TIRANA, Oct. 22 – A collection of around 1,000 documents issued by Albania’s first government as an independent country will be published in a special book by the General Archive Directorate. The publication which will be promoted as part of events commemorating the country’s centenary of independence brings original documents of the provisional government in Vlora, southern Albania, where Albania declared its independence from the Ottoman empire which had ruled the country for five centuries.
“The majority of these documents are in Ottoman language and only a small part is available in Albanian. The publication by the State Archive will bring them into Albanian accompanied by original facsimiles which highlight the signature of Ismail Qemali, the founder of the independent state,” Nevila Nika, the head of the General Archives Directorate tells VoA in the local Albanian service. The political and military turmoil Albania went through after the declaration of independence in 1912 led to the disappearance of a considerable part of important documents, among which the original copy of the independence act which is only featured as picture found in the Marubi photo collection.
Some early archivists, contemporaries of the Ismail Qemali, also have a major contribution in the publication with their Albanian translations and detailed explanations.
With one month to go before Albania celebrates exactly 100 years as an independent country, the General State Archive has been facing an influx in visitors and researchers interested in obtaining copies of original documents on Albania’s independence.
Earlier this year, renowned historian Kristo Frasheri compiled an album dedicated to Albanian independence leader Ismail Qemali on the country’s 100th independence anniversary. The album published in cooperation with the Albanian Academy of Sciences contains 114 photos, and a series of important facsimiles and documents related to Albania’s declaration of independence after 500 year of Ottoman rule.
Ismail Qemali (1844 – 1919) is remembered as a distinguished leader of the Albanian national movement, a founder of the modern Albanian state and its first head of state and government. Together with Isa Boletini and Luigj Gurakuqi, he raised the flag on the balcony of the two-storey building in Vlor롷here the Declaration of Independence had just been signed. He was prime minister of Albania from 1912 to 1914.
U.S, U.K contributions, Relations with Russia
The contribution of personalities from the U.S and the U.K contributing to the recognition and consolidation of the Albanian state were also features in an exhibition by the Directorate General of Archives on Oct. 22. U.S president Woodrow Wilson and British traveler and writer Edith Durham were the central figures of the exhibition featuring letters, manuscripts and historical documents part of the State Archive collection.
On Oct. 25 the State Archive also showcased an exhibition on the Russian-Albanian relations featuring documents, maps, pictures in political, economic and cultural cooperation from the 17th century to present day.
