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{{Infobox former country
albania UMISLJENA DRYAVA KOJA NIKADA NECE BITI ONO STO ONA MISLI DA CE DA BUDE!
|native_name = Shqipëria
|conventional_long_name = Independent Albania
|common_name = Albania
|continent = Europe
|region = Balkans
|country = Albania, Serbia including Kosovo, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro
|era = [[World War I]]
|status = Former unrecognized countries
|status_text = <!--- A free text to describe status the top of the infobox. Use sparingly. --->
|empire = Ottoman Empire
|government_type = Parliamentary system
<!--- Rise and fall, events, years and dates --->
<!-- only fill in the start/end event entry if a specific article exists. Don't just say "abolition" or "declaration"-->
|year_start = 1912
|year_end = 1914
|year_exile_start = <!--- Year of start of exile (if dealing with exiled government - status="Exile") --->
|year_exile_end = <!--- Year of end of exile (leave blank if still in exile) --->
|event_start = [[Albanian Declaration of Independence|Independence declared]]
|date_start = 28 November
|event_end = [[Principality of Albania|Prince accepted the throne]]
|date_end = 21 February
|event1 = <!--- Optional: other events between "start" and "end" --->
|date_event1 =
|event2 =
|date_event2 =
|event3 =
|date_event3 =
|event4 =
|date_event4 =
|event_pre = <!--- Optional: A crucial event that took place before before "event_start"--->
|date_pre =
|event_post = <!--- Optional: A crucial event that took place before after "event_end"--->
|date_post =
<!--- Flag navigation: Preceding and succeeding entities p1 to p5 and s1 to s5 --->
|p1 = Ottoman Empire
|flag_p1 = Ottoman Flag.svg
|image_p1 = <!--- Use: [[Image:Sin escudo.svg|20px|Image missing]] --->
|p2 =
|flag_p2 =
|p3 =
|flag_p3 =
|p4 =
|flag_p4 =
|p5 =
|flag_p5 =
|s1 = Kingdom of Serbia
|flag_s1 = Civil Flag of Serbia.svg
|image_s1 = <!--- Use: [[Image:Sin escudo.svg|20px|Image missing]] --->
|s2 = Kingdom of Montenegro
|flag_s2 = Flag of the Kingdom of Montenegro.svg
|s3 = Kingdom of Greece
|flag_s3 = Flag of Greece (1828-1978).svg
|s4 = Principality of Albania
|flag_s4 = Albania 1914 Flag.svg
|s5 =
|flag_s5 =
|image_flag = Flag of Albanian Provisional Government 1912-1914.svg
|flag_alt = <!--- Alt text for flag -->
|flag = Flag of Albania
|flag_type =
|image_coat = <!--- Default: Coat of arms of {{{common name}}}.svg --->
|coat_alt = <!--- Alt text for coat of arms --->
|symbol = <!--- Link target under symbol image. Default: Coat of arms of {{{common name}}} --->
|symbol_type = <!--- Displayed text for link under symbol. Default "Coat of arms" --->
|image_map = Albanski vilajet.gif
|image_map_alt =
|image_map_caption = Territory of the Albanian Vilayet for which independence was declared
|image_map2 = <!-- If second map is needed - does not appear by default -->
|image_map2_alt =
|image_map2_caption =
|capital = [[Vlora]]
|capital_exile = <!-- If status="Exile" -->
|latd= |latm= |latNS= |longd= |longm= |longEW=
|national_motto =
|national_anthem = ''[[Himni i Flamurit]]''<br><small>"Hymn to the Flag"</small>
|common_languages = [[Albanian language|Albanian]], [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Serbian language|Serbian]], [[Bulgarian language|Bulgarian]], [[Macedonian language|Macedonian]]
|religion = [[Islam]], [[Christianity]], [[Judaism]]
|currency = franc of the [[Latin Monetary Union]]
<!--- Titles and names of the first and last leaders and their deputies --->
|leader1 = [[Ismail Qemali]]<ref>{{Citation |last=Elsie |first=Robert |author= Robert Elsie |authorlink= Robert Elsie |title= Historical dictionary of Albania |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/historical-dictionary-of-albania/oclc/454375231&referer=brief_results |accessdate= 4 February 2012 |year=2010 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |location=Lanham |isbn=978-0-8108-7380-3 |oclc=454375231 |page=367 |chapter= Independent Albania (1912—1944) |chapterurl=http://books.google.rs/books?id=haFlGXIg8uoC&pg=PA503&dq=bey+vlora+%22head+of+state%22+1912+albania&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LJk5T5qILaWB4gTpspShCw&redir_esc=y#v=snippet&q=%22%20Ismail%20Qemal%20Bey%20Vlora%2C%20who%20declared%20Albanian%20independence%20in%201912%2C%20was%20the%20first%20acting%20head%20of%20state%20and%20therefore%20might%20be%20regarded%20as%20the%20country's%20first%20president.%22%20&f=false |quote= PRESIDENT: Ismail Qemal Bey Vlora, who declared Albanian independence in 1912, was the first acting head of state and therefore might be regarded as the country's first president.}}</ref>
|leader2 = [[Fejzi Alizoti]]
|leader3 =
|leader4 =
|year_leader1 = 1912–1914
|year_leader2 = 1914
|year_leader3 =
|year_leader4 =
|title_leader = [[Heads of State of Albania|Head of State]]
|representative1 = <!--- Name of representative of head of state (eg. colonial governor) --->
|representative2 =
|representative3 =
|representative4 =
|year_representative1 = <!--- Years served --->
|year_representative2 =
|year_representative3 =
|year_representative4 =
|title_representative = <!--- Default: "Governor"--->
|deputy1 = [[Ismail Qemali]]
|deputy2 = [[Fejzi Alizoti]]
|deputy3 =
|deputy4 =
|year_deputy1 = 1912–1914
|year_deputy2 = 1914
|year_deputy3 =
|year_deputy4 =
|title_deputy = [[Prime Minister of Albania|Prime Minister]]
<!--- Legislature --->
|legislature = Assembly of Vlorë
|house1 = Senate of Albania
|type_house1 = Upper house
|house2 =
|type_house2 =
<!--- Area and population of a given year --->
|stat_year1 = <!--- year of the statistic, specify either area, population or both --->
|stat_area1 = <!--- area in square kílometres (w/o commas or spaces), area in square miles is calculated --->
|stat_pop1 = <!--- population (w/o commas or spaces), population density is calculated if area is also given --->
|stat_year2 =
|stat_area2 =
|stat_pop2 =
|stat_year3 =
|stat_area3 =
|stat_pop3 =
|stat_year4 =
|stat_area4 =
|stat_pop4 =
|stat_year5 =
|stat_area5 =
|stat_pop5 =
|footnotes = <!--- Accepts wikilinks --->
}}
The '''Independent Albania''' was a parliamentary state established in [[Vlorë]] (then [[Ottoman Empire]], today [[Republic of Albania]]) on 28 November 1912. Its [[Assembly of Vlorë|assembly]] was constituted on the same day while its [[Provisional Government of Albania|government]] and [[Senate of Albania|senate]] were established on 4 December 1912.

The delegation of Albania submitted a memorandum to the [[London Conference of 1913]] requesting the international recognition of independent Albania. At the beginning of the conference it was decided that the region of Albania would be under the [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] suzerainty but with an autonomous government. The requests of Albania for its international recognition based on the ethnic rights of [[Albanians]] were rejected and the [[Treaty of London (1913)|treaty]] signed on 30 May 1913 partitioned a major part of the independent Albania between [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbia]], [[Kingdom of Greece|Greece]] and [[Kingdom of Montenegro|Montenegro]], leaving the territory of Albania reduced to central Albania which was put under the protection of the Great Powers. The ambassadors of six Great Powers met again on 29 July 1913 and decided to constitute a new state, [[Principality of Albania|Albania]], as a constitutional monarchy. Finally, with the [[Treaty of Bucharest (1913)|Treaty of Bucharest]] being signed in August 1913 a new independent state was established — the [[Principality of Albania]], leaving about 30%<ref>{{Citation |last=Elsie |first=Robert |author= Robert Elsie |authorlink= Robert Elsie |title= Historical dictionary of Albania |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/historical-dictionary-of-albania/oclc/454375231&referer=brief_results |accessdate= 4 February 2012 |year=2010 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |location=Lanham |isbn=978-0-8108-7380-3 |oclc=454375231 |page=lix |chapter= Independent Albania (1912—1944) |chapterurl=http://books.google.rs/books?id=haFlGXIg8uoC&pg=PR59&dq=%22%22Independent+Albania+(1912%22%22robert+elsie&hl=en&sa=X&ei=L6AtT7TZLsT04QS4gcX_DQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Independent%20Albania%20(1912%22&f=false |quote= ... about 30 percent of the Albanian population were excluded from the new state }}</ref> of the ethnic Albanian population outside the borders of the new principality because they lived on the territory of Albania partitioned between its neighboring countries.

== Name ==
The name of the state used in the text of [[Albanian Declaration of Independence|declaration of independence of Albania]] is ''Shqipëria'' ({{lang-en|Albania}}).<ref>{{Citation |last=Islami |first=Selim |author= Selim Islami |coauthors=Kristo Frashëri, Aleks Buda |title=Historia e popullit shqiptar |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=k5U1T73LHMnJsgbq4sChDA&id=TjgNAQAAIAAJ&dq=Shqip%C3%ABria+e+lir%C3%AB+e+mosvarme&q=%22Shqip%C3%ABria+me+sot%22#search_anchor |year=1968 |month= |publisher=Enti i botimeve shkollare i Republikës Socialiste të Serbisë |location=Prishtinë |language= Albanian |oclc=1906502 |page= 352 |quote= Propozimet e kryetarit u aprovuan njëzëri e me entusiazëm nga delegatët, te cilët nënshkruan dokumentin historik ku thuhej: „ . . . Shqipëria me sot te bahet ne vehte, e lire ee mosvarme."}}</ref> It is also referred to as the "independent Albania" ({{lang-sq|Shqipëria e Mosvarme}})<ref>{{cite web|last=Pirraku|first=Muhamet|title=Cili Është Mesazhi I Emërtimeve “SHQIPËRIA SHTETËRORE” |url=http://www.albaniapress.com/indeksi?p=lexo_lajmin&id=8652|publisher=AlbaniaPress.com : Agjensia Informative Shqiptare |accessdate=18 February 2012|author=Muhamet Pirraku|date=19 April 2009|year=2009|quote=Shteti i projektuar nga Konferenca e Ambasadorëve në Londër, më 1913, si: “Principata e Shqipërisë” me shtrirjen vetëm në një pjesë të Bregdetit shqiptar, ... të më pak se një e treta e tokave të shtetit “Shqipëria e Mosvarme” e shpallur në Vlorë, më 28 nëntor 1912 (State designed by the Conference of Ambassadors in London in 1913, as: "The Principality of Albania" ... is less than a third of the terriory of "Independent Albania" declared in Vlora, on November 28, 1912)}}</ref>, the "Albanian State"<ref>{{Citation |last=Puto |first=Arben |author=Arben Puto| coauthors=[[Academy of Sciences of Albania]] |title=National forces against imperialist dictate in the organization of the Albanian State, 1912-1914 |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/national-forces-against-imperialist-dictate-in-the-organization-of-the-albanian-state-1912-1914-report/oclc/11497570&referer=brief_results |year= 1983 |publisher= "8 Nëntori" Pub. House |location= Tirana |oclc=11497570}}</ref> ({{lang-sq|Shteti Shqiptar}}) or the "independent state of Albania"<ref>{{Citation |last=Jansen |first=Suzanne |author=Suzanne Jansen |title=The Kosovo Status Negotiations in 2006 |url=http://www.ams.pvda.nl/binaries/content/assets/ams/Scriptie+Suzanne+Jansen.pdf/Scriptie+Suzanne+Jansen.pdf |year=2006 |month= August |publisher=[[University of Amsterdam|Universiteit van Amsterdam]] |location= Amsterdam |page=50 |quote=The Proclamation of the Independent State of Albania, 1912 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Zolo |first=Danilo |author=Danilo Zolo |title=Invoking humanity : war, law, and global order |url= http://books.google.rs/books?id=t7KNgpZRnM8C&pg=PA179&dq=%22independent+state+of+albania%22+1912&hl=en&sa=X&ei=DYQ5T-3KHOKQ4gS7zaChCw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22independent%20state%20of%20albania%22%201912&f=false |year= 2002 |publisher=Continuum |location=London |isbn=978-0-8264-5656-4 |oclc= 47844508 |page=179 |quote= In November 1912 the independent state of Albania was proclaimed at Vlore }}</ref> ({{lang-sq|Shteti i pavarur shqiptar}})<ref>{{Citation |last=Omari |first=Luan |author=Luan Omari |title=Historia e shtetit dhe e së drejtës në Shqipëri [History of state and law in Albania] |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/historia-e-shtetit-dhe-e-se-drejtes-ne-shqiperi-2/oclc/164822827&referer=brief_results |volume=2 |year=1994 |month= |publisher= Shtëpia Botuese Luarasi |location=Tiranë |language= Albanian |oclc=164822827 |chapter=Shteti i pavarur shqiptar në vitet 1912-1914 [Independent state of Albania in the years 1912-1914]|quote=Shteti i pavarur shqiptar në vitet 1912-1914 [Independent state of Albania in the years 1912-1914]}}</ref>.

== Political system ==
The independent Albania established on 28 November 1912 is the first Albanian state in modern history.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sokalski|first=Henryk J|title=An ounce of prevention: Macedonia and the UN experience in preventive diplomacy|year=2003|publisher=United States Institute of Peace Press|location=Washington, D.C.|url=http://books.google.rs/books?id=YYqiGyoakN8C&pg=PA60&dq=%22the+first+albanian+state%22+1912&hl=en&sa=X&ei=LjA0T8bHL-uL4gSXmNz0AQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22the%20first%20albanian%20state%22%201912&f=false|author=Henryk J Sokalski|accessdate=9 February 2012|page=60|quote=The first Albanian state in modern history emerged in 1912.}}</ref> It was a [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary state]], not a [[monarchy]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Barjaba |first=Kosta |author= Kosta Barjaba |title= Albania's democratic elections, 1991-1997 : analyses, documents and data |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=LjA0T8bHL-uL4gSXmNz0AQ&id=9sEVAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22the+first+albanian+state%22+1912&q=%22Thus%2C+the+first+Albanian+state+can+be+seen+as+a+parliamentary+state+and+not+as+a+monarchy.%22#search_anchor |year= 2004 |publisher=Edition Sigma |location= Berlin |isbn=978-3-89404-237-0 |oclc= 57567449 |page= 188 |quote=... the first independent Albanian state was conceived as a parliamentary state.... the High Council ... was elected by the Assembly...Thus, the first Albanian state can be seen as a parliamentary state and not as a monarchy.}}</ref> Some sources refer to it as the ''Republic of Albania''<ref>{{Citation |last=Gingeras |first=Ryan |author=Ryan Gingeras |title=Sorrowful shores : violence, ethnicity, and the end of the Ottoman Empire, 1912-1923 |url=http://books.google.rs/books?id=KtSfqpmYfXQC&pg=PP48&dq=%22republic+of+albania%22+1912&hl=en&sa=X&ei=C8U2T86lEPPE4gTD5pWbDA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22republic%20of%20albania%22%201912&f=false |year= 2009 |publisher= Oxford University Press |location= Oxford |language= |isbn=978-0-19-956152-0 |oclc= 251212020 |quote= the declaration of Republic of Albania in 1912 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Greville Pounds |first=Norman John |author=Norman John Greville Pounds |title=Eastern Europe |url=http://books.google.rs/books?id=BIq2AAAAIAAJ&q=%22republic+of+albania%22++independent+1912&dq=%22republic+of+albania%22++independent+1912&hl=en&sa=X&ei=YOs2T6mWB4z3sgav0dWiDA&redir_esc=y |year=1969 |publisher=Aldine Pub. Co |location=Chicago |oclc=5671 |page=819 |quote= ... policy of seeking autonomy within it was no longer practical. The Albanian leaders therefore turned to one off seeking complete independence and in November 1912 proclaimed the Republic of Albania}}</ref> or the ''Albanian Republic''.<ref>{{Citation |last= R King |first=Robert |author=Robert R King |authorlink=Robert R. King |title=Minorities under communism; nationalities as a source of tension among Balkan Communist states |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=fcw2T8TRL_Ta4QSH5dWbDA&id=2i1pAAAAMAAJ&dq=%22albanian+republic%22+1912&q=%22+the+Albanian+Republic+was+proclaimed+in+1912%29%22+#search_anchor |year=1973 |publisher= Harvard University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-674-57632-2 |oclc=736902 |page=140 |quote=... the Albanian Republic was proclaimed in 1912)...}}</ref>

Albania became independent state through four [[Constitution|constitutional]] decisions of the [[Assembly of Vlorë]] made on 28 November 1912<ref>{{Citation |last= |first= |author=Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës |authorlink= |coauthors=Instituti i Historisë dhe i Gjuhësisë, Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës. Instituti i Gjuhësisë dhe i Letërsisë, Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës. Instituti i Historisë, Instituti i Historisë (Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë), Instituti i Gjuhësisë dhe i Letërsisë (Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë), Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë. Seksioni e Shkencave Shoqërore |title=Studia Albanica |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=vUA0T_OEDMaA4gTRpsypAg&id=B_8VAQAAMAAJ&dq=Shteti+shqiptar+n%C3%AB+vitet+1912-1914&q=I.+Essential+Characteristics+of+the+State+%281912+-+1914%29+Albanian+state+started+its+independent+life+through+four+important#search_anchor |volume=36 |year=2004 |publisher=L'Institut |location= Tirana |oclc=1996482 |page=18 |chapter= Essential Characteristics of the State (1912—1914) |chapterurl= http://books.google.rs/books?ei=vUA0T_OEDMaA4gTRpsypAg&id=B_8VAQAAMAAJ&dq=Shteti+shqiptar+n%C3%AB+vitet+1912-1914&q=I.+Essential+Characteristics+of+the+State+%281912+-+1914%29+Albanian+state+started+its+independent+life+through+four+important#search_anchor |quote=Essential Characteristics of the State (1912—1914) ... Albanian state started its independent life through four important constitutional decisions that we already know: 1.Albania must become independent and free 2. ... under a temporary government 3. A group of Wise Men have to be elected for supporting and controlling the government 4. A Commission has to be sent to Europe in order to represent the Albanian issue in front of the great Kingdoms }}</ref>:
# Albania, as of today, should be on her own, free and independent
# under a provisional government
# that a council of elders ([[Senate of Albania|senate]]) be elected to assist and supervise the government
# a commission is to be sent to Europe to defend Albanian interests among the Great Powers

== Territory ==
The territory Albania declared as independent was much larger than the territory of contemporary Albania. It comprised the territories of [[Kosovo Vilayet]], [[Monastir Vilayet]], [[Shkoder Vilayet]] and [[Janina Vilayet]].<ref>{{Citation |last=W. Willoughby |first= Westel |author=Westel W. Willoughby |authorlink=Westel W. Willoughby |coauthors= Charles Ghequiere Fenwick |title=Types of restricted sovereignty and of colonial autonomy |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=Sk8tT4vQHsyK4gSlkYy0Dg&id=ttUsAAAAMAAJ&dq=Albania+1912+inauthor%3A%22Westel+Woodbury+Willoughby%22&q=%22+is+composed+of+the+former+Turkish%22#search_anchor |accessdate= 4 February 2012 |year=1919 |publisher= United States of America, National government publication |location=Washington |oclc=6518463 |page=15 |chapter= Albania (1912—1914) |quote= Albania is composed of former Turkish Provinces of Scutari and Yanina, with parts of Kossovo and Monastir }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Eberhardt |first= Piotr |author= Piotr Eberhardt |title= Ethnic groups and population changes in twentieth-century Central-Eastern Europe : history, data, and analysis |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=jLfX1q3kJzgC&pg=PA356&dq=%22independence+of+Albania%22&hl=en&ei=7dGBTsfdJ-HS4QT8toVZ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CEUQ6AEwBjgU#v=onepage&q=%22independence%20of%20Albania%22&f=false |year= 2003 |publisher= M.E. Sharpe |location=Armonk, N.Y. |language= |isbn=978-0-7656-0665-5 |oclc= 48383528 |page= 356|quote= The Albanian state at this time was larger than its counterpart today and comprised territories belonging to the former Turkish provinces (vilayets) of Shkoder,... Skopje,...Bitola,... and Janina...}}</ref> The [[Treaty of London (1913)|Treaty of London]], signed on 30 May 1913, reduced the territory of Albanian state to its central regions after partitioning a significant part of territory claimed by Albania between the Balkan allies (a major part of the northern and western area was given to the [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbia]] and [[Kingdom of Montenegro|Montenegro]] while the southern region of [[Chameria]] became part of [[Kingdom of Greece|Greece]]).<ref>{{harvnb|Vickers|1999|p=70}}{{quote|... the Conference nevertheless awarded the Balkan allies large areas of Albanian-claimed territory... A major part of northern and western Albania went to Serbia and Montenegro, while Greece received the large southern region of Chameria, leaving the Albanian state reduced to the central regions ...}}</ref> [[Kosovo]] was given to [[Kingdom of Serbia|Serbia]] at the London treaty, at the insistence of [[Russian Empire|Russia]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Rakowska-Harmstone |first=Teresa |author=Teresa Rakowska-Harmstone |authorlink= |coauthors=Piotr Dutkiewicz, Agnieszka Orzelska |title=New Europe : the impact of the first decade |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=PUExT8-3DKn24QSo8-CIBQ&id=cZUdAQAAMAAJ&dq=albania+1912+28+november+included+kosovo&q=%22Kosovo+was+included+in+the+independent+Albania+in+1912%2C+but+was+given+to+the+Serbs+under+the+1913+Treaty+of+London+at+Russia%27s+insistence.+The+subsequent+history+of+the+relations+between+Albanian+Kosovars+and+the+Serbs+has%22#search_anchor |volume=2 |year=2006 |publisher= Institute of Political Studies; Polish Academy of Sciences |location=Warsaw |isbn=978-83-88490-87-3 |oclc=749805563 |page=37 |quote= Kosovo was included in the independent Albania in 1912, but was given to the Serbs under the 1913 Treaty of London at Russia's insistence. }}</ref>

