PEACE CONFERENCE OF ALBANIAN CLERGY

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00809A000700120477-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: R
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 477
• Publication Date: August 7, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700120477-8
CLASSIFICATION tua ;jILEA US 66U
~ILl~ CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT F
NUPY 1 FOREIGN DOCUMENTS OR RADIO BROADCASTS CD NO.
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
HOW
PUBLISHED
WHERE
PUBLISHED
DATE
PUBLISHED
LANGUAGE
Sociological - Religious conference, biographic
Pamphlet
Tirana
1952
French
CLISSIFICATI03
CtRteriel
(4-d t _
lr A;;a1s;I( OF
~OMite-- DEC ]L
., .. .. W.. ... ...............,.
DATE OF
INFORMATION 1952
DATE DIST. 7 I'll 1953
NO. OF PAGES 4
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
SOURCE Le C1erge des Differents Religions d'Albanie an Lutte Pour la Paix.
PEACE C0107ERENCE OF ALBANIAN CLERGY
jummary: Le Clerge des Differents Religions d'Albanie en
Lutte Pour Is. Paix (The Clergy of the Various Religions in Al-
bania Join the Str ale for Peace i
French s a pamphlet printed in
in Tirana. It contains an introduction describing the
Albanian National Religious Conference and its purpose, 28
speeches by members of the conference, four broadcasts by heads
of religious communities in Albania, and an appeal to members
of all faiths in Albania. It also gives the texts of messages
sent by the conference to Enver Hoxha and to the World Council
for Peace at Paris. Following are the highlights of the con-
ference]
The National Religious Conference of the various faiths in Albania was
held in Tirana on 8 and 9 July 1952. More than 200 Moslem, Orthodox, Catho-
lic, and Bektashi ecclesiastical relegates and guests were present.
The conference was a manifestation of the desire of the Albanian clergy
to work for a just and lasting world peace and for friendship between Al-
bania and the other People's Democracies under the aegis of the USSR and
Stalin.
This viewpoint was clearly expressed in the opening address by Hafiz
Musa Haxhi All, head of the Moslem community, speaking for the religious
communities of Albania, as well. as in subsequent speeches and in the appeal,
approved by the conference, and addressed to all the clergy and faithful of
all creeds in Albania.
The conference also sent telegrams of good wishes and loyalty to Enver
Hoxha, the World Council of Peace, and to the USSR.
S ATE Maw
ARM vn
STAT
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700120477-
CLASSIFICATION
NSRB
FBI
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700120477-8
The Albanian clergy, inspired by humanitarian and patriotic ideals, ex-
pressed its indignation against the bloodthirsty Anglo-American imperialists
and their henchmen, who threaten the Albanian people and wish to precipitate
the world into the misery and horrors of a third world war.
The speakers condemned the barbarous a..ts committed by the Americans
against the innocent Korean people, and demanded that immediate measures be
taken to prohibit the inhuman methods of mass extermination used by these
monsters in Korea, to prevent violations of international law and to halt
the war preparations which the imperialists are making.
Many speakers also denounced the traitorous activities of such prelates
as the Pope and Patriarch Athenagoras, who have become tools of imperialism
and obstacles to world peace. The conference wholeheartedly approved the
appeal of the great Russian Church to the clergy and believers of all faiths
in the world to join in the struggle for peace.
The conference analyzed the international