NIE-42: THE CURRENT SITUATION IN ALBANIA, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO GREEK, YUGOSLAV AND ITALIAN INTERESTS AND PRETENSIONS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79R01012A001200030019-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 9, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 31, 2000
• Sequence Number: 19
• Publication Date: October 2, 1951
• Content Type: NIE

2 Oct. 51. PJH
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NIE-42: The current Sttuation in Albania, with particular Reference to
Greek, Yugoslav and Italian Interesta and Pretensions
Ale
Prior to the Cominform-Yugo$lav rift in June 1945, Albania had been
closely tied, faith politically and economically, to Yugoslavia. Rather
than follow Marshal Tito's heresy, however, Hoxha chose the Moscow camp
and launched a vigorous campaign for the elimination of "nationalist"
elements in Albania. This campaign was initiated by Hoxha'a chief
lieutenant, Koci Xoxe, and culminated in the latter's own arrest,,
conviction, and execution. Hoxha not only ski11fu11y extricated A1barLla
from its ties with Yugoslavia, emphasizing his loyalty to Moscow, but
also removed his leading rival. Xoxe was replaced by the present
Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Mohmet Shehir, and although there are
A
reports of rivalry between Sheh'tr and Hoxha, the latter apparently enjoys
the favor of the Kremlin and Sheh. Moscow-trained but undistinguished as
a politician, appears to have little chance of supplanting Hoxha.
Moscow, for its part, has recognized th4 importance of Albania as a
pro-Stalinist ouipost in the Mediterranean area, and following the Tito-
Cominform rift, increased its aid and support to the Hoxha overnment,
replacing the support formerly received from Yugoslavia.
Albania is dependent upon Soviet economic support to the extent
that, without it, the country's economy would collapse within a few
months. In addition to the control with which this situation provides
the USSR, an estimated 1,000 Soviet military and civilian "experts" hold
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The Current Situation in Alba i - .0 C-1
 of the Mountains," "Liberty," "Skan erbeg," and "Bashkimi i Kombit,"
but specific information regarding these groups is lacking.
Of tae A~-banan emigre'novements the Committee for a Free Albania,
an affiliate of the Natio al C mxiittee for a Free Europe with operational
headquarters in Rome, is probably the most influential with resistance
groups within Albania. The Committee's activities wit nAlbaniaa have,
of necess t , en liu~i.ted and its most effective opera v us far has been
the dropping of propaganda leaflets over Albania. The leaflets caused con-
siderable excitement within the country, prompting a note of protest to the
Italian government, and encouraged numerous Albanians to WrA flee Albania
with the hape of joining the Committee in its struggle against the Hoxha
regime. Three groups make up the Committee: (1) the National Agrarian
Democratic Party Balli Kombetar headed by Hasan Dosti, (2) the Legality
Party (pro-King Zog) headed by Abos Kupi, and (3) the League of Peasants
and Villagers headed by Said Kryeziu. The first, Balli Kombeta:~,has
the strongest following in southern Albania, the second, the Legality Party,
in central and northern Albania, and the third, the League of Peasants
sad Villagers, has its strongest following in the extreme north and in
the neighboring Yugoslav provinces inhabited largely by Albanians.
In addition to the Committee for a free Albania, there is in Italy a
party known as Biloku Kombetar Independent made up of pro-Italian Albanians.
25X6D
This group cooperated with Italy before and during the war and it allegedly
25X6D enjoys the full support of the present Italian government,
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Of particular current interest is the recently created League of Albanian
Political Refugees in Yugoslavia claiming to represent some 5] OO Albanian
refugees. The League is composed largely of Albanian Communists who fled
Albania since 1948, and, despite its procS arced (bbiective of "an independept,
free, indivisible democratic and republic" Albania, was actually created by
Belade as an instrument of Yugoslav licy hie the League has
alrey engaged in dome subversive activi and propaganda work, Yugoslavia s
A
own exposed position has probably deterred Tito from yet using the League
to the full.
In Greece, most of the Albanian refugees are from southern
Albania (Northern E3.pirus), which Greece claims, and their activities
are aimed at eventual Greek annexation of that area. Their efforts have,
therefore, been largely in the field of espionage, propaganda and encourage-
went of additional mfugees.
Thus, in addition to the local resistance groups, there are operating
within Albania, agents of these four major refugee organizations: ,'The
Committee for a Free Albania and the pro-Italian, Greek, and Yugoslav organiza-
tions. Their activities are unkelated and their objectives frequently
x conflict. These factors, plus the lack of coordination among the
local groups, has considerably simplified the task of the Albanian securit y
forces in isolating and destroying individual groups.
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tinder present circumstances, resistance activity constitutes a
constant problem of harassment to the Hoxha regime. It is not, how3ver,
on such a scale as to present an immediate threat to the regime. As long
as the resistance effort is diffused and does not receive subdtantial
external aid, the Albanian security forces will probably succeed in con-
taining the problem.
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