Congress of Lushnjë
Encyclopedia
The Congress of Lushnjë was held in five sessions on January 27-January 31, 1920 in Lushnjë
, Albania
by Albanian nationalists and had as its goal the study of the Albanian situation and the measures to be adopted in order to save Albania from being partitioned among other countries after World War I
. The Congress was held in the house of Kaso Fuga and it comprised delegates from all of Albania. Aqif Pashë Elbasani was elected as speaker of the Congress as he was held in high regard as a great patriot. It established the High Council (Këshilli i Lartë), the National Council (Këshilli Kombëtar), and moved the capital from Lushnjë
to Tirana
. The High Council was made up of Luigj Bumçi, Aqif Pashë Elbasani, Abdi Toptani, and Mihal Turtulli who would perform the function of the leaders of the new Albanian state, whereas the National Council would function as the Parliament.
The Congress was also concerned with the Government of Durrës that had the backing of the invading Italian
army. It was alleged that Abdyl Ypi, the initiator of the Congress, had been assassinated by members of the Government of Durrës, who wanted to scare off the other delegates to the Congress. During its first session, the Congress decided unanimously on the downing of the Government of Durrës and the organization of armed against the Italian forces that were in control of part of southern Albania. The congress's decisions would eventually lead a few months to the Vlora War
and as a result to the total withdrawal of the Italian army from Albania.
Lushnjë
Lushnjë or Lushnje is a city in Central-West Albania located at 40.95°N, 19.71°E. It is the center of the District of Lushnje in the County of Fier and has a population of about 54,813. The town was founded in late medieval times by a Turkish widow called Salushe. She built a rest stop on the...
, Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
by Albanian nationalists and had as its goal the study of the Albanian situation and the measures to be adopted in order to save Albania from being partitioned among other countries after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The Congress was held in the house of Kaso Fuga and it comprised delegates from all of Albania. Aqif Pashë Elbasani was elected as speaker of the Congress as he was held in high regard as a great patriot. It established the High Council (Këshilli i Lartë), the National Council (Këshilli Kombëtar), and moved the capital from Lushnjë
Lushnjë
Lushnjë or Lushnje is a city in Central-West Albania located at 40.95°N, 19.71°E. It is the center of the District of Lushnje in the County of Fier and has a population of about 54,813. The town was founded in late medieval times by a Turkish widow called Salushe. She built a rest stop on the...
to Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
. The High Council was made up of Luigj Bumçi, Aqif Pashë Elbasani, Abdi Toptani, and Mihal Turtulli who would perform the function of the leaders of the new Albanian state, whereas the National Council would function as the Parliament.
The Congress was also concerned with the Government of Durrës that had the backing of the invading Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
army. It was alleged that Abdyl Ypi, the initiator of the Congress, had been assassinated by members of the Government of Durrës, who wanted to scare off the other delegates to the Congress. During its first session, the Congress decided unanimously on the downing of the Government of Durrës and the organization of armed against the Italian forces that were in control of part of southern Albania. The congress's decisions would eventually lead a few months to the Vlora War
Vlora War
The Vlora War or the War of 1920 was a series of battles between an Italian forces garrisoned throughout Vlorë region and Albanian patriots divided in small groups of fighters. The war lasted three months and had great impact in the struggle of Albania for the safeguard of its territories at a...
and as a result to the total withdrawal of the Italian army from Albania.
Cabinet
- Sulejman DelvinaSulejman DelvinaSulejman Delvina was an Albanian politician and prime minister in 1920.- Life :Sulejman Delvina was born in Delvinë, modern southern Albania on October 5, 1884. In 1899 he graduated from the Mekteb-i Mülkiye...
, Prime Minister
- Ahmet Zogu – Minister of Internal Affairs
- Mehmet KonicaMehmet KonicaMehmet Konica, was a twice Foreign Minister of Albania . He was the brother of the Albanian writer Faik Konica....
– Minister of Foreign Affairs - Hoxhë Kadria – Minister of Justice
- Ndoc Çoba – Minister of Finance
- Sotir PeçiSotir PeçiSotir Peçi was an Albanian politician, educator and mathematician. In 1906 he published the first Albanian-language newspaper in the United States of America in Boston. In 1908 he participated as a delegate in the Congress of Monastir...
– Minister of Education - Ali Riza Kolonja – Minister of War
- Eshref FrashëriEshref FrashëriEshref Frashëri was an Albanian politician. He served as Chairman of the National Council of Albania from 1922 until 1923. He also served as General Director of World Affairs at the Congress of Lushnjë in 1920.-Reference:...
– General Director of World Affairs - Idhomene Kosturi – General Director of the Post-Telegraph Agency.