Treaties of Tirana

Last updated

The Treaties of Tirana were signed in Tirana between Albania and Italy in the 1920s, bringing Albania into the Italian sphere of influence and gradually turning the Albanian state into a de facto protectorate of Italy. [1]

Contents

Background

The Kingdom of Albania

Flag Of The Kingdom Of Albania (1928-1934) Flag of Albania (1928-1934).svg
Flag Of The Kingdom Of Albania (1928-1934)
Ahmet Zogu, known as King Zog I, the King of the Albanians (1895-1961) King Zog I.jpg
Ahmet Zogu, known as King Zog I, the King of the Albanians (1895-1961)

At the time of the signing of the treaties, the country of Albania was under the kingship of Zog I of Albania, known in Albanian as the king of the Albanians, Mbreti i Shqiptarëve. In 1925, Ahmet Zogu, was elected president for seven years and on 1 September 1928, during his swearing ceremony, he proclaimed himself as the King. [2] Being the first and the last king of the Albanian nation, he served the country from 1922 until he fled to London during the start of the Second World War in 1939. Albania was thought by Italy as the portal for the rest of the Balkan countries, Greece, and the Near Eastern countries. [3] In May 1925, Albania accepted the proposal of the Italians and the Albanian National Bank was founded. It acted as the country's treasury despite being solely controlled by the Italian banks. [4] For the first time, Albania had its own national coin minted. The proposal came with a five-year loan equivalent of about 2 million pounds of that time. [2] In non-official meetings with Italian officials, Zog expressed his sympathy for Mussolini and the Italians. He even promised economic concessions to them further piquing their interest in the country of Albania. [5] From the beginning seizing the power as king of the Albanians, Zog wanted to:

  1. Develop the Albanian economy.
  2. Legitimise the power of the country and his sovereignty.
  3. Achieve recognition of his government by neighbouring states. [5] Zog knew that without any external support he would not be able to achieve these. Zog accepted to restore order in his country and help with its development. The 1925 agreement also oversaw mineral concessions of the Albanian land. [6] During this time, the Italo-Albanian relations were favoured more and more by Italy. Mussolini had two orientations regarding the future of Albania. [5] On one hand, it was a peaceful orientation for an Albanian economic diffusion until a de facto protectorate over Albania was achieved and on the other hand, for the accomplishment of a permanent imperialistic occupation. [5] This weakened the King's economic hold and slowly gave way for the two Treaties to be signed by Zog and the Italian dictator, Mussolini.

Tirana treaty of 1920

A first treaty of Tirana between Italy and Albania was signed on 2 August 1920 to end hostilities between Italian troops and Albanian nationalists in the aftermath of World War I, some years before the rise to power of Mussolini in Italy and Zog in Albania. [7] This agreement contained the following clause:

Italy undertakes to recognize and defend the autonomy of Albania and, retaining only Saseno, abandons Vallona.

Italy recognized Albania as independent (despite plans to create an Italian mandate over Albania) and abandoned Vlorë (Italian-occupied since 1914), while retaining a diplomatic protection to guarantee Albania's autonomy and annexing Saseno.

The Italian prime minister of the time, Giovanni Giolitti, described his decision to sign the treaty in the following terms.

"What really interests us is that Vallona cannot form a base of operations against us; and this aim was achieved with the occupation of the islet of Sasseno, which lies at the mouth of the bay itself...For these reasons, I decided to renounce the mandate conferred on us by the Paris Conference on Albania, which would have represented an enormous liability without any profit, and to limit our action to the diplomatic protection of Albania against the aims of other States, and to abandon Vallona, ensuring however recognition of the possession of Sasseno"

Mussolini upheld the treaty and unleashed the crisis of Corfu against Greece when an Italian mission sent to determine the Albanian-Greek borders was attacked by the Greeks.

Tirana treaty of 1926

On November 27, 1926, Italy signed with Albania the Pakti i Parë i Tiranës, the Treaty of Peace and Security, [2] in Albanian Pakti Italo-Shqiptar i Miqësisë dhe i Sigurimit. The treaty had a duration validity of five years. [8] It pushed Tirana to accept Italian officers and ranking members into their army and police [4] to oversee the Albanian army and train it. King Zog fearing that the unrest of his people will lead to the loss of his throne, signed the treaty. Italy proclaimed Albania as its "guarantor". [8] The two countries would provide support to each other, whether it be military or economic. The treaty consisted of five articles. [5]

  1. Anyone going against the existing Albanian status quo affairs would be seen as an enemy of both the Albanian and Italian states. [2]
  2. Both countries would not associate with other political or military agreements that harms the interests of each other.
  3. Both parties are subjected to a special conciliation if issues that cannot be resolved via a diplomatic order arise.
  4. The treaty shall remain in force for five years and may be denounced or renewed for one year before its end.
  5. The treaty shall be ratified and registered with the League of Nations. The ratification will take place in Rome. [9]

