As you explained in the first issue of this interview, Mr. Toptani, I found out that you absolutely rule out accusations of treason against prominent figures in Albanian history, as do the Toptanias associated with Esat Toptani’s name. Here was the word?
It would take nearly a century later for NATO incursions under the US-led Clinton presidency to help create the new independent state of Kosovo.
And now, Commissioner Fule recommends the treaties the Kosovo government should make with Serbia. This does not mean that Europe, where we want to accede, seeks to fabricate new traitors to the Albanian nation, but instead calls for a definitive solution to the issue, while politicians of the “London Albania” zoneszz are constantly recommended to dialogue with each other to be accepted as a candidate country, for the benefit of the Albanians. Non-negotiating power politics, meanwhile, is historic damage to the country.
Perhaps unjustly we focused more on Esat Toptani’s controversial name, which I would like to close in reference to this interview. So I wanted to know if your opinion of the most sensational of the Toptanis has no dark side to the abuse of power that he had?
We are going back to where we left off. In those years we did not have a consolidated state, but small autonomous republics, local and provincial governments like Lezha with Vat Marash, Elbasan with Aqif Pasha, Iliaz Vrioni Government, Mirdita Republic, Korça etc. the most talked about at the time was only the Elderly of the Middle East of Esat, attended by Faik Konica, General Fazil Pasha Toptani, Dervish Hima, Vehbi Agolli and others.
Historians must recognize the merits and reflect the faults and defects of this wild and arrogant pasha, in many cases clever, olfactory and cunning, who wanted to become a strong ruler of the country at all costs. Strong people and politicians neither love nor hate, ”said Lord Chesterfield. – Achieving the goal is the feeling you possess.
Since we were somewhat overwhelmed by this name, I asked you about the merits that at least you know; What do you value?
As bad as I know and as much as I said, I think there were some merits or values, but maybe even big mistakes, that history will show in the future more clearly. I wanted to tell you about this particular moment for a moment. A few days ago, when King Zog’s departure was being debated, in a heated debate, two respected historians, in critical resistance to the argument in question, addressed the monarchist debater with one voice: “The bird resembled his uncle, Esat , which left nothing in writing or firm, (ie with a document) “. Well, neither Esat, nor Zog, nor anyone else, should be fully charged or unjustly assessed without complete documents and facts. There are also phase papers. For example in Belgrade they say that there is a document that Albanians are tail people … Does anyone believe this?
But Mr. Toptani, it’s been talked a lot about him; there is also innumerable evidence from consistent historians of the period when Esat conducted his political activity.
It is not enough for subjective memories or historical novels of individuals to be regarded as historical scientific facts, but documented facts. Has said Eqerem Vlora (Esat’s first cousin) …, Madame Durhan (in many cases criticized Kemal rather than Esat) … or such consul, his enemies have said, a Greek personality has said etc … and put on the “red wax” seal. Memories are very important and also open up an important path to history in terms of scientific study. For example, on the plot of Beqir Aga Grebene and the idea of partitioning into three cantons of Albania that had been requested by Prince Vid before Ismail Qemali left, it is maliciously required to question the efforts and deeds of the heroic elder Vlora. independence.
Hate criticism we hear about King Zog, a money thief who should have gone and stayed for at least 3 days, would spend three days in the mountains of Kukes or elsewhere, against fascist Italy at the height of technology , its aggressiveness and military strength, at a time when none of the European powers supported it.
You certainly have the word not to be forgotten and the merits, right?
Bypassing the gigantic merits he had in shaping, consolidating and building our state, we tend to just count his mistakes or failures, or even the protagonists of The National Liberation War often required to be denigrated outside of any norms, ethics and upbringing that they did and fought for the country and for the cause they believed in.
Do you think that there is a complete historiography where everything was written and sanctioned regularly in the history of this state and not episodic and fragmentary publications of particular events or individuals?
Convicted communists, we only have memories of prisoners and internees, not historical-official-academic publications. When discussing or debating a historical topic, the discussants and attitudes in the debate are understood, referring to the social and political background of the discussant. We must always strive to resist the angry, emotional little voices within ourselves that come from the past and background, or the sensations and particular impulses of the inkon; to view events calmly and without personal emotions, and to project ourselves right into a more fraternal future as the countrymen of a century-long country, with shared histories, values, merits, and defects that still do not find what they deserve.
And what do you think next?
I think we should act as a civilized, cultured people and have more respect for ourselves and some of the protagonists of history of whatever age and stratum they may be, because it can respect and respect us. hear the world. We are the country, I think, the only one in the world to have betrayed and joined all the leading figures of history, hated in the dock by a hit parade, in which Esat stands, then Zog, the quisling, the Enver and finally Serbia’s fuel suppliers during the Kosovo War and the “South Sea Pirates”, listed in order of magnitude with relative intensity. There has also been an upward trend in the figure of Gjergj Kastriot recently.
Yes it is true. I believe you know well the many years of history between which our national symbol has traveled to this day, right?
The “baby” of the Albanian state was born in very difficult times and in difficult conditions began to grow slowly, after a long calvary of denial domination and fatal repression, especially in the Ottoman Empire’s terminal period, with the punitive expeditions of Javit Pasha, Koll Jurdia, Shefqet Turgut Pasha, who terrorized and disarmed almost the entire territory of the country. The aggression of the pan-Epirotic Venizelist Andartians in the south and the Slav attacks in the north were huge calvaries for the one who was just trying to take the first steps and had a painful “childhood” during the Great and Second World War.
