By DASHNOR KALOÇI
Exactly 35 years ago, at the beginning of January 1991, when not even two or three weeks had passed since the declaration of pluralism in Albania and the first opposition parties had been formed, the government of Prime Minister Ylli Bufi, which had almost completely replaced the "Çarçani" cabinet, in the context of the economic and political reforms undertaken at that time and the opening of Albania to the outside world, had begun to respond positively to the numerous invitations that came to the official address of Tirana, to represent the country in various international activities. Such as the World Economic Forum in Davos in Switzerland (established in 1971), which was to be held at the beginning of February of that year, where numerous personalities of political and economic life from all over the world participated, such as heads of state, prime ministers, ministers, well-known businessmen and businessmen, members of various organizations from the five continents, etc.
In this context, according to the invitation that the President of the World Davos Forum, Klaus Schwab, had officially presented to the Albanian Mission in Geneva on November 14, 1990, the Albanian government of Prime Minister Ylli Bufi had decided to be represented at the highest level, by sending there the Secretary General of the Prime Minister's Office, Fatos Nano, Doctor of Economic Sciences, a renowned economist and lecturer at the State University of Tirana, who, in addition to being part of the government cabinet from December 1990 and coordinator and responsible for the economic reform of that cabinet, had also made a big name at that time from several interviews given to Radio "Voice of America", etc.
How was Fatos Nano's visit to that international forum where Albania, just emerging from 45 years of communist rule, was represented for the first time possible? Who were some of the high-ranking personalities that Fatos Nano met at the Davos World Economic Forum and what were their impressions of the small communist country in the Balkans, most of whom knew him almost nothing, or had heard very little about him? What did they suggest and promise to the head of the Albanian delegation, Fatos Nano, and the conditions that were imposed on Albania in the context of the aid that would be given to it? How and why did Albania's further participation in the Davos World Forum fail in June of that year and what is said in the heated correspondence between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the organizers of that economic activity, regarding the low level that Albania would be represented there? Regarding this, etc., we are introduced to several archival documents recently released from the Archives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which are published for the first time and with the relevant facsimiles by Memorie.al.
OFFICIAL LETTER FROM COUNSELOR ALFRED PAPUÇIU TO THE ALBANIAN MISSION IN GENEVA, SENT TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN TIRANA, REGARDING THE INVITATION MADE BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE DAVOS WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM FOR ALBANIA'S PARTICIPATION
Permanent Mission of the
Popular Socialist Republic of Albania
aupres de l'Office des Nations Unies a Geneve
and other international organizations in Switzerland
No. 35 of the Geneva Protocol, 14.11.1990
Subject: Letter from the President of the World Economic Forum sent
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
TIRANA
Attached is the letter and materials brought to us by Klaus Schwab, President of the “Word Economic Forum”, based in Switzerland, who spoke with the Secretary of State, Klaus Jakob, after his return from his visit to Albania. He expresses the desire that Albania participate in the annual meeting in Davos of the Foundation he leads. If our participation is seen as of interest, please let us know so that the interested party can be informed.
COuNSEllER
Alfred Papuchiu
REPORT – INFORMATION FROM THE ALBANIAN MISSION IN GENEVA, ON THE INVITATION RECEIVED IN TIRANA, REGARDING ALBANIA'S PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN DAVOS
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
In the meeting we had with Serge Guillaume, member of the Board of Directors of the World Economic Forum, it turned out that the annual Davos meeting will be attended by around 800 people, heads of state, prime ministers, ministers, businessmen, etc., from different countries.
Problems of economic integration, the situation in the Gulf, developments in the Soviet Union and the global economic consequences, the situation in Central Europe, etc. will be discussed.
He can speak for about 20 minutes in a session, and the head of our Delegation, where the press will also be present, suggested the dates of February 4 or 5.
Delegations are requested to be as small as possible, due to the limited number of seats in Davos.
They cover the costs of transportation from Zurich to Davos and hotel accommodation for two people.
They are requesting, preferably by the end of the week, a short curriculum vitae of comrade Fatos Nano and later a photograph.
