|
Post by insomniac on Jun 15, 2009 14:12:55 GMT -5
Quote: Belgrade tried to influence Albanian developments by supporting the claims of its clients (Esat Pashe Toptani, for example) or by stirring up Catholic tribalism in the North (Marka Gjoni's Mirdite Republic).
But even after the withdrawal of Yugoslav troops from Albania in 1921, Belgrade continued to intervene in Albanian affairs, effectively preventing Albania from acting on behalf of its minority in Yugoslavia.
In the words of Momcilo Ivanic, the problems between Yugoslavia and Albania would best be solved "should our borders be eliminated or allowed to become purely formal".Then goes on to say,
|
|
|
Post by todhrimencuri on Jun 15, 2009 14:20:24 GMT -5
Fan Noli was too much of an idealist. He lacked the power to make any of his reforms (good reforms while at it) and yet still pushed for them. He alienated the very men who put him in power. Zog, I think, was far more realistic than Noli, he too would have pushed through the necessary land reforms throughout the country, but at a more opportune time. So long as Albania's beys lived, changes in the country and progress was significantly held back. It would be up to Hoxha, as a total victor of the civil war, to completely eradicate the old Ottoman system.
Unfortunately, the much of the history of the early Albanian state was plagued by the amount of influence ex-Ottoman officials, beys and pashas wielded in the country. Men who were corrupt to the bone and who would rather be kings in their own village then smaller leaders in the whole thing.
|
|
|
Post by insomniac on Jun 15, 2009 14:44:05 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by insomniac on Jun 15, 2009 15:01:57 GMT -5
In any case the end result was: Yugoslavia dissolved, Slavs killed each other, Belgrade was bombed.
Albania didn't have to raise a finger to achieve this. Rather its persistency for which we should give Hoxha some credit. Yugoslavia collapsed from within. Our position now is also stronger.
|
|
donnie
Senior Moderator
Nike Leka i Kelmendit
Posts: 3,389
|
Post by donnie on Jun 15, 2009 15:39:51 GMT -5
Zogu was a prick for killing so many patriots. Rrustemi, Curri, Prishtina, Dibra and others. My distaste for him is largely connected to his policies towards Kosova and the kacak movement under Azem Bejta. Of course, realistically speaking, the prospects of actually liberating Kosova were dim. Nevertheless, the kacak movement could've been used as a tool by Zogu instead of persecuting them like dogs, to infiltrate Yugoslavia much like Yugoslavia infiltrated Albania through the Mirdita republic and other schemes. Instead, his policies brought the movement to its knees; Azem Bejta was killed in 1924 and after that the "Agrarian reform" (colonization programme) began, with the Yugoslav government intentionally settling Slavs from the rest of Yugoslavia in all of Kosova, in particular Drenica where the kacak movement had its cradle.
|
|
|
Post by todhrimencuri on Jun 15, 2009 15:46:04 GMT -5
When Zog came to power Albania was an occupied paper country. He had to deal with Greek paramilitaries slaughtering Muslim Albanians in the south and sending mass of peasant refugees northward, he had Bulgarians still occupying large portions around Prespa, and Serbs holding major portions of the north and Italians along the Adriatic. If he even showed slight support for Kacaks, Yugoslavia would have easily crushed him with the help of our neighbors.
I agree with you, I too wish he had shown more support for Kosova and I dont much like his thirst for power but I also think that it is necessary to keep in mind just in what kind of predicament Albania was in at the time. He had to deal with a million things, he had refugees north and south, a bankrupt nation with no credentials for borrowing (League of Nations declined to give loans), Italian mischief constantly countering all of his decisions, beys and pashas who couldnt give a damn about him or the country in general, pro-Ottoman revolts.
His assassinations were in large part enactments of the blood feud. Especially against Rrustemi, who organized the earlier assassination plot against Zogu.
|
|
donnie
Senior Moderator
Nike Leka i Kelmendit
Posts: 3,389
|
Post by donnie on Jun 15, 2009 16:00:19 GMT -5
Of course. I have had the same discussion with some legalist family members who think well of Zogu, and they have said the same (not implying you're a legalist). Zogu was a cold realist and could not afford mistakes. Yugoslavia had the upper hand. Still though, I cannot but imagine what would've happened if he didn't get so tough with the kacaks. If he just looked the other way, or staged unserious campaigns against Bejta's men and the free zone of Juniku. Prior to Zogu's actions, the Yugoslav state faced difficulties taking care of Bejta, who always found refugee in Albania, from whence he could stage operations in Kosova.
The continuation of the movement wouldn't have liberated Kosova ... but definetely obstruct the colonization programme, as it did for many years. All speculations, however. Zogu was a power hungry man in head of a weak country. He double played Yugoslavia (the demise of Nikola Pasic is attributed to Zogu who with his alliance with Italy, fvkced the Yugoslavs' "investment" in our country) and did good for someone in his position. Perhaps an evil necessity whose work was abrupted by Italy's invasion and his flight. This was his only mistake, an inevitable one perhaps, namely the deadly dependance on fascist Italy.
|
|
Lib-Fier
Amicus
Bricklayer 'works for meals'
Posts: 1,092
|
Post by Lib-Fier on Jun 16, 2009 5:12:50 GMT -5
Noli was a visionary, he was so far ahead of his time, however he had very little at his disposal.
|
|
|
Post by alb12345 on Jun 16, 2009 6:43:44 GMT -5
Zogun personally i consider the biggest albanian traitor ever. He killed the most patriot albanians of the time and make himself king what i hate the most about him is that in 1939 albania had a proper army well armed but he left albania just before italy invated us we all know that kind of cowards are italian in fight even modern greek army did beat them. zogu when was in london he stayed for 3 years with 200 other people on the most expensive hotel in london what a prick his family has to be baned to come in albania
|
|