ALBANIAN FOREIGN POLICY SINCE 1990
A talk presented for the Conservative Foreign & Commonwealth Council in the House of Commons on the 26th of March 2007.
Macmillan Room,
Portcullis House,
Thames Embankment,
House of Commons
Dr. Arjan Gjonça
London School of Economics
Mailto: [email protected]
i. A brief history of Albanian Foreign policy during Communism
An awareness of the past is an essential component of any understanding of the present and planning of the future. This is true in all areas even more in understanding the foreign policy of a country with a very difficult past. The Albanian foreign policy in the past decades is not just interesting to study because of its peculiarities, but also because it is eventful and very colourful compared to the present day predicted foreign policy. During the communist period until 1990, the Albanian policy has been driven by a self isolationist approach, due to the fear from the neighbouring countries as well as the other Powers being them from the West, or the former communist block. Immediately after the 2nd World War, Albania brought to an end the diplomatic relationship with both US and UK, despite being allies during the War against the nazi forces. This happened despite the humanitarian aid that Albania received during the aftermath of the War from US and UK. The discontinuation of the diplomatic relations with UK was initiated from the so-called Corfu channel incident. However, the relations worsen during the 1949-52 US-UK mission to over through the communist regime in Albania. The help Albania received from the former Soviet Union during this conflict did not also help the relations between Albania and the former communist block. Thus, in 1960-61 Albania became self isolated from the West and the East at the same time. The country’s political and economic most important ally became China, which supported Albania until late 1970s. After Mao’s death in 1978 Albania cut diplomatic relations with China, surprisely this time on ideological grounds. This is the time when a very isolationist approach follows and it is sanctioned in the 1976 constitution of the country. During this period, Albanian foreign policy can be characterised as a client relationship with the main powers.
A chance was given to Albania from the West in the mid 1980s, when Albania was offered economic aid and support, in order to change the politics into a more liberal ones, but refused the help on ideological grounds.
ii. Main political event in the past 17 years in Albania
• The 1990s students demonstrations
• 1991 the first pluralist parliament
• 1991 The diplomatic relationship with US and UK were restored
• 1992 the first democratic Government in Albania
• 1994 The Balkan war (B-H war)
• 1996-7 The civil unrest of Albania
• 1999 The Kosovo War
• 2006 Albania signs the Stabilisation Association Agreement
• 2008 Albania is expected to become full member of NATO.
iii. Main Pillars of Albanian Foreign Policy today
• European Union integration
• NATO membership
• Regional multilateral relationship
• Peace and stability in the Region (The solution of Kosova’s issue as main priority in this respect)
iv. Continuation in foreign policy between all parties
• The foreign policy has not changed with the political changes in the past 10 years.
v. Albanian and NATO membership and European Integration
With the collapse of communism there was a huge support of the population to orientate the country towards the west, and NATO membership was part of this orientation. Initially the diplomatic relations were restored with the USA and UK governments, then the application for the NATO membership followed in December 1992.
The first democratic government in 1992 was very pro-western and in particular very pro-American. Membership to NATO and the Euro-Atlantic treaties were seen as priority. However, the will to become a member of NATO and the readiness for it proved to be two different things. Despite being the first of the former members of the Warsaw pact to apply for membership in NATO, but it seems to be from the last countries of the former eastern block to joint NATO, expected in 2008.
It was also easier for the Albanian government to apply for joining the NATO, first on the grounds that it was a massive support in the country. Secondly, Albania in the past decades of communism had no relationship with the Warsaw treaty and the former Soviet Union, as the rest of Eastern Europe had. Albania had no diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union and Russia to follow, and was expelled from the Warsaw pact in 1968.
Another very important reason for Albania to apply for the NATO membership was the fear of a wide Balkan war, which could have started in Kosocvo. Berisha and its government were right in this respect as the war started in Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, but fortunately for Albania and the Albanians not in Kosovo.
vi. The Kosovo Issue and the impact on Albanian foreign policy
o An independent and multiethnic Kosovo
o A stable FYROM that respects the rights of Albanian population
o The effects of the Kosovo issue on Albanian Foreign Policy (a pro British and American approach as strategic partners for the future developments) – Britain is pro enlargement, too.
