The State Intelligence Service ( Albanian : Shërbimi Informativ I Shtetit ), commonly known by its acronym SHISH , is the main intelligence agency of Albania . It was preceded by SHIK .
99-798: The government decree of Ismail Qemali explicitly stated the need to establish a secret service for the occupied areas of Albania in Article 6. These historical records are kept in Fund No. 145 of the Central State Archive, specifically within the files of the Provisional Presidency of Vlora in the year 1912, under the title "Decisions and Minutes of the Provisional Government of Vlora on Political, Military, and Financial Issues" (File II-2). The creation of
198-476: A monarchy , a communist regime and the eventual democratic order . In 1912, Ismail Qemali was inaugurated as the first prime minister of Albania, guiding the nation toward sovereignty amidst the complex conditions in the Balkans . In 1944, Enver Hoxha implemented a radical change in government, transforming Albania into an authoritarian and isolationist communist regime. In 1991, the nation transitioned into
297-595: A branch within the Ministry of Internal Affairs. After the year 1990 and the introduction of political pluralism in Albania, significant changes occurred, leading to a comprehensive reform of the State Security Organs. The objective of these reforms was to align the security apparatus with the principles and requirements of the rule of law. In 1991, the 'National Intelligence Service' was established by
396-479: A cabinet, which led to his resignation. Pandeli Majko succeeded Nano as Prime Minister on 28 September 1998 and focused on the preservation of public order and the fight against corruption and organised crime. His cabinet garnered approval for a new constitution through a referendum in November 1998 , all amidst continued instability in, and a large influx of refugees from, Albanian-speaking Kosovo . With
495-641: A career as an Ottoman civil servant reaching high government positions in European and Asian parts of the empire after he moved to Istanbul in May 1860. He identified with the reform wing of Midhat Pasha , the author of the Constitution of the Ottoman Empire with whom Qemali was a close collaborator, and he became governor of several towns in the Balkans . During these years he took part in efforts for
594-467: A comprehensive modernisation effort aimed at achieving economic and social progress and transitioning Albania into an industrialised society. Mehmet Shehu served as a prominent figure in Hoxha's government, holding the position of prime minister for a significant part of the communist period, from 1954 to 1981. He played an essential part in implementing the government's policies and exerting influence over
693-414: A contender for the office of the prime minister. After the results are certified, the president invites the majority leader to propose a prime ministerial candidate who must secure a majority from the parliament for selection. Once selected, the prime minister-elect is mandated to partake in a formal oath-taking ceremony presided over by the president. The prime minister is in charge of forming and guiding
792-612: A crackdown of members and sympathisers of the Young Turk movement (CUP) with Qemali's son Mahmud, a Council of State official being dismissed. Qemali in Paris participated in the Congress of Ottoman Opposition (1902) organised by Prince Mehmed Sabahaddin and backed his faction calling for reforms, minority rights, revolution and European intervention in the empire. The 1902 Congress resulted in no organisations being established in
891-404: A democracy that marked a notable shift, when Fatos Nano emerged as the first post-communist prime minister of Albania. The office of the prime minister is defined by the constitution of Albania . The appointment begins with general elections , during which parties or political coalitions nominate candidates for the parliament . The leader of the party with the most parliamentary seats becomes
990-466: A diplomatic solution for creating an independent Albania, an approach rejected by some Albanian groups of the era that instead favoured guerilla warfare against the empire. Qemali may have favoured intervention by the Great Powers into Albanian affairs and those were accusations made against him by a minority of opponents. Over time however he became an Albanian nationalist and by 1912 would declare
1089-525: A gathering of the permanent members of the new committee at the princes' house Qemali was installed as chairman. Control of the official CUP newspaper Osmanli was given by the old members of the central committee to Prince Sabahaddin and Qemali of the new central committee. The new committee attempted to get Armenian endorsement through niceties about a lack of ethnic differences while Armenian organisations responded favorably toward figures like Qemali. Due to Qemali's prominent role Albanians were targeted by
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#17327733584121188-627: A late Ottoman statesman to be written in English and is a unique record of a liberal, multicultural approach to the problems of the dying empire. In 1918, Qemali travelled to Italy to promote support for his movement in Albania, but was prevented by the Italian government from leaving Italy and remained as its involuntary guest at a hotel in Perugia , much to his irritation. He died of an apparent heart attack on 26 January 1919. After his death, his body
1287-582: A major milestone when the nation secured NATO membership in April 2009. However, his leadership was marred by increasing allegations of corruption, misappropriation of public funds and interference in public processes. Edi Rama occupied the role as prime minister for three consecutive terms following his party's victory in the July 2013 elections . Under his guidance, Albania achieved consistent economic growth and made continuous progress toward EU membership through