Because during the [[First Balkan War]] the kingdoms of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro aspired to incorporate the entire region into their states (completely denying the Albania's independence), most of the captured territory was occupied by their armies. Independent Albania did however exercise control over one pocket of land which included [[Vlore]], [[Berat]], [[Fier]] and [[Lushnje]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Filipović |first= Gordana |author= Gordana Filipović |coauthors=Margot Milosavljević; Boško Milosavljević; Kordija Kveder; Milica Hrgović; Kristina Zorić; Zvonko Petnički |title= Kosovo-past and present |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=qx0rT5iGKsep4gT1gY2cDg&id=1TC5AAAAIAAJ&dq=provisional+government+controlled+only+vlora&q=%22The+provisional+government+of+Ismail+Kemal+held+power+only+in+Vlore+Berat%2C+Fier+and+Lushnje%22#search_anchor |accessdate= 3 February 2012 |year= 1989 |publisher=Review of International Affairs |location= Belgrade |oclc=440832915 |page= 71 |quote=The provisional government of Ismail Kemal held power only in Vlore Berat, Fier and Lushnje }}</ref>

== History ==
=== Albanian Vilayet ===
[[File:Shkup1912.jpg|thumb|250px|Albanian rebels capturing Skopje in August 1912]]
{{Main|Albanian Vilayet}}
Until September 1912 the Ottoman government intentionally kept Albanians divided within four ethnically heterogeneous vilayets to prevent Albanian national unification.<ref>{{Citation |author=Hidryma Meletōn Chersonēsou tou Haimou |title=Balkan studies: biannual publication of the Institute for Balkan Studies |url= http://books.google.rs/books?id=6ZniAAAAMAAJ&q=divided+%22Albanian+vilayet%22&dq=divided+%22Albanian+vilayet%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=C0UsT53cCcfe4QSI9qyVDg&redir_esc=y |accessdate= 3 February 1912 |volume=8 |year=1967 |publisher= The Institute for Balkan Studies |location=Thessaloniki |oclc=1519050 |page= 30 |quote= Ottoman government, although purposely keeping Albanians administratively divided into separate, ethnically non-homogeneous vilayets, in order to prevent any unification and national development... }}</ref> The reforms introduced by [[Young Turks]] provoked the [[Albanian Revolt of 1912|Albanian revolt]] which lasted in period January—August 1912.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://dedgjoluli.org/history1911uprising.php
| title = The Highland Uprising of 1911
| first = Romeo
| last = Gurakuqi
| author = Romeo Gurakuqi
| month = November
| year = 2007
| publisher = Shoqata Dedë Gjo' Luli Association
| format = php
| accessdate = January 9, 2011
| quote = It was provoked by the laws passed by the new regime that claimed to loyally implement the old fiscal policy on the extremely impoverished population, impose new heavy taxes upon people, forcefully recruit Albanians for the Turkish army, continue the process of the entire population disarmament, extend its absolute power all over Albania, even over those regions that had always enjoyed certain privileges.
}}</ref> In January 1912, [[Hasan Prishtina]], [[Albanians|Albanian]] deputy in [[Ottoman parliament]], publicly warned members of the parliament that the policy of Young Turks government is leading to a revolution in Albania.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.omda.bg/imir/studies/alban_id28.html
| title = Albania and Albanian Identities
| first = Antonina
| last = Zhelyazkova
| year = 2000
| publisher = International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations
| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.omda.bg%2Fimir%2Fstudies%2Falban_id28.html&date=2011-01-10
| archivedate = January 10, 2011
| accessdate = January 10, 2011
| quote = At a parliamentary session in January 1912, ... Albanian deputy Hasan Prishtina warned that the reactionary policy of the Young Turks' government was going to lead to a revolution in Albania.
}}</ref> The revolt was successful and until August 1912 rebels managed to gain control over whole [[Kosovo vilayet]] (including [[Novi Pazar]], [[Sjenica]], [[Priština]] and even [[Skopje]]), a part of the [[Scutari Vilayet]] (including [[Elbasan]], [[Përmet]] and [[Leskovik]]), [[Konitsa]] in [[Janina Vilayet]] and [[Debar]] in [[Monastir Vilayet]].<ref>{{cite book
| last = Bogdanović
| first = Dimitrije
| authorlink = Dimitrije Bogdanović
| editor = Antonije Isaković
| title = Knjiga o Kosovu
| url = http://www.kosovo.net/sk/rastko-kosovo/istorija/knjiga_o_kosovu/index.html
| accessdate = January 9, 2011
| volume = 2
| origyear = 1984
| year = 2000
| month = November
| publisher = [[Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts]]
| location = Belgrade
| language = Serbian
| chapter = Albanski pokreti 1908-1912.
| trans_chapter =
| chapterurl = http://www.kosovo.net/sk/rastko-kosovo/istorija/knjiga_o_kosovu/bogdanovic-kosovo_2.html
| quote = ... ustanici su uspeli da ... ovladaju celim kosovskim vilajetom do polovine avgusta 1912, što znači da su tada imali u svojim rukama Prištinu, Novi Pazar, Sjenicu pa čak i Skoplje... U srednjoj i južnoj Albaniji ustanici su držali Permet, Leskoviku, Konicu, Elbasan, a u Makedoniji Debar...
}}</ref> The [[Ottoman Porte|Ottoman government]] ended the Albanian revolt on 4 September 1912 by accepting all demands related to establishing the unified autonomous system of administration and justice for Albanians within one vilayet — the [[Albanian vilayet]].<ref name="Shaw 2002 293">{{cite book
| last = Shaw
| first = Stanford J.
| authorlink = Stanford J. Shaw
| coauthors = Ezel Kural Shaw
| title = History of the Ottoman Empire and modern Turkey
| url = http://books.google.com/?id=AIET_7ji7YAC&pg=PA293&lpg=PA293&dq=demands+of+albanian+rebels+1912#v=onepage&q=demands%20of%20albanian%20rebels%201912&f=false
| accessdate = January 10, 2011
| volume = 2
| origyear = 1977
| year = 2002
| publisher = The Press Syndicate of University of Cambridge
| location = United Kingdom
| isbn = 0-521-29166-6
| page = 293
| chapter = Clearing the Decks: Ending the Tripolitanian War and the Albanian Revolt
| quote = Therefore, with only final point being ignored, on September 4, 1912 the government accepted proposals and the Albanian revolt was over }}</ref>

=== First Balkan War ===
{{Main|First Balkan War}}
The success of the Albanian revolt sent a strong signal to the neighboring countries that the [[Ottoman Empire]] was weak.<ref>{{cite book
| last = Warrander
| first = Gail
| coauthors = Verena Knaus
| title = Kosovo
| year = 2007
| month = November
| publisher = The Globe Pequot Press
| location = United States of America
| isbn = 1-84162-199-4
| page = 12
| quote = At the same time the rebellion sent strong signal to Kosovo neighbors that the Ottoman Empire was weak.
}}</ref> Besides, the [[Kingdom of Serbia]] opposed the plan for an [[Albanian vilayet]], preferring a partition of the European territory of the [[Ottoman Empire]] among the four [[Balkan League|Balkan allies]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.archive.org/stream/reportofinternat00inteuoft#page/46/mode/2up/search/47
| title = Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and the Conduct of the Balkan Wars
| coauthors = Josef Redlich, Baron d'Estournelles, M. Justin Godart, Walter Shucking, [[Francis W. Hirst]], [[H. N. Brailsford]], Paul Milioukov, Samuel T. Dutton
| year = 1914
| publisher = Carnegie Endowment for International Piece
| location = Washington D.C.
| page = 47
| accessdate = January 10, 2011
| quote = The Servians hastened to oppose the plan of a "Greater Albania" by their plan for partition of Turkey in Europe among the Balkan States into four spheres of influence.
}}</ref> In the meantime the conquered territory was agreed to have status of the [[Condominium (international law)|Condominium]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.archive.org/stream/reportofinternat00inteuoft#page/46/mode/2up/search/47
| title = Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and the Conduct of the Balkan Wars
| coauthors = Josef Redlich, Baron d'Estournelles, M. Justin Godart, Walter Shucking, [[Francis W. Hirst]], [[H. N. Brailsford]], Paul Milioukov, Samuel T. Dutton
| year = 1914
| publisher = Carnegie Endowment for International Piece
| location = Washington D.C.
| page = 49
| accessdate = January 10, 2011
| quote = In a few weeks the territories of Turkey in Europe .. by the Balkan allies....in their hands as condominium
}}</ref>

Albanian leaders, including [[Faik Konica]] and [[Fan Noli]], organized a large meeting on 7 October 1913 in [[Boston]]. They decided that Albanians should "unite fully with the Ottoman government against enemies of the Empire" because "if Turkey is defeated, Balkan states would shred Albania.".<ref>{{harvnb|Ermenji|1968}}{{quote|"Shoqëria e Zezë për Shpëtim". Faik Konitza, Fan Noli e të tjerë nuk besonin se do të thyhej Turqia prej Ballkanikëvet dhe nuk kishin shpresë për Shqipërinë tek mprojtja e Austrisë. Prandaj në një mbledhje të madhe që mbajti Federata Vatra, në Boston, më 7 të Tetorit, udhëheqësit e kolonisë nuk shihnin tjetër mënyrë shpëtimi veçse duke u pështetur tek Turqia. Të gjithë të pranishmit u habitën kur dëgjuan prej krerëvet të tyre se interesi dhe detyra e Shqiptarëvet ishte që "të bashkohëshin plotësisht me qeverinë otomane kundër armiqve të Perandorisë". Sepse "po të thyhej Turqia, shtetet ballkanikë do t'a coptonin Shqipërinë."}}</ref> That decision was connected with big risk because in case of Ottoman defeat the Albanian participation in the Balkan war on the Ottoman side would serve as justification for Balkan allies to partition Albania as an Ottoman province.<ref>{{harvnb|Ermenji|1968}}{{quote|..Ky mendim ishte i urtë nga njëra anë, por paraqiste rreziqe nga ana tjetër: sikur të thyhej Turqia, siç u thye, Shqiptarët do të pësonin fatin e saj, ose të paktën do t'iu jepnin shtetevet ballkanikë një arësye më shumë përpara fuqivet të mëdha për t'a copëtuar Shqipërinë si një krahinë turke..}}</ref> Albanians who were mobilized in Ottoman army fought for their country rather than for the Ottoman Empire.<ref>{{harvnb|Ermenji|1968}}{{quote|...Natyrisht, Turqia i mobilizoi Shqiptarët, por këta luftuan më fort për të mprojtur vendin e tyre kundër fqinjëvet,...}}</ref>
[[File:Albanian prisoners in Belgrade.jpg|thumb|Albanian prisoners are marched through Belgrade 1912.]]
During the [[First Balkan War]] the combined armies of the [[Balkan League|Balkan allies]] overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies, and achieved rapid success. They occupied almost all remaining European territories of the Ottoman Empire including the territory of [[Albanian Vilayet]]<ref>{{harvnb|Jelavich|1999|p=100}}{{quote|...Balkan armies occupied Albanian territory...}}</ref>

At the beginning of November 1912 Albanian leaders appealed to [[Francis Joseph II]], the Emperor of [[Austria-Hungary]], explaining the difficult situation in their country because parts of the four vilayets were also claimed by [[Balkan League]] who were present on the disputed lands.<ref>{{cite book | last = Pearson | first = Owen | title = Albania in the Twentieth Century, A History. Volume I, Albania and King Zog: Independence, republic and monarchy 1908–1939 | publisher = I.B. Tauris | year = 2004 |page=31|quote= appealed to the austrian emperor ... difficult situation of their country as parts of the four vilayets were under the occupation of Balkan allies| isbn = 978-1-84511-013-0 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=3_Sh3y9IMZAC}}</ref> [[Austria-Hungary]] and [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Italy]] strongly opposed the arrival of Serbian army on the [[Adriatic sea]] because they perceived it as a treat to their domination of the Adriatic and feared that Serbian Adriatic port could became a [[Russian Empire|Russian]] base.<ref>{{Citation |last= Hall |first= Richard C. |author= Richard C. Hall |title=The Balkan Wars, 1912-1913: prelude to the First World War |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=ZSllgZ-1D4YC&pg=PA54&dq=November+25+1912+Elbasan&hl=en&ei=qS16TbrjAcWD4QaK3bX8BQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q&f=false |accessdate=March 11, 2011 |origyear=2000 |year= 2002 |publisher= Routledge |location= New York |isbn=0-415-22946-4 |page=54 |quote= The arrival of Serbian army on the Adriatic aroused strong diplomatic opposition from Austria-Hungary and Italy. They perceived the Serbs as a threat to their domination of the Adriatic Sea. In addition they feared that a Serbian Adriatic port could became a Russian base. }}</ref> [[Ismail Qemali]], who had been an Albanian deputy in the Ottoman parliament, secured the support of [[Austria-Hungary]] for autonomy of Albania within the Ottoman Empire, but not for the independence.<ref>{{harvnb|Jelavich|1999|p=100}}{{quote| Kemal.. spoke with Habsburg foreign minister, Leopold von Berchtold, .. secured Habsburg support, but for Albanian autonomy rather than independence..}}</ref>

=== All-Albanian Congress ===
{{See|All-Albanian Congress}}
Ismail Qemali invited the representatives of all parts of Albanian Vilayet to attend the [[All-Albanian Congress]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts20_1/AH1920.html |title= Ismail Kemal bey Vlora: Memoirs |first= Ismail |last= Qemali |accessdate= January 23, 2011 |quote= from all parts of the country to Valona, where a national congress was to be held}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Erickson |first= Edward J.|author=Edward J. Erickson |authorlink=Edward J. Erickson |title=Defeat in detail: the Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912-1913 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=3fYuy5iUi_sC&pg=PA197&dq=Yanya+vilayet&hl=en&ei=IpM8TdydJIKg8QO9hdzoCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Yanya%20vilayet&f=false |accessdate=January 23, 2011|year= 2003|month= |publisher=Praeger publishers |location=Westport|isbn=0-275-97888-5 |page= 197 |chapter= The Macedonian Campaigns, 1912 |quote=Ismail Kemal Bey convened the Albanian Independence Congress}}</ref> held in [[Vlorë]] on November 28, 1912.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts20_1/AH1920.html |title= Ismail Kemal bey Vlora: Memoirs |first= Ismail |last= Qemali |author= Ismail Qemali |authorlink= Ismail Qemali |accessdate= January 23, 2011 |quote=...November 15th-28th, 1912... }}</ref> At the beginning of the session, [[Ismail Qemali]] referred to the threatened Albanian rights gained during the Albanian revolts in previous four years and explained to the participants of the congress that they should do whatever is necessary to save the Albania.<ref>{{harvnb|Nosi|2007}}{{quote|..Ismail Kemal bey... took the floor and explained... that they all must strive to do what is necessary to save Albania from the great perils it is now facing.... they began by checking the documents...}}</ref> After his [[speech]] they began by checking the [[documents]]<ref>{{harvnb|Nosi|2007}}{{quote|...Albanians had ... uprisings that had taken ... in particular over the last four years, to preserve their rights and customs....all the steps needed to appease and satisfy the Albanians}}</ref> because it was decided that each [[kaza]] of Albanian Vilayet will be counted as one vote, regardless of the number of its delegates.<ref>{{harvnb|Nosi|2007}}{{quote|.. The issue of voting was then brought to the fore and, after much discussion, it was decided that each region (kaza) should have only one vote, irrespective of the number of delegates it had.....}}</ref> Participants of this congress are regarded as Founding Fathers of Albania.

=== After the declaration of independence ===
[[Image:Albanian caricature 1913.gif|thumb|Caricature published in February 1913 shows Albania defending itself from neighboring countries. Montenegro is represented as a monkey, Greece as a leopard attacking [[Ioannina]] and Serbia as a snake. Text in Albanian: "Flee from me! Bloodsucker Beasts!"]]
On 29 November 1912 the army of the Kingdom of Serbia captured [[Durrës]] without any resistance and established [[Durrës County (Kingdom of Serbia)|Durrës County]] with four districts ({{lang-sr|срез}}): Durres, [[Lezha]], [[Elbasan]] and [[Tirana]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Bogdanović|first=Dimitrije|title=Knjiga o Kosovu: razgovori o Kosovu|year=1990|publisher=Književne novine|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=FbpBAAAAYAAJ&q=%D1%81%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7+%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD&dq=%D1%81%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%B7+%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B1%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD&hl=en&ei=rww4TsSYNNCp8QOD2-n1Ag&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAA|coauthors=Radovan Samardžić|accessdate=August 2, 2011|page=208|quote=На освојеном подручју су одмах успостављене грађанске власти и албанска територија је Де Факто анектирана Србији : 29. новембра је основан драчки округ са четири среза (Драч, Љеш, Елбасан, Тирана)....On conquered territory of Albania was established civil government and territory of Albania was de facto annexed by Serbia: On November 29 was established Durres County with four srez (Durres, Lezha, Elbasan, and Tirana)}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last= Petrović |first= Dragoljub S. |author= Dragoljub S. Petrović |authorlink= |coauthors= |author-separator= |editor= |editorn= |editorn-last= |editorn-first= |editor-link= |editorn-link= |others= |title= Heterogenost stanovništva determinanta složenosti rešenja političkog statusa albanskog prostora (Heterogeneity of the population as determinant of the complexity of solving the political status of the Albania) |url=http://www.rastko.rs/rastko-al/zbornik1990/dpetrovic-heterogenost_l.php |year= 1990 |language= Serbian |isbn= |oclc=439985244 |pages= 237–271 |quote= Potom, 29. novembra 1912. formiran je Drački okrug u okviru kojeg su srezovi - Drač, Tirana, Elbasan i Lješ. ... On November 29, 1912 the Durres County was established and in it there were established the follwing districts - Durres, Tirana, Elbasan and Lezhe }}</ref> New Serbian authorities were faced with big difficulties in governing a new county because all secluded army garrisons with small number of soldiers were destroyed in a couple of days.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Antić|first=Čedomir|title=Kratko slavlje u Draču|journal=[[Večernje novosti]]|date=January 2, 2010|year=2010|month=January|url=http://www.novosti.rs/dodatni_sadrzaj/clanci.119.html:280057-Kratko-slavlje-u-Dracu|accessdate=|author=Čedomir Antić|trans_title=Short celebration in Durres|language=Serbian|quote=Srpska vlast u Albaniji počela je vremenom da se suočava s velikim teškoćama. Mir stanovništva morao je da bude izdašno plaćan. Delovanje austrougarskih agenata i begova odanih sultanu činilo je ionako loše puteve nesigurnim. Tokom nekoliko dana uništene su usamljene stanice, koje su branili malobrojni srpski vojnici..}}</ref>