Details about the participants and the general program will be sent to you by fax.
Geneva, 8.1.1991 MISSION
412 278 MALB CH +
21 64 MFA AB
ARCHIVE DOCUMENT WITH THE TELEGRAM OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS FATOS NANO, ON HIS PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN DAVOS ON 1 FEBRUARY 1991, SENT TO THE FOREIGN MINISTER, REIZ MALILE
TELEGRAM FROM DAVOS (1 FEBRUARY 1991)
ADDRESSED TO: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(Comrade Reis Malile)
TIRANA
Classification: (Urgent / Telegraphic)
The World Economic Forum-1991 began its work in Davos. The participation of political, business and scientific personalities is wide, but due to the Gulf War, the level of representation is not what the organizers announced. It is expected that high-ranking personalities such as Genscher, Rocard, De Michelis, etc., will participate in separate sessions and leave within the day.
The topics of discussion at this year's forum include such key issues as:
Overcoming difficulties in Eastern countries through economic reforms;
The prospect of emerging from the current state of global economic decline and the consequences of the Gulf crisis;
Policies necessary for the integration of developing countries into the world market;
The tightening of credit in the international financial market, priority measures for environmental protection, etc.
Various speakers spoke about these problems in separate sessions, who answered questions and provided the required explanations for the realities of the respective countries.
On three such occasions, the floor was also given to comrade Fatos Nano, who introduced the participants to the broad democratic processes in Albania, focusing in particular on the economic reform and the new opportunities it has created for expanding our country's cooperation with the world. The leader of the discussions on one of these occasions was the former Prime Minister of France, Raymond Barre.
Today, our delegation met with the Swiss State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Klaus Jacobi. During the proceedings, he also met with the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, Gerhard Hinteregger, with the member of the Presidency of Yugoslavia, Janez Drnovšek, with the Japanese Deputy Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, Yasuo Matsushita (Aisuo Kacumura), as well as with representatives of the banking and business circles of the various countries participating in this Forum.
This year's forum is chaired by Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan and the opening of the proceedings was welcomed by its president, Klaus Schwab.
Davos, February 1, 1991
Fatos Nano
(signed)
TELEGRAM FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS FATOS NANO, ON HIS MEETINGS WITH HIGH PERSONALITIES AT THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN DAVOS, ON 3 FEBRUARY 1991, SENT TO THE FOREIGN MINISTER, REIZ MALILE
TELEGRAM FROM DAVOS – (FEBRUARY 1991)
REPORT ON MEETINGS
ADDRESSED TO: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(To Comrade Reis)
During yesterday's day, alongside the plenary and special sessions, the personalities of the participating countries and international organizations discussed separately the preliminary conclusions on the main issues of this forum (as we informed you in the previous fax). The work was organized in such a way that these personalities were in contact with each other throughout the day, which will continue today.
This gave me the opportunity to have special meetings with:
Austrian Minister of Finance, Ferdinand Lacina;
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Béla Kádár;
The forum's president, Klaus Schwab;
the President of Croatia, Franjo Tudjman (the meeting was requested by him);
IMF Economic Advisor, Jacob Frenkel;
Director General and Special Advisor to Jacques Delors, Antonio Costa, etc.
Westerners in general are showing a withdrawn attitude, which they motivate with unclear and contradictory data from their representatives or envoys in Tirana. It is explicitly emphasized that they do not simply expect the March 31 elections, "but the departure from the scene of the old political class."
Tudjman (in a meeting also in the presence of television), expressed interest in direct relations between Croatia and Albania in the conditions of reports of complicated situations around us. I had a chance meeting with Raymond Barre, who showed only courtesy and no special interest, as well as with Petre Roman, who said that; "you are in the midst of turmoil that I hope will be overcome."
In the afternoon, we were specially welcomed by the Swiss Federal Councilor, Jean-Pascal Delamuraz, who, after asking many questions about new developments in Albania, promised that the Swiss government will try to include Albania in its financing plans for Eastern European countries next year.