1386-456: A member of the Vlora family stated that during this time Rexhep Pasha sent £1000 in gold to Qemali and assisted his son Tahir Pasha in exile at Tripoli to escape to Europe. At the end of January 1903, Qemali came back to Paris and found the princes grieving the death of their father Damad Mahmud Pasha , yet they all proceeded to London to make financial arrangements for the plot. Later Qemali and
1485-407: A new candidate. If, once more, the parliament does not endorse this subsequent nominee, it is granted an additional 10-day period to designate an alternative prime minister. If the parliament remains unable to successfully elect a new prime minister within these defined timeframes, the president retains the prerogative to dissolve the parliament. Before assuming the office, the prime minister-elect
1584-661: A plan from the CUP government in Istanbul to secretly infiltrate troops and weapons into the country to conduct a guerilla war against Serbian and Greek forces. After these negotiations Fikri sent telegrams to Istanbul, and asked the government to send ammunition, weapons and soldiers. The Serbs uncovered the plot and reported the operation to the International Control Commission (ICC). The ICC, an organisation temporarily administering Albania on behalf of
1683-601: A politician overwhelming and disapproved of his pro-Greek policy. Qemali went on to found the newspaper Selamet (Salvation) published in Ottoman Turkish , Albanian and Greek which called for cooperation between Albanians and Greeks, due to both peoples having the same geopolitical interests. Some Albanian activists involved in the national movement considered those views as suspicious and an instrument of Greek policy causing his popularity to wane among Albanians. At first Qemali made overtures to Austria-Hungary as
1782-556: A secret agreement was signed between Qemali and the Greek government which concerned the possibility of an alliance against the Ottoman Empire. There is not much information about the meeting but some sources state that the two sides agreed that the future Greek-Albanian boundary should be located on the Ceraunian Mountains with no Albanian armed activity in the area in exchange for Greek backing of Albanian independence. This
1881-456: A series of reforms aimed at socio-economic revitalisation, reinforcement of the rule of law, enhancement of the judicial system and transparency in governance. The process of selecting the prime minister of Albania begins with the conducting of general elections , in which the members of the parliament are elected through a proportional representation system for four-year terms. Political parties or coalitions nominate their candidates for
1980-399: Is determined by the conference of chairpersons, with a minimum of 3 minutes per deputy. Voting occurs after at least 3 days from the presentation of the motion. If the motion fails, the prime minister can request the dissolution of the parliament within 48 hours, with the president dissolving parliament within 10 days of the request. Importantly, a motion of confidence cannot be proposed during
2079-412: Is mandated to partake in a formal oath-taking ceremony presided over by the president. The ceremony, conducted in compliance with the guidelines of the constitution, marks the commencement of the minister's official functions. During the oath, the prime minister affirms their allegiance to the constitution and laws, making a commitment to fulfill the functions of their office and prioritise the welfare of
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#17327733584122178-468: Is responsible for the comprehensive collection, processing, and analysis of intelligence, as well as the dissemination and utilization of intelligence products. Its duties also extend to issues related to constitutional order, particularly in fighting organized crime, illegal trafficking, and terrorism. The State Intelligence Service has the following duties: The personnel of SHISH are well-trained and are assigned to six branches: Institutional Position of
2277-462: The 31 March incident , the leadership of the Liberty Party ( Ahrar ) attempted unsuccessfully to get control over events and stop the rebellion from turning toward a reactionary pro-sultan and anti-constitutional course. Qemali, an Ahrar deputy managed to get some parliamentarians to attend parliament, they accepted the requests of the mutineering troops and made an official announcement that
2376-683: The Albanian flag on the balcony of the two-story building in Vlorë where the Declaration of Independence had just been signed. The establishment of the government was postponed for the fourth session of the Assembly of Vlorë, held on 4 December 1912, until representatives of all regions of Albania arrived to Vlorë. The Ottoman Council of Ministers opposed his actions preferring Albanian autonomy and requested that Qemali give military assistance to
2475-678: The Congress of Ottoman Opposition . He played a major role in the Albanian revolt of 1912 . The principal author of the Declaration of Independence , Qemali was elected leader of the Provisional Government of Albania by the All-Albanian Congress in November 1912. He became prime minister and foreign minister of Albania . He died in exile in Italy in 1919. He is often known as Babai Kombit ("Father of