The [[international relations]] of Albania began to function on a [[State (polity)|state]] level after it was proclaimed independent and the first diplomatic efforts of its government were requests for the [[international recognition]] of Albanian state.<ref>{{Citation |last=Meta |first=Beqir |author=Beqir Meta|authorlink=Beqir Meta |title=The European legacy : toward new paradigms |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/european-legacy-toward-new-paradigms/oclc/757296639&referer=brief_results |edition= |series= Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the study of European Ideas |volume= 1 |date= |origyear= |year=1996 |month= |publisher= MIT Press |location= Cambridge, Mass. |oclc= 757296639 |page=852 |pages= |nopp= |at= |chapter= International Policy of Albania (1912—21) |chapterurl= http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10848779608579494 |quote= After the proclamation of independence on 28 November 1912 and the establishment of the national government, the international relations of Albania began to be instrumentalized in a state form. The first diplomatic acts of the government were efforts for its recognition and the recognition of the Albanian state... European diplomacy did not regard the government of Vlora as an important element of the Albanian state... The legitimate requests of the new Albanian state were not taken in consideration.}}</ref> In December 1912 delegation of [[Provisional Government of Albania|Albania]] submitted a memorandum to the [[London Conference of 1913]] insisting on the ethnic rights of [[Albanians]] and requested an international recognition of the independent Albania composed of [[Kosovo Vilayet|Kosovo]], western [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] including [[Skopje]] and [[Bitola]] and the whole territory of [[Epirus]] up to [[Arta, Greece|Arta]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Petrović |first=Dragoljub S. |author=Dragoljub S. Petrović |title=Heterogenost stanovništva determinanta složenosti rešenja političkog statusa albanskog prostora (Heterogamy of the population determining the complexity of solution of the political status of the territory of Albania) |url=http://www.rastko.rs/rastko-al/zbornik1990/dpetrovic-heterogenost_l.php |archiveurl=http://www.rastko.rs/rastko-al/zbornik1990/dpetrovic-heterogenost_l.php |archivedate=August, 6 2011 |accessdate=August, 6 2011 |quote= Albanska delegacija je konferenciji u Londonu u decembru dostavila memorandum u kome se insistira na etničkim pravima. Ta Velika Albanija bi zahvatala Metohiju, Kosovo, zapadnu Makedoniju sa Skopljem i Bitoljem, na jugu čitav Epir do Arte. .... Delegation of Albania submitted to the London conference in December a memo in which they insist on the rights of ethnic Albanians. That Great Albania would encompass Kosovo, western Macedonia with Skopje and Bitola, and on the south the whole Epirus up to Arta. }}</ref>

About 120 notable politicians and intellectuals from Albania attended the [[Albanian Congress of Trieste]] in period 27 February — 6 March 1913 and requested from Great Powers a recognition of the political and economical independence of Albania.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.gazeta-shqip.com/ndryshe/eff5669147fee30b658e83a904e6bca8.html|title=Sotir Kolea, dhunimi i një patrioti (pas vdekjes)|last=Mano|first=Nini|date=July 3, 2010|work=Gazeta Shqip|accessdate=5 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.albanianlanguage.net/en/noli.html| title= Albanian Voices, 1962 - Fan Noli| first= Robert| last= Elsie| author= Robert Elsie | authorlink= Robert Elsie| publisher= Robert Elsie's personal website| archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.albanianlanguage.net%2Fen%2Fnoli.html&date=2011-01-21| archivedate = January 21, 2011| accessdate= January 21, 2011| quote= Congress of Trieste which was organized by his friend and rival Faik bey Konitza}}</ref> [[Isa Boletini]] and Ismail Qemali travelled to London in March 1913 to obtain Britain's support for their new country.<ref>{{Citation |last=Herbert |first= Aubrey |author=Aubrey Herbert |authorlink=Aubrey Herbert |coauthors= Desmond MacCarthy |title=Ben Kendim: a record of eastern travel |url=http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts20_1/AH1912_3.html |accessdate= 4 February 1912 |year= 1924 |publisher=Hutchinson |location= London|oclc=2339120 |quote=In March 1913, Boletini accompanied Ismail Qemal bey Vlora to London to seek British support for the new country.}}</ref> On March 6 [[Ioannina]] was captured by forces of the [[Kingdom of Greece]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Defeat in Detail: The Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912–1913 |last=Erickson |first=Edward J. |year=2003 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=0-275-97888-5 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=3fYuy5iUi_sC |location=Westport, Connecticut|page= 313 | quote =...the fall of Yanya on March 6...}}</ref> In March 1913 a group of 130 (or 200) soldiers of the Kingdom of Serbia were killed near Prizren by Albanian irregulars in act of revenge for repression of Serbian army.<ref>{{Citation |last=Aleksić-Pejković |first=Ljiljana |author=Ljiljana Aleksić-Pejković |title=Naučni skup Srbija 1915. godine |url=http://books.google.rs/books?id=89VmAAAAMAAJ&q=%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0+1913&dq=%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0+1913&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9fA3T-aQEsTItAaD9-SeDA&redir_esc=y |year=1986 |month= |publisher= Istorijski institut |location= Belgrade |language= Serbo-Croatian|oclc=18024095 |page=91 |quote=за освету због репресивних мера српске војске марта 1913 масакрирали су на спавању око 130 (или 200) војника једне чете }}</ref>

In April 1913 the army of the Kingdom of Serbia retreated from Durrës but remained in other parts of Albania. On the other hand, [[Kingdom of Montenegro]] managed to capture [[Shkodër]] on 23 April 1913 after six months of [[Siege of Scutari (1912–1913)|siege]]. However, when the war was over, the [[Great Powers]] did not award the city to the Kingdom of Montenegro, which was compelled to evacuate it in May 1913.

In May 1913 delegates of Albania in London requested a British sovereign and considered offering the Albanian throne to [[Aubrey Herbert]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Herbert |first=Aubrey |author=Aubrey Herbert |authorlink= Aubrey Herbert |title=Albania's Greatest Friend: Aubrey Herbert and the Making of Modern Albania |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M_0-QfRL8eMC&pg=PA64&dq=all+albanian+national+congress+1912+vlore&hl=en&ei=0fR4TZbHIJHSsgavu_TuBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q&f=false |year=2011 |month= |publisher= I.B. Tauris & Co. |location=London ; New York |isbn=978-1-84885-444-4 |oclc= 749900667 |page= 93 |quote= By May 1913...The Albanian delegates wished for a British sovereign and Ismail Kemal Vlora took the opportunity to ask Aubrey Herbert how he would respond if offered the throne }}</ref>

=== London treaty ===
{{See|Partition of Albania|London Conference of 1913|Treaty of London (1913)}}

The Great Powers did not fulfill the requests for recognition of Albania.<ref>{{Citation |last=Herbert |first=Aubrey |author=Aubrey Herbert |authorlink= Aubrey Herbert |title=Albania's Greatest Friend: Aubrey Herbert and the Making of Modern Albania |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M_0-QfRL8eMC&pg=PA64&dq=all+albanian+national+congress+1912+vlore&hl=en&ei=0fR4TZbHIJHSsgavu_TuBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q&f=false |year=2011 |publisher= I.B. Tauris & Co. |location=London ; New York |isbn=978-1-84885-444-4 |oclc= 749900667 |page= 64 |quote= The provisional Government applied urgently for international recognition. There was no official response from Great Powers.}}</ref> At the beginning of the [[London Conference of 1912-1913|London conference]] in December 1912 the ambassadors of all six Great Powers rejected the plan for establishing independent Albania.<ref>{{harvnb|Giaro|2007|p=185}}{{quote|The plan for independent Albanian state was rejected by the ambassadors of England, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Russia and Italy at their conference on 17 December 1912 in London.}}</ref> Instead, they decided that Albania would be under [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] suzerainty but with an autonomous government.<ref>{{Citation |last=Petrović |first=Dragoljub S. |author=Dragoljub S. Petrović |title=Heterogenost stanovništva determinanta složenosti rešenja političkog statusa albanskog prostora (Heterogamy of the population determining the complexity of solution of the political status of the territory of Albania) |url=http://www.rastko.rs/rastko-al/zbornik1990/dpetrovic-heterogenost_l.php |archiveurl=http://www.rastko.rs/rastko-al/zbornik1990/dpetrovic-heterogenost_l.php |archivedate=August, 6 2011 |accessdate=August, 6 2011 |quote=Na početku Londonske konferencije odlučeno je da je Albanija autonomna sa svojom upravom i priznavanjem sultana Turske kao vrhovnog sizerena.... At the beginning of the conference it was decided that Albania should be autonomous with its own government but under Ottoman suzerainty.}}</ref> After it became obvious that Ottoman Empire would lose all of [[Macedonia (region)|Macedonia]] and its territorial connection with Albania the Great Powers realized they had to change their decision.<ref>{{harvnb|Jelavich|1999|p=101}}{{quote|The representatives first decided that an autonomous Albania under continued Ottoman rule would be organized...This decision had to be changed in the spring of 1913, when it became obvious that the Ottoman Empire would lose all of Macedonia and thus its territorial connection with Albania.}}</ref>

The [[Treaty of London (1913)|Treaty of London]], signed on 30 May 1913, partitioned significant part of territory claimed by Albania between the Balkan allies reducing the territory of Albania to its central regions.<ref>{{harvnb|Vickers|1999|p=70}}{{quote|... the Conference nevertheless awarded the Balkan allies large areas of Albanian-claimed territory... leaving the Albanian state reduced to the central regions ...}}</ref>

=== After the London treaty ===

In September 1913 independent Albania secretly supported and helped [[Ohrid–Debar Uprising]] because Ismail Qemali thought that independent Albania is too weak to openly confront the Kingdom of Serbia.<ref>{{cite book | last =Ćorović | first =Vladimir | authorlink=Vladimir Ćorović | title= Istorija srpskog naroda | url= http://www.rastko.org.rs/rastko-bl/istorija/corovic/istorija/index_l.html | year= 1997 | publisher= [[Project Rastko]] | location= Banja Luka / Belgrade | language= Serbian | chapter = Балкански ратови | chapterurl= http://www.rastko.org.rs/rastko-bl/istorija/corovic/istorija/7_20.html }}</ref> Qemali ordered simultaneous attack of the Albanian forces led by Isa Boletini and [[Bajram Curri]] to the region of [[Prizren]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Aleksić-Pejković |first=Ljiljana |author=Ljiljana Aleksić-Pejković |title=Naučni skup Srbija 1915. godine |url=http://books.google.rs/books?id=89VmAAAAMAAJ&q=%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0+1913&dq=%D0%B0%D0%BB%D0%B1%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D1%98%D0%B0+1913&hl=en&sa=X&ei=9fA3T-aQEsTItAaD9-SeDA&redir_esc=y |year=1986 |publisher= Istorijski institut |location= Belgrade |language= Serbo-Croatian|oclc=18024095 |page=302 |quote=Највећи оружани упад изведен је крајем септембра 1913 у западну Македонију и област око Призрена... Исмаил Кемал је наложио избеглим арбанашким првацима, Бајраму Цуру, Иси Бољетинцу,... да са својим људима нападне српске области}}</ref> [[Peshkopi]] has been captured on 20 September 1913.<ref>{{cite book | last= Sinani | first= Rakip | title= Dibra dhe dibranët në faqet e historisë | trans_title= Dibër and the Dibrans in the Pages of History | language = Albanian | publisher = KTISTALINA-KH | year= 2005 | location= Tiranë | page = 150—160 | isbn= 99943-625-8-5}}</ref> Local [[Albanians]] and [[Bulgarians]] expelled the [[Serbian army]] and officials, creating a front line 15&nbsp;km east of Ohrid. A local administration was set up in Ohrid.<ref>Гоцев, Димитър. Национално-освободителната борба в Македония 1912–1915, София 1981, с. 48 (Gotsev, Dimitar. The National Liberation Struggle in Macedonia, Sofia 1981, p. 124, [http://www.macedonia-science.org/virtualna_biblioteka/Hristo_Ognjanov_Makedonija_prezivjana_sudba.pdf Огнянов, Михаил. Македония-преживяна съдба, София 2002, с. 43]</ref> The [[Serbian Army|Serbian]] army of 100,000 regulars suppressed the uprising in several days. Thousands were killed, and tens of thousands of local inhabitants fled for [[Bulgaria]] and [[Albania]] to save their lives. According to the Report by the International Commission of the [[Carnegie Endowment for International Peace]] the number of Albanians who took refuge was 25,000.<ref>[http://www.kroraina.com/knigi/en/carnegie/chapter4_2b.html Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars, published by the Endowment Washington, D.C. 1914, p. 182]</ref>

On 16 October 1913 [[Essad Pasha Toptani]], who also had been an Albanian deputy in the [[Ottoman parliament]], established the [[Republic of Central Albania]] with its administrative centre in [[Durres]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts20_1/AH1919.html
| title = Introduction to Memorandum on Albania, written by Robert Elsie
| first = Robert
| last = Elsie
| author = Robert Elsie
| authorlink = Robert Elsie
| publisher = Web site of Robert Elsie, specialist on Albanian studies
| location = Switzerland
| accessdate = January 8, 2011
| quote = On 16 October 1913, ... Toptani set up a rival government based in Durrës, called the Republic of Central Albania.
}}</ref> Toptani's state was also short-lived and unrecognized, with its territory bounded by rivers [[Mat (river)|Mat]] in the North and [[Shkumbin River|Shkumbin]] in the South. It further partitioned already truncated territory of Albania. Toptani contested the status of the provisional government and denied that Qemali's government was legitimate, emphasizing that it was ''"the personal creation of a number of men."''<ref>{{Citation |last=Lakshman-Lepain |first=Rajwantee |author=Rajwantee Lakshman-Lepain |editor1=Panayote Dimitras |editor1-last=Dimitras |editor1-first=Panayote |editor2= Nafsika Papanikolatos |editor2-last=Papanikolatos |editor2-first=Nafsika |editor3= Mariana Lenkova |editor3-last= Lenkova |editor3-first=Mariana |editor4=Ellen Slusarczyk |editor4-last=Slusarczyk |editor4-first=Ellen |title=Catholics of Albania |url=http://www.greekhelsinki.gr/pdf/cedime-se-albania-catholics.doc |format=doc |accessdate= October 6, 2011 |year= 2000 |month= September |publisher=Center for Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe - Southeast Europe (CEDIME-SE) |page=28 |quote= The self-proclaimed provisional government of Ismail Qemal in Vlorë did not receive the general approval of the public and different forces from within the country (e.g. by Esad Pacha Toptani) contested the provisional government's status}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts20_1/AH1919.html
| title = Memorandum on Albania
| first = Essad Pasha
| last = Toptani
| authorlink = Essad Pasha Toptani
| date = April 16, 1919
| publisher = Robert Elsie web site
| location = Paris, France
| quote = governments ... in Vlora under the presidency of Ismail Kemal Bey ... was the personal creation of a number of men
}}</ref> In July 1913 Ismail Qemali attempted to calm Toptani by appointing him Minister of Interior, but with no avail.<ref>{{Citation |last=Herbert |first=Aubrey |author=Aubrey Herbert |authorlink= Aubrey Herbert |title=Albania's Greatest Friend: Aubrey Herbert and the Making of Modern Albania |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=M_0-QfRL8eMC&pg=PA64&dq=all+albanian+national+congress+1912+vlore&hl=en&ei=0fR4TZbHIJHSsgavu_TuBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q&f=false |year=2011 |publisher= I.B. Tauris & Co. |location=London ; New York |isbn=978-1-84885-444-4 |oclc= 749900667 |page= 119 |quote= The political leadership of Albania was divided. Ismail Kemal had attempted to appease the ambitious landowner and soldier Essad Pasha Toptani by appointing him Minister of Interior in July 1913, but Essad proved uncooperative...}}</ref> Toptani was also, like Qemali little earlier, forced by Great Powers to step away on 1 February 1914.<ref>{{Citation |last=Elsie |first=Robert |author= Robert Elsie |authorlink= Robert Elsie |title= Historical dictionary of Albania |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/historical-dictionary-of-albania/oclc/454375231&referer=brief_results |accessdate= 4 February 2012 |year=2010 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |location=Lanham |isbn=978-0-8108-7380-3 |oclc=454375231 |page=448 |chapter= Independent Albania (1912—1944) |chapterurl=http://books.google.rs/books?id=haFlGXIg8uoC&pg=PR59&dq=%22%22Independent+Albania+(1912%22%22robert+elsie&hl=en&sa=X&ei=L6AtT7TZLsT04QS4gcX_DQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Independent%20Albania%20(1912%22&f=false |quote= ... He reluctantly step away when forced to by the Great Powers on 1 February 1914}}</ref>

In November 1913 the Albanian pro-Ottoman forces had offered throne of Albania to the Ottoman war minister of Albanian origin, [[Izzet Pasha]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.albanianphotography.net/en/dmm.html | title= Albania under prince Wied | first= Robert | last= Elsie | author= Robert Elsie | authorlink= Robert Elsie | archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.albanianphotography.net%2Fen%2Fdmm.html&date=2011-01-25 |quote=pro-Ottoman forces ...were opposed to the increasing Western influence ...In November 1913, these forces, ..., had offered the vacant Albanian throne to General Izzet Pasha ... War Minister who was of Albanian origin. |archivedate= January 25, 2011 | accessdate= January 25, 2011 }}</ref> The Ottoman Empire sent agents to encourage a revolt, hoping to restore Ottoman suzerainty over [[Albania (toponym)|Albania]]. <ref>{{cite book | last= Vickers | first= Miranda | title= The Albanians: a modern history | publisher = I.B.Tauris | year= 1999 |quote= ... hopes of restoring Ottoman suzerainty over Albania.... sent agents to encourage insurrection | page=81 |isbn= 978-1-86064-541-9 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=IzI0uOZ2j6gC}}</ref> [[Izzet Pasha]] sent major Beqir Grebenali, another ethnic Albanian, to be one of his chief representatives in Albania. The [[Provisional Government of Albania]] under control of [[Ismail Qemali]] captured and executed major Beqir Grebenali.

== Politics ==
[[File:28nentor.jpg|thumb|195px|[[Ismail Qemali]] after the session of the [[Assembly of Vlorë]] declaring establishment of the independent Albania]]
=== Declaration of Independence ===
{{See|Albanian Declaration of Independence|Assembly of Vlorë}}
At the beginning of the session Ismail Qemali emphasized that the only way to prevent division of the territory of Albania between the [[Balkan League|Balkan allies]] is to establish it as independent state, separated from [[Ottoman Empire]].<ref>{{harvnb|Nosi|2007}}{{quote|.. four countries in the Balkans ...agreed to divide the Empire up among themselves, including Albania...only road to salvation was to separate Albania from Turkey...According to Ismail Kemal Bey, the most urgent measures that the Albanian nation must take today are these: that Albania be independent...}}</ref> Qemali's proposal was unanimously accepted and it was decided to sign the [[Albanian Declaration of Independence|declaration of independence]] of Albania in the name of the constituted [[Assembly of Vlorë]] ([[Albanian language|Albanian]]: ''Kuvendi i Vlorës'') which members were representatives of all the regions of Albania.<ref>{{Citation |last= |first= |author=Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës |authorlink= |coauthors=Instituti i Historisë dhe i Gjuhësisë, Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës. Instituti i Gjuhësisë dhe i Letërsisë, Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës. Instituti i Historisë, Instituti i Historisë (Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë), Instituti i Gjuhësisë dhe i Letërsisë (Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë), Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë. Seksioni e Shkencave Shoqërore |title=Studia Albanica |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=vUA0T_OEDMaA4gTRpsypAg&id=B_8VAQAAMAAJ&dq=Shteti+shqiptar+n%C3%AB+vitet+1912-1914&q=I.+Essential+Characteristics+of+the+State+%281912+-+1914%29+Albanian+state+started+its+independent+life+through+four+important#search_anchor |volume=36 |year=2004 |publisher=L'Institut |location= Tirana |oclc=1996482 |page=18 |chapter= Essential Characteristics of the State (1912—1914) |chapterurl= http://books.google.rs/books?ei=vUA0T_OEDMaA4gTRpsypAg&id=B_8VAQAAMAAJ&dq=Shteti+shqiptar+n%C3%AB+vitet+1912-1914&q=I.+Essential+Characteristics+of+the+State+%281912+-+1914%29+Albanian+state+started+its+independent+life+through+four+important#search_anchor |quote=... Assembly of Vlora...its members were representatives of all regions of Albania}}</ref> By the [[Albanian Declaration of Independence|declaration of Albanian independence]] the Assembly of Vlorë rejected the autonomy granted by the [[Ottoman Empire]] to the [[Albanian vilayet]], projected a couple of months earlier.<ref>{{cite book |last1= Langer|first1= William Leonard |last2=Ploetz |first2=Karl Julius |title=[[Encyclopedia of World History|An encyclopedia of world history, ancient, medieval and modern, chronologically arranged]] |url= [http://books.google.com/books?id=wKQ65Se_vUEC&q=%22Assembly+at+Valona%22&dq=%22Assembly+at+Valona%22&hl=en&ei=gVs9Tc_qEca38gOM3KX5CA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCYQ6AEwATgK] |accessdate=January 24, 2011 |year=1940 |publisher=Houghton Mifflin company |isbn=0-395-65237-5 |quote=Proclamation of Albanian independence by an assembly at Valona which rejected the grant of autonomy made by Turkish government }}</ref> The [[consensus]] was made for the complete [[independence]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Erickson |first= Edward J.|author=Edward J. Erickson |authorlink=Edward J. Erickson|title=Defeat in detail: the Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912-1913 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=3fYuy5iUi_sC&pg=PA197&dq=Yanya+vilayet&hl=en&ei=IpM8TdydJIKg8QO9hdzoCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CCgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Yanya%20vilayet&f=false|accessdate=January 23, 2011|year= 2003 |publisher=Praeger publishers |location=Westport |isbn=0-275-97888-5 |page= 197|chapter= The Macedonian Campaigns, 1912 |quote= consensus of the congress was for complete independence }}</ref>

{{quotation| In Vlora, on the 15th/28th of November 1328/1912.<br>Following the speech made by the President, Ismail Kemal Bey, in which he spoke of the great perils facing Albania today, the delegates have all decided unanimously that Albania, as of today, should be on her own, free and independent.<ref>{{harvnb|Nosi|2007}}{{quote|TEXT:in Vlora, on the 15th/28th of November 1328/1912.

