The Congress of Durrës (1918) was held, gathering representatives of Albania in the former capital city of Durrës, aiming at the revival of the Albanian state and the defense of national rights in the difficult conditions following the end of World War I. The Congress of Durrës took place in the presence of Italian military occupation and at a time when the government in Rome had prepared plans for the destruction of independence and the division of the country. Over 50 delegates participated. There were no representatives from Luma and Peshkopia, which were under Serbian occupation; from Korçë and Pogradec, under the occupation of French forces; and from Vlora, which was considered by the Italian occupation authorities as a region under the full sovereignty of Italy. The Congress of Durrës elected a provisional government consisting of 14 members, with Turhan Përmeti as chairman and Preng Bib Doda as vice chairman. Other members of the government included Mehdi Frashëri for Internal Affairs, Mehmet Konica for Foreign Affairs, Pjetër Poga as Minister of Justice; Fejzi Alizoti as Minister of Finance; Luigj Gurakuqi as Minister of Education; Mustafa Kruja as Minister of Post and Telegraph; Lef Nosi as Minister of Food and Economy; and Sami Vrioni as Minister of Public Works and Agriculture. Mithat Frashëri, Mihal Turtulli, and Luigj Bumçi were also elected as members of the government, who, along with Turhan Pasha and Mehmet Konica, were appointed to the Albanian government delegation for the Paris Peace Conference (1919). The delegates gathered at the Congress of Durrës expressed their commitment to preserving the independence and territorial integrity of the Albanian state, revising the borders of 1913 in its favor, and presenting these demands to the Peace Conference. The Congress of Durrës also decided to establish a senate as an advisory body to the government, which would convene once every two months. The decisions and positions of the delegates opposed the expansionist plans of neighboring countries, primarily Italy. However, the government formed after the Congress of Durrës, led by Turhan Pasha, capitulated to the Italian occupiers, and acted against the decisions of the Congress of Durrës. For these reasons, it was condemned by the Congress of Lushnjë (1920) and overthrown. (In the photo: Delegates at the Congress of Durrës, 1918.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1256-1257.
Photo: © https://konica.al/2018/12/kongresi-i-durresit-cfare-ndodhi-100-vite-me-pare/
Graphic processing: AHCF