2574-466: The Great Depression , Albania grappled with significant economic and financial challenges from 1930 to 1939. The government was tasked with stabilising the economy and fostering socio-economic growth. During this period, a succession of prime ministers, including Kostaq Kotta , Pandeli Evangjeli and Mehdi Frashëri , led the nation. Amid World War II , despite declaring neutrality , Albania
2673-536: The Ottoman Third Army trapped in southern Albania. Aware of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in the Balkans, Qemali asked the Great Powers to recognise and support an independent Albania. The Ottoman CUP government sought to restore its control over Albania and sent lieutenant colonel Bekir Fikri in 1913 to raise Albanian support for Ahmed Izzet Pasha , an Albanian Ottoman officer and CUP member as
2772-636: The council of ministers , presenting the nation's integral policies and coordinating government institutions. Located in Tirana , the Kryeministria is the official workplace of the prime minister and holds a crucial role in facilitating their duties and those of the council. Since September 2013, Edi Rama from the Albanian Socialist Party has served as prime minister. Following the declaration of independence on 28 November 1912,
2871-453: The members of parliament . The leader of the party or coalition which secures the most seats in the parliament emerges as a contender for the role of the prime minister. Once the election results receive official certification, the president extends an invitation to the leader of the party or coalition with the parliamentary majority, urging them to propose a candidate for the position. The nominated candidate subsequently seeks approval from
2970-477: The prime minister of the Republic of Albania ( Albanian : Kryeministri i Republikës së Shqipërisë ), is the head of government of Albania . The office of the prime minister is a core institution in the politics of Albania formed after the Albanian declaration of independence on 28 November 1912. Since that time, the nation has navigated a dynamic political evolution spanning distinct periods, encompassing
3069-626: The Albanian Secret Service was not merely a theoretical concept, as concrete actions were taken to set it up, including the involvement of individuals such as Lef Nosi and Bajram Curri . Furthermore, there is evidence of the Service's continued operation even after Prince Wilhelm Wied assumed rulership of Albania, which was established through the London Peace Conference in 1913. The Albanian secret service
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3168-521: The Albanian people: Albanian : Betohem se do t'i bindem Kushtetutës dhe ligjeve të vendit, do të respektoj të drejtat dhe liritë e shtetasve, do të mbroj pavarësinë e Republikës së Shqipërisë dhe do t'i shërbej interesit të përgjithshëm dhe përparimit të popullit Shqiptar. Zoti më ndihmoftë! English : I swear that I will obey to the Constitution and laws of the nation, that I will respect
3267-838: The Austro-Hungarian ambassador criticized the Young Turk government for promoting Turks above other nationalities in the empire and their divide and rule policies regarding Albanians. During the Albanian revolt of 1911 he traveled with Xhemal Bey of Tirana and joined leaders of the revolt at a meeting in Gerče, a village in Montenegro on 23 June. Together they drew up the " Greçë Memorandum " that called for Albanian autonomy, schooling and language rights, recognition of Albanians, electoral freedoms and liberty, military service in Albania and other measures which addressed their requests both to Ottoman Empire and Europe (in particular to
3366-513: The Austro-Hungarian foreign ministry and they told him of their sympathies for the Albanians and their situation but could not do much due to the continuing war. Foreign Minister Leopold Berchtold supported Qemali's views on the Albanian question and placed a boat at his disposal. From Trieste , Qemali sailed to Durrës by mid November, however his stay was short due to Ottoman authorities objecting to his presence with Serb forces approaching
3465-573: The Balkans and an unknown individual impersonating Qemali travelled to various cities in Bulgaria and succeeded in duping many Muslims. The aftermath of the 1902 Congress did result in the formation of the new central committee with attempts for the creation of a "permanent committee", however Qemali and the Ottoman princes Sabahaddin and Lutfullah failed to get support from the Armenians. Later at
3564-478: The British ambassador's yacht, claimed asylum and was conveyed out of the empire where for the next eight years he lived in exile. Qemali left for Athens and issued proclamations explaining his abandonment of service to the empire while Ottoman authorities were upset with his flight. His interest toward the Albanian question was limited until these events and Qemali's participation in the Albanian national movement
3663-621: The Democratic Party's victory in elections in March . His cabinet was dedicated to further advancing democratic and economic development and strengthening Albania's international connections. This commitment culminated to the nation's accession to the Council of Europe (CoE) in July 1995. However, the tenure of Meksi faced criticism for what some perceived as an increasingly authoritarian approach and allegations of corruption. One of
3762-587: The Foreign office. He also secretly met Abbas II of Egypt ( r. 1892–1914 ) in an attempt to secure funds and the khedive placed £4000 in an English bank for the plot, yet later misgivings about Qemali made the Egyptian leader halt funds and fearing scandal he relented. An Albanian confidant Xhafer Berxhani from Greece was sent by Qemali to see Rexhep Pasha in Tripoli, Ottoman Libya . Eqrem Vlora ,