Following the speech made by the President, Ismail Kemal Bey, in which he spoke of the great perils facing Albania today, the delegates have all decided unanimously that Albania, as of today, should be on her own, free and independent.}}</ref>|[[Albanian declaration of independence]]}}

The sitting was then suspended and members of newly constituted National Assembly went to the house of Ismail Qemali who raised the flag of [[Skanderbeg]] on the [[balcony]] of his house, in front of the gathered people.<ref>{{cite book|last=Sherer|first=Stan|title=Long life to your children!: a portrait of High Albania|publisher=University of Massachusetts Press |year=1997 |pages=20 |isbn=1-55849-097-3 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ohTXJeMICaoC&pg=PA20&dq=Luigj+Gurakuqi#v=onepage&q=Luigj%20Gurakuqi&f=false}}</ref>

=== Government and Senate ===

The establishment of the government was postponed for the fourth session of the Assembly of Vlorë, held on 4 December 1912, until representatives of all regions of Albania arrived to Vlore.<ref>{{Citation |author=Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës |authorlink= |coauthors=Instituti i Historisë dhe i Gjuhësisë, Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës. Instituti i Gjuhësisë dhe i Letërsisë, Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës. Instituti i Historisë, Instituti i Historisë (Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë), Instituti i Gjuhësisë dhe i Letërsisë (Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë), Akademia e Shkencave e RPS të Shqipërisë. Seksioni e Shkencave Shoqërore |title=Studia Albanica |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=vUA0T_OEDMaA4gTRpsypAg&id=B_8VAQAAMAAJ&dq=Shteti+shqiptar+n%C3%AB+vitet+1912-1914&q=I.+Essential+Characteristics+of+the+State+%281912+-+1914%29+Albanian+state+started+its+independent+life+through+four+important#search_anchor |volume=36 |year=2004 |publisher=L'Institut |location= Tirana |oclc=1996482 |page=18 |chapter= Essential Characteristics of the State (1912—1914) |chapterurl= http://books.google.rs/books?ei=vUA0T_OEDMaA4gTRpsypAg&id=B_8VAQAAMAAJ&dq=Shteti+shqiptar+n%C3%AB+vitet+1912-1914&q=representative#search_anchor |quote=Essential Characteristics of the State (1912—1914) ... The setting up of the government was postponed until the fourth hearing of the Assembly of Vlora, in order to give time to other delegates from all regions of Albania to arrive.}}</ref> During that session members of the assembly established the [[Provisional Government of Albania]].<ref>{{harvnb|Schmidt-Neke|1987|p=25}}{{quote|Erst auf seiner funften sitzung am 4. Dezember 1912 komplettierte der Nationalcongreß die provisorische Regierung, die folgende Zusammensetzung hatte:}}</ref> It was a government that was consisted of ten members, led by [[Ismail Qemali]], until his resignation in 22 January 1914.<ref>{{harvnb|Giaro|2007|p=185}}{{quote|... a provisional government, consisting of ten members and led by Vlora, was formed on 4 December.}}</ref> Assembly established the [[Senate of Albania|Senate]] ({{lang-sq|Pleqësi}}) with advisory role to the government, consisted of 18 members of Assembly.<ref>{{harvnb|Giaro|2007|p=185}}{{quote|From its own members congress elected a senate (Pleqësi), composed of 18 members, which assumed advisory role to the government.}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! [[File:Flag of Albanian Provisional Government 1912-1914.svg|50x55px]]<br />'''Independent Albania'''
! [[File:Albania 1914 Flag.svg|50x55px]]<br />[[Principality of Albania]]
! [[File:Flag of Albania 1926.svg|50x55px]]<br />[[Albanian Republic]]
! [[File:Flag Kingdom Of Albania.svg|50x55px]]<br />[[Albanian Kingdom]]
! [[File:Flag of Albania (1939).svg|50x55px]]<br />[[Albanian Kingdom (1939–1943)|Albania under Italy]]
! [[File:Flag of German occupied Albania.svg|50x55px]]<br />[[Albanian Kingdom (1943–1944)|Albania under Germany]]
! [[File:Flag of Albania 1946.svg|50x55px]]<br />[[People's Socialist Republic of Albania|Communist Albania]]
! [[File:Flag of Albania.svg|50x55px]]<br />[[Republic of Albania]]
|- align=center
|1912–1914
|1914–1925
|1925–1928
|1928–1939
|1939–1943
|1943–1944
|1944–1992
|since 1992
|}

[[Ismail Qemali]] was appointed as the first [[prime minister]] of independent Albania.<ref>{{Citation |last=Elsie |first=Robert |author= Robert Elsie |authorlink= Robert Elsie |title= Historical dictionary of Albania |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/historical-dictionary-of-albania/oclc/454375231&referer=brief_results |accessdate= 4 February 2012 |year=2010 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |location=Lanham |isbn=978-0-8108-7380-3 |oclc=454375231 |page=lix |chapter= Independent Albania (1912—1944) |chapterurl=http://books.google.rs/books?id=haFlGXIg8uoC&pg=PR59&dq=%22%22Independent+Albania+(1912%22%22robert+elsie&hl=en&sa=X&ei=L6AtT7TZLsT04QS4gcX_DQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Independent%20Albania%20(1912%22&f=false |quote= ... The new provisional government of Albania ...with Ismail Qemal bey Vlora as prime minister}}</ref> On the same session held on 4 December 1912 the assembly appointed the other members of the government<ref>{{harvnb|Schmidt-Neke|1987|p=25}}</ref>:
*Prime Minister (and de facto head of the state): Ismail Qemali
*Deputy Prime Minister: Dom [[Nikollë Kaçorri]]
*Minister of Foreign Affairs (provisionally): Ismail Qemali
*Minister of Internal Affairs: [[Myfit Bej Libohova]] (in July 1913 Essad Pasha Toptani)
*Minister of War: General [[Mehmet Pashë Derralla]] (from [[Tetovo]] in Macedonia)
*Minister of Finance: [[Abdi Toptani]]
*Minister of Justice: [[Petro Poga]]
*Minister of Education: [[Luigj Gurakuqi]]
*Minister of Public Services: [[Mit’hat Frashëri]] (from [[Ioannina]] in Greece)
*Minister of Agriculture: [[Pandeli Cale]]
*Minister of Posts and Telegraphs: [[Lef Nosi]]

=== Public services ===
[[File:Shqipenia 16 June 1913.jpg|thumb|100px|Post stamp of the independent Albania, 16 June 1913.]]
A week after the independent Albania was proclaimed its first Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs was established with Lef Nosi as its minister. Independent Albania took over the Ottoman post offices and placed significant efforts to make Albanian postal service identifiable.<ref>{{cite web|title=Postal service in Albania|url=http://www.postashqiptare.al/kreu.php?fq=mesi&gj=en&kid=2|publisher=http://www.postashqiptare.al|accessdate=9 February 2012|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.postashqiptare.al%2Fkreu.php%3Ffq%3Dmesi%26gj%3Den%26kid%3D2&date=2012-02-09|archivedate=9 February 2012|location=Albania|quote=the Ministry of Post Telegraph Telephone, and the minister was the notable intellectual patriot Lef Nosi. The government of that time took in administration all the post offices inherited from the Ottoman Empire and did rapid efforts for the identification of Albanian postal service.}}</ref> Post offices of the independent Albania used the Ottoman postal seals until the end of April and beginning of May 1913 when they were replaced by the postal seals of Albania with the name of the place in the upper part of the seal and the name of the state, Albania (''Shqipenie''), in the bottom part.<ref>{{Citation|last=Albanološki institut u Prištini |first=| author=Albanološki institut u Prištini |title=Gjurmime albanologjike, Volume 9, Issues 1-2|year=1970|publisher= Filozofski fakultet u Prištini. Katedra za albanologiju|location=Priština|url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=Jtg6T9LsLeim4gTS_6HdCg&id=D5riAAAAMAAJ&dq=shqipenie+1913&q=%22+ali+poni%C3%A4tavane+albanskim+prstenastim+zigovima%2C+koji+nose+u+gornjem+delu+prstena+ime+mesta+au+donjem+ime+zemlje+%E2%80%94+%E2%80%9EShqipenie%22.+Zamena+turskih+zigova+novim+albanskim+zigovima+izvrsena+je+pri+kraju+aprila+i+pocetkom+maja+1913.+%22#search_anchor |accessdate=29 January 2012|page=124|language=Serbian|pages= 123, 124 |quote="posle proglasa nezavisnosti upotrebljavane i starim turskim žigovima poništavane marke i dopisnice... i posle ... poništavane albanskim prstenastim zigovima, koji nose u gornjem delu prstena ime mesta a u donjem ime zemlje — „Shqipenie". Zamena turskih zigova novim albanskim zigovima izvrsena je pri kraju aprila i pocetkom maja 1913." }}</ref> On 5 May 1913 the first postage stamps of Albania were put into circulation. On 7 July 1913 an official request has been submitted for membership of Albania in the [[Universal Postal Union]] (UPU).<ref>{{cite web|title=Postal service in Albania|url=http://www.postashqiptare.al/kreu.php?fq=mesi&gj=en&kid=2|publisher=http://www.postashqiptare.al|accessdate=9 February 2012|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.postashqiptare.al%2Fkreu.php%3Ffq%3Dmesi%26gj%3Den%26kid%3D2&date=2012-02-09|archivedate=9 February 2012|location=Albania|quote=on July 7 1913, presented the official demand to be recruited in Universal Postal Union and International Union of Telecommunication, entrance which was performed in 1922...}}</ref> That request was rejected and Albania became a member of UPU in 1922.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upu.int/en/the-upu/member-countries/western-europe/albania.html|publisher=Universal Postal Union|title= Albania|accessdate=9 February 2012|quote=Albania ... Date of entry into the UPU:01-03-1922}}</ref>

After Albania achieved its independence from Ottoman Empire in 1912 its legal system continued to function under the Ottoman Civil Code ([[Mejelle]]) for some time.<ref>{{Citation |last=Gsovski |first= Vladimir |author=Vladimir Gsovski |coauthors=Kazimierz Grzybowski |title=Government, law, and courts in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=Ou4zT6j0DYnj4QS_zOSjAg&id=VVgdAAAAIAAJ&dq=law+in+albania+in+1912+court+justice+government+independent&q=%22During+its+short+existence+as+an+independent+state+Albania+had+evolved+a+modern+system+of+legislation.+In+1912%22#search_anchor |volume=2 |year=1959 |oclc= 6177860 |page=1187 |quote= ... Albania...In 1912, having achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire, it continued for some time under the Turkish Civil Code (Mejelle)...}}</ref>

There was no Albanian currency until 1926. After Albania proclaimed its independence on November 28, 1912, gold and silver coins of other countries circulated in Albania while the official [[unit of account]] in independent Albania was franc of [[Latin Monetary Union]].<ref>{{Citation |author=Banco di Roma |title=The Journal of European economic history |url= http://books.google.rs/books?ei=uOkzT8rvEYjY4QTp743sAQ&id=KYqzAAAAIAAJ&dq=money+in+albania+in+1912+currency+latin+monetary&q=%22Albania+had+no+currency+of+her+own.+Gold+and+silver+coins+of+other+countries+were+used+as+medium+of+exchange%2C+while+the+franc+of+the+Latin+Monetary+Union+served+as+the+official+unit+of+account.+The+dependency+on+specie+preserved+a%22#search_anchor |volume= 16 |year= 1987 |publisher=Banco di Roma |location=Italy |oclc=1784022 |page= 563 |quote= Until 1926 Albania had no currency of her own. Gold and silver coins of other countries were used as medium of exchange, while the franc of the Latin Monetary Union served as the official unit of account....during turbulent period 1912—1925}}</ref>

Until 1912 the education in Albania depended on the religion. Muslims attended [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] schools, Orthodox population attended Greek schools, in the districts near Slavic states population attended Serbian or Bulgarian schools while Catholics attended Italian or Austrian schools.<ref>{{Citation |last=Hurst |first=Cecil |author=Sir Cecil Hurst |authorlink= Cecil Hurst |title=Advisory Opinion submitted to the Permanent Court of International Justice |url=http://www.worldcourts.com/pcij/eng/decisions/1935.04.06_albania.htm |year= 1935 |publisher=A.W. Sijthoff’s Publishing Company |location=Leyden |quote="education in Albania, until 1912, had varied according to religion: the Moslems attended the Ottoman schools; the Orthodox, the Greek schools, and, in the districts adjacent to the Slavs, the Serbian or Bulgarian schools; the Catholics attended the Italian or Austrian schools...." }}</ref> When Albania was declared independent in 1912 its government took measures to close foreign schools and to open Albanian ones.<ref>{{Citation |last=Temo |first=Sotir |author=Sotir Temo |title=Education in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=meAzT8G_A8KDhQfex6GZAg&id=pPkOAQAAIAAJ&dq=education+in+albania+1912&q=%22of+Independence+and+the+creation+of+the+Government+of+Vlora+in+1912%2C+measures+were+taken+for+the+closing%22#search_anchor |year= 1985 |publisher= "8 Nëntori" Pub. House |location=Tirana |oclc=17205001 page=9 |quote=After the Proclamation of Independence and the creation of the Government of Vlora in 1912, measures were taken for the closing of foreign schools and opening Albanian ones.}}</ref> In period 1912—1914 there was not much opportunity and time for progress of national [[education]], because of the political instability and [[World War I]] breaking out shortly after Albania declared its independence in 1912.<ref>{{Citation |last= Skendi |first= Stavro |author= Stavro Skendi |title= Albania |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/albania/oclc/722273&referer=brief_results |year= 1956 |publisher=Mid-European Studies Center of the Free Europe Committee |location=New York |oclc=722273 |page=270 |chapter= Education in Independent Albania (1912—1939) |chapterurl=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=CdozT8XMBIHY4QTqpvScAg&id=qWBpAAAAMAAJ&dq=education+in+albania+1912&q=%22+Education+in+Independent+Albania%2C+1912-1939%22#search_anchor |quote= Since World War I broke out shortly after Albania declared her independence in November 1912, there was a little time for progress in national education}}</ref> The first laic school was opened in Shkoder in 1913.
[[Image:Isa boletini vlora 1912.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Isa Boletini]] with men from [[Kosovo]] in the streets of Vlorë in 1912]]
Group of fighters from [[Kosovo]] led by [[Isa Boletini]] were the first nucleus of the [[Albanian Armed Forces|armed forces of Albania]]<ref>{{Citation |title=New Albania |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=-IY5T4zGKIjb4QTjo7GhCw&id=rVYoAQAAMAAJ&dq=%22Isa+Boletini%22+%22provisional+government%22&q=%22Isa+Boletini%22+#search_anchor |year= 1989 |publisher=New Albania |location= Tirana |oclc=6335595 |page= 15 |quote= A significant fact is that the Kosovar fighters, headed by the legendary hero Isa Boletini, set out on a long voyage to Vlora and created there the first nucleus of the new Albanian army under the command of the Provisional Government.}}</ref> established on 4 December 1912.<ref>{{cite web|title=Forcat e Armatosura festojnë 99-vjetorin e krijimit të tyre (Armed forces celebrate their 99th anniversary)|url=http://www.mod.gov.al/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1237%3Aforcat-e-armatosura-festojne-99-vjetorin-e-krijimit-te-tyre&catid=42%3Alajme&Itemid=52&lang=sq|publisher=Ministry of Defence (Albania)|accessdate=17 February 2012|author=Ministry of Defence (Albania)|language=Albanin|date=5 December 2011|year=2011|quote=Gjeneral brigade Agim Lala, pasi bëri një retrospektivë të shkurtër përsa i përket Forcave të Armatosura që nga krijimi i tyre në 4 Dhjetor të vitit 1912 (Brigadier General Agim Lala, after making a brief retrospective of the terms of the Armed Forces since their creation in December 4, 1912)}}</ref>

[[Law enforcement]] forces ([[gendarmerie]] and [[Albanian Police]]) of the independent Albania were established on 13 January 1913.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historik i shkurtër i Policisë së shtetit shqiptar 1912 – 2007 (Brief History of the Albanian State Police 1912 - 2007)|url=http://www.asp.gov.al/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=181&Itemid=124&lang=sq|publisher=Albanian Police|accessdate=17 February 2012|author=Albanian Police|language=Albanian|quote=Pak javë pasi ishte shpallur shteti shqiptar nga Kuvendi i Vlorës, më 13 janar 1913, qeveria e Ismail Qemalit vendosi krijimin e forcave të rendit. Qeveria ngarkoi për të kryer detyrat e një xhandarmërie ... Funksione administrative i kryente policia...}}</ref> About 70 former Ottoman officers were engaged as officers of the law enforcement units of the independent Albania. The first director of Albanian Police was Halim Gostivarin while the first commanders of the gendarmerie were Alem Tragjasin, Hysni Toskën, Sali Vranishtin and Hajredin Hekalin. The color of the Albanian Police uniforms was gray-green with red and black collars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Historik i shkurtër i Policisë së shtetit shqiptar 1912 – 2007 (Brief History of the Albanian State Police 1912 - 2007)|url=http://www.asp.gov.al/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=181&Itemid=124&lang=sq|publisher=Albanian Police|accessdate=17 February 2012|author=Albanian Police|language=Albanian|quote=Xhandarmëria caktoi edhe uniformën e rregullt të saj gri-jeshil, jakën kuq e zi, kësulën pa strehë dhe gradat në pjesën e përparshme të jakës...}}</ref>

== Economy ==

The economy of Albania after it became independent state in 1912 was based on primitive [[agriculture]] and [[livestock]], without significant industry and little international trade.<ref>{{Citation |author=Grolier Incorporated |title=The Encyclopedia Americana |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=-h01T5fVLOaA4gTeo9nuAQ&id=tQc1AAAAMAAJ&dq=economy+in+albania+in+1912+agricultural&q=%22When+Albania+became+independent+in+1912%2C+its+chief+components+were+primitive+agriculture+and+livestock%22#search_anchor |volume=1 |publisher=Grolier Incorporated |page=479 |quote=When Albania became independent in 1912, its chief components were primitive agriculture and livestock raising. There was no significant industry and little inter-regional or foreign trade}}</ref> Starting in 1912 Albania began activities aimed to implement an agrarian reform which would transfer ownership of the [[arable land]] from big landowners to peasants.<ref>{{Citation |last=Escolano |first= Julio |author=Julio Escolano |coauthors= Geoffrey Oestreicher and Pierre Lazar; Marta Ruiz-Arranz, Mario Mansilla and Engin Dalgic |title=Albania: Selected Issues |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/albania-selected-issues-and-statistical-appendix/oclc/58542497&referer=brief_results |year=2005 |month= March |publisher=International Monetary Fund |location= Washington, D.C. |oclc=58542497 |page=28 |chapter= Land Reform and privatization in Albania, 1912—2005 |chapterurl=http://books.google.rs/books?id=v8b2q5vfC_QC&pg=PA28&dq=%22economy+in+albania+in+1912%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=1Qw1T6OXE8z34QSWztyYAg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22economy%20in%20albania%20in%201912%22&f=false |quote= During independence (1912—44), Albania began pursuing agrarian reforms. These reforms, which aimed to transfer land ownership to peasants, brought about little change, however, as most land remained with the original landowners}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==
[[File:Albania-CIA WFB Map.png|left|thumb|150px|Map of the Principality of Albania, remaining territory left after partition of the Independent Albania]]
{{See|Principality of Albania|Republic of Central Albania}}