The issue of the future of Kosovo has been an ‘inconvenience’ in the Albanian foreign policy in the past 15 years. While on national grounds Albanians have always supported the idea of an independent Kosovo, and this has been easy as it has had immense popular support, in international arena, Albania has maintained a moderate approach to the issue, emphasising the rights of Albanian to have their own independent state, by respecting the rights of the minorities in the region. However, a very careful and thoughtful policy has been applied in order not to portray Albania and Albanians as demanding a greater Albania, with Kosovo and the Albanian parts of Macedonia. They occasionally have been accused from the Serbian politicians and fragments of European politics. While it is true, that there is not much popular support for a greater Albania either in Albania or Kosovo, the existing policy has been a difficult one on two grounds. On one side Albanian governments have been under immense pressure from first, the Kosovo’s politics on having a more aggressive and active policy towards their independence. The Albanian governments could have easily played the nationalistic cards and gain some political support within Albania, enough needed to win general elections. They never played this nationalistic card. On the other side it has been immense pressure from the international community, namely EU and US to not address the issue of full independence of Kosovo in the International institutions. Despite all this pressures, Albanian foreign policy has been very balanced and it has played an immense role in bringing not just the Albanians in Kosovo in the negotiating table, but also the Albanians in Macedonia to reach a final agreement with the Macedonians (i.e. the Rambouillet and Ohrid agreements)
vii. Albania and its neighbours
Relationship with Greece: Albanian’s relationship with Greece is very important, not just that they share a border with each other, but also because Greece is a member of European Union, of which Albania aspires to become part of. In this respect Greece is influential in determining the future of Albania in Europe. This relationship is very much determined by a large number of factors, history being one, the existing of minorities in both countries, the issue of the expelled Albanian Cams; the existing war law that Greece formally maintains with Albania since Second World War, and more importantly the mutual benefits of a large emigration of Albanians in Greece - more than half a million Albanians have emigrated in Greece in the past 15 years. The history of the relationship is very important as it determines some of the main issues raised by both governments. Two historical events have had an immense impact even today in this relationship; First the Greco-Italian war of the 1940s, which mainly happened on Albanian territories, and since Albania was formally under Italian protectorate, the Greece maintain even at present (formally) a law that considers the two countries to be at War. This has not been removed even by today’s Greek parliament. The second important event is the expel from Greece in the aftermath of the Second World War of the Albanian population living in North of Greece for Centuries, the Cams, a claim that the Greek government does not recognise. The Cam population has been denied the right to their properties by any Greek government. This issue has been raised even recently as far as in 2006 by Albanian government. On the other side the Greek government throws huge support, financially and politically to the Greek minority in Albania, sometimes by interfering in the internal policy of Albania, of which Albanian government is not happy with. Despite all this, both Governments have maintained as priority in the regional relations, the development of good political and economic relationships with each other. A good example of this is the large number of investments of Greek business in Albania, and the recognition of all rights to the Greek minority in Albania by the Albanian government.
Relationship with FYROM: The relationship of Albania and Macedonia has been excellent in the past 15 years. Both countries have realised from an early stage the need for mutual support and the importance of good political and economic relationships. From one side the Albanians were interesting in the wellbeing and rights of the 26% of the population of Macedonia who are ethnically Albanians, as well as in the importance of a stable and trustworthy neighbour. In this respect Albanian parliament was the first to recognise the independence of Macedonia when they declared independence from former Yugoslavia. On the other side the Macedonians have realised that the countries progress towards EU would not be realised if they do not recognise the rights of the Albanian population in Macedonia, who also politically hold the key to any Macedonian government due to their large number of voters. In this respect the Ohrid agreement was signed that recognises all rights of Albanian population in Macedonia. In this respect a large number of bilateral agreements have been signed; i.e. free trade one, cultural and educational one, the energy supply one and many more.