3861-588: The Great Britain). In December 1911, Qemali and Hasan Prishtina convened secret meetings of Albanian political notables in Istanbul that decided to organise a future Albanian uprising. Qemali was given the task of going to Europe to obtain support from sympathetic governments for the Albanian movement in addition to financial support and funds for buying 15,000 guns. He met with Austro-Hungarian officials in Paris and expressed that his previous misgivings regarding them had shifted, viewed Austria-Hungary as
3960-529: The Great Powers allowed their Dutch officers serving as the Albanian Gendarmerie to declare a state of emergency and stop the plot. They raided Vlorë on 7–8 January 1914, discovering more than 200 Ottoman troops and arrested Fikri. During Fikri's trial the plot emerged and an ICC military court under Colonel Willem de Veer condemned him to death and later commuted to life imprisonment, while Qemali and his cabinet resigned. After Qemali left
4059-475: The Greek monarch. Qemali informed Reşid Sadi that he was duped and that in Greece it was difficult to find suitable ships. Later Sabaheddin traveled to see the khedive and failed to procure funds and ships where later he returned to Athens and for the last time met with Qemali, Reşid Sadi and Vasileos Musurus Ghikis. Qemali wanted to travel to Naples and get ships from there, however the others decided to abandon
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4158-766: The Nation") in Albania. Ismail Qemali was born on 16 January 1844 in the city of Vlorë , then part of the Ottoman Empire . He completed his primary education in his hometown. Later he attended the Zosimaia School in Ioannina and graduated from Ottoman law school in Istanbul . Qemali married a Greek woman Kleoniki Sourmeli and sent his children to receive an education in Greece . Qemali embarked on
4257-473: The Ottoman exile of his son to Bitlis . The British were aware of the activities of Qemali and his associates. Qemali also corresponded with London-based Ottoman diplomats on the plan like Reşid Sadi who secretly worked for the Young Turks. Attempts by Qemali were made to convince Lord Cromer that the "Turkish question" was a pressing matter and he agreed with those sentiments and promised to reply to
4356-760: The SHISH was exposed in a news story by journalists Borzou Daraghi and Vincent Triest [ nl ] . They obtained a massive amount of data shared by SHISH with unclassified government institutions, which was later published online. The leaks revealed the existence of at least eight senior clandestine Albanian operatives, including their names, positions, salaries, and expenses, who were working in Belgium, Greece, Kosovo, Italy, Macedonia, and Serbia. The leaked files also included information about other senior, mid-level, and field operatives, as well as vehicle registrations and locations of safe houses. The SHISH initially took
4455-661: The Second World War, the Albanian state gave considerable importance to the establishment of State Security Organs, which took place from December 1944 to March 1945. The origins of the State Security can be traced back to July 20, 1943, when the General National Liberation Council decided to create this organization. The State Security consisted of individuals deemed highly trustworthy by the communist regime, and it functioned as
4554-692: The State Intelligence Service and Relationship with Other State Bodies: The State Intelligence Service operates under the authority of the Prime Minister. Its Head is appointed and dismissed by the President of the Republic upon the advice of the Prime Minister . SHISH operates within this framework, and while it has been identified as being "generally under effective civilian control" (U.S. Department of State, 2004),
4653-492: The Sultan later recalled him and made him governor of Beirut . Qemali in 1892 presented the Sultan with a plan for a Balkan Confederation . It involved an entente between Balkan states and the empire eventually bound by mutual defense and economic development of resources agreements within a unified Great Eastern state with the Ottoman Empire as its centre and return of old borders. In this framework, Albania like North Macedonia
4752-629: The agency has been associated with various abuses within the country and continues to play a significant role in domestic politics. The Albanian government has received support from the U.S. and European countries in working to establish or reform national institutions, including its intelligence and security services. Albania's Minister of Defense, Mimi Kodheli , has announced that the Intelligence Service has successfully prevented some terrorist attacks. Although Kodheli did not provide specific details, it has been reported by Top Channel that
4851-538: The candidate for the Albanian throne. Fikri acting as Izzet Pasha's emissary contacted Qemali and presented him with a plan that envisaged joint Ottoman, Albanian and Bulgarian military action against Greece and Serbia. Albania's reward in the military venture would have been the allocation of Kosovo and Chameria , areas given to Serbia and Greece by the Conference of Ambassadors . Qemali assured Fikri of his loyalty to Izzet as monarch of Albania and supported
4950-543: The city and he left for Vlorë arriving there on 26 November. Meanwhile, his son Ethem had summoned Albanian representatives to Vlorë from all over Albania. Qemali was the principal figure in the secession of Albania from the Ottoman Empire , in the Albanian Declaration of Independence and the formation of the independent Albania on 28 November 1912. This signaled the end of more than 400 years of Ottoman rule in Albania. Together with Gurakuqi, he raised
