15 soldiers arrived.
KUKËSI
On 11.4.1985, from 16:00 to 16:20, two Yugoslav soldiers and one officer came out and observed in the region of pyramid 17/9. After that, they left into the depths of their territory.
On 11.4.1985, at 18:40, the operative of the Kukës Division reported that in Yugoslav territory, near the border line, at a place called “Guri i Mëngjesit” (region of the Turaj border post), three soldiers were seen observing in the direction of our territory for 7-8 minutes and then left into the depths of their territory.
On 11.4.1985, at 20:35, the Turaj border post reports that in the region of pyramids 20/5 to 20/8, at 17:00, three armed Yugoslav soldiers came out, who remained on the border line, making movements with two small black flags in the direction of our unit. Our unit, which was 100 m from the border line, maintained a correct stance. After half an hour, they left into the depths of their territory.
On 11.4.1985, at 18:30, in the region of pyramid 17/4, three positioned Yugoslav soldiers pointed their weapons in the direction of our unit that was controlling the soft zone. Our soldiers maintained a correct stance and left.
On 11.4.1985, at 21:00, the Pogaj border post reports that at the Gorozhup border point in Yugoslavia, they have placed a strong searchlight that intermittently illuminates our post on Mount Pashtrik.
CHIEF OF THE GENERAL DEPARTMENT
BAUDIN KAZANI
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED APRIL 12, 1985, REPORTING ON MOVEMENTS OF YUGOSLAV AIRCRAFT AND MILITARY TROOPS ON THE BORDER WITH SHKODRA AND DIBRA
11.4.1985
19:55
COMMUNICATION NO. 85/5
PESHKOPIA
Following the information dated 11.4.1985, given by the Internal Department Peshkopia, at 13:10, about a truck with soldiers that arrived at the Spas border post, at 18:50 several crates were unloaded from this vehicle and they have also placed an optical device facing the Blladë border post.
11.4.1985
19:55
COMMUNICATION NO. 85/5
SHKODRA
The Han i Hotit border post reports that in the Tuz – Titograd area, aircraft flights are taking place.
GENERAL DEPARTMENT
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED APRIL 13, 1985, REPORTING ON MOVEMENTS OF MILITARY TROOPS ALONG THE ENTIRE BORDER WITH YUGOSLAVIA, A RUSSIAN SHIP IN OUR WATERS IN THE GULF OF CAPE RODON, AND THE GREEK BORDER POSTS THAT HAVE RAISED THEIR FLAG AT HALF-MAST
SOCIALIST PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA “Top Secret”
MINISTRY OF INTERIOR Copy No. 1
GENERAL DEPARTMENT Tirana, 13.4.1985
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 87
POGRADEC
On 12.4.1985, at 19:10, in the region of pyramid 3, near mediator 7, square 2961 B, on the border line, 25 soldiers came out and observed in the direction of our post. They later moved towards pyramid 7, mediator 2, and at 19:50, they fired four rockets.
On 12.4.1985, Sulejman Korati and Vasfi Loloçi, drivers from the Durrës Park, while returning from Yugoslavia, reported that on 11.4.1985, from Prokopula to Gostivar, there was heavy police control all along the road, which escorted them all the way to Struga. In Gostivar, about 70 uncovered military vehicles loaded with soldiers were lined up.
In Struga, at the hotel, they explain, they were put in a room with a television, which they turned to the Tirana station. At the customs, they had brought a policeman who knew Albanian, who told them: “Enver Hoxha died, but you, do you love him?” They were thoroughly searched. Our drivers maintained a correct stance.
On 12.4.1985, at 10:00, at the Qafë-Thanë border post, 13 armed soldiers came out and moved towards pyramid 45, square 6751 A. Shooting is heard in the depths of their territory. It is believed that training is taking place. Observation measures have been taken.
DIBRA
On 12.4.1985, at 17:40, in the territory of the Kërçisht border post, three Yugoslav soldiers came out and observed in the direction of our territory.
On 12.4.1985, at 16:25, in the region of the Kërçisht border post (Yugoslavia), two military cars left in the direction of Dibra e Madhe.
On 12.4.1985, region of pyramid 19/4, in the sector of the Lladomericë post, three Yugoslav soldiers who had observed in the direction of our territory since morning, sometimes disguised, sometimes openly.
On 12.4.1985, at 14:00, region of pyramid 42/2, sector of the Vërnicë border post, two Yugoslav soldiers came out and observed in the direction of our territory. In the same region, at 13:30, two soldiers in scout uniform came out and observed in the direction of the village of Trebisht.