The [[Treaty of London (1913)|Treaties of London]] and [[Treaty of Bucharest (1913)|Bucharest]] dealt with the final territorial adjustments arising out of the conclusion of the [[Balkan Wars]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fry |first=Michael Graham |author= Michael Graham Fry|authorlink= |coauthors=Erik Goldstein, Richard Langhorne |title= Guide to International Relations and Diplomacy|url=http://books.google.com/?id=Z5ndamBABdIC&pg=PA144&dq=london+conference+territories+Balkan+wars#v=onepage&q&f=false |year= 2002 |publisher= Continuum |location= London |isbn= 0-8264-5250-7|page= 145 |quote= Treaty of London consisted simply of cession by the Sultan to the Great Powers of all Ottoman territory in Europe except... It was the Treaty of Bucharest, 13 August 1913, which provided the definitive settlement after the Second Balkan War}}</ref> After the London treaty has been signed the ambassadors of six Great Powers decided to constitute a new state, [[Principality of Albania|Albania]], as hereditary principality.<ref>{{Citation |last=Zolo |first=Danilo |author=Danilo Zolo |title=Invoking humanity: war, law, and global order |url= http://books.google.com/books?id=20kxq_Au3H8C&pg=PA179&dq=Albanian+national+Congress+1912+vlore&hl=en&ei=9jZ5Tdn7HZeL4gax9LWnBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDIQ6AEwAjgU#v=onepage&q=Albanian%20national%20Congress%201912%20vlore&f=false |year=2002 |publisher=Continuum |location= London ; New York |language= |isbn=978-0-8264-5655-7 |oclc=47844508 |page=179, 180 |quote= With the Peace of London, the Great European powers, in the redistributing the land taken from Turks among the Balkan states, decided to create a new state, Albania.}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Llewellyn Smith |first= Sir Michael |author=Sir Michael Llewellyn Smith |editor1=Paschalis Kitromilides |editor1-last= Kitromilides |editor1-first=Paschalis |title=Eleftherios Venizelos : the trials of statesmanship |url=http://books.google.rs/books?id=KQEH4vvG0KwC&pg=PA150&dq=principality+of+Albania+bucharest+1913&hl=en&sa=X&ei=cf0wT8mdC4HP4QS9ovD4BA&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=principality%20of%20Albania%20bucharest%201913&f=false |origyear=2006 |year=2008 |publisher=Edinburgh University Press |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-0-7486-3364-7 |page=150 |quote=In July 1913 the Powers signed a protocol establishing Albania as an 'autonomous, sovereign, hereditary principality' under their guarantee. They set up a commission to establish the frontiers of the new state. }}</ref>

{{quotation|'''Point 1.''' Albania is constituted as an autonomous, sovereign and hereditary principality by right of primogeniture, guaranteed by the six Powers. The sovereign will be designated by the six Powers.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts20_1/AH1913_2.html| title= The Conference of London| first= Robert | last= Elsie | authorlink= Robert Elsie | archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.albanianhistory.net%2Ftexts20_1%2FAH1913_2.html&date=2011-02-11 | archivedate= February 11, 2011 | accessdate= February 11, 2011 |year=1913|quote= This decision, reached at the fifty-fourth meeting of the conference on 29 July 1913,..1. Albania is constituted as an autonomous, sovereign and hereditary principality by right of primogeniture, guaranteed by the six Powers. The sovereign will be designated by the six Powers. |ref=harv}}</ref>|Decision of the ambassadors of the six Great Powers made on 29 July 1913 during 54th meeting of the ''Conference of the Ambassadors''}}

The [[Great Powers]] refused to recognize [[Provisional Government of Albania]] and instead organized the [[International Commission of Control]] to take care of the administration of newly established principality until the arrival of the new monarch.<ref>{{harvnb|Jelavich|1999|p=101}}{{quote|Despite the fact that a provisional government under Kemal was in existence, the powers refused to recognize it. Instead they established International Control Commission}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts20_1/AH1914_2.html | title= An Uprising in the Six-Month Kingdom | first= Duncan | last= Heaton-Armstrong| author=Duncan Heaton-Armstrong | publisher=Gervase Belfield and Bejtullah Destani (I.B. Tauris, in association with the Centre for Albanian Studies)|year=2005 | archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.albanianhistory.net%2Ftexts20_1%2FAH1914_2.html&date=2011-01-25 | archivedate= January 25, 2011 | accessdate= 5 February 2012 |page=xiv|quote= The Great Powers... established "International Commission of Control as an interim administration until the new monarch arrived.}}</ref> The first [[law enforcement agency]] of the new principality was the [[International Gendarmerie]].

The treaty of Bucharest, signed on 10 August 1913, established internationally recognized Albania as independent state.<ref>{{harvnb|Jelavich|1999|p=99}}{{quote|The Threaty of Bucharest of August 1913 ... established independent Albania.}}</ref> The creation of Albanian state in 1913<ref>{{Citation |last= King |first= Russell |author= Russell King |coauthors= Nicola Mai, Stephanie Schwandner-Sievers |title=The new Albanian migration |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=05Mw4-b9oN0C&pg=PA184&dq=%22THE+CREATION+OF+THE+ALBANIAN+STATE%22&hl=en&ei=hNKBTtDfG4HP4QSn8ZVX&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCwQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22THE%20CREATION%20OF%20THE%20ALBANIAN%20STATE%22&f=false|year=2005 |publisher= Sussex Academic Press |location= Brighton, Great Britain ; Portland, Or. |isbn= 978-1-903900-78-9 |oclc= 56420292 |page= 184 |quote= ... at the time of the creation of Albanian state (1913)}}</ref> after the [[Balkan Wars]] was their only political result.<ref>{{Citation |last=Courtney |first=Leonard Henry |author=Leonard Henry Courtney, 1st baron |authorlink= Leonard Courtney, 1st Baron Courtney of Penwith|coauthors= Leonard Henry Courtney of Penwith, Lord.|title= Nationalism and war in the Near East |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=w7sVFA9yu5IC&pg=PA341&dq=%22independence+of+Albania%22&hl=en&ei=FpSBTuLkFcbh4QSrkfxO&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBDgK#v=onepage&q=%22independence%20of%20Albania%22&f=false |origyear=1915 |year= 1971 |publisher= Arno |location= New York |language= |isbn=978-0-405-02742-0 |oclc= 476724951 |page=341 |quote= While the creation of Albania was the only political result of the Balkan wars... }}</ref>

After one display of independence of Qemali's government Great Powers were angered and the International Commission of Control forced Qemali to step aside and leave Albania.<ref>{{harvnb|Vickers|1999|p=82}}{{quote|The Powers were angered by this display of independence by Kemal's government,... as a result, the International Commission forced Kemal to step aside. Kemal subsequently left Albania ...}}</ref>
[[File:Prince Wilhelm of Albania.jpg|thumb|250px|[[William, Prince of Albania]] and his wife [[Princess Sophie of Schönburg-Waldenburg|Princess Sophie of Albania]] arriving in [[Durrës]], Albania on 7 March 1914.]]

In 1914, after gradual assumption of the administration of the country, the [[International Commission of Control]] prepared a draft of the constitution ([[Albanian language|Albanian]]: ''Statuti Organik'') with 216 articles. It was a basis for establishment of the [[Parliament of Albania|National Assembly]] with power of legislation in Albania which was designed as hereditary constitutional monarchy.<ref>{{harvnb|Jelavich|1999|p=101}}{{quote| International Commission prepared a draft constitution. It provided for the establishment of national assembly,...composed of three representatives from...seven administrative districts... chosen by direct suffrage,... heads of three churches and ten nominees of the prince. .... a four year... ministers ..appointed by the prince}}</ref> According to the [[constitution]], the new principality would have, with few exceptions, the same administrative organization as during the [[Ottoman Empire]] suzerainty.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.cecl.gr/RigasNetwork/databank/REPORTS/r23/ZAHARIA.html| title= The post - 1989 constitutional course of south east europe
| first= Perikli| last= Zaharia| date= March 24, 2003| work= | publisher= Centre for European Constitutional Law| location= Athens| archiveurl = http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cecl.gr%2FRigasNetwork%2Fdatabank%2FREPORTS%2Fr23%2FZAHARIA.html&date=2011-01-21| archivedate = January 22, 2011| accessdate= January 22, 2011| quote= The Ottoman administrative organization , with few exceptions, remained basically unchanged. }}</ref> 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 Christianity|Orthodox]] and [[Catholic Church|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]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cecl.gr/RigasNetwork/databank/REPORTS/r23/ZAHARIA.html| title= The post - 1989 constitutional course of south east europe
| first= Perikli| last= Zaharia| date= March 24, 2003 | publisher= Centre for European Constitutional Law| location= Athens| archiveurl= http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cecl.gr%2FRigasNetwork%2Fdatabank%2FREPORTS%2Fr23%2FZAHARIA.html&date=2011-01-21| archivedate= January 22, 2011| accessdate= January 22, 2011| quote= A Constitution (Statuti Organik) for the new State, consisting of 216 articles, was elaborated in 1914 by the International Commission. Albania was designated as a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The power of legislation was entrusted to a National Assembly, while the executive power was vested in the Council of Ministers, who were to be appointed by the Prince and accountable to him only. }}</ref> After monarchical form of government has been installed by the [[International Commission of Control]] in 1914 the political system of Albania became a monarchy.<ref>{{Citation |last=Barjaba |first=Kosta |author= Kosta Barjaba |title= Albania's democratic elections, 1991-1997 : analyses, documents and data |url=http://books.google.rs/books?ei=LjA0T8bHL-uL4gSXmNz0AQ&id=9sEVAQAAIAAJ&dq=%22the+first+albanian+state%22+1912&q=%22Thus%2C+the+first+Albanian+state+can+be+seen+as+a+parliamentary+state+and+not+as+a+monarchy.%22#search_anchor |year= 2004 |publisher=Edition Sigma |location= Berlin |isbn=978-3-89404-237-0 |oclc= 57567449 |page= 188 |quote=...The Albanian state later became a monarchy. Until the installation of the monarchy,...}}</ref>

The biggest group of [[Albanians]] who were left outside of the new state were Albanians from [[Kosovo]], the cradle of the 19th century Albanian nationalism.<ref>{{Citation |last=Jürgen Fischer |first=Bernd |author=Bernd Jürgen Fischer |authorlink=Bernd Jürgen Fischer |title=Albania at war, 1939-1945 |url=http://books.google.rs/books?id=vTZnAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA99&dq=flag+day+albania+28+november&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lTUsT7GiKsTXtAaPpuX-DA&sqi=2&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=1913&f=false |accessdate= 3 February 2012 |year= 1999 |publisher=Purdue University Press |location=West Lafayette, Ind. |isbn=978-0-585-06388-1 |oclc=42922446|page=70 |quote= When Albania's state boundaries were delineated... in 1913, many Albanians were left outside of the new state. The largest group of unredeemed could be found in Kosova, which had served as cradle of Albanian nationalism in the nineteenth century... }}</ref> [[Nazi Germany]] and [[Kingdom of Italy (1861–1946)|Fascist Italy]] exploited discontent of Albanians with inaccurate ethnic borders.<ref>{{Citation |last=Jürgen Fischer |first=Bernd |author=Bernd Jürgen Fischer |authorlink=Bernd Jürgen Fischer |title=Albania at war, 1939-1945 |url=http://books.google.rs/books?id=vTZnAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA99&dq=flag+day+albania+28+november&hl=en&sa=X&ei=lTUsT7GiKsTXtAaPpuX-DA&sqi=2&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=1913&f=false |accessdate= 3 February 2012 |year= 1999 |publisher=Purdue University Press |location=West Lafayette, Ind. |isbn=978-0-585-06388-1 |oclc=42922446|page=xi |quote= Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany....exploited Albanian dissatisfaction with the country's ethnically imprecise frontiers}}</ref>

== Commemorations ==

Every 28 November since Albania was declared independent in 1912<ref>{{Citation |last=Elsie |first=Robert |author= Robert Elsie |authorlink= Robert Elsie |title= Historical dictionary of Albania |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/historical-dictionary-of-albania/oclc/454375231&referer=brief_results |accessdate= 4 February 2012 |year=2010 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |location=Lanham |isbn=978-0-8108-7380-3 |oclc=454375231 |page=lix |chapter= Independent Albania (1912—1944) |chapterurl=http://books.google.rs/books?id=haFlGXIg8uoC&pg=PR59&dq=%22%22Independent+Albania+(1912%22%22robert+elsie&hl=en&sa=X&ei=L6AtT7TZLsT04QS4gcX_DQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22Independent%20Albania%20(1912%22&f=false |quote= ...on 28 November 1912, Albania was finally declared independent. }}</ref> is commemorated by all Albanians (wherever they live in the world) as their [[National Day]] ([[Albanian Independence Day]] or ''Flag Day'').<ref>{{Citation |last=L Gall |first=Timothy |author=Timothy L Gall |title=Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life: Europe |url= http://books.google.rs/books?id=jLhZAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Albanian+Independence+Day%22&dq=%22Albanian+Independence+Day%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=N2syT4S-CM7E4gTE-JDiBA&redir_esc=y |year= 1998 |publisher=Gale |location= Detroit |isbn=978-0-7876-0556-8 |oclc=36694286 |page= 25 |quote= All Albanians, wherever they are located in the world, joyously commemorate November 28 as Albanian Independence Day (Dita e Flamurit), for it was on that day in 1912 in Albanian seacoast town of Vlora, that the venerable Albanian patriot, Ismail Qemali, first raised Albanian red-and-black double headed eagle flag and proclaimed Albanian independence...}}</ref> In the [[Republic of Albania]] it is celebrated as [[public holiday]]. Although it was not officially a public holiday in the [[Republic of Kosovo]] it has been celebrated as holiday in 2011 by a special decision of the Prime Minister [[Hashim Thaçi]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Albanians celebrate Flag Day|url=http://infoglobi.com/eng/article/17235|publisher=Info Globi|accessdate=8 February 2012|date=28 November 2011|quote=Kosovo legislation does not include 28 November on the list of official holidays, however under a special decision of the Government PM Hashim Thaci,...today has been announced a holiday.}}</ref>

The [[proceedings]] of the conference dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Albania's independence organized in November 1982 by the [[Academy of Sciences of Albania]] were titled "''National forces against imperialist dictate in the organization of the Albanian State, 1912-1914: Report''".<ref>{{Citation |last=Puto |first= Arben |author= Arben Puto |title=Les forces nationales face au diktat impérialiste dans l'organisation de l'etat Albanais (1912-1914) : rapport : conference nationale consacree au 70e anniversaire de la proclamation de l'independance de l'Albanie, 19 novembre 1982. |url=http://www.worldcat.org/title/forces-nationales-face-au-diktat-imperialiste-dans-lorganisation-de-letat-albanais-1912-1914-rapport-conference-nationale-consacree-au-70e-anniversaire-de-la-proclamation-de-lindependance-de-lalbanie-19-novembre-1982/oclc/500197070&referer=brief_results |year= 1983 |publisher= 8 Nëntori |location= Tiranë |language=French |oclc=500197070 }}</ref> In 1992 the Academy of Sciences of Albania organized a [[Scientific conference|conference]] dedicated to 80th anniversary of independent Albania and published a document titled: "''The organization of government, judicial system and military of Albania (1912-1914)''".<ref>{{Citation |author=École Pratique des Hautes Études |title= Sciences historiques et philologiques |url=http://books.google.rs/books?id=mdqz6jQeEA4C&pg=PA44&lpg=PA44&dq=%22+L%27organisation+administrative,+judiciaire+et+militaire+de+l%27Albanie+(1912-1914)%22&source=bl&ots=5v2v-kPArI&sig=gCKAeN_gADt1VHFo4i_FV2HwHVY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=OcU7T_iNIYjb4QSWu8SnBg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22%20L'organisation%20administrative%2C%20judiciaire%20et%20militaire%20de%20l'Albanie%20(1912-1914)%22&f=false |year=1992 |month= |publisher= |location= Paris |language= French |oclc=2513665 |page=44 |quote=Il a présenté une communication sur « L'organisation administrative, judiciaire et militaire de l'Albanie (1912-1914) » au colloque 80 ans d'indépendance albanaise, organisé par l'Académie des Sciences de ce pays en novembre 1992.}}</ref> Year 2012 is a year of the [[centennial]] of the Independence of Albania.<ref>{{cite news|last=Topi|first=Bamir|title=The address of President Topi to the Nation on New Year’s Eve|url=http://www.noa.al/en/artikull.php?id=132639|accessdate=10 February 2012|newspaper=Albanian National News Agency|date=31 December 2012|author=Bamir Topi|authorlink=Bamir Topi|agency=Albanian National News Agency|location=Tirana, Albania|month=December|year=2011|quote=The year 2012, dear Albanians, is the most beautiful historic year. The 100th anniversary of the Independence of Albania}}</ref> The opening day of the [[100th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania|year long celebration]] was on 17 January 2012 during the solemn ceremony held in [[Parliament of Albania|parliament of Republic of Albania]] and attended by representatives from [[Kosovo (region)|Kosovo]], [[Macedonia (country)|Macedonia]], [[Montenegro]], [[Preševo]] and [[Bujanovac]], who were joined together that day like they were 100 years ago.<ref>{{cite web|title=100th anniversary of independence|url=http://top-channel.tv/english/artikull.php?id=4422|publisher=TOP Channel Shqip|accessdate=11 February 2012|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftop-channel.tv%2Fenglish%2Fartikull.php%3Fid%3D4422&date=2012-02-11|archivedate=11 February 2012|location=Albania|year=2012|quote=The Albanian Parliament opened with a solemn ceremony the 100th year of Albania’s independence. January 17th was chosen as the opening day for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of independence, since it is the day when the Albanian National hero, Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu died, who symbolizes the unification of all Albanians...Representatives from Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Presheva and Bujanovci were present in the Albanian Parliament, without partial distinctions, together, as six centuries ago and as 100 years ago,.}}</ref>

The [[Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports (Albania)|Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports]] announced on 22 December 2011 the "''International Competition for the accomplishment in sculpture of the monumental work dedicated
to “100 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Albanian State: 28 November 1912 – 28 November 2012”''".<ref>{{cite web|title=Competition announcement|url=http://www.iictirana.esteri.it/NR/rdonlyres/3292E0F7-FB2F-4A2F-85E0-EF35175F071D/92752/GARAMONUMENTOCENTENARIOINDIPENDENZA1.pdf|publisher=Republic of Albania, Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports; National Gallery of Arts|accessdate=18 February 2012|author=Republic of Albania, Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports; National Gallery of Arts|page=1|year=2011|quote=Today, on 23.12.2011, in reliance on the Order of the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports No 289, dated 22.12.2011 on “Announcement of competition for the accomplishment in sculpture the monumental work dedicated to the “100 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Albanian State: 28 November 1912 – 28 November 2012”.}}</ref>

== Gallery ==

<center>
<gallery widths="120" heights="120px" perrow="5" style="border: 1px solid #a86; box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba(0,0,0,0.75); -moz-box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba(0,0,0,0.75); -webkit-box-shadow: 0.1em 0.1em 0.5em rgba(0,0,0,0.75); border-radius: 0.5em; -moz-border-radius: 0.5em; -webkit-border-radius: 0.5em;">
File:Shqipenia 16 June 1913-1.jpg|16 June 1913
File:Shqipenia 16 June 1913-2.jpg|16 June 1913
File:Te Shqipenies 25 October 1913.jpg|25 October 1913
File:Te Shqipenies 25 October 1913-1.jpg|25 October 1913
File:Shqipenia E Lire 1 December 1913.jpg|1 December 1913
</gallery>
</center>
<br/>


