Archives of the PLA: Hoxha’s letter to Tito A plan that would have swallowed up Albania Archives of the PLA: Hoxha’s letter to Tito “We agree to unite” A plan that would have swallowed up Albania TIRANA — A plan to unite Albania, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria in a single state had almost been carried out in 1948. The plan—which had also received Stalin’s approval—envisaged uniting the three Balkan states in a single confederation. Enver Hoxha had not only agreed with this idea but had taken steps to bring it about. This is the truth emerging from another document uncovered in the former Archives of the PLA. It is a two-page letter from Enver Hoxha—until now completely unknown—sent to Tito in March 1948. In it, Hoxha states in his own words that he was already ready to take further steps to bring about union with Yugoslavia. Meanwhile, the economy was entirely in Yugoslav hands, as was the army. Union, according to Hoxha, was entirely feasible, a “formality,” as he himself calls it. The version contained in the letter contradicts what Hoxha wrote years later in his works. According to Hoxha, he himself had stood in the way of Tito’s expansionist appetite. A version that collapses completely under the weight of the facts contained in this document. Thus, ever more light is being shed on Enver Hoxha’s real position during the dark years of 1945–48, a period that had until now remained shrouded in mystery. LUAN MALLTEZI* TIRANA — “We must work concretely for the Federation, and in our country we are working with all our strength toward this,” are the words Enver Hoxha addressed to Marshal Tito in a recently discovered letter among the documents of the former secret archive of the PLA. It is the second copy of a letter Hoxha sent to the Yugoslav leader in March 1948. The letter as a whole reveals several facts that until now had been buried by the dust of the years. The plan to unite Albania with Yugoslavia had been ready, and only the dispute between Tito and Stalin had caused it to fail. Hoxha, too, had approved this union, as the letter clearly shows. The only problem was who should take the initiative first in making public the proposal to annex Albania to Yugoslavia, a political change that would certainly have had international repercussions. The letter also reveals detailed plans. In it, Enver Hoxha describes a conversation that the Albanian ambassador in Sofia had held at the time with Georgi Dimitrov. According to Hoxha, Dimitrov had said: “The question of a federation of the three countries is an urgent matter, and Comrade Stalin shares this view. The Central Committee of the Bulgarian Party will discuss this with the Central Committee of the Yugoslav Party, and then it will put it to the Central Committee of the Albanian Party; from June onward, the parliaments of all three countries can be mobilized to make decisions in this direction. By the end of 1948, all three states will find themselves united in a federation.” The Yugoslavs had apparently shown the same eagerness to swallow up Albania, rich in raw materials, which they had long coveted. According to the letter, Zllatiç—the Yugoslav envoy in Tirana—had asked the Albanians to be the first to propose this union, without first obtaining Bulgaria’s approval. Hoxha’s reply to this was precisely that work on the union “is being carried out with all our strength.” Tito only had to say “whether the time has come for us to take up the question of unification” and provide “some additional clarifications” that he considered appropriate “in connection with other factors in this problem.” Thus plans were being made to remove Albania from the political map. The first steps had already been taken, and union would be a perfectly feasible formality. “On a sound basis,” Hoxha writes, “our economic plan for 1948 was drawn up, and its implementation will mean the realization of our common goals of brotherhood and the union of our two peoples.” Fortunately, a few months later the major quarrel between Stalin and Tito broke out. Enver Hoxha, naturally, sided with the stronger party. Only in this way was Yugoslavia’s swallowing up of Albania averted. A historical document from the same period and, on the right, Enver Hoxha and Marshal Tito Director General of the State Archives “This is being mentioned in our country with all our strength,” are Enver Hoxha’s words addressed to Marshal Tito in a letter recently uncovered among documents from the former secret archive … it is written in at the time with Gjergj the federation of the three …” … “in Hoxha’s reply: work is being done with all our strength for unification.” Tito only had to say, “if the moment has come for us …” Director General of the State Archives … again from Yugoslavia. … confirmed for crimes never heard of before. This contingent had fallen prey to the special police of Kostur, in whose cells they had spent four or five days … … These must have been expelled while young; one of them had previously also fallen … those of whom, in a serious condition … Meanwhile, the provocations by Greek soldiers—“Whose is Macedonia?”—were often accompanied by … … not only interterritorial relations, but also the delicate problem Greece. Edmond Laçi