The treaty was accompanied by money provisions to the King making it more appealing for him to sign it by exploiting his desperation. [2] Albania was blocked in the Balkan and European arena by Italy. The treaty brought reactions to Albania's neighbouring country, Yugoslavia. The country took military action against Albania's northern border with the support of France. Mussolini recognised the Franco-Yugoslav pact as an act against Italy. [5]

Tirana treaty of 1927

On November 22, 1927, the Pakti i Dytë i Tiranës was signed between Albania and Italy, with a duration validity of twenty years. [8] It was a defensive alliance characterised by the Italians as the Treaty of Defense, in Albanian Traktati i AleancësMbrojtëse. [5] The internal threat of a famine triggering uprisings and the external threat of Yugoslavia rushed the Albanians to sign the treaty. It intended to remain a secret between the two countries. It tasked Italy to protect the Albanian territory from possible attacks and in return Albania made available to Italy all of its military arsenal. It was favoured by Italy because of its secretive nature. The Second Treaty consisted of seven articles. [5]

  1. All previously signed Treaties from the accession of Albania in the League of Nations will be examined carefully.
  2. Inalienable alliance for twenty years unless one of the two countries states differently on the eighteenth or nineteenth year. If not, the treaty will quietly be renewed again.
  3. Both countries will strive to assist one another to achieve peace. If one party is threatened, the other must provide effective means to stop the attack and provide satisfaction to the attacked party.
  4. If all means of reconciliation are exhausted, the one party is obliged to use air force and military force, as well as a financial support to assist the attacked party.
  5. In regards Article 4, neither party is allowed to amnesty, ceasefire or peace negotiations unless its agreed between both parties.
  6. The treaty is signed in two Albanian and two Italian original copies. Four copies overall.
  7. The treaty must be ratified by the respective parliaments and registered in the League of Nations. The ratification will take place in Rome.

It was characterised as a Friendship Pact, Pakti i Miqësisë, as it linked the two countries firmly to each other. The treaty allowed the Italians to bring two hundred and eighty [5] officers to train the Albanian army. Military experts started to instruct Albanian paramilitary groups, whilst allowing in the meantime the Italian navy to access the port of Vlorė. [4] Fortifications were also built, especially that of Librazhdit and conditions and rules were created for the protection of the capital. The treaty meant a lot more to the Italians as it enabled them to enter Albania freely, whether a real or fictional threat existed. Their doorway towards the Balkans had opened. Albania came into an inevitable relationship with Italy. [2] [10] In Rome, a ministry was created specifically to control the Albanian affairs and count Francesco Jacomoni was appointed minister to Albania. [2]

Aftermath

Albanian map during WWII Map of Albania during WWII-SQ.png
Albanian map during WWII
Albanian boy at the Albanian-Yugoslav border (1939) Albanian boy in World war 2.jpg
Albanian boy at the Albanian-Yugoslav border (1939)

In 1937, Ciano, the Italian Foreign Minister and Mussolini's son-in-law, mediated with Mussolini to give a further 60 million gold francs to Albania. [11] He saw Albania as a gateway to the Balkans and wanted to expand his plans. This happened because:

  1. Italy grew tired of Albania and its economic and socio-political problems.
  2. Italy started to worry about problems of international politics as in 1936-1937 Europe everything started to shift rapidly, especially the political situation in Germany. [5]

Italy occupied Albania in 1939 and declared it its protectorate. King Zog fled due to the Italian occupation of Albania on April 7, 1939. The crown of the country was formally given to the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III on 12 April. [12] A fascist government was created by the Italians under the Albanian Prime Minister, Shefqet Verlaci. [4]

Related Research Articles

The Enchele's polity was the earliest to emerge and centered in Albania. Also the earliest known Illyrian king, Bardylis, emerged in what is now Albania around 400 BC, aiming to make Illyria a regional power interfering with Macedon. He united many southern Illyrian tribes under his realm and defeated the Macedonians and Molossians several times, expanding his dominion over Upper Macedonia and Lynkestis. Before the Rise of Macedon Illyrians were the dominant power in the region. The kingdom of the Taulantii under Glaukias' rule was based in central Albania and dominated southern Illyrian affairs in the late 4th century BC, exerting great influence on the Epirote state through the close ties with the Molossian king Pyrrhus. Under the Ardiaei the greatest known Illyrian kingdom emerged in the 3rd century BC encompassing also northern Albania in its core territory. It became a formidable power both on land and sea by assembling a great army and fleet, and directly ruling over a large area made up of different Illyrian tribes and cities that stretched from the Neretva River in the north to the borders of Epirus in the south, while its influence extended throughout Epirus and down into Acarnania. The dominant power of the Illyrian kingdom in the region ceased after the Illyrian defeat in the Illyro-Roman Wars. The last known "King of the Illyrians" was Gentius, of the Labeatae tribe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zog I</span> Leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939