Do you say that should be the facts, the basis of the evaluation of the figures of the nation?
And there are those historians who have the facts near their ears and don’t even hear them in front of their nose and pretend they don’t see them. This puts a lot of blame on our political class as well. Ironically, always honest intellectuals, dissidents, and especially political convicts “burn like the fuel of the car of democracy”; charlatans are its biggest beneficiaries. Pseudo-intellectuals do not represent, in my opinion, honest intellectuals, academics, historians, country publicists, their contribution or work in general.
But for Toptanis I don’t think it’s just about negative tones, or do you have an opinion?
We are grateful to them e.g. some historians, scholars or publicists, who at the time of the dictatorship had the courage and courage to write as much as they could for the contribution of some Toptananis. I would like to respectfully mention Pr.Kristo Frasheri, Pr.Dimitri Fullani, Pr.Alex Buda, Pr.Alexander Xhuvani etc., and especially the well-known publicist Pr. Ferid Hudhrin, who wrote in difficult ideological conditions where the protagonists of history had to have specific indicators.
Have these appreciated family figures?
They had the civil and professional courage to write about the contribution these “patriotic not-so-reactionary bailiffs” have made to culture and the formation of an independent state. This contribution was very important morally and politically for our family.
Mr. Ajten, what is the appreciation and disposition of today’s history for the figures of the Toptani family?
I would rather answer this question by asking myself a few more questions, such as: What air is circulating about the Toptani family on this centennial anniversary? What does the 28th barometer tell the Toptanas? Except for the stereotype of Esat, devilishly served as political consumption for the ignorant citizen, nothing else. The use of Esat’s figure seems like a servile one that he (the damned Albanian) was more devilish and dangerous to Albania than Megalide or Nakernaja, and all the invaders together. And the whole massive contribution of the figures of this family to the national castle is almost eclipsed, on this very important anniversary.
Can you be more concrete in this reserve you have of what is being done today?
I do not understand, but it seems that a “Toptanophobe” epidemic is becoming more evident in current publications. I am amazed and fail to understand how both the Tirana Association (with all due respect) and the municipality (though the order may come from above) do not ask a question to themselves, “Could this city have had patriots? to have given something important for the Independence of Albania, to be mentioned for this important anniversary? “, but they are satisfied with the good contribution of making the state land available for the monuments or fireworks to be thrown at us in Tirana.
I believe you don’t just mean your family, do you?
I am sure there were many other families just as devoted as we were in Tirana, referring to Ibrahim Dalli, Pr. Christo Frasheri, Pr.Bajram Xhafa, Pr.Abdi Baleta, Pr.Polumb Xhufi etc. , etc., and the history of the country.
Now I feel morally obliged as a tyrant in the first place and as a member of this family, to refresh my memory as much as I can to remember the sacrifices and contribution of figures of this family, which are largely in the memory and history of the nation and Tirana.
Here I would like to go out too. After expressing your personal opinion of what happened to the nation’s historical figures, the more of your family, who for the sake of truth have been eclipsed by Esat’s name, my question Mr. Toptani is: Who is really the Toptani family?
Although I am not a historian, I speak, considering the right to express myself as a fundamental freedom in a country on the path to democracy. I feel that the busts of Ismail Qemali, Hasan Prishtina, Ahmet Zogu will soon be set in Tirana – important figures for the undeniable contribution. Noli has long been in place. But a designation, or even a modest Basoreliev or memorial to Refik Sermedin Toptanin, – who received, and in cooperation with Ismail Qemali and the nobles of this city, raised the flag of independence in Tirana, with the enemy at the doorstep, – would to be an acknowledgment and respect for his work, as Elbasan dedicated to his crush, Aqif Pasha Elbasan, over 2 m high.
Don’t you think this is how the anniversary is intrigued, crediting a very limited number of people?
It would not intrigue the anniversary, but rather enrich it and be an honor to the memory of the city and the city hall. The well-known publicist, Colonel Novruz Zaynati, would write “I have added pride to the invincible tribe of the Toptans”, which, as poet Xhevahir Spahiu writes, has had great genius for centuries… .
And what are the concrete contributions of the Toptanis?
Refik Toptani and Abdi Toptani formed the first independent gangs in Central Albania in 1910, attacking Turkish military forces in an uprising along with the Mirdita and Highland and Kosovo bypasses, under the Pera Palas Tax Agreement. “in Istanbul, at the initiative of Hasan Pristina under the direction of Ismail Kemal and with the participation of Myfit Bey Libohova, Syrja Bey Vlora, Esat Pasha Toptani, Abdi Toptani and Aziz Vrioni, who decided to launch the General Insurrection in Albania against the young Turks. and against Haki Pasha’s government. This very important arrangement has been said or overlooked by previous historiography, where the greatest merit and success of the uprising was Hasan Prishtina of Kosovo. Also, Dervish Hima insurgent group in the south joined the student of the University of Thessaloniki, Bedri Toptani. Refik was a member of the governing council of the Congress of Elbasan and Bitola. He was an important protagonist in the Lushnja Congress and together with Abdi became members of the Supreme Council of the Governments of the Republic and of the Monarchy.
– written by Fatos Veliu