== See also ==
* [[League of Prizren]]
* [[Black Society for Salvation]]
* [[Massacres of Albanians in the Balkan Wars]]
* [[Kosovo War]]
* [[100th Anniversary of the Independence of Albania]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}
{{histalbania}}
== Sources ==
* {{citation|url= http://www.ermenji.org/historia/chap23.html |title= Vendi që zë Skënderbeu në historinë e Shqiperisë |last1=Ermenji |first1=Abas|author=Abas Ermenji| authorlink=Abas Ermenji |year=1968|publisher= Komiteti Kombëtar Demokrat 'Shqipnija ë Lirë'|location=Paris |oclc= 504152562|ref=harv }}
* {{Citation|last=Schmidt-Neke|first=Michael|title=Enstehung und Ausbau der Königsdiktatur in Albanien, 1912-1939|url=http://books.google.rs/books?id=vpIFsca3lKYC&pg=PA25&dq=Mehmet+Pash%C3%AB+Derralla&hl=en&sa=X&ei=llcuT8zfC8jqOcWVmZgO&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Mehmet%20Pash%C3%AB%20Derralla&f=false|accessdate=5 February 2012|year=1987|publisher=Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag|isbn=978-3-486-54321-6|ref=harv}}
* {{Citation |last= Jelavich |first= Barbara |author= Barbara Jelavich|title=History of the Balkans: Twentieth century |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Hd-or3qtqrsC&pg=PA100&dq=albanian+congress+in+trieste+1913&hl=en&ei=Su45Tdn6K4al8QPo7ajBCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q&f=false |volume=2 |origyear= 1983 |year= 1999 |publisher= The Press Syndicate of University of Cambridge |location= Cambrige, United Kingdom |isbn= 0-521-27459-1|ref=harv}}
* {{Citation| last = Vickers | first = Miranda | title = The Albanians: a modern history | publisher = I.B.Tauris | year = 1999 |isbn = 978-1-86064-541-9 | url =http://books.google.rs/books?id=IzI0uOZ2j6gC&pg=PA66&dq=albania+1912+government+isa+boletini&hl=en&sa=X&ei=348tT_38CZGK4gTkvZStDg&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=albania%201912%20government%20isa%20boletini&f=false|ref=harv}}
* {{citation |url=http://www.albanianhistory.net/texts20_1/AH1912_1.html |title= Dokumenta historike për t'i shërbye historiës tone kombëtare. |first= Lef |last= Nosi |author= Lef Nosi |authorlink=Lef Nosi|isbn= 978-99956-10-04-3 |oclc= 230208965|publisher=Instituti i Historisë |location= Tirana|year=2007|ref=harv}}
* {{Citation| last= Giaro | first= Tomasz | title= Modernisierung durch Transfer zwischen den Weltkriegen| url= http://books.google.com/books?id=dmrRCdTQBTcC&pg=PA185&dq=Provisional+government+of+vlore+december+4+1912&hl=en&ei=x5k9TeLYM83A8QO_qMisCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CC4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Provisional%20government%20of%20vlore%20december%204%201912&f=false | year= 2007| publisher = Vittorio Klosterman GmbH | location= Frankfurt am Main, Germany| isbn = 978-3-465-04017-0 | chapter= The Albanian legal and constitutional system between the World Wars |ref=harv }}

{{Independent Albania|state=expanded}}
{{Albania topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Albania, Independent}}

[[Category:1914 disestablishments]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1912]]
[[Category:History of modern Albania]]

[[sh:Nezavisna Albanija]]

Revision as of 20:34, 8 May 2012

Independent Albania
Shqipëria
1912–1914
Flag of Albania
Anthem: Himni i Flamurit
"Hymn to the Flag"
Territory of the Albanian Vilayet for which independence was declared
Territory of the Albanian Vilayet for which independence was declared
StatusFormer unrecognized countries
CapitalVlora
Common languagesAlbanian, Greek, Serbian, Bulgarian, Macedonian
Religion
Islam, Christianity, Judaism
GovernmentParliamentary system
Head of State 
• 1912–1914
Ismail Qemali[1]
• 1914
Fejzi Alizoti
Prime Minister 
• 1912–1914
Ismail Qemali
• 1914
Fejzi Alizoti
LegislatureAssembly of Vlorë
• Upper house
Senate of Albania
Historical eraWorld War I
28 November 1912
21 February 1914
Currencyfranc of the Latin Monetary Union
ISO 3166 codeAL
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Ottoman Empire
Kingdom of Serbia
Kingdom of Montenegro
Kingdom of Greece
Principality of Albania

The Independent Albania was a parliamentary state established in Vlorë (then Ottoman Empire, today Republic of Albania) on 28 November 1912. Its assembly was constituted on the same day while its government and senate were established on 4 December 1912.

The delegation of Albania submitted a memorandum to the London Conference of 1913 requesting the international recognition of independent Albania. At the beginning of the conference it was decided that the region of Albania would be under the Ottoman suzerainty but with an autonomous government. The requests of Albania for its international recognition based on the ethnic rights of Albanians were rejected and the treaty signed on 30 May 1913 partitioned a major part of the independent Albania between Serbia, Greece and Montenegro, leaving the territory of Albania reduced to central Albania which was put under the protection of the Great Powers. The ambassadors of six Great Powers met again on 29 July 1913 and decided to constitute a new state, Albania, as a constitutional monarchy. Finally, with the Treaty of Bucharest being signed in August 1913 a new independent state was established — the Principality of Albania, leaving about 30%[2] of the ethnic Albanian population outside the borders of the new principality because they lived on the territory of Albania partitioned between its neighboring countries.

Name

The name of the state used in the text of declaration of independence of Albania is Shqipëria (English: Albania).[3] It is also referred to as the "independent Albania" (Albanian: Shqipëria e Mosvarme)[4], the "Albanian State"[5] (Albanian: Shteti Shqiptar) or the "independent state of Albania"[6][7] (Albanian: Shteti i pavarur shqiptar)[8].

Political system

The independent Albania established on 28 November 1912 is the first Albanian state in modern history.[9] It was a parliamentary state, not a monarchy.[10] Some sources refer to it as the Republic of Albania[11][12] or the Albanian Republic.[13]

Albania became independent state through four constitutional decisions of the Assembly of Vlorë made on 28 November 1912[14]:

  1. Albania, as of today, should be on her own, free and independent
  2. under a provisional government
  3. that a council of elders (senate) be elected to assist and supervise the government
  4. a commission is to be sent to Europe to defend Albanian interests among the Great Powers

Territory

The territory Albania declared as independent was much larger than the territory of contemporary Albania. It comprised the territories of Kosovo Vilayet, Monastir Vilayet, Shkoder Vilayet and Janina Vilayet.[15][16] The Treaty of London, signed on 30 May 1913, reduced the territory of Albanian state to its central regions after partitioning a significant part of territory claimed by Albania between the Balkan allies (a major part of the northern and western area was given to the Serbia and Montenegro while the southern region of Chameria became part of Greece).[17] Kosovo was given to Serbia at the London treaty, at the insistence of Russia.[18]

Because during the First Balkan War the kingdoms of Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria and Montenegro aspired to incorporate the entire region into their states (completely denying the Albania's independence), most of the captured territory was occupied by their armies. Independent Albania did however exercise control over one pocket of land which included Vlore, Berat, Fier and Lushnje.[19]

History

Albanian Vilayet

Albanian rebels capturing Skopje in August 1912

Until September 1912 the Ottoman government intentionally kept Albanians divided within four ethnically heterogeneous vilayets to prevent Albanian national unification.[20] The reforms introduced by Young Turks provoked the Albanian revolt which lasted in period January—August 1912.[21] In January 1912, Hasan Prishtina, Albanian deputy in Ottoman parliament, publicly warned members of the parliament that the policy of Young Turks government is leading to a revolution in Albania.[22] The revolt was successful and until August 1912 rebels managed to gain control over whole Kosovo vilayet (including Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Priština and even Skopje), a part of the Scutari Vilayet (including Elbasan, Përmet and Leskovik), Konitsa in Janina Vilayet and Debar in Monastir Vilayet.[23] The Ottoman government ended the Albanian revolt on 4 September 1912 by accepting all demands related to establishing the unified autonomous system of administration and justice for Albanians within one vilayet — the Albanian vilayet.[24]

First Balkan War

The success of the Albanian revolt sent a strong signal to the neighboring countries that the Ottoman Empire was weak.[25] Besides, the Kingdom of Serbia opposed the plan for an Albanian vilayet, preferring a partition of the European territory of the Ottoman Empire among the four Balkan allies.[26] In the meantime the conquered territory was agreed to have status of the Condominium.[27]

Albanian leaders, including Faik Konica and Fan Noli, organized a large meeting on 7 October 1913 in Boston. They decided that Albanians should "unite fully with the Ottoman government against enemies of the Empire" because "if Turkey is defeated, Balkan states would shred Albania.".[28] That decision was connected with big risk because in case of Ottoman defeat the Albanian participation in the Balkan war on the Ottoman side would serve as justification for Balkan allies to partition Albania as an Ottoman province.[29] Albanians who were mobilized in Ottoman army fought for their country rather than for the Ottoman Empire.[30]

File:Albanian prisoners in Belgrade.jpg
Albanian prisoners are marched through Belgrade 1912.

During the First Balkan War the combined armies of the Balkan allies overcame the numerically inferior and strategically disadvantaged Ottoman armies, and achieved rapid success. They occupied almost all remaining European territories of the Ottoman Empire including the territory of Albanian Vilayet[31]

At the beginning of November 1912 Albanian leaders appealed to Francis Joseph II, the Emperor of Austria-Hungary, explaining the difficult situation in their country because parts of the four vilayets were also claimed by Balkan League who were present on the disputed lands.[32] Austria-Hungary and Italy strongly opposed the arrival of Serbian army on the Adriatic sea because they perceived it as a treat to their domination of the Adriatic and feared that Serbian Adriatic port could became a Russian base.[33] Ismail Qemali, who had been an Albanian deputy in the Ottoman parliament, secured the support of Austria-Hungary for autonomy of Albania within the Ottoman Empire, but not for the independence.[34]

All-Albanian Congress

Ismail Qemali invited the representatives of all parts of Albanian Vilayet to attend the All-Albanian Congress[35][36] held in Vlorë on November 28, 1912.[37] At the beginning of the session, Ismail Qemali referred to the threatened Albanian rights gained during the Albanian revolts in previous four years and explained to the participants of the congress that they should do whatever is necessary to save the Albania.[38] After his speech they began by checking the documents[39] because it was decided that each kaza of Albanian Vilayet will be counted as one vote, regardless of the number of its delegates.[40] Participants of this congress are regarded as Founding Fathers of Albania.

After the declaration of independence

Caricature published in February 1913 shows Albania defending itself from neighboring countries. Montenegro is represented as a monkey, Greece as a leopard attacking Ioannina and Serbia as a snake. Text in Albanian: "Flee from me! Bloodsucker Beasts!"

On 29 November 1912 the army of the Kingdom of Serbia captured Durrës without any resistance and established Durrës County with four districts (Serbian: срез): Durres, Lezha, Elbasan and Tirana.[41][42] New Serbian authorities were faced with big difficulties in governing a new county because all secluded army garrisons with small number of soldiers were destroyed in a couple of days.[43]

The international relations of Albania began to function on a state level after it was proclaimed independent and the first diplomatic efforts of its government were requests for the international recognition of Albanian state.[44] In December 1912 delegation of Albania submitted a memorandum to the London Conference of 1913 insisting on the ethnic rights of Albanians and requested an international recognition of the independent Albania composed of Kosovo, western Macedonia including Skopje and Bitola and the whole territory of Epirus up to Arta.[45]

About 120 notable politicians and intellectuals from Albania attended the Albanian Congress of Trieste in period 27 February — 6 March 1913 and requested from Great Powers a recognition of the political and economical independence of Albania.[46][47] Isa Boletini and Ismail Qemali travelled to London in March 1913 to obtain Britain's support for their new country.[48] On March 6 Ioannina was captured by forces of the Kingdom of Greece.[49] In March 1913 a group of 130 (or 200) soldiers of the Kingdom of Serbia were killed near Prizren by Albanian irregulars in act of revenge for repression of Serbian army.[50]

In April 1913 the army of the Kingdom of Serbia retreated from Durrës but remained in other parts of Albania. On the other hand, Kingdom of Montenegro managed to capture Shkodër on 23 April 1913 after six months of siege. However, when the war was over, the Great Powers did not award the city to the Kingdom of Montenegro, which was compelled to evacuate it in May 1913.

In May 1913 delegates of Albania in London requested a British sovereign and considered offering the Albanian throne to Aubrey Herbert.[51]

London treaty

The Great Powers did not fulfill the requests for recognition of Albania.[52] At the beginning of the London conference in December 1912 the ambassadors of all six Great Powers rejected the plan for establishing independent Albania.[53] Instead, they decided that Albania would be under Ottoman suzerainty but with an autonomous government.[54] After it became obvious that Ottoman Empire would lose all of Macedonia and its territorial connection with Albania the Great Powers realized they had to change their decision.[55]

The Treaty of London, signed on 30 May 1913, partitioned significant part of territory claimed by Albania between the Balkan allies reducing the territory of Albania to its central regions.[56]

After the London treaty

In September 1913 independent Albania secretly supported and helped Ohrid–Debar Uprising because Ismail Qemali thought that independent Albania is too weak to openly confront the Kingdom of Serbia.[57] Qemali ordered simultaneous attack of the Albanian forces led by Isa Boletini and Bajram Curri to the region of Prizren.[58] Peshkopi has been captured on 20 September 1913.[59] Local Albanians and Bulgarians expelled the Serbian army and officials, creating a front line 15 km east of Ohrid. A local administration was set up in Ohrid.[60] The Serbian army of 100,000 regulars suppressed the uprising in several days. Thousands were killed, and tens of thousands of local inhabitants fled for Bulgaria and Albania to save their lives. According to the Report by the International Commission of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace the number of Albanians who took refuge was 25,000.[61]

On 16 October 1913 Essad Pasha Toptani, who also had been an Albanian deputy in the Ottoman parliament, established the Republic of Central Albania with its administrative centre in Durres.[62] Toptani's state was also short-lived and unrecognized, with its territory bounded by rivers Mat in the North and Shkumbin in the South. It further partitioned already truncated territory of Albania. Toptani contested the status of the provisional government and denied that Qemali's government was legitimate, emphasizing that it was "the personal creation of a number of men."[63][64] In July 1913 Ismail Qemali attempted to calm Toptani by appointing him Minister of Interior, but with no avail.[65] Toptani was also, like Qemali little earlier, forced by Great Powers to step away on 1 February 1914.[66]

In November 1913 the Albanian pro-Ottoman forces had offered throne of Albania to the Ottoman war minister of Albanian origin, Izzet Pasha.[67] The Ottoman Empire sent agents to encourage a revolt, hoping to restore Ottoman suzerainty over Albania. [68] Izzet Pasha sent major Beqir Grebenali, another ethnic Albanian, to be one of his chief representatives in Albania. The Provisional Government of Albania under control of Ismail Qemali captured and executed major Beqir Grebenali.

Politics

Ismail Qemali after the session of the Assembly of Vlorë declaring establishment of the independent Albania

Declaration of Independence

At the beginning of the session Ismail Qemali emphasized that the only way to prevent division of the territory of Albania between the Balkan allies is to establish it as independent state, separated from Ottoman Empire.[69] Qemali's proposal was unanimously accepted and it was decided to sign the declaration of independence of Albania in the name of the constituted Assembly of Vlorë (Albanian: Kuvendi i Vlorës) which members were representatives of all the regions of Albania.[70] By the declaration of Albanian independence the Assembly of Vlorë rejected the autonomy granted by the Ottoman Empire to the Albanian vilayet, projected a couple of months earlier.[71] The consensus was made for the complete independence.[72]

In Vlora, on the 15th/28th of November 1328/1912.
Following the speech made by the President, Ismail Kemal Bey, in which he spoke of the great perils facing Albania today, the delegates have all decided unanimously that Albania, as of today, should be on her own, free and independent.[73]

The sitting was then suspended and members of newly constituted National Assembly went to the house of Ismail Qemali who raised the flag of Skanderbeg on the balcony of his house, in front of the gathered people.[74]

Government and Senate

The establishment of the government was postponed for the fourth session of the Assembly of Vlorë, held on 4 December 1912, until representatives of all regions of Albania arrived to Vlore.[75] During that session members of the assembly established the Provisional Government of Albania.[76] It was a government that was consisted of ten members, led by Ismail Qemali, until his resignation in 22 January 1914.[77] Assembly established the Senate (Albanian: Pleqësi) with advisory role to the government, consisted of 18 members of Assembly.[78]


Independent Albania

Principality of Albania

Albanian Republic

Albanian Kingdom

Albania under Italy

Albania under Germany

Communist Albania

Republic of Albania
1912–1914 1914–1925 1925–1928 1928–1939 1939–1943 1943–1944 1944–1992 since 1992

Ismail Qemali was appointed as the first prime minister of independent Albania.[79] On the same session held on 4 December 1912 the assembly appointed the other members of the government[80]:

Public services

Post stamp of the independent Albania, 16 June 1913.

A week after the independent Albania was proclaimed its first Ministry of Posts and Telegraphs was established with Lef Nosi as its minister. Independent Albania took over the Ottoman post offices and placed significant efforts to make Albanian postal service identifiable.[81] Post offices of the independent Albania used the Ottoman postal seals until the end of April and beginning of May 1913 when they were replaced by the postal seals of Albania with the name of the place in the upper part of the seal and the name of the state, Albania (Shqipenie), in the bottom part.[82] On 5 May 1913 the first postage stamps of Albania were put into circulation. On 7 July 1913 an official request has been submitted for membership of Albania in the Universal Postal Union (UPU).[83] That request was rejected and Albania became a member of UPU in 1922.[84]

After Albania achieved its independence from Ottoman Empire in 1912 its legal system continued to function under the Ottoman Civil Code (Mejelle) for some time.[85]

There was no Albanian currency until 1926. After Albania proclaimed its independence on November 28, 1912, gold and silver coins of other countries circulated in Albania while the official unit of account in independent Albania was franc of Latin Monetary Union.[86]

Until 1912 the education in Albania depended on the religion. Muslims attended Ottoman schools, Orthodox population attended Greek schools, in the districts near Slavic states population attended Serbian or Bulgarian schools while Catholics attended Italian or Austrian schools.[87] When Albania was declared independent in 1912 its government took measures to close foreign schools and to open Albanian ones.[88] In period 1912—1914 there was not much opportunity and time for progress of national education, because of the political instability and World War I breaking out shortly after Albania declared its independence in 1912.[89] The first laic school was opened in Shkoder in 1913.

Isa Boletini with men from Kosovo in the streets of Vlorë in 1912

Group of fighters from Kosovo led by Isa Boletini were the first nucleus of the armed forces of Albania[90] established on 4 December 1912.[91]

Law enforcement forces (gendarmerie and Albanian Police) of the independent Albania were established on 13 January 1913.[92] About 70 former Ottoman officers were engaged as officers of the law enforcement units of the independent Albania. The first director of Albanian Police was Halim Gostivarin while the first commanders of the gendarmerie were Alem Tragjasin, Hysni Toskën, Sali Vranishtin and Hajredin Hekalin. The color of the Albanian Police uniforms was gray-green with red and black collars.[93]

Economy

The economy of Albania after it became independent state in 1912 was based on primitive agriculture and livestock, without significant industry and little international trade.[94] Starting in 1912 Albania began activities aimed to implement an agrarian reform which would transfer ownership of the arable land from big landowners to peasants.[95]

Aftermath

Map of the Principality of Albania, remaining territory left after partition of the Independent Albania

The Treaties of London and Bucharest dealt with the final territorial adjustments arising out of the conclusion of the Balkan Wars.[96] After the London treaty has been signed the ambassadors of six Great Powers decided to constitute a new state, Albania, as hereditary principality.[97][98]

Point 1. Albania is constituted as an autonomous, sovereign and hereditary principality by right of primogeniture, guaranteed by the six Powers. The sovereign will be designated by the six Powers.[99]

— Decision of the ambassadors of the six Great Powers made on 29 July 1913 during 54th meeting of the Conference of the Ambassadors

The Great Powers refused to recognize Provisional Government of Albania and instead organized the International Commission of Control to take care of the administration of newly established principality until the arrival of the new monarch.[100][101] The first law enforcement agency of the new principality was the International Gendarmerie.

The treaty of Bucharest, signed on 10 August 1913, established internationally recognized Albania as independent state.[102] The creation of Albanian state in 1913[103] after the Balkan Wars was their only political result.[104]

After one display of independence of Qemali's government Great Powers were angered and the International Commission of Control forced Qemali to step aside and leave Albania.[105]

William, Prince of Albania and his wife Princess Sophie of Albania arriving in Durrës, Albania on 7 March 1914.