At 17:00, three other soldiers with a service dog came out, conducted observation for about 30 minutes, and left in the direction of the border line (Reça stream). At 18:15, two soldiers came out who observed in the direction of the Vërnicë border post. The same action was also carried out at 7:00 on 12.4.1985.
On 12.4.1985, at 8:00, in Yugoslav territory, near the Ploshtan post, our unit observed two Yugoslav aircraft flying in their territory near the border line.
On 12.4.1985, at 11:20, at the Kërçisht border post, in the region of pyramid 13/3, two Yugoslav soldiers came out and observed in the direction of our territory.
TROPOJA
On 12.4.1985, at the Qafë-Prushit Post, pyramid 14/7, square 8450 D, 10-15 meters deep from the border line, 9 firing positions have been constructed, 4 on the first line and 5 on the second line, of dimensions about for two people each. During the week, they have conducted training at the platoon level.
On 12.4.1985, at 12:00, at the Qafë-Prush border post, region of pyramid 14/7, 7 positions have been prepared with belly-type embankments, facing our territory. They are believed to have been made last night.
KUKËSI
On 12.4.1985, at the Borjes post, 12:00, 50 m from the border line, in the region of pyramid 17/3, one officer with three Yugoslav soldiers waved to our unit and laughed. Our unit maintained a correct stance.
On 12.4.1985, at 8:00 at the Ortush border post, region of pyramid D 15/4, square 5666 D, 8 armed soldiers equipped with radios and dressed in camouflage uniforms came out. They are conducting training.
SHKODRA
On 12.4.1985, at 11:00 at the Shëngjergj border post of Yugoslavia, a police motorboat with 4 civilians arrived and were received by 14 soldiers of the post. The civilians gave them a package. After ten minutes, the motorboat with the civilians left in the direction of the border.
On 12.4.1985, at the Shënkoll border post of Yugoslavia, two cars and a military minibus arrived, from which 1 officer and several soldiers got off.
On 12.4.1985, at 22:00, at the Yugoslav post of Shëngjergj, 5 cars and two military vehicles arrived. They were greeted with applause by the soldiers of the post. After 20 minutes, they left in the direction of Ulcinj. At 22:00, 4 cars and two military vehicles arrived again at this post. Something is unloaded from the vehicles, but it is not distinguishable.
LEZHA
On 12.4.1985, at 22:00, the Shëngjin Naval Combat Fleet reported that a foreign commercial ship coming from the North entered the Gulf of Cape Rodon due to bad weather. After verification, it turned out that the ship is the Russian transport “Baltik”, loaded with grain with 18 people on board, which came from Bari and was sailing to Odessa. It remains anchored due to bad weather.
ERSEKA
On 12.4.1985, the soft zone was checked at the Starje border post, where tracks were found. Verification showed that the tracks were left by a bear.
On 12.4.1985, at the Greek border post Kosaçkë, Mount Dervenit Dhipolicë, they raised the flag at half-mast.
PËRMETI
On 12.4.1985, at 10:00, at the Monastery point, opposite the Mesare border post, a priest spoke over a loudspeaker and after 30 minutes left. A siren was heard several times. After the priest left, the flag was raised at half-mast.
KORÇA
On 12.4.1985, at 8:30, at the Theollogos border post in Greece, 4 Greek soldiers placed the Greek flag at half-mast and performed a guard of honor. Then they left, while some civilians and military personnel observed in the direction of our territory. The border posts have been instructed to see if this action is also taken at other posts.
SARANDA
On 12.4.1985, the Ksamil border post reports that at 22:00, a convoy of 18 military vehicles was seen in Corfu, moving in its northern part.
CHIEF OF THE GENERAL DEPARTMENT
BAUDIN KAZANI
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR DATED APRIL 14, 1985, REPORTING ON A SOVIET TANKER SHIP THAT ENTERED OUR WATERS OFF KSAMIL
Dt. 14.4.1985
08:15
OPERATIONAL COMMUNICATION NO. 87
SARANDA
On 14.4.1985, at 7:45, we were informed by the Navy that at Bearing 190, distance 3 (off Ksamil), a Soviet tanker ship has entered our waters. On our side, the “Katëri” went out with the motorboat and, with great care, to escort it to leave our waters. The Soviet ship is moving in a North-West direction. / Memorie.al
GENERAL DEPARTMENT
