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.

Continues from the previous issue

ARCHIVE DOCUMENT WITH CV OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF MINISTERS, FATOS NANO, WHICH WAS REQUESTED BY THE ORGANIZING AUTHORITIES OF THE DAVOS FORUM

Curriculum Vitae

of God Fatos Nano

Secretary General of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Albania

Personal data: Fatos NANO, born in 1952.

Education: Graduated in economics

politics at the University of Tirana in 1975.

Scientific degrees: Doctor of Economic Sciences.

Professional experience:

In the period 1975-1978 he worked as an economist at the Metallurgical Plant.

Lecturer, researcher and scientific associate at the University of Tirana and in various economic institutions (1978-1990).

Secretary General of the Council of Ministers, member of the government and government coordinator, responsible for economic reform since December 1990.

Marital status: Married, with two children.

Foreign languages: Speaks French, English, Russian and Italian.

TELEGRAM FROM THE ALBANIAN TRADE REPRESENTATION IN GENEVA, SENT TO DIPLOMAT MAXHUN PEKA AT THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN TIRANA, REGARDING THE COMPOSITION OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION THAT WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

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VERY URGENT

COMRADE MAXHUN PEKA

Forgive me for disturbing you, but given the fact that the previous letters have come to you, please be interested in informing me of the composition of the Albanian delegation to the World Economic Forum symposium to be held in Geneva on June 9 and 10, 1991.

I await your response to make the relevant communications.

Geneva 21 May 1991 TRADE REPRESENTATION

TELEGRAM FROM THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN TIRANA, SENT TO THE ALBANIAN MISSION IN GENEVA, ANNOUNCING THE TWO DIPLOMATS WHO WOULD BE PART OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION THAT WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS Telex

Directorate of International Organizations

GENEVA MISSION

At the World Economic Forum symposium to be held in Geneva on June 9 and 10, 1991, comrades Kadri Cenko and Vaso Pilo will participate.

Tirana, May 21, 1991 Ministry of Foreign Affairs

TELEGRAM FROM THE ALBANIAN TRADE REPRESENTATION IN GENEVA, SENT TO THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IN TIRANA, INFORMING IT ABOUT THE LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION, WHICH WOULD PARTICIPATE IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM

BHECM +

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VERY URGENT

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Further to your letter 3611 dated 21.5.1991, regarding the participation in the World Economic Forum symposium to be held in Geneva on 9 and 10 June 1991, where you announced that comrades Kadri Cenko and Vaso Pilo will participate, we thank you for the notification and clarify that the lowest level of heads of delegations should be at least a minister. We have also made this known in the materials we have sent you previously. We await your notification.

Geneva 21 May 1991 TRADE REPRESENTATION

TELEGRAM FROM THE ALBANIAN TRADE REPRESENTATION IN GENEVA, SENT TO THE DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER IN TIRANA, SOKRAT PLAKA, INFORMING HIM THAT THE NON-PARTICIPATION OF FATOS NANOS AT THE HEAD OF THE ALBANIAN DELEGATION, IN THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, WILL HAVE VERY NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES FOR ALBANIA

BHECM +

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VERY URGENT

COMRADE SOCRATES PLAKA

After the telephone conversation we had today, regarding our country's participation in the Economic Forum meeting, Mr. Lustig, who is in charge of organizing the meeting, called me and after listening to our opinion regarding representation, among other things, he said:

"Even now there are many doubts about the future of Albania. The non-participation of Mr. Nano, or any other high-ranking Albanian personality in this very important European event, will have very negative consequences for Albania."

This will be interpreted as proof that things are not moving forward in Albania. So it will be taken badly, especially by European business circles.

The consequences will be very serious for Albania, because many representatives of these regions come to this meeting, specifically to learn about Albania, the state and prospects of development, the depth of reforms, etc.

Mr. Lustig further emphasized that other countries also have problems, even more acute than those of Albania, as an example he mentioned Yugoslavia and especially the Republic of Serbia, which, despite the difficult situation they are experiencing, will be represented at very high levels.

"Your lack of representation at such levels - he said - will create the impression that the situation in Albania is serious, that the Albanian movement is declining, etc."

In the end, he emphasized that they want to help Albania, but under these conditions they cannot do anything for it, therefore he requested that our position be reviewed and that we participate in the meeting at the highest level possible, considering this to be very useful and solely in the interest of Albania."

I told him that I would inform Tirana about the above, but the forum expects our final decision within these days, until the beginning of next week, as it definitely wants the level of our country's representative to be reviewed.

Please keep us updated.

GENEVA MISSION

Geneva, 22 May 1991

TELEGRAM FROM THE ALBANIAN TRADE REPRESENTATION IN GENEVA, SENT TO THE FOREIGN MINISTRY IN TIRANA, REGARDING THE ORDER OF THE ORGANIZERS OF THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM, THAT THE ALBANIAN SIDE SHOULD REVIEW THE LEVEL OF REPRESENTATION OF ITS DELEGATION, AT THE MEETING IN JUNE 1991

URGENT TELEGRAM FROM GENEVA (23 MAY 1991)

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Classification: VERY URGENT

ADDRESSED TO: MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

For: FRIENDS OF THE PITARKA UNION

Mr. Lustig of the Economic Forum called me again today to ask about their request for our review of the level of Albania's representation at the next meeting of this forum.

He told me that he had also spoken with Mrs. Mature, director of the forum, who had described Albania's non-participation at the highest level, preferably at the level of the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, as a disaster, as a catastrophe, which would result in nothing being done for Albania for a long time.

Mr. Lustig added for his part that this will disappoint European and other business circles and will create a very sad situation, in which only Albania will be the loser.

I told him that I had informed Tirana about yesterday's conversation. He told me that the forum expects a satisfactory and quick response.

I emphasize once again my opinion that the level of representation should be reviewed. It should be at least at the ministerial level./ Memorie.al