In 1914, after gradual assumption of the administration of the country, the International Commission of Control prepared a draft of the constitution (Albanian: Statuti Organik) with 216 articles. It was a basis for establishment of the National Assembly with power of legislation in Albania which was designed as hereditary constitutional monarchy.[106] According to the constitution, the new principality would have, with few exceptions, the same administrative organization as during the Ottoman Empire suzerainty.[107] 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.[108] After monarchical form of government has been installed by the International Commission of Control in 1914 the political system of Albania became a monarchy.[109]

The biggest group of Albanians who were left outside of the new state were Albanians from Kosovo, the cradle of the 19th century Albanian nationalism.[110] Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy exploited discontent of Albanians with inaccurate ethnic borders.[111]

Commemorations

Every 28 November since Albania was declared independent in 1912[112] is commemorated by all Albanians (wherever they live in the world) as their National Day (Albanian Independence Day or Flag Day).[113] In the Republic of Albania it is celebrated as public holiday. Although it was not officially a public holiday in the Republic of Kosovo it has been celebrated as holiday in 2011 by a special decision of the Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi.[114]

The proceedings of the conference dedicated to the 70th anniversary of Albania's independence organized in November 1982 by the Academy of Sciences of Albania were titled "National forces against imperialist dictate in the organization of the Albanian State, 1912-1914: Report".[115] In 1992 the Academy of Sciences of Albania organized a conference dedicated to 80th anniversary of independent Albania and published a document titled: "The organization of government, judicial system and military of Albania (1912-1914)".[116] Year 2012 is a year of the centennial of the Independence of Albania.[117] The opening day of the year long celebration was on 17 January 2012 during the solemn ceremony held in parliament of Republic of Albania and attended by representatives from Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Preševo and Bujanovac, who were joined together that day like they were 100 years ago.[118]

The Ministry of Tourism, Cultural Affairs, Youth and Sports announced on 22 December 2011 the "International Competition for the accomplishment in sculpture of the monumental work dedicated to “100 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Albanian State: 28 November 1912 – 28 November 2012”".[119]



See also

References

  1. ^ Elsie, Robert (2010), "Independent Albania (1912—1944)", Historical dictionary of Albania, Lanham: Scarecrow Press, p. 367, ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3, OCLC 454375231, retrieved 4 February 2012, PRESIDENT: Ismail Qemal Bey Vlora, who declared Albanian independence in 1912, was the first acting head of state and therefore might be regarded as the country's first president. {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Elsie, Robert (2010), "Independent Albania (1912—1944)", Historical dictionary of Albania, Lanham: Scarecrow Press, p. lix, ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3, OCLC 454375231, retrieved 4 February 2012, ... about 30 percent of the Albanian population were excluded from the new state {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ Islami, Selim (1968), Historia e popullit shqiptar (in Albanian), Prishtinë: Enti i botimeve shkollare i Republikës Socialiste të Serbisë, p. 352, OCLC 1906502, Propozimet e kryetarit u aprovuan njëzëri e me entusiazëm nga delegatët, te cilët nënshkruan dokumentin historik ku thuhej: „ . . . Shqipëria me sot te bahet ne vehte, e lire ee mosvarme." {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ Pirraku, Muhamet (19 April 2009). "Cili Është Mesazhi I Emërtimeve "SHQIPËRIA SHTETËRORE"". AlbaniaPress.com : Agjensia Informative Shqiptare. Retrieved 18 February 2012. Shteti i projektuar nga Konferenca e Ambasadorëve në Londër, më 1913, si: "Principata e Shqipërisë" me shtrirjen vetëm në një pjesë të Bregdetit shqiptar, ... të më pak se një e treta e tokave të shtetit "Shqipëria e Mosvarme" e shpallur në Vlorë, më 28 nëntor 1912 (State designed by the Conference of Ambassadors in London in 1913, as: "The Principality of Albania" ... is less than a third of the terriory of "Independent Albania" declared in Vlora, on November 28, 1912) {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. ^ Puto, Arben (1983), National forces against imperialist dictate in the organization of the Albanian State, 1912-1914, Tirana: "8 Nëntori" Pub. House, OCLC 11497570 {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ Jansen, Suzanne (2006), The Kosovo Status Negotiations in 2006 (PDF), Amsterdam: Universiteit van Amsterdam, p. 50, The Proclamation of the Independent State of Albania, 1912 {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  7. ^ Zolo, Danilo (2002), Invoking humanity : war, law, and global order, London: Continuum, p. 179, ISBN 978-0-8264-5656-4, OCLC 47844508, In November 1912 the independent state of Albania was proclaimed at Vlore {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  8. ^ Omari, Luan (1994), "Shteti i pavarur shqiptar në vitet 1912-1914 [Independent state of Albania in the years 1912-1914]", Historia e shtetit dhe e së drejtës në Shqipëri [History of state and law in Albania] (in Albanian), vol. 2, Tiranë: Shtëpia Botuese Luarasi, OCLC 164822827, Shteti i pavarur shqiptar në vitet 1912-1914 [Independent state of Albania in the years 1912-1914] {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  9. ^ Sokalski, Henryk J (2003). An ounce of prevention: Macedonia and the UN experience in preventive diplomacy. Washington, D.C.: United States Institute of Peace Press. p. 60. Retrieved 9 February 2012. The first Albanian state in modern history emerged in 1912. {{cite book}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  10. ^ Barjaba, Kosta (2004), Albania's democratic elections, 1991-1997 : analyses, documents and data, Berlin: Edition Sigma, p. 188, ISBN 978-3-89404-237-0, OCLC 57567449, ... the first independent Albanian state was conceived as a parliamentary state.... the High Council ... was elected by the Assembly...Thus, the first Albanian state can be seen as a parliamentary state and not as a monarchy. {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  11. ^ Gingeras, Ryan (2009), Sorrowful shores : violence, ethnicity, and the end of the Ottoman Empire, 1912-1923, Oxford: Oxford University Press, ISBN 978-0-19-956152-0, OCLC 251212020, the declaration of Republic of Albania in 1912 {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  12. ^ Greville Pounds, Norman John (1969), Eastern Europe, Chicago: Aldine Pub. Co, p. 819, OCLC 5671, ... policy of seeking autonomy within it was no longer practical. The Albanian leaders therefore turned to one off seeking complete independence and in November 1912 proclaimed the Republic of Albania {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  13. ^ R King, Robert (1973), Minorities under communism; nationalities as a source of tension among Balkan Communist states, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, p. 140, ISBN 978-0-674-57632-2, OCLC 736902, ... the Albanian Republic was proclaimed in 1912)... {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  14. ^ Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës (2004), "Essential Characteristics of the State (1912—1914)", Studia Albanica, vol. 36, Tirana: L'Institut, p. 18, OCLC 1996482, Essential Characteristics of the State (1912—1914) ... Albanian state started its independent life through four important constitutional decisions that we already know: 1.Albania must become independent and free 2. ... under a temporary government 3. A group of Wise Men have to be elected for supporting and controlling the government 4. A Commission has to be sent to Europe in order to represent the Albanian issue in front of the great Kingdoms {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ W. Willoughby, Westel (1919), "Albania (1912—1914)", Types of restricted sovereignty and of colonial autonomy, Washington: United States of America, National government publication, p. 15, OCLC 6518463, retrieved 4 February 2012, Albania is composed of former Turkish Provinces of Scutari and Yanina, with parts of Kossovo and Monastir {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  16. ^ Eberhardt, Piotr (2003), Ethnic groups and population changes in twentieth-century Central-Eastern Europe : history, data, and analysis, Armonk, N.Y.: M.E. Sharpe, p. 356, ISBN 978-0-7656-0665-5, OCLC 48383528, The Albanian state at this time was larger than its counterpart today and comprised territories belonging to the former Turkish provinces (vilayets) of Shkoder,... Skopje,...Bitola,... and Janina... {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  17. ^ Vickers 1999, p. 70 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFVickers1999 (help)

    ... the Conference nevertheless awarded the Balkan allies large areas of Albanian-claimed territory... A major part of northern and western Albania went to Serbia and Montenegro, while Greece received the large southern region of Chameria, leaving the Albanian state reduced to the central regions ...

  18. ^ Rakowska-Harmstone, Teresa (2006), New Europe : the impact of the first decade, vol. 2, Warsaw: Institute of Political Studies; Polish Academy of Sciences, p. 37, ISBN 978-83-88490-87-3, OCLC 749805563, Kosovo was included in the independent Albania in 1912, but was given to the Serbs under the 1913 Treaty of London at Russia's insistence. {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ Filipović, Gordana (1989), Kosovo-past and present, Belgrade: Review of International Affairs, p. 71, OCLC 440832915, retrieved 3 February 2012, The provisional government of Ismail Kemal held power only in Vlore Berat, Fier and Lushnje {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ Hidryma Meletōn Chersonēsou tou Haimou (1967), Balkan studies: biannual publication of the Institute for Balkan Studies, vol. 8, Thessaloniki: The Institute for Balkan Studies, p. 30, OCLC 1519050, retrieved 3 February 1912, Ottoman government, although purposely keeping Albanians administratively divided into separate, ethnically non-homogeneous vilayets, in order to prevent any unification and national development... {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  21. ^ Gurakuqi, Romeo (2007). "The Highland Uprising of 1911" (php). Shoqata Dedë Gjo' Luli Association. Retrieved January 9, 2011. It was provoked by the laws passed by the new regime that claimed to loyally implement the old fiscal policy on the extremely impoverished population, impose new heavy taxes upon people, forcefully recruit Albanians for the Turkish army, continue the process of the entire population disarmament, extend its absolute power all over Albania, even over those regions that had always enjoyed certain privileges. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  22. ^ Zhelyazkova, Antonina (2000). "Albania and Albanian Identities". International Center for Minority Studies and Intercultural Relations. Archived from the original on January 10, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2011. At a parliamentary session in January 1912, ... Albanian deputy Hasan Prishtina warned that the reactionary policy of the Young Turks' government was going to lead to a revolution in Albania.
  23. ^ Bogdanović, Dimitrije (2000) [1984]. "Albanski pokreti 1908-1912.". In Antonije Isaković (ed.). Knjiga o Kosovu (in Serbian). Vol. 2. Belgrade: Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Retrieved January 9, 2011. ... ustanici su uspeli da ... ovladaju celim kosovskim vilajetom do polovine avgusta 1912, što znači da su tada imali u svojim rukama Prištinu, Novi Pazar, Sjenicu pa čak i Skoplje... U srednjoj i južnoj Albaniji ustanici su držali Permet, Leskoviku, Konicu, Elbasan, a u Makedoniji Debar... {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |trans_chapter= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  24. ^ Shaw, Stanford J. (2002) [1977]. "Clearing the Decks: Ending the Tripolitanian War and the Albanian Revolt". History of the Ottoman Empire and modern Turkey. Vol. 2. United Kingdom: The Press Syndicate of University of Cambridge. p. 293. ISBN 0-521-29166-6. Retrieved January 10, 2011. Therefore, with only final point being ignored, on September 4, 1912 the government accepted proposals and the Albanian revolt was over {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Warrander, Gail (2007). Kosovo. United States of America: The Globe Pequot Press. p. 12. ISBN 1-84162-199-4. At the same time the rebellion sent strong signal to Kosovo neighbors that the Ottoman Empire was weak. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  26. ^ "Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and the Conduct of the Balkan Wars". Washington D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Piece. 1914. p. 47. Retrieved January 10, 2011. The Servians hastened to oppose the plan of a "Greater Albania" by their plan for partition of Turkey in Europe among the Balkan States into four spheres of influence. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and the Conduct of the Balkan Wars". Washington D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Piece. 1914. p. 49. Retrieved January 10, 2011. In a few weeks the territories of Turkey in Europe .. by the Balkan allies....in their hands as condominium {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Ermenji 1968

    "Shoqëria e Zezë për Shpëtim". Faik Konitza, Fan Noli e të tjerë nuk besonin se do të thyhej Turqia prej Ballkanikëvet dhe nuk kishin shpresë për Shqipërinë tek mprojtja e Austrisë. Prandaj në një mbledhje të madhe që mbajti Federata Vatra, në Boston, më 7 të Tetorit, udhëheqësit e kolonisë nuk shihnin tjetër mënyrë shpëtimi veçse duke u pështetur tek Turqia. Të gjithë të pranishmit u habitën kur dëgjuan prej krerëvet të tyre se interesi dhe detyra e Shqiptarëvet ishte që "të bashkohëshin plotësisht me qeverinë otomane kundër armiqve të Perandorisë". Sepse "po të thyhej Turqia, shtetet ballkanikë do t'a coptonin Shqipërinë."

  29. ^ Ermenji 1968

    ..Ky mendim ishte i urtë nga njëra anë, por paraqiste rreziqe nga ana tjetër: sikur të thyhej Turqia, siç u thye, Shqiptarët do të pësonin fatin e saj, ose të paktën do t'iu jepnin shtetevet ballkanikë një arësye më shumë përpara fuqivet të mëdha për t'a copëtuar Shqipërinë si një krahinë turke..

  30. ^ Ermenji 1968

    ...Natyrisht, Turqia i mobilizoi Shqiptarët, por këta luftuan më fort për të mprojtur vendin e tyre kundër fqinjëvet,...

  31. ^ Jelavich 1999, p. 100

    ...Balkan armies occupied Albanian territory...

  32. ^ Pearson, Owen (2004). Albania in the Twentieth Century, A History. Volume I, Albania and King Zog: Independence, republic and monarchy 1908–1939. I.B. Tauris. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-84511-013-0. appealed to the austrian emperor ... difficult situation of their country as parts of the four vilayets were under the occupation of Balkan allies
  33. ^ Hall, Richard C. (2002) [2000], The Balkan Wars, 1912-1913: prelude to the First World War, New York: Routledge, p. 54, ISBN 0-415-22946-4, retrieved March 11, 2011, The arrival of Serbian army on the Adriatic aroused strong diplomatic opposition from Austria-Hungary and Italy. They perceived the Serbs as a threat to their domination of the Adriatic Sea. In addition they feared that a Serbian Adriatic port could became a Russian base. {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  34. ^ Jelavich 1999, p. 100

    Kemal.. spoke with Habsburg foreign minister, Leopold von Berchtold, .. secured Habsburg support, but for Albanian autonomy rather than independence..

  35. ^ Qemali, Ismail. "Ismail Kemal bey Vlora: Memoirs". Retrieved January 23, 2011. from all parts of the country to Valona, where a national congress was to be held
  36. ^ Erickson, Edward J. (2003), "The Macedonian Campaigns, 1912", Defeat in detail: the Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912-1913, Westport: Praeger publishers, p. 197, ISBN 0-275-97888-5, retrieved January 23, 2011, Ismail Kemal Bey convened the Albanian Independence Congress {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  37. ^ Qemali, Ismail. "Ismail Kemal bey Vlora: Memoirs". Retrieved January 23, 2011. ...November 15th-28th, 1912... {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  38. ^ Nosi 2007

    ..Ismail Kemal bey... took the floor and explained... that they all must strive to do what is necessary to save Albania from the great perils it is now facing.... they began by checking the documents...

  39. ^ Nosi 2007

    ...Albanians had ... uprisings that had taken ... in particular over the last four years, to preserve their rights and customs....all the steps needed to appease and satisfy the Albanians

  40. ^ Nosi 2007

    .. The issue of voting was then brought to the fore and, after much discussion, it was decided that each region (kaza) should have only one vote, irrespective of the number of delegates it had.....

  41. ^ Bogdanović, Dimitrije (1990). Knjiga o Kosovu: razgovori o Kosovu. Književne novine. p. 208. Retrieved August 2, 2011. На освојеном подручју су одмах успостављене грађанске власти и албанска територија је Де Факто анектирана Србији : 29. новембра је основан драчки округ са четири среза (Драч, Љеш, Елбасан, Тирана)....On conquered territory of Albania was established civil government and territory of Albania was de facto annexed by Serbia: On November 29 was established Durres County with four srez (Durres, Lezha, Elbasan, and Tirana) {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  42. ^ Petrović, Dragoljub S. (1990), Heterogenost stanovništva determinanta složenosti rešenja političkog statusa albanskog prostora (Heterogeneity of the population as determinant of the complexity of solving the political status of the Albania) (in Serbian), pp. 237–271, OCLC 439985244, Potom, 29. novembra 1912. formiran je Drački okrug u okviru kojeg su srezovi - Drač, Tirana, Elbasan i Lješ. ... On November 29, 1912 the Durres County was established and in it there were established the follwing districts - Durres, Tirana, Elbasan and Lezhe {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |editorn=, |editorn-first=, |author-separator=, |coauthors=, |editorn-last=, and |editorn-link= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  43. ^ Antić, Čedomir (January 2, 2010). "Kratko slavlje u Draču". Večernje novosti (in Serbian). Srpska vlast u Albaniji počela je vremenom da se suočava s velikim teškoćama. Mir stanovništva morao je da bude izdašno plaćan. Delovanje austrougarskih agenata i begova odanih sultanu činilo je ionako loše puteve nesigurnim. Tokom nekoliko dana uništene su usamljene stanice, koje su branili malobrojni srpski vojnici.. {{cite journal}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  44. ^ Meta, Beqir (1996), "International Policy of Albania (1912—21)", The European legacy : toward new paradigms, Fourth International Conference of the International Society for the study of European Ideas, vol. 1, Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, p. 852, OCLC 757296639, After the proclamation of independence on 28 November 1912 and the establishment of the national government, the international relations of Albania began to be instrumentalized in a state form. The first diplomatic acts of the government were efforts for its recognition and the recognition of the Albanian state... European diplomacy did not regard the government of Vlora as an important element of the Albanian state... The legitimate requests of the new Albanian state were not taken in consideration. {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameters: |nopp= and |month= (help); External link in |chapterurl= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ Petrović, Dragoljub S., Heterogenost stanovništva determinanta složenosti rešenja političkog statusa albanskog prostora (Heterogamy of the population determining the complexity of solution of the political status of the territory of Albania), retrieved August, 6 2011, Albanska delegacija je konferenciji u Londonu u decembru dostavila memorandum u kome se insistira na etničkim pravima. Ta Velika Albanija bi zahvatala Metohiju, Kosovo, zapadnu Makedoniju sa Skopljem i Bitoljem, na jugu čitav Epir do Arte. .... Delegation of Albania submitted to the London conference in December a memo in which they insist on the rights of ethnic Albanians. That Great Albania would encompass Kosovo, western Macedonia with Skopje and Bitola, and on the south the whole Epirus up to Arta. {{citation}}: Check |archiveurl= value (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  46. ^ Mano, Nini (July 3, 2010). "Sotir Kolea, dhunimi i një patrioti (pas vdekjes)". Gazeta Shqip. Retrieved 5 July 2011.
  47. ^ Elsie, Robert. "Albanian Voices, 1962 - Fan Noli". Robert Elsie's personal website. Archived from the original on January 21, 2011. Retrieved January 21, 2011. Congress of Trieste which was organized by his friend and rival Faik bey Konitza {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  48. ^ Herbert, Aubrey (1924), Ben Kendim: a record of eastern travel, London: Hutchinson, OCLC 2339120, retrieved 4 February 1912, In March 1913, Boletini accompanied Ismail Qemal bey Vlora to London to seek British support for the new country. {{citation}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ Erickson, Edward J. (2003). Defeat in Detail: The Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912–1913. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 313. ISBN 0-275-97888-5. ...the fall of Yanya on March 6...
  50. ^ Aleksić-Pejković, Ljiljana (1986), Naučni skup Srbija 1915. godine (in Serbo-Croatian), Belgrade: Istorijski institut, p. 91, OCLC 18024095, за освету због репресивних мера српске војске марта 1913 масакрирали су на спавању око 130 (или 200) војника једне чете {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  51. ^ Herbert, Aubrey (2011), Albania's Greatest Friend: Aubrey Herbert and the Making of Modern Albania, London ; New York: I.B. Tauris & Co., p. 93, ISBN 978-1-84885-444-4, OCLC 749900667, By May 1913...The Albanian delegates wished for a British sovereign and Ismail Kemal Vlora took the opportunity to ask Aubrey Herbert how he would respond if offered the throne {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  52. ^ Herbert, Aubrey (2011), Albania's Greatest Friend: Aubrey Herbert and the Making of Modern Albania, London ; New York: I.B. Tauris & Co., p. 64, ISBN 978-1-84885-444-4, OCLC 749900667, The provisional Government applied urgently for international recognition. There was no official response from Great Powers. {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  53. ^ Giaro 2007, p. 185

    The plan for independent Albanian state was rejected by the ambassadors of England, Germany, Austria-Hungary, France, Russia and Italy at their conference on 17 December 1912 in London.

  54. ^ Petrović, Dragoljub S., Heterogenost stanovništva determinanta složenosti rešenja političkog statusa albanskog prostora (Heterogamy of the population determining the complexity of solution of the political status of the territory of Albania), retrieved August, 6 2011, Na početku Londonske konferencije odlučeno je da je Albanija autonomna sa svojom upravom i priznavanjem sultana Turske kao vrhovnog sizerena.... At the beginning of the conference it was decided that Albania should be autonomous with its own government but under Ottoman suzerainty. {{citation}}: Check |archiveurl= value (help); Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  55. ^ Jelavich 1999, p. 101

    The representatives first decided that an autonomous Albania under continued Ottoman rule would be organized...This decision had to be changed in the spring of 1913, when it became obvious that the Ottoman Empire would lose all of Macedonia and thus its territorial connection with Albania.