5049-504: The constitution and sharia would be kept. Uninvolved in the events of the initial countercoup Qemali was briefly made President of the Ottoman National Assembly and led it to recognise a new government by Abdulhamid II. Qemali wired his constituency in Vlorë telling them to acknowledge the new government and Albanians from his hometown backed him with some raiding the arms depot to support the sultan with weapons if
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#17327733584125148-455: The council of ministers. According to the constitution , the office of the prime minister holds an integral position in the executive arm of government as the head of government . One of the core functions of the prime minister is to form and lead the council of ministers , which include the deputy prime minister and several other ministers. The prime minister selects the members of the council and proposes their appointments for approval by
5247-473: The country, turmoil ensued throughout Albania. During the First World War (1914–1918), Qemali lived in exile in Paris, where, though short of funds, he maintained a wide range of contacts and collaborated with the correspondent of the continental edition of the British newspaper Daily Mail , Somerville Story, to write his memoirs. His autobiography, published after his death, is the only memoir of
5346-776: The data down and downplayed its significance, although they admitted that sensitive information was leaked. During the 2001 insurgency in Macedonia , there were allegations that the State Intelligence Service (SHISH) and the CIA provided support to the National Liberation Army ( NLA ) by supplying them with arms and tanks. However, the Albanian president at the time denied any involvement in the conflict in Macedonia. Ismail Qemali Ismail Qemali , or Ismail Kemal , ( Albanian: [ismail cɛmal] ; 16 January 1844 – 26 January 1919),
5445-477: The emergence of Ilias Vrioni as prime minister in 1920 occurred in the aftermath of World War I, and Vrioni addressed border disputes with the backing of several major Western nations that guaranteed Albania's sovereignty within the boundaries formed in 1913. Following these developments, Ahmet Zogu served as prime minister in 1922, concentrating on centralising power, modernising the economy and attracting foreign investments. In 1924, Fan Noli 's brief tenure saw
5544-561: The empire during negotiations with the Ottomans. The Balkan Wars marked the end of Ottoman rule in the region. In September 1912, Qemali along with Luigj Gurakuqi traveled to Bucharest to consult with the Albanian community in Romania . Later he departed for Vienna and kept in touch through telegram with Austro-Hungarian officials and supported as a solution their intervention in Albania. On 12 November Qemali met with officials from
5643-562: The enactment of Law No. 7495, dated 02.07.1991, titled "On the organization of the National Intelligence Service." The main mission of this Service was to prevent, detect, and eliminate any unconstitutional activity that threatened the freedom, independence, defensive capacity, territorial integrity, and national wealth of the Republic of Albania. The creation of SHIK aimed to establish a depoliticized institution, which led to continuous modifications and adaptations over
5742-623: The establishment of democratic institutions, the implementation of economic reforms and the reintegration of Albania into the international community. On 4 June 1991, Nano resigned from office due to political and social pressure, allowing Ylli Bufi and Vilson Ahmeti to assume the mantle for a short period, respectively. During their tenures, Albania became a member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). Aleksandër Meksi became prime minister on 13 April 1992 following
5841-399: The establishment of the office of the prime minister became an integral part of the constitutional framework of Albania. Amidst the formative period characterised by tumultuous political and regional conflicts, a series of distinguished ministers assumed the position, each confronted with distinct challenges that left a lasting impact on Albanian politics. Ismail Qemali occupied the mantle of
5940-465: The first prime minister and directed the Albanian people toward the realisation of Independent Albania . Subsequently, during their respective tenures as prime ministers from 1914 to 1920, Turhan Përmeti and Esad Toptani were instrumental in directing Albania through the challenges of World War I . This period was marked by their dedication to preserving the nation's independence in the face of shifting alliances and external interventions. Similarly,
6039-633: The government of Ramiz Alia of the Party of Labour granted its approval for the first multi-party elections in March 1991 and the subsequent elections in March 1992 . This resulted in the legal recognition of the opposition Democratic Party and paved the way for the admission of other political parties, including the Socialist Party . Subsequently, Fatos Nano emerged as the first post-communist prime minister on 22 February 1991. Nano prioritised
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#17327733584126138-550: The government. This ensures the efficient operation of the framework of the government, the resolution of potential conflicts among ministers, the issuance of necessary instructions and an overall contribution to the efficient administration of government functions. The prime minister has the ability to propose a motion of confidence to the parliament, focusing on significant matters related to bill or decision approval. This motion cannot involve investigations, appointments, immunity or parliamentary functioning. The duration of debate
