Pictures of delegates, documents and memos, but even original items such as a national flag and personal items belonging to patriot Aqip Pashe Elbasani are being displayed at the National Museum of History
TIRANA, Jan. 22 – An exhibition featuring pictures and documents from the Congress of Lushnja, which in 1920 reconfirmed Albania’s full independence, is being displayed at the National Museum of History in Tirana on the 93th anniversary of the Congress. Pictures of delegates, documents and memos, but even original items such as a national flag and personal items belonging to patriot Aqif Pashe Elbasani are being featured. The Congress’s draft programme, its anthem, and a draft-memorandum sent to the Big Powers to support Albania’s newly threatened independence two years after World War I are also on display at the exhibition which will remain open until January 27.
Speaking at the inauguration of the exhibition this week, Culture Minister Aldo Bumci described the Congress of Lushnja as the second most important event after the declaration of independence in 1912. He blamed the neglect of the communist regime to this event for the difficulty in finding original documents on the Congress.
After dedicating new monuments to the country’s most prominent figures during the past few months, the Albanian government plans to inaugurate a monument dedicated to the Lushnja Congress late next February in the southwestern town as part of ceremonies commemorating the country’s 100th anniversary of independence.
The Lushnje Congress was held in January 1920, in a very delicate moment for the independence of Albania. The Congress reconfirmed the independence and chose the Albanian representatives to the Peace Conference in Versailles, Paris, and elected the four Supreme Councilors, with the functions of the Head of the State, and a national council of 37 people, forming a government with Sulejman Delvina as Prime Minister and Ahmed Zogu as Interior Minister. One of the Congress’ decisions was transfer of the Albanian capital city from Durres to Tirana.
