Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Albania) explained

Agency Name:Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Nativename:Ministria për Europën dhe Punëve të Jashtme
Type:Department
Dissolved:1939–1943
Jurisdiction:Council of Ministers
Headquarters:Bulevardi Zhan D'Ark 63, 1017 Tirana, Albania
Minister1 Name:Igli Hasani

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Albanian: Ministria për Europën dhe Punët e Jashtme) is a department of the Albanian Government, in charge of diplomacy, foreign policy and the process of admission of Albania into the European Union. The ministry also provides support to Albanian citizens residing abroad. In September 2017, the ministry was restructured and it was merged with the Ministry of European Integration.[1]

History

Establishment

The establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the modern Albanian state dates back to the creation of the Provisional Government of Vlora on December 4, 1912, a few days after declaring Albania's secession from the Ottoman Empire. The Prime Minister of the Provisional Government, Ismail Qemali, also held the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs until June 1913.[2] Later this function passed to Myfit Bey Libohova who exercised it until the end of January 1914. The MFA in this period functioned as a section of the Provisional Government, with the main objective ensuring the recognition of Albania's independence from the Great Powers at the London Conference of Ambassadors. To accomplish this goal were also accomplished the first diplomatic services as was the diplomatic deployment of the Government of Vlora at the Ambassadorial Conference, headed by the personal diplomat of the Prime Minister, which was Rasih Dino.[3]

1914–1920

On March 7, 1914, the German prince Wilhelm Friedrich Heinrich arrives in Durrës. The Prince of Albania appointed on 17 March 1914 the "definitive government". The first Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the newly recognized Albanian state was Turhan Pashë Përmeti, former ambassador of the Ottoman Empire in Saint Petersburg. Turhan Pasha remained foreign minister until May 28, 1914, later replaced by Prenk Bib Doda and the latter, after July, was followed by Mehmet Konica.[4]

Since Italy and Austria-Hungary were the authors of the formula for recognition of Albania's independence, Captain Castoldi, an Italian officer, was "commanded" at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for diplomatic missions. He and the Austrian diplomat Carl Buchberger formed the prince's political cabinet.[5] The first official Albanian diplomatic representation was established in Vienna, represented by Syrja bey Vlora, and in Rome, represented by Myfid bej Libohova. The government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania operated until the eve of the First World War in September 1914. On September 3, Prince William of Wied left Albania and the country turned into a theater of war in the Balkan states and the Great Powers.

1920–1925

In January 1920, in Lushnje, at the initiative of Albanian patriots and intellectuals of the time, a Congress was convened with representatives from all the liberated provinces of Albania, which would elect Albanian national government away from Italian influences. On January 30, 1920, the Albanian national government was created, with a broad support base.[6]

Its prime minister was Sulejman Delvina and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mehmet Konica.[7] Since the Peace Conference in Paris left unresolved recognition of the independence and borders of Albania, as set forth in 1913, Foreign Minister Konica immediately embarked on the key European chancellors of the time to secure their support in reaching a decision-making for Albania. To build a foreign professional service, with a special decision of the Council of Ministers, in October 1920, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, M.Konica, was asked to find a consul from the old Austrian consuls to be hired for a 2-year period for organizing Albanian consulates and serving as teachers for those who wanted to enter the consular service of Albania. Then, in August 1921, the National Council (parliament), upon the proposal of the Foreign Policy Committee, decided to open the Albanian consulates in Brindisi, Trieste and Florence.

Officeholders (1912–present)

No.NameTerm in office
1Ismail Qemali4 December 191222 January 1914
2Turhan Pasha Përmeti14 March 191420 May 1914
3Prenk Bib Doda28 May 19143 September 1914
4Pavli Tërka5 October 191427 January 1916
Mehmed Konica
Mehdi Frashëri
25 December 191829 January 1920
5Mehmed Konica30 January 1920 14 November 1920
615 November 19201 July 1921
711 July 19216 December 1921
86 December 192112 December 1921
9Xhafer Villa12 December 192124 December 1921
(8)Fan Noli24 December 192111 September 1922
(7)Pandeli Evangjeli11 September 1922 25 February 1924
(6)Ilias Vrioni3 March 1924 10 June 1924
10Sulejman Delvina16 June 192424 December 1924
11Gjergj Koleci
Mufid Libohova
6 January 192531 January 1925
12Mufid Libohova1 February 192523 September 1925
13Hysen Vrioni28 September 192510 February 1927
(6)Ilias Vrioni12 February 192718 April 1929
14Rauf Fico18 April 192911 April 1931
(13)Hysen Vrioni20 April 19317 December 1932
(9)Xhafer Villa11 January 193316 October 1935
15Fuad Asllani21 October 19357 November 1936
16Ekrem Libohova9 November 19367 April 1939
Mihal Sherko8 April 1939 12 April 1939
17Xhemil Dino12 April 193925 May 1939
(5)Mehmed Konica5 November 19437 February 1944
18Bahri Omari7 February 194416 June 1944
Omer Nishani28 May 194411 January 1946
19Eqrem Vlora18 July 194428 August 1944
Ibrahim Biçaku6 September 194425 November 1944
20Omer Nishani23 October 19449 February 1946
21Enver Hoxha9 February 194631 July 1953
22Behar Shtylla1 August 1953 16 March 1966
23Nesti Nase17 March 196615 June 1982
24Reis Malile15 June 198221 February 1991
25Muhamet Kapllani22 February 19916 December 1991
26Ilir Boçka18 December 199113 April 1992
27Alfred Serreqi13 April 199210 July 1996
28Tritan Shehu11 July 19961 March 1997
29Arian Starova11 March 199724 July 1997
30Paskal Milo25 July 19976 September 2001
31Arta Dade6 September 200125 July 2002
32Ilir Meta29 July 2002 18 July 2003
33Kastriot Islami29 December 200310 September 2005
34Besnik Mustafaj11 September 200530 April 2007
35Lulzim Basha1 May 200717 September 2009
(32)Ilir Meta17 September 200914 September 2010
36Edmond Haxhinasto17 September 2010 2 July 2012
37Edmond Panariti3 July 20124 April 2013
38Aldo Bumçi4 April 201315 September 2013
39Ditmir Bushati15 September 201318 January 2019
40Edi Rama
Gent Cakaj
22 January 201931 December 2020
41Olta Xhaçka4 January 20219 September 2023
42Igli Hasani12 September 2023Incumbent

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Dervishi . Kastriot . Historia e Shtetit Shqiptar 1912–2005 . 2006 . Shtëpia Botuese "55" . 99943-799-3-3 . 955.
  2. Web site: First Government of Albania. ShtetiWeb. 24 August 2012 .
  3. Book: Puto, Arben. L'indépendance albanaise et la diplomatie des grandes puissances: 1912–1914. 1982. Editions "8 Nëntori". 277.
  4. Web site: Erinnerungen aus meinen albanischen Jahren 1911–1914. Buchberger. Carl. Studia Albanica. 237–254. 1973.
  5. Web site: Government of Sulejman Delvina. ShtetiWeb. 24 August 2012 .
  6. Lufta e popullit shqiptar per çlirimin kombetar, 1918–1920 ..., Volume 2 By Muin Çami page 64 (https://books.google.com/books?id=A4O4AAAAIAAJ&q=mehmet+konica&dq=mehmet+konica&lr=&cd=27)