6237-418: The great power to assist Albanians in developing a more unified national opinion about their future, founding of more laic Albanian schools and cultivating their language and attaining autonomy. Later, he became close with Italo-Albanians , shifted his leanings toward Italy and supported Italian policy for Albania to counter Austro-Hungarian territorial ambitions in the Balkans. The Ottoman government initiated
6336-411: The independence of Albania. During the events of the Young Turk Revolution (1908), rumors of the time had it that Abdulhamid II as a last resort asked Qemali for assistance and his response was that only the restoration of the Ottoman constitution would pacify the Albanians. After the 1908 revolution and constitutional restoration Qemali returned from exile and became a deputy representing Berat in
6435-417: The introduction of sweeping reforms, including initiatives in education and land distribution aimed at reshaping the socio-economic landscape, alongside the establishment of the Albanian Orthodox Church . Zogu returned as prime minister for a second term in 1925 and further solidified his influence, ultimately transitioning the nation into a monarchy in 1928, with himself as king . With the global crisis of
6534-464: The involvement of Qemali in an administrative role within a future autonomous Albania. Good relations were maintained with Ghica, while Dervish Hima an Albanian politically involved with the Romanian prince was viewed by Ottoman authorities as a pawn of Qemali. Between 1902 and 1903 a coup de detat plot to overthrow Abdulhamid II was devised by the CUP. Involved were Colonel Shevket Bey and Rexhep Pasha Mati (Recep Pasha) left in charge of organising
6633-428: The legal framework for the employees of the service. As the State Intelligence Service carries out its responsibilities, it places a strong emphasis on maintaining a balance between providing necessary information and respecting the rights and freedoms of individuals. The principles of legitimacy, objectivity, and confidentiality form the fundamental basis of the institution's operations. The National Informative Service
6732-833: The military aspects of the plan along with Qemali and Prince Sabaheddin given the task of getting diplomatic and financial support and to buy two ships for the venture. Qemali's task was the most difficult aspect of the plot, he kept a unit in Paris, commenced political activities as a high ranking politician in exile and made many visits to London which annoyed the Ottoman government as they were unable to work out his real aims. Ottoman authorities paid close attention and in some cases court martialed people they thought were associated with Qemali in attempts that were unsuccessful to find out his intentions. In Paris Qemali established close contacts and good relations with journalists such as Stéphane Lauzanne and William Morton Fullerton . During July 1902, Qemali went to London to get British support for
6831-424: The most notable events during his rule was the outbreak of the 1997 Albanian civil unrest that resulted in a humanitarian crisis and an international intervention. Following the departure of Meksi on 25 March 1997, Bashkim Fino emerged as prime minister with a commitment to holding early elections in June . Fatos Nano secured his second term as prime minister but faced several challenges, notably in assembling
6930-452: The nation entered an unprecedented transformative phase under the leadership of Enver Hoxha , who acceded to the mantle of prime minister in 1944. Hoxha's tenure was marked by a commitment to Marxism–Leninism , resulting in the establishment of the People's Republic of Albania in 1946. The regime faced multifaceted challenges, encompassing widespread poverty, illiteracy, healthcare crises, and gender inequality. In response, Hoxha initiated
7029-410: The nation's direction. Adil Çarçani succeeded Shehu as prime minister and maintained the position for nine years, maintaining Albania's isolationist stance in external affairs and alignment with the Eastern Bloc countries. After the fall of communism , the office of the prime minister of Albania was restored and a democratic order was established. Responding to widespread protests in December 1990,
7128-547: The new central committee after he learned that Qemali worked for Greek interests in Albania and was on their payroll. After the 1908 Young Turk revolution some people who opposed the CUP made allegations against Qemali of being uninterested in the plot, worked for his interests and a "crook" that took money from the prince. Qemali broke ties with the Young Turks and on 16 August 1903 he gave an interview to an Italian newspaper in his role as an "Albanian patriot" and pursued his new preoccupation with Albania's future. In January 1907
7227-585: The new committee failed to win support among Albanians to their side. Qemali along with the Ottoman princes compared themselves to the statesmen of the Tanzimat reform era. During this time Qemali's positions swung between overthrow of the sultan and increasingly backing the Albanian national movement. He corresponded over Albania's future with the Prince of Albanian origins, Albert Ghica who had designs on becoming an Albanian monarch and with Preng Doçi about
7326-527: The new committee through articles published in the newspaper Osmanli warning of partition by Balkan and Western countries of Albanian inhabited lands within the empire. These publications were distributed secretly in Albania through known associates such as Xhemil Vlora (Avlonyalı Cemil) who worked for Qemali. Qemali supported the leadership of the Albanian movement such as preparing appeals for Jup Kastrati or creating in Paris an Albanian Council. Journals supported by Qemali promoted Albanian autonomy, however
