International Commission of Control
Encyclopedia
The International Commission of Control was the commission established on October 15, 1913, on the basis of the decision by the six Great Power
s made on July 29, 1913, according to the London Treaty signed on May 30, 1913. Its goal was to take care of the administration of newly established Albania
until its own political institutions were in order.
. The Great Powers authorized the commission to assume the administration
of the country.
s established the Commission of Control composed of the representatives of each Great Power and one Albanian
.
Members of the commission were:
When prince Wilhelm of Wied took control over the Principality of Albania
in March 1914, the Albanian representative (Libohova) was replaced by Mehdi Frashëri on March 17, 1914. After that change, all the other members of commission remained on their positions until September 9, 1914, except the representative of the Austria-Hungary
who resigned on his position before May 25, 1914.
with power of legislation in Albania which was designed as hereditary constitutional monarchy.
According to the constitution
, the country would have, with few exceptions, the same administrative organization as during the Ottoman Empire
suzerainty. It would be partitioned on seven administrative districts, each of them would choose three representatives for national assembly by direct suffrage.
Prince would nominee ten representatives and heads of the all three religions (Islam
, Orthodox
and Catholic) would be also representatives in the national assembly, which would have four year term. The Council of Ministres, with executive powers, would be appointed by the prince
.
the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
, the Commission intervened in order to avoid escalation of the conflicts. As a result the Protocol of Corfu
was signed, which recognized the autonomous status of Albania's southern provinces, which consisted of Northern Epirus
. Morevoer, the execution and maintenance of this agreement was entrusted to the Commission.
. Despite leaving Albania he did so insisting that he remained head of state. In his proclamation he informed the people that "he deemed it necessary to absent himself temporarily." Prince handed over the government to the International Commission of Control which soon, after only three days, dispersed.
Great power
A great power is a nation or state that has the ability to exert its influence on a global scale. Great powers characteristically possess military and economic strength and diplomatic and cultural influence which may cause small powers to consider the opinions of great powers before taking actions...
s made on July 29, 1913, according to the London Treaty signed on May 30, 1913. Its goal was to take care of the administration of newly established 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...
until its own political institutions were in order.
History
The Headquarters of the International Commission of Control was in VlorëVlorë
Vlorë is one of the biggest towns and the second largest port city of Albania, after Durrës, with a population of about 94,000 . It is the city where the Albanian Declaration of Independence was proclaimed on November 28, 1912...
. The Great Powers authorized the commission to assume the administration
Central Administration
Central administration is the leading or presiding body or group of people, and the highest administrative department who oversee all lower departments of an organization.-Education:...
of the country.
Members of the commission
The Great PowerGreat power
A great power is a nation or state that has the ability to exert its influence on a global scale. Great powers characteristically possess military and economic strength and diplomatic and cultural influence which may cause small powers to consider the opinions of great powers before taking actions...
s established the Commission of Control composed of the representatives of each Great Power and one Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
.
Members of the commission were:
- Léon-Alphonse-Thadée Krajewski (FranceFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) - Harry Harling Lamb (United KingdomUnited KingdomThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) - Alessandro Leoni (ItalyItalyItaly , 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...
) - Aleksandr Mihajlovič Petrjaev (RussiaRussiaRussia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
) - Aristoteles Petrović (Austria-HungaryAustria-HungaryAustria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
) - Julius Winckel (GermanyGermanyGermany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) - Myfit LibohovaMyfit LibohovaMyfit Bej Libohova or Mufid Libohova ,was born in the southern Albanian city of Libohova, scion of a wealthy landowning family. He served initially in the Ottoman administration and represented Albania in the parliament of the Young Turks in 1908...
(Albania)
When prince Wilhelm of Wied took control over the Principality of Albania
Principality of Albania
The Principality of Albania refers to the short-lived monarchy in Albania, headed by William, Prince of Albania and to the state after the First World War, until the abolition of the monarchy in 1925, when Albania was declared a republic.-Principality:The Principality was established on February...
in March 1914, the Albanian representative (Libohova) was replaced by Mehdi Frashëri on March 17, 1914. After that change, all the other members of commission remained on their positions until September 9, 1914, except the representative of the Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
who resigned on his position before May 25, 1914.
Administration
After gradually assuming the administration of the country in 1914, the International Commission prepared a draft of the constitution with 216 articles. It would provide establishment of the National AssemblyNational Assembly
National Assembly is either a legislature, or the lower house of a bicameral legislature in some countries. The best known National Assembly, and the first legislature to be known by this title, was that established during the French Revolution in 1789, known as the Assemblée nationale...
with power of legislation in Albania which was designed as hereditary constitutional monarchy.
According to the constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
, the country would have, with few exceptions, the same administrative organization as during the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
suzerainty. It would be partitioned on seven administrative districts, each of them would choose three representatives for national assembly by direct suffrage.
Prince would nominee ten representatives and heads of the all three religions (Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
, Orthodox
Orthodox Christianity
The term Orthodox Christianity may refer to:* the Eastern Orthodox Church and its various geographical subdivisions...
and Catholic) would be also representatives in the national assembly, which would have four year term. The Council of Ministres, with executive powers, would be appointed by the prince
Prince
Prince is a general term for a ruler, monarch or member of a monarch's or former monarch's family, and is a hereditary title in the nobility of some European states. The feminine equivalent is a princess...
.
Protocol of Corfu
On May 17, after the Greeks living in southern Albania declaredNorthern Epirote Declaration of Independence
The Northern Epirote Declaration of Independence occurred on February 28, 1914, in Argyrokastron , against the decision of incorporation of Northern Epirus to the newly established Albanian principality....
the Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus
The Autonomous Republic of Northern Epirus was a short-lived, self-governing entity founded on February 28, 1914, in the aftermath of the Balkan Wars, by the Greeks living in southern Albania ....
, the Commission intervened in order to avoid escalation of the conflicts. As a result the Protocol of Corfu
Protocol of Corfu
The Protocol of Corfu , signed on May 17, 1914, was an agreement between representatives of the Albanian Government and the Provisional Government of Northern Epirus, which officially recognized the area of Northern Epirus as an autonomous region within the Albanian state...
was signed, which recognized the autonomous status of Albania's southern provinces, which consisted of Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus
Northern Epirus is a term used to refer to those parts of the historical region of Epirus, in the western Balkans, that are part of the modern Albania. The term is used mostly by Greeks and is associated with the existence of a substantial ethnic Greek population in the region...
. Morevoer, the execution and maintenance of this agreement was entrusted to the Commission.
The end of administration
With Albania in a state of civil war since July 1914, Greece occupying the south of the country, the great powers at war with one another, regime collapsed, and Prince William left the country on 3 September 1914 originally heading to VeniceVenice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
. Despite leaving Albania he did so insisting that he remained head of state. In his proclamation he informed the people that "he deemed it necessary to absent himself temporarily." Prince handed over the government to the International Commission of Control which soon, after only three days, dispersed.