Zog I was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania's youngest ever Prime Minister (1922–1924), then as president (1925–1928), and finally as king (1928–1939).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World War II in Albania</span>

In Albania, World War II began with its invasion by Italy in April 1939. Fascist Italy set up Albania as its protectorate or puppet state. The resistance was largely carried out by Communist groups against the Italian and then German occupation in Albania. At first independent, the Communist groups united in the beginning of 1942, which ultimately led to the successful liberation of the country in 1944.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albanian Fascist Party</span> Political party in Albania

The Albanian Fascist Party was a fascist organisation active during World War II which held nominal power in Albania from 1939, when the country was invaded by Italy, until 1943, when Italy capitulated to the Allies. Afterwards, Albania fell under German occupation, and the PFSh was replaced by the Balli Kombëtar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vlora War</span> 1920 conflict between Italy and Albania

The Vlora War was a military conflict in the Vlorë region of Albania between the Kingdom of Italy and Albanian nationalists. Vlorë, occupied by Italy since 1914, was attacked four times by Albanian nationalists. While repelling the attacks, the Italian troops suffered from an outbreak of malaria and could not receive support as the Bersaglieri of Ancona refused to be sent to Albania, in the context of the Biennio Rosso agitations. Italian prime minister Giovanni Giolitti, considering the occupation of Vlorë pointless and unpopular, negotiated a treaty of compromise with the Albanians. This resulted in Italy abandoning its plans to make Albania a mandate and ending the occupation of Vlorë, while it retained diplomatic protection over Albania to ensure its independence and annexed the island of Saseno. The armistice agreement was confirmed a year later by the Conference of Ambassadors of the League of Nations, confirming Albanian sovereignty and the Italian special interests. The Vlora War is considered an important moment in the history of the Albania's independence. At the same time, the 1920 treaty of Tirana is considered the first of the Treaties of Tirana that gradually brought Albania into the Italian sphere of influence. Both the Albanian committee and the Italian foreign ministry claimed victory and expressed satisfaction with the agreements; many authors do not treat these clashes as forming an actual conflict and the very concept of a "Vlora War" is rare in historiography.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">People's Socialist Republic of Albania</span> Socialist State in Southeastern Europe from 1946 to 1991

The People's Socialist Republic of Albania, officially the People's Republic of Albania from 1946 until 1976, and from 1991 to 1992 as the Republic of Albania, was the communist state in Albania from 1946 to 1991. It succeeded the Democratic Government of Albania (1944–1946).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939)</span> Albania between World War One and World War Two

The Albanian Kingdom was the official name of Albania between 1928 and 1939. Albania was declared a monarchy by the Constituent Assembly, and President Ahmet Bej Zogu was declared King Zog I. The kingdom was supported by the fascist regime in Italy, and the two countries maintained close relations until Italy's sudden invasion of the country in 1939. Zog fled into exile and never saw his country again. The Communist Party of Labor of Albania gained control of the country toward the end of World War II, established a communist government, and formally deposed Zog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albanian Republic (1925–1928)</span> Republic in Europe between 1925 and 1928

The Albanian Republic was the official name of Albania as enshrined in the Constitution of 1925. Albania came into an alliance with the Kingdom of Italy after signing the Treaties of Tirana, which gave Italy a monopoly on shipping and trade concessions. Albania was declared a constitutional monarchy in 1928. Upon its inception, Italy demanded to be allies with the republic. This was done largely to increase Italy's influence in the Balkans, and to aid Italian and Albanian security in their territorial feuds with the Second Hellenic Republic and the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats, and Slovenes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Principality of Albania</span> Monarchy in Albania from 1914 to 1925

The Principality of Albania was a short-lived monarchy in Albania, headed by Wilhelm, Prince of Albania, that lasted from the Treaty of London of 1913 which ended the First Balkan War, through the invasions of Albania during World War I and the subsequent disputes over Albanian independence during the Paris Peace Conference of 1919, until 1925, when the monarchy was abolished and the Albanian Republic declared.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian protectorate of Albania (1939–1943)</span> Italian protectorate in Southeast Europe

The Italian protectorate of Albania, also known as Italian Albania, the Kingdom of Albania or Greater Albania, existed as a puppet state and protectorate of Fascist Italy. It was practically a union between Italy and Albania, officially led by Italian King Victor Emmanuel III and his government: Albania was led by Italian governors, after being militarily occupied by Italy, from 1939 until 1943. During this time, Albania ceased to exist as an independent country and became an autonomous part of the Italian Empire. Officials intended to make Albania part of a Greater Italy by assimilating Albanians as Italians and colonizing Albania with Italian settlers from the Italian Peninsula to transform it gradually into an Italian land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian invasion of Albania</span> 1939 pre-WWII Italian invasion of Albania