7425-463: The only defender of Albania and could rely on Albanian support if they backed Albanian geopolitical interests within a strong Ottoman state. With Prishtina he took the initiative to organize the Taksim meeting for the organization of the Albanian revolt of 1912 . During the debates which involved the revolt, Qemali was part of the leadership faction that backed and advocated for Albanian autonomy within
7524-413: The parliament, with the members of the parliament casting their votes either in favor or against the proposed candidate. The candidate must garner a majority of affirmative votes to secure appointment, thereby confirming their selection as the prime minister. In the event that the appointed prime minister does not secure approval from the parliament, a 10-day window is provided for the president to nominate
7623-469: The plot and corresponded with and visited people in the British government such as Edmund Monson and Thomas Sanderson . He received responses from the Foreign Office , however Qemali exaggerated the level of British support, being only moral support and ambiguous for the venture. Qemali interactions with the British had managed to raise his profile and notability while he also discussed with them
7722-477: The plot. The failure of the plan was put down to different reasons with Qemali blaming prolonged negotiations about obtaining ships, while Rexhep Pasha viewed Qemali's lukewarm attitude for the venture as reason to change his mind. From within Sabaheddin's inner circle the view was that Qemali took the money to profit for his own purposes. Those sentiments were shared by people such as Haydar Midhat who quit
7821-632: The president named Arben Karkini as the new head of SHIK. He was succeeded by Fatos Klosi after the Socialist Party of Albania won the July 1997 parliamentary elections. In October 1997, the Central Intelligence Agency sent a team of experts to assist the government in restructuring SHIK. In November 1999, SHIK was renamed SHISH, and the previous director was Visho Ajazi. The State Intelligence Service (SHISH) responsibilities include acquiring foreign intelligence and counterintelligence on issues relevant to national security. The agency
7920-414: The president. The prime minister is also entrusted with the duty of formulating and presenting the principal general policies of the nation. This task involves ensuring the implementation of legislation endorsed by the council of ministers. Further to these core functions, the prime minister takes on the office of coordinating and supervising the work of both the council and other significant institutions of
8019-634: The prevented attacks were related to a football match with Israel. Additionally, the meeting between CIA Director John Brennan and Minister of Defense Mimi Kodheli in Tirana during the first week of December served not only as a courtesy visit but also as an evaluation of the capabilities and services provided by the Armed Forces, particularly the Albanian Military Intelligence Service, to allied countries. In 2018,
8118-417: The princes worked to finalise details of their plan. Qemali having the details of tonnage and dimensions left for Athens with £4000 to buy two ships. While there Qemali was disappointed with the procurement process for the ships and the delay made the central committee members go to Athens. Reşid Sadi arrived and found there was no large ships and that Qemali was residing at the house of an aide-de-camp to
8217-603: The resignation of Majko on 29 October 1999, Ilir Meta emerged as prime minister and served until his resignation on 29 January 2002. Following Majko's return for his second term on 7 February 2002, Nano assumed the mantle for his third term as prime minister until 3 July 2005. In the July 2005 elections , Sali Berisha emerged as prime minister with a dedication to sustainable economic development and advancing Albania toward European Union (EU) and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) membership. The tenure of Berisha achieved
8316-467: The restored Ottoman Parliament , working with liberal politicians and the British. He contributed to the Young Turk (CUP) newspaper Tanin where Qemali called for government reforms. Qemali became leader of the Albanian deputies in the Ottoman parliament and did not oppose Austro-Hungarian annexation of Bosnia adding that recognition of the move should entail security guarantees for the empire in case of war with Balkan states over territory. During
8415-465: The rights and freedoms of citizens, protect the independence of the Republic of Albania, and I will serve the general interest and the progress of the Albanian people. May God help me! Located at Dëshmorët e Kombit Boulevard in Tirana , the Kryeministria operates as the official workplace of the prime minister and assumes a central role in facilitating the functions of the prime minister and
8514-550: The situation called for it. Qemali left the city prior to the CUP Action Army arriving at Istanbul to suppress the rebellion and he fled to Greece. A government investigation later cleared Qemali of any wrongdoing. His political career thereafter concentrated solely on Albanian nationalism. Increasing guerilla activity in Southern Albania led to Qemali coming under suspicion from the Ottoman government during
8613-430: The standardization of the Albanian alphabet supporting the use of Latin characters for writing Albanian and the establishment of an Albanian cultural association. By 1877, Qemali seemed to be on the brink of important functions in the Ottoman administration, but when Ottoman sultan Abdulhamid II ( r. 1876–1909 ) dismissed Midhat as prime minister, Ismail Qemali was sent into exile in western Anatolia , though