Only 1,600 deported in a single day Electric shocks, rapes in the cells of Kostur Only 1,600 deported in a single day The new Greek “sweep” comes with beatings Electric shocks, rapes in the cells of Kostur KAPSHTICË — New complaints are pouring in from Albanian refugees forcibly repatriated by the Greek authorities. Just one week after the Albanian Foreign Ministry’s strong statement—which condemned the killing of a young Albanian by Greek border guards—thousands of Albanian refugees expelled from Greece in recent days are reporting inhuman crimes committed against them. After a pause in the mistreatment and mass returns of Albanians, a new “sweep” by the Greek authorities began on 29 March. Thus, among the 1,600 Albanians returned that day—whereas normal returns average 200 refugees a day—the majority testified to the Albanian border authorities that they had been tortured and even subjected to vulgar provocation. In addition to the recent Greek-Albanian incidents, there was also the 30 March statement in the Albanian Parliament, when a PBDNJ deputy protested against the security forces which, according to him, had prevented members of the minority from celebrating 25 March, the anniversary of the 1821 Greek Revolution. About 1,000 refugees returned through the Kapshticë border crossing confirmed, immediately after entering Albanian territory, crimes they had never heard of before. This group had fallen victim to the special police of Kostur, in whose cells more than three refugees had spent four to five days without any food. Among the most harrowing accounts were cases of Albanian women being raped by Greek soldiers, even in front of other men who were detained with them. Other victims of this terror also confirmed at the border further cases of extreme torture, such as the use of electric shocks on their bodies. The group returned on 29 March had also informed the Albanian authorities that they had left dozens of other Albanians mistreated in Kostur, one of them seriously injured. Meanwhile, Greek soldiers’ provocations—“Whose is Macedonia?”—were often accompanied by rubber-bullet shots, beatings, the taking of drachmas and food, and the tearing up of passports bearing valid visas belonging to those who had them. The climate in relations between Albania and Greece is once again becoming tense, just when it seemed that everything was moving toward normalization. Greece’s presidency of the EC as the country holding the rotating term, as well as the recent visit to Tirana by a senior Greek Interior Ministry official, had sent new positive signals, not only for interstate relations but also for the delicate issue of Albanian emigrants and the regulation of their status in Greece. Checks on the Greek-Albanian border Edmond Laçi

KORÇË — The authorities’ crackdown on illegal activities at customs has sent four more people to prison. This time, among those arrested—besides customs officers—are Police employees serving at the Gorica customs post in the Korçë district. The charges once again concern cigarette smuggling. According to initial investigations, the four arrested are now accused of the undetected passage of around 700 cartons of “Jugosllavia” brand cigarettes. The Korçë Prosecutor’s Office has now opened a criminal case over the illegal crossing on 26 March. (el)

“Nissan” market in Albania DURRËS — For the first time, car showrooms are opening in Albania. Passenger cars made by the renowned Japanese manufacturer “Nissan” have launched this new initiative in the car market. The showroom, inaugurated in recent days in Durrës, has opened on one of the city’s main streets. Several types of “Nissan” cars, which will also be available for sale, were on display in a spacious, well-lit premises. In addition to these cars, various catalogues have been made available to customers so that they can place orders. The showroom’s opening was made possible through cooperation between the Tirana-based company Adria and another Slovenian company, “Nissan Adria”. With this initiative, they are introducing a new approach to the car market for the first time. Thus, in Albania too, cars are beginning to be sold in modern indoor premises, abandoning the kind of informal market found in squares and all sorts of open spaces in Albanian cities.

ERSEKË — The promotion of pornography is still prohibited in Albania. — The promotion of pornography is still prohibited in Albania. For this reason, a man from Leskoviku has been taken into custody, immediately stopped by the Ersekë law-enforcement authorities. P.P., 28, was caught in the act at midday on 30 March while, according to law-enforcement officers, he was showing pornographic films in an organized manner. In fact, over the past two years, people in the capital, as well as in other districts, have often used “banned films” to avoid having empty cinemas. Apparently the “private operator” from Leskoviku was seeking the same “success.” (p.re)

BURREL — A fight among detainees in the cells of the Burrel Police Commissariat sent two people to the city hospital. — A fight among detainees in the cells of the Burrel Police Commissariat sent two people to the city hospital. Immediately afterward, the District Prosecutor’s Office also sent two Police employees who had been on duty at the Commissariat that evening into these same cells as detainees. It appears that the four detainees—whose fight broke out for reasons still unknown—had escaped the Police employees’ supervision. Afterward, detainees Kuka and Bala were taken to the city hospital. (Ed.La.)

Today is the biggest celebration of Catholics Easter: news about what it represents and the celebrations ON THE LAST PAGE The Cobalt Plant in Elbasan goes bankrupt The Restructuring Agency completes its study ON PAGE 3

TIRANA AND SARANDA WILL ALSO BE CONNECTED BY AN AIR ROUTE — Soon Saranda, too, will be able to connect with the capital by plane. This was the issue discussed by local representatives of Saranda and representatives of the Mission of the American Christian Humanitarian Flying Service (MAF). Under the bilateral agreement, the airfield—in Vlora—will be ready on June 1 of this year. Flights, using a six-seat aircraft, will begin in July. AUCTIONS FOR THE MERCHANT FLEET’S SHIPS BEGIN IN DURRËS — The auction process has also begun for the ships of the Merchant Fleet in Durrës. Eight ships have now been selected as the first priority in this process, while another 11 ships will be included in the second phase—initially offered to the employees and sailors of these ships. If they cannot be bought by the crew members, they will be employed for one year—under renewable contracts—by their potential new owner. KUKËS WILL SOON BE BIGGER, TOO — The city of Kukës will become larger. A study carried out by the city’s urban-planning specialists has proposed expanding it across an area of 283 hectares. The study aims to better control the many illegal constructions in the city. In addition, a large area of 180 hectares is intended to be set aside for the construction of tourist facilities.