The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign which was launched by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom in 1939. The conflict was a result of the imperialistic policies of the Italian prime minister and dictator Benito Mussolini. Albania was rapidly overrun, its ruler King Zog I went into exile in neighboring Greece, and the country was made a part of the Italian Empire as a protectorate in personal union with the Italian Crown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albania–Turkey relations</span> Bilateral relations

Albania and Turkey have close foreign relations. Albania has an embassy in Ankara and a general consulate in Istanbul. Turkey has an embassy in Tirana. The most widespread religion in Albania is Islam (~59%), also in Turkey (~90%). Both are part of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Union for the Mediterranean (UfM). Turkey and Albania are candidates for accession in the European Union (EU).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian colonists in Albania</span> Italians who moved to Albania to colonize it for the Kingdom of Italy

The Italian colonists in Albania were Italians who, between the two World Wars, moved to Albania to colonize the Balkan country for the Kingdom of Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian post in Saseno</span>

Saseno is the Italian name for Sazan Island which is a small island strategically located between the Strait of Otranto and the entrance to the Bay of Vlorë in Albania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">World War I in Albania</span> Involvement of Albania in World War I

In World War I, Albania had been an independent state, having gained independence from the Ottoman Empire on 28 November 1912, during the First Balkan War. It was recognised by the Great Powers as the Principality of Albania, after Turkey officially renounced all its rights in May 1913. Being a fledgling new country, it quickly unravelled and just a few months after taking power, its German ruler, Prince Wilhelm, was forced to flee. After World War I broke out, anarchy took hold of the country as tribes and regions rebelled against central rule. To protect the Greek minority, Greek control was established in the southern districts replacing the Northern Epirote units beginning in October 1914. In response to this, Italy, although officially neutral at the time, also sent troops into the port of Vlorë, while Serbia and Montenegro took control of northern regions. In 1915 Serbia was overrun by combined German, Austro-Hungarian, and Bulgarian forces; the Serbian army retreated across the mountain passes of northern Albania, towards the Adriatic. Italian troops drove the Greeks from southern Albania and brought almost all Albanian territory under their control. Austrian forces invaded in June 1916; Austro-Hungarian forces remained in Albania until the end of the war when a multinational Allied force broke through and pushed them out in 1918.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Finances and Economy (Albania)</span>

The Ministry of Finances and Economy is a department of the Albanian Government, responsible for matters relating to economic policy, the central government budget, taxes, banking, security and insurance, international economic work, central, regional and local government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Italian protectorate over Albania</span> 1917–1920 territorial administration of Albania by Italy

The Italian protectorate over Albania was established by the Kingdom of Italy during World War I in an effort to secure a de jure independent Albania under Italian control. It existed from 23 June 1917 until the summer of 1920.

Mutilated victory is a term coined by Gabriele D’Annunzio at the end of World War I, used by a part of Italian nationalists to denounce the partial infringement of the 1915 pact of London concerning territorial rewards in favor of the Kingdom of Italy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Albania–Italy relations</span> Bilateral relations

Albania–Italy relations are the bilateral relations between Albania and Italy. Albania has an embassy in Rome and two general consulates in Bari and Milan. Italy has an embassy in Tirana and a general consulate in Vlorë.

References

  1. ↑ "20th-century international relations - Italy, East Central Europe | Britannica". www.britannica.com. 9 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Brewer, David (2016). Ελλάδα 1940-1949: Πόλεμο;, Κατοχή, Αντίσταση, Εμφύλιος (in Greek). athens: Patakis. pp. 25–33.
  3. ↑ "The New York Times Archives".
  4. 1 2 3 4 History of Albania. "Italian Penetration".
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Bedini, Belina (2016). "MARRËDHËNIET SHQIPËRI-ITALI GJATË MONARKISË ZOGISTE (1928-1939)" (PDF).
  6. ↑ "Memoranda Submitted by the Albanian Government on the Draft Peace Treaty With Italy".
  7. ↑ Kalaja, Deona Cali (2016). "The admission of Albania in the League of Nations" (PDF). Journal of Liberty and International Affairs. 1 (3): 55–68 – via SSOAR.
  8. 1 2 3 The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). The Gale Group, Inc. 2010.
  9. ↑ Swire, Joseph (2005). Shqipëria ngritja e një mbretërie. Tiranë: Dituria. p. 375.
  10. ↑ "Tiranë Pact". Britannica .
  11. ↑ Coltrinari, Massimo (2013). Qëndresa e ushtarakëve Italianë në Shqipëri. Tiranë: LBN Editor. p. 66.
  12. ↑ Brousalis, Karolos (2012). "Ελληνοαλβανικά" (in Greek). Protagon.gr.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.