Albin Kurti commemorates Italy's help for Albania

Vetevendosje Movement Chairman Albin Kurti has recalled how Albania was attacked and occupied by the Italian Empire.

Kurti says that for 21 years, after the end of the First War, the governments of Albania were dominated by a generally despotic political elite of their own people, who saw the country's development only as a result of enriching itself by thereby setting up parallels to today's political class in Kosovo.

“Such governments saw a national vision, on the one hand eliminating the opposition and idealists, while, on the other hand, invited private or state capital from countries that harbored territorial interest in Albania”, it has written among others.

Kurti considers that the only way to advance a nation is through freedom, and that a nation's political goals are achieved only through the work of its own sacrifices, not through help from invaders and usurpors.

Whether Mr. Kurti is the outline of his previous positions against the Ramboullet Agreement that, in turn, had NATO intervention and the establishment of an international order by 2008. Especially when we take into account the reference he makes to the arguments of the empire of Italy” a) the liberation of people from an incompetent, despotic and corrupt political class, b) the unification of Albanian lands under a fascist government, c) infrastructure and industrial development of the country. All these were desires, even urgent needs for the Albanian people. In fact, consider the circumstances, they are necessary today. But the only way to advance a nation is to promote freedom, the political goals of a nation are achieved only through the work of their own sacrifices, not through help from invaders and usurpors.

His full Facebook text:

80 years ago, on April 7, 1939, the kingdom of Albania was attacked and occupied by the Italian Empire. Albania, a poor and weak country, could not recover. For 21 years, after the end of the First War, the governments of Albania were dominated by a generally despotic political elite of their own people, which saw the country's development only as a result of self - enrichment. Such rulers saw a national vision, on the one hand, eliminate the opposition and idealists, while on the other, invited private or state capital from countries that harbored territorial interest in Albania.

Perhaps someone hoped that since Italy economically controlled it, and to a large extent it influenced Albania politically by engaging in its internal affairs, it would not need to interfere with the military. But the history of mankind, the old and contemporary, proves that this hope is futile. The country that is unable to defend itself militarily, to rule wisely, and to produce economies and peace ends up without sovereignty and always endangered.

Historians show that news of the possible Italian invasion spread to the people of Albania weeks before it occurred. And Albanians, who historically knew to show higher values than those of their leaders, gathered in demonstrations and protests in Tirana, Elbasan, in Shkodra, Durres, Vlora, Korca, etc. Albanians wanted weapons so they could defend themselves. But government officials, with the co-operation of the media of the time, delivered the word that news of the invasion was just rumored, and that the local army was willing to defend itself, along with the leader who said that, in case of need, he would join the army in protecting the country.

Instead, however, the army was sabotaged and left without weapons as the leadership took over the treasure and left the country. And on the morning of April 7, 1939, at the country's largest port, Durres, only a few hundred soldiers under Abaz Kupi's command resisted for two hours with few weapons against one of the most powerful armies in the world at the time. Our story remembers the glorious war and the fall of Mujo Ulcinac, on the coast of Durres, defending his country.

Wars were also fought in Strygi, and Italians were ambushed in the suburbs of Vlora. Although Italian fascists tried to sell the invasion as a voluntary union of Albania with Italy, Albanians suggested their resistance. The main arguments of fascist propaganda were three sosh: a) the liberation of people from an incompetent, despotic and corrupt political class, b) the unification of Albanian lands under a fascist, c) infrastructure and industrial development of the country. All these were desires, even urgent needs for the Albanian people. In fact, consider the circumstances, they are necessary today. But the only way to advance a nation is to promote freedom, the political goals of a nation are achieved only through the work of their own sacrifices, not through help from invaders and usurpors.

So Albanians fought fascism, in Albania, Kosovo and other lands, hoping that after the war they would have self-rule and democracy. The fact that this was not achieved, and that other major suffering awaited the Albanian people, does not devalue resistance and the anti-fascist struggle. Their ideals for self - determination and democracy in a freed and united nation remain ours.

Glory to Mujo Ulqiac and all the others fallen against the fascist invaders.