During dinner I greeted De Michelis, who said he knew me by name and promised a special meeting for today. I also greeted the Soviets Bogomolov, Aganbegyan, Shmelev, the Secretary General of the OECD, Jean-Claude Paye, and the Director of the Treasury of the French Ministry of Finance, Jean-Claude Trichet, who said he knew Albania through Kadare's books. Genscher is expected to arrive and speak today.
We note that the general attitude towards the BS (Soviet Union) at this moment is withdrawn, while towards the other 6 Eastern countries there is a willingness to assist economically and financially.
Davos, 3.2.1991
Fatos Nano
(signed)
TELEGRAM FROM THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS FATOS NANO, ON HIS MEETINGS WITH HIGH PERSONALITIES AT THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM IN DAVOS, ON 3 FEBRUARY 1991, SENT TO THE FOREIGN MINISTER, REIZ MALILE
TELEGRAM FROM DAVOS (3 FEBRUARY 1991)
– REPORT ON DISCUSSIONS AND REFORMS –
ADDRESSED TO: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
(To Comrade Reis)
This morning, in the same auditorium as yesterday (leading political personalities from the business and scientific worlds), discussions continued on Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union (on the progress of political and economic reforms and the West's stance towards them).
Several ministers spoke (Hungarian Kádár, Czechoslovak Vladimír Dlouhý), Romanian Prime Minister Petre Roman, Mongolian Deputy Prime Minister D. Ganbald, who presented the difficulties faced, especially in economic reforms, and the need for their support from the West with aid, loans, and technical and technological assistance.
It was striking that the Westerners showed a willingness to help Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria (expressing positive views on the reforms in these countries!), while expressing strong reservations, even a lack of desire to help the Soviet Union, linking this to the events in the Baltics and to "a setback for the Soviet Union."
We note that when talking about Eastern European countries, neither Albania nor Yugoslavia was mentioned in any case.
In the above discussion, comrade Fatos Nano also spoke, saying:
"When it comes to supporting reforms in Eastern Europe, it would not be appropriate to leave out Southeast Europe, which includes a good part of the Balkans, this very sensitive region, whose economic and political stability is closely linked to and directly affects the stability of Europe. We in Albania are engaged in a deep process of democratizing reforms that affect both politics and the economy.
With political and party pluralism, with the law on free and democratic elections, with the improvement and completion of legislation aimed at the rule of law, the necessary climate has been created for the implementation of deep economic reform for the transition to a market economy, where state (public) property, cooperative (collective) property and private property will coexist, where the state has an irreplaceable role and mission as a regulator of societal interests.
Of course, Albania also needs fruitful cooperation with Europe and the world, for concrete support. Unmotivated 'wait and see' attitudes should not turn into 'wait and see', otherwise democratic processes would not be truly pan-European.”
During today's work, we met with:
The Vice President of the World Bank, Wilfried P. Thalwitz, whom we informed about our country's request for membership in the International Monetary Fund, while Thalwitz said that this automatically brings cooperation with the World Bank;
The Vice-President of the European Community Commission, Sir Leon Brittan, who, after being informed by us about the reforms in Albania and our interest in cooperation with the Community, expressed his willingness to organize contacts between the two parties;
The Director-General of GATT, Arthur Dunkel, to whom we expressed our interest in GATT membership. He, in turn, said: “GATT is an open house for all, but the entrance fee is expensive, which implies strong criteria for trade policy”;
The Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe, Gerald Hinteregger, with whom we exchanged views on the possibilities and avenues of cooperation between Albania and the commission. Hinteregger proposed organizing seminars and consultations in Tirana of the commission's experts with Albanian specialists in the economic, financial, etc. fields.
We also had occasional meetings with the US Deputy Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, Richard McCormack, with Bulgarian Prime Minister Dimitar Popov, with the President of Cyprus George Vassiliou, etc.
Tomorrow, according to the program, in one of the sections of the forum, comrade Fatos will speak on the topic "The Path of Reforms in Albania". / Memorie.al
