Dashnor Kaloçi
Memorie.al publishes four rare photos of the mid-1970s where Enver Hoxha and members of the Politburo are discussing in high tones in front of the model of the Center of Tirana, after the decision was taken to demolish the building of the Executive Committee (former Municipality of the time of the Monarchy) and for the construction there of the building of the National Historical Museum…
The center of the Albanian capital, Tirana (and in particular Skanderbeg Square) has been a very important problem, even before the 1990s, during the communist regime. Where for the various constructions, demolitions or arrangements, that have been made to that square (which was designed and built since the mid-30s by the famous Italian architects Florestano de Fausto and Gherardo Bosio), the head of communist state, Enver Hoxha.
Among other things, this is clear in these photos that Memorie.al is publishing for its readers, where Enver Hoxha and most of the Politburo are clearly seen, discussing in front of the model of the center of the Albanian capital, Tirana. Thus, except for Enver Hoxha and Prime Minister Mehmet Shehu, there are clearly distinguished and almost all members and candidates of the Politburo such as: Ramiz Alia, Manush Myftiu, Spiro Koleka, Haki Toska, Rita Marko, Kadri Hazbiu, Adil Çarçani, Pilo Peristeri, Vangjel Çerava , etc.
Besides them, there also appears Ndue Marashi, the chairman of the Executive Committee of Tirana, who a short time later, (in November 1977) would be found dead in mysterious circumstances in his house (near the Red School), where the version official was; “Suicide”.
The presence of Enver Hoxha and the main leaders of the senior leadership of the ALP who are seen discussing in front of the model of the center of Tirana, seems to have to do with the decision that was taken to demolish the building of the Executive Committee and part of the center of Tirana , specifically the apartments located in the north-eastern part of “Skënderbej” square, where the National Historical Museum would be built.
But this was not the first intervention made to the center of Tirana and “Skënderbej” square, as it is known that it had started in the late ’50s, when many apartments of the characteristic bazaar of Tirana and the Cathedral were demolished and flattened. Orthodox, to build the Great Palace of Culture (Soviet model and project), where the first stone was “lucky” to be laid by the head of the Kremlin, Nikita Khrushchev.
As can be seen from the photos in question, the communist dictator Enver Hoxha seems to have had many remarks about the project that was presented there, as he is disfigured in the face and with squinted eyes speaking in high tones.
It seems that the final decision for the demolition and reorganization of the existing constructions and dwellings of that square and in general of the center of Tirana at that time, Enver Hoxha took with Spiro Kolekë, (by profession a civil engineer), who for years, in addition to being a member of the Politburo, he had high state duties such as: Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Construction, etc.
Apart from Kolekë, who looks closer to “Comrade Enver” and “one step ahead” to the rest of the Politburo, there are also Ndue Marashi, Rrahman Hanku, Pilo Peristeri and the chief architect of Tirana, Sokrat Mosko, who also seem to be part of place of receipt ”for the center of Tirana, which flattened from the foundations the building of the former Municipality, which was considered by specialists and architects, as one of the most beautiful constructions./Memorie.al