8712-500: The summer months of 1909. The Athens embassy of the Ottoman Empire reported that Qemali negotiated with organization financed by wealthy Albanian Tosks and Greece about forging a union. Qemali returned from Athens to Istanbul after the parliament cleared him from involvement in the counter-revolutionary movement and he became leader of a group of "modern liberals" who were former members of the Ahrar party. In 1910 Qemali in statements to
8811-485: The years. In 1999, the name SHIK was changed through Decision No. 61, dated 22.11.1999, issued by the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Albania. The new name adopted for the organization was the State Intelligence Service, reflecting its evolving role. Subsequently, in 2005, Law No. 9357, dated 17.03.2005, titled "On the status of the employee of the State Intelligence Service," was enacted, outlining
8910-545: Was also against Albanian cooperation with Bulgarian Macedonians and viewed their support of Albanian insurrectionists as self-serving and strengthening their movement due to depletion of Albanian forces. Qemali's reasons for closer ties with Greeks during this time was to gain support for Albanian independence and thwart Bulgarian ambitions in the wider Balkans region as he viewed them as a threat to Greece and northern Albania in Macedonia along with Austro-Hungarian territorial ambitions. Throughout this time Qemali living abroad
9009-620: Was an Albanian politician and statesman who is regarded as the founder of modern Albania . He served as the first prime minister of Albania from December 1912 until his resignation in January 1914. Born in Vlorë to an Albanian noble family , Qemali developed an early interest in languages and later studied law in Istanbul . He travelled across Europe and returned to Albania after the Young Turk Revolution . He took part in
9108-733: Was brought to Vlorë and buried in the local tekke of the Bektashi Order . Ismail Qemali is commemorated in Albania as their Babai Kombit ("Father of the Nation"). He is depicted on the obverses of the Albanian 200 lekë banknote of 1992–1996, and of the 500 lekë banknote issued since 1996. On 27 June 2012, Albanian president Bamir Topi decorated Qemali with the Order of the National Flag (post-mortem). Prime Minister of Albania The prime minister of Albania ( Albanian : Kryeministri i Shqipërisë ), officially
9207-745: Was continued after the First World War and the departure of Prince Wied from Albania. The Statute of Lushnja, which was drafted at the Lushnja National Congress on January 21, 1920, re-established the separation of powers into legislature, executive, and judiciary, and it also created the Ministry of the Interior, which included the Secret Service. Ahmet Zogu was appointed as the Minister of Internal Affairs. After
9306-404: Was created by the Albanian parliament in 1991. The agency had been used to manage internal dissent and protect the interests of the individual members of the regime. On April 1, 1997, Bashkim Fino , the Prime Minister of Albania , announced that SHIK activity would be suspended effectively from March 31. SHIK Director Bashkim Gazidede and his deputy, Bujar Rama, resigned from duty. On May 30,
9405-407: Was invaded by Italy. Prime Ministers of the era, including Shefqet Vërlaci and Mustafa Merlika-Kruja , assumed significant roles in navigating the challenges posed by foreign occupation. In 1943, Germany occupied the nation, leading to the brief prime ministerial tenures of Rexhep Mitrovica , Fiqri Dine and Ibrahim Biçakçiu during the occupation. With the conclusion of World War II in Albania,
9504-616: Was not the leader of the Albanian national movement, due to his strong pro-British and pro-Greek position. As an Albanian leader the CUP was hostile toward Qemali and the organisation shunned him due to his secret understanding with the Greeks to partition the western regions of the Balkan provinces of the empire. During his lifetime Qemali looked upon Greek culture with favour and respect, maintained friendly relations with Greeks and promoted cooperation between them and Albanians . He promoted
9603-504: Was not treated as a separate state but as part of the Ottoman state. In time his liberal policy recommendations caused him to fall out of favour with the Sultan again. Qemali was aware that the empire came close to intervention from the Great Powers due to the Armenian crisis of 1895 . Abdulhamid II awarded Qemali the position of governor ( wali ) of Tripoli , however he viewed the high post as exile. In May 1900 Ismail Qemali boarded
9702-421: Was not widely accepted by Albanian nationalists and patriots. The CUP severely criticised Qemali for the agreement with the Greeks. In Rome July 1907, Qemali gave a lengthy interview to Italian media where he called for cooperation between Balkan peoples, a "Greco-Albanian entente" and affirmed Albania as having its own language, literature, history and traditions and a right to liberty and independence. He
9801-568: Was seen as an asset among Albanian circles who would bring prestige and influence Albanians Muslims to support the cause. He also worked to promote constitutional rule in the Ottoman Empire. In Paris he met Faik Konica and the two leaders worked together for a short time on Albanian issues through newspaper publications where Qemali called for Albanian unity, economic development, progress and to warn of future dangers of subjugation by Balkan states. The pair fell out as Qemali found Konica difficult to work with while Konica found his focus of being
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