  56. ^ Vickers 1999, p. 70 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFVickers1999 (help)

    ... the Conference nevertheless awarded the Balkan allies large areas of Albanian-claimed territory... leaving the Albanian state reduced to the central regions ...

  57. ^ Ćorović, Vladimir (1997). "Балкански ратови". Istorija srpskog naroda (in Serbian). Banja Luka / Belgrade: Project Rastko. {{cite book}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  58. ^ Aleksić-Pejković, Ljiljana (1986), Naučni skup Srbija 1915. godine (in Serbo-Croatian), Belgrade: Istorijski institut, p. 302, OCLC 18024095, Највећи оружани упад изведен је крајем септембра 1913 у западну Македонију и област око Призрена... Исмаил Кемал је наложио избеглим арбанашким првацима, Бајраму Цуру, Иси Бољетинцу,... да са својим људима нападне српске области {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  59. ^ Sinani, Rakip (2005). Dibra dhe dibranët në faqet e historisë (in Albanian). Tiranë: KTISTALINA-KH. p. 150—160. ISBN 99943-625-8-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  60. ^ Гоцев, Димитър. Национално-освободителната борба в Македония 1912–1915, София 1981, с. 48 (Gotsev, Dimitar. The National Liberation Struggle in Macedonia, Sofia 1981, p. 124, Огнянов, Михаил. Македония-преживяна съдба, София 2002, с. 43
  61. ^ Report of the International Commission to Inquire into the Causes and Conduct of the Balkan Wars, published by the Endowment Washington, D.C. 1914, p. 182
  62. ^ Elsie, Robert. "Introduction to Memorandum on Albania, written by Robert Elsie". Switzerland: Web site of Robert Elsie, specialist on Albanian studies. Retrieved January 8, 2011. On 16 October 1913, ... Toptani set up a rival government based in Durrës, called the Republic of Central Albania. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  63. ^ Lakshman-Lepain, Rajwantee (2000), Dimitras, Panayote; Papanikolatos, Nafsika; Lenkova, Mariana; Slusarczyk, Ellen (eds.), Catholics of Albania (doc), Center for Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe - Southeast Europe (CEDIME-SE), p. 28, retrieved October 6, 2011, The self-proclaimed provisional government of Ismail Qemal in Vlorë did not receive the general approval of the public and different forces from within the country (e.g. by Esad Pacha Toptani) contested the provisional government's status {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); More than one of |editor1= and |editor1-last= specified (help); More than one of |editor2= and |editor2-last= specified (help); More than one of |editor3= and |editor3-last= specified (help); More than one of |editor4= and |editor4-last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  64. ^ Toptani, Essad Pasha (April 16, 1919). "Memorandum on Albania". Paris, France: Robert Elsie web site. governments ... in Vlora under the presidency of Ismail Kemal Bey ... was the personal creation of a number of men
  65. ^ Herbert, Aubrey (2011), Albania's Greatest Friend: Aubrey Herbert and the Making of Modern Albania, London ; New York: I.B. Tauris & Co., p. 119, ISBN 978-1-84885-444-4, OCLC 749900667, The political leadership of Albania was divided. Ismail Kemal had attempted to appease the ambitious landowner and soldier Essad Pasha Toptani by appointing him Minister of Interior in July 1913, but Essad proved uncooperative... {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  66. ^ Elsie, Robert (2010), "Independent Albania (1912—1944)", Historical dictionary of Albania, Lanham: Scarecrow Press, p. 448, ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3, OCLC 454375231, retrieved 4 February 2012, ... He reluctantly step away when forced to by the Great Powers on 1 February 1914 {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  67. ^ Elsie, Robert. "Albania under prince Wied". Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved January 25, 2011. pro-Ottoman forces ...were opposed to the increasing Western influence ...In November 1913, these forces, ..., had offered the vacant Albanian throne to General Izzet Pasha ... War Minister who was of Albanian origin. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  68. ^ Vickers, Miranda (1999). The Albanians: a modern history. I.B.Tauris. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-86064-541-9. ... hopes of restoring Ottoman suzerainty over Albania.... sent agents to encourage insurrection
  69. ^ Nosi 2007

    .. four countries in the Balkans ...agreed to divide the Empire up among themselves, including Albania...only road to salvation was to separate Albania from Turkey...According to Ismail Kemal Bey, the most urgent measures that the Albanian nation must take today are these: that Albania be independent...

  70. ^ Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës (2004), "Essential Characteristics of the State (1912—1914)", Studia Albanica, vol. 36, Tirana: L'Institut, p. 18, OCLC 1996482, ... Assembly of Vlora...its members were representatives of all regions of Albania {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  71. ^ Langer, William Leonard; Ploetz, Karl Julius (1940). [[1] [[Encyclopedia of World History|An encyclopedia of world history, ancient, medieval and modern, chronologically arranged]]]. Houghton Mifflin company. ISBN 0-395-65237-5. Retrieved January 24, 2011. Proclamation of Albanian independence by an assembly at Valona which rejected the grant of autonomy made by Turkish government {{cite book}}: Check |url= value (help); URL–wikilink conflict (help)
  72. ^ Erickson, Edward J. (2003), "The Macedonian Campaigns, 1912", Defeat in detail: the Ottoman Army in the Balkans, 1912-1913, Westport: Praeger publishers, p. 197, ISBN 0-275-97888-5, retrieved January 23, 2011, consensus of the congress was for complete independence {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  73. ^ Nosi 2007

    TEXT:in Vlora, on the 15th/28th of November 1328/1912. Following the speech made by the President, Ismail Kemal Bey, in which he spoke of the great perils facing Albania today, the delegates have all decided unanimously that Albania, as of today, should be on her own, free and independent.

  74. ^ Sherer, Stan (1997). Long life to your children!: a portrait of High Albania. University of Massachusetts Press. p. 20. ISBN 1-55849-097-3.
  75. ^ Universiteti Shtetëror i Tiranës (2004), "Essential Characteristics of the State (1912—1914)", Studia Albanica, vol. 36, Tirana: L'Institut, p. 18, OCLC 1996482, Essential Characteristics of the State (1912—1914) ... The setting up of the government was postponed until the fourth hearing of the Assembly of Vlora, in order to give time to other delegates from all regions of Albania to arrive. {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  76. ^ Schmidt-Neke 1987, p. 25

    Erst auf seiner funften sitzung am 4. Dezember 1912 komplettierte der Nationalcongreß die provisorische Regierung, die folgende Zusammensetzung hatte:

  77. ^ Giaro 2007, p. 185

    ... a provisional government, consisting of ten members and led by Vlora, was formed on 4 December.

  78. ^ Giaro 2007, p. 185

    From its own members congress elected a senate (Pleqësi), composed of 18 members, which assumed advisory role to the government.

  79. ^ Elsie, Robert (2010), "Independent Albania (1912—1944)", Historical dictionary of Albania, Lanham: Scarecrow Press, p. lix, ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3, OCLC 454375231, retrieved 4 February 2012, ... The new provisional government of Albania ...with Ismail Qemal bey Vlora as prime minister {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  80. ^ Schmidt-Neke 1987, p. 25
  81. ^ "Postal service in Albania". Albania: http://www.postashqiptare.al. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012. the Ministry of Post Telegraph Telephone, and the minister was the notable intellectual patriot Lef Nosi. The government of that time took in administration all the post offices inherited from the Ottoman Empire and did rapid efforts for the identification of Albanian postal service. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  82. ^ Albanološki institut u Prištini (1970), Gjurmime albanologjike, Volume 9, Issues 1-2 (in Serbian), Priština: Filozofski fakultet u Prištini. Katedra za albanologiju, p. 124, retrieved 29 January 2012, posle proglasa nezavisnosti upotrebljavane i starim turskim žigovima poništavane marke i dopisnice... i posle ... poništavane albanskim prstenastim zigovima, koji nose u gornjem delu prstena ime mesta a u donjem ime zemlje — „Shqipenie". Zamena turskih zigova novim albanskim zigovima izvrsena je pri kraju aprila i pocetkom maja 1913. {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); More than one of |pages= and |page= specified (help)
  83. ^ "Postal service in Albania". Albania: http://www.postashqiptare.al. Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2012. on July 7 1913, presented the official demand to be recruited in Universal Postal Union and International Union of Telecommunication, entrance which was performed in 1922... {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  84. ^ "Albania". Universal Postal Union. Retrieved 9 February 2012. Albania ... Date of entry into the UPU:01-03-1922
  85. ^ Gsovski, Vladimir (1959), Government, law, and courts in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe, vol. 2, p. 1187, OCLC 6177860, ... Albania...In 1912, having achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire, it continued for some time under the Turkish Civil Code (Mejelle)... {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  86. ^ Banco di Roma (1987), The Journal of European economic history, vol. 16, Italy: Banco di Roma, p. 563, OCLC 1784022, Until 1926 Albania had no currency of her own. Gold and silver coins of other countries were used as medium of exchange, while the franc of the Latin Monetary Union served as the official unit of account....during turbulent period 1912—1925
  87. ^ Hurst, Cecil (1935), Advisory Opinion submitted to the Permanent Court of International Justice, Leyden: A.W. Sijthoff’s Publishing Company, education in Albania, until 1912, had varied according to religion: the Moslems attended the Ottoman schools; the Orthodox, the Greek schools, and, in the districts adjacent to the Slavs, the Serbian or Bulgarian schools; the Catholics attended the Italian or Austrian schools.... {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  88. ^ Temo, Sotir (1985), Education in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania, Tirana: "8 Nëntori" Pub. House, OCLC 17205001 page=9, After the Proclamation of Independence and the creation of the Government of Vlora in 1912, measures were taken for the closing of foreign schools and opening Albanian ones. {{citation}}: Check |oclc= value (help); Missing pipe in: |oclc= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  89. ^ Skendi, Stavro (1956), "Education in Independent Albania (1912—1939)", Albania, New York: Mid-European Studies Center of the Free Europe Committee, p. 270, OCLC 722273, Since World War I broke out shortly after Albania declared her independence in November 1912, there was a little time for progress in national education {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  90. ^ New Albania, Tirana: New Albania, 1989, p. 15, OCLC 6335595, A significant fact is that the Kosovar fighters, headed by the legendary hero Isa Boletini, set out on a long voyage to Vlora and created there the first nucleus of the new Albanian army under the command of the Provisional Government.
  91. ^ Ministry of Defence (Albania) (5 December 2011). "Forcat e Armatosura festojnë 99-vjetorin e krijimit të tyre (Armed forces celebrate their 99th anniversary)" (in Albanin). Ministry of Defence (Albania). Retrieved 17 February 2012. Gjeneral brigade Agim Lala, pasi bëri një retrospektivë të shkurtër përsa i përket Forcave të Armatosura që nga krijimi i tyre në 4 Dhjetor të vitit 1912 (Brigadier General Agim Lala, after making a brief retrospective of the terms of the Armed Forces since their creation in December 4, 1912){{cite web}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  92. ^ Albanian Police. "Historik i shkurtër i Policisë së shtetit shqiptar 1912 – 2007 (Brief History of the Albanian State Police 1912 - 2007)" (in Albanian). Albanian Police. Retrieved 17 February 2012. Pak javë pasi ishte shpallur shteti shqiptar nga Kuvendi i Vlorës, më 13 janar 1913, qeveria e Ismail Qemalit vendosi krijimin e forcave të rendit. Qeveria ngarkoi për të kryer detyrat e një xhandarmërie ... Funksione administrative i kryente policia...
  93. ^ Albanian Police. "Historik i shkurtër i Policisë së shtetit shqiptar 1912 – 2007 (Brief History of the Albanian State Police 1912 - 2007)" (in Albanian). Albanian Police. Retrieved 17 February 2012. Xhandarmëria caktoi edhe uniformën e rregullt të saj gri-jeshil, jakën kuq e zi, kësulën pa strehë dhe gradat në pjesën e përparshme të jakës...
  94. ^ Grolier Incorporated, The Encyclopedia Americana, vol. 1, Grolier Incorporated, p. 479, When Albania became independent in 1912, its chief components were primitive agriculture and livestock raising. There was no significant industry and little inter-regional or foreign trade
  95. ^ Escolano, Julio (2005), "Land Reform and privatization in Albania, 1912—2005", Albania: Selected Issues, Washington, D.C.: International Monetary Fund, p. 28, OCLC 58542497, During independence (1912—44), Albania began pursuing agrarian reforms. These reforms, which aimed to transfer land ownership to peasants, brought about little change, however, as most land remained with the original landowners {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  96. ^ Fry, Michael Graham (2002). Guide to International Relations and Diplomacy. London: Continuum. p. 145. ISBN 0-8264-5250-7. Treaty of London consisted simply of cession by the Sultan to the Great Powers of all Ottoman territory in Europe except... It was the Treaty of Bucharest, 13 August 1913, which provided the definitive settlement after the Second Balkan War {{cite book}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  97. ^ Zolo, Danilo (2002), Invoking humanity: war, law, and global order, London ; New York: Continuum, p. 179, 180, ISBN 978-0-8264-5655-7, OCLC 47844508, With the Peace of London, the Great European powers, in the redistributing the land taken from Turks among the Balkan states, decided to create a new state, Albania. {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  98. ^ Llewellyn Smith, Sir Michael (2008) [2006], Kitromilides, Paschalis (ed.), Eleftherios Venizelos : the trials of statesmanship, Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press, p. 150, ISBN 978-0-7486-3364-7, In July 1913 the Powers signed a protocol establishing Albania as an 'autonomous, sovereign, hereditary principality' under their guarantee. They set up a commission to establish the frontiers of the new state. {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); More than one of |editor1= and |editor1-last= specified (help)
  99. ^ Elsie, Robert (1913). "The Conference of London". Archived from the original on February 11, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011. This decision, reached at the fifty-fourth meeting of the conference on 29 July 1913,..1. Albania is constituted as an autonomous, sovereign and hereditary principality by right of primogeniture, guaranteed by the six Powers. The sovereign will be designated by the six Powers. {{cite web}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  100. ^ Jelavich 1999, p. 101

    Despite the fact that a provisional government under Kemal was in existence, the powers refused to recognize it. Instead they established International Control Commission

  101. ^ Heaton-Armstrong, Duncan (2005). "An Uprising in the Six-Month Kingdom". Gervase Belfield and Bejtullah Destani (I.B. Tauris, in association with the Centre for Albanian Studies). p. xiv. Archived from the original on January 25, 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2012. The Great Powers... established "International Commission of Control as an interim administration until the new monarch arrived. {{cite web}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  102. ^ Jelavich 1999, p. 99

    The Threaty of Bucharest of August 1913 ... established independent Albania.

  103. ^ King, Russell (2005), The new Albanian migration, Brighton, Great Britain ; Portland, Or.: Sussex Academic Press, p. 184, ISBN 978-1-903900-78-9, OCLC 56420292, ... at the time of the creation of Albanian state (1913) {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  104. ^ Courtney, Leonard Henry (1971) [1915], Nationalism and war in the Near East, New York: Arno, p. 341, ISBN 978-0-405-02742-0, OCLC 476724951, While the creation of Albania was the only political result of the Balkan wars... {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  105. ^ Vickers 1999, p. 82 harvnb error: multiple targets (2×): CITEREFVickers1999 (help)

    The Powers were angered by this display of independence by Kemal's government,... as a result, the International Commission forced Kemal to step aside. Kemal subsequently left Albania ...

  106. ^ Jelavich 1999, p. 101

    International Commission prepared a draft constitution. It provided for the establishment of national assembly,...composed of three representatives from...seven administrative districts... chosen by direct suffrage,... heads of three churches and ten nominees of the prince. .... a four year... ministers ..appointed by the prince

  107. ^ Zaharia, Perikli (March 24, 2003). "The post - 1989 constitutional course of south east europe". Athens: Centre for European Constitutional Law. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011. The Ottoman administrative organization , with few exceptions, remained basically unchanged.
  108. ^ Zaharia, Perikli (March 24, 2003). "The post - 1989 constitutional course of south east europe". Athens: Centre for European Constitutional Law. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved January 22, 2011. A Constitution (Statuti Organik) for the new State, consisting of 216 articles, was elaborated in 1914 by the International Commission. Albania was designated as a hereditary constitutional monarchy. The power of legislation was entrusted to a National Assembly, while the executive power was vested in the Council of Ministers, who were to be appointed by the Prince and accountable to him only.
  109. ^ Barjaba, Kosta (2004), Albania's democratic elections, 1991-1997 : analyses, documents and data, Berlin: Edition Sigma, p. 188, ISBN 978-3-89404-237-0, OCLC 57567449, ...The Albanian state later became a monarchy. Until the installation of the monarchy,... {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  110. ^ Jürgen Fischer, Bernd (1999), Albania at war, 1939-1945, West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University Press, p. 70, ISBN 978-0-585-06388-1, OCLC 42922446, retrieved 3 February 2012, When Albania's state boundaries were delineated... in 1913, many Albanians were left outside of the new state. The largest group of unredeemed could be found in Kosova, which had served as cradle of Albanian nationalism in the nineteenth century... {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  111. ^ Jürgen Fischer, Bernd (1999), Albania at war, 1939-1945, West Lafayette, Ind.: Purdue University Press, p. xi, ISBN 978-0-585-06388-1, OCLC 42922446, retrieved 3 February 2012, Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany....exploited Albanian dissatisfaction with the country's ethnically imprecise frontiers {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  112. ^ Elsie, Robert (2010), "Independent Albania (1912—1944)", Historical dictionary of Albania, Lanham: Scarecrow Press, p. lix, ISBN 978-0-8108-7380-3, OCLC 454375231, retrieved 4 February 2012, ...on 28 November 1912, Albania was finally declared independent. {{citation}}: External link in |chapterurl= (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |chapterurl= ignored (|chapter-url= suggested) (help)
  113. ^ L Gall, Timothy (1998), Worldmark Encyclopedia of Cultures and Daily Life: Europe, Detroit: Gale, p. 25, ISBN 978-0-7876-0556-8, OCLC 36694286, All Albanians, wherever they are located in the world, joyously commemorate November 28 as Albanian Independence Day (Dita e Flamurit), for it was on that day in 1912 in Albanian seacoast town of Vlora, that the venerable Albanian patriot, Ismail Qemali, first raised Albanian red-and-black double headed eagle flag and proclaimed Albanian independence... {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  114. ^ "Albanians celebrate Flag Day". Info Globi. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2012. Kosovo legislation does not include 28 November on the list of official holidays, however under a special decision of the Government PM Hashim Thaci,...today has been announced a holiday.
  115. ^ Puto, Arben (1983), Les forces nationales face au diktat impérialiste dans l'organisation de l'etat Albanais (1912-1914) : rapport : conference nationale consacree au 70e anniversaire de la proclamation de l'independance de l'Albanie, 19 novembre 1982. (in French), Tiranë: 8 Nëntori, OCLC 500197070 {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)
  116. ^ École Pratique des Hautes Études (1992), Sciences historiques et philologiques (in French), Paris, p. 44, OCLC 2513665, Il a présenté une communication sur « L'organisation administrative, judiciaire et militaire de l'Albanie (1912-1914) » au colloque 80 ans d'indépendance albanaise, organisé par l'Académie des Sciences de ce pays en novembre 1992. {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |month= (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  117. ^ Topi, Bamir (31 December 2012). "The address of President Topi to the Nation on New Year's Eve". Albanian National News Agency. Tirana, Albania. Albanian National News Agency. Retrieved 10 February 2012. The year 2012, dear Albanians, is the most beautiful historic year. The 100th anniversary of the Independence of Albania {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |year= / |date= mismatch (help); More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  118. ^ "100th anniversary of independence". Albania: TOP Channel Shqip. 2012. Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 11 February 2012. The Albanian Parliament opened with a solemn ceremony the 100th year of Albania's independence. January 17th was chosen as the opening day for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of independence, since it is the day when the Albanian National hero, Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu died, who symbolizes the unification of all Albanians...Representatives from Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Presheva and Bujanovci were present in the Albanian Parliament, without partial distinctions, together, as six centuries ago and as 100 years ago,.
  119. ^ Republic of Albania, Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports; National Gallery of Arts (2011). "Competition announcement" (PDF). Republic of Albania, Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports; National Gallery of Arts. p. 1. Retrieved 18 February 2012. Today, on 23.12.2011, in reliance on the Order of the Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Sports No 289, dated 22.12.2011 on "Announcement of competition for the accomplishment in sculpture the monumental work dedicated to the "100 anniversary of the Declaration of Independence of the Albanian State: 28 November 1912 – 28 November 2012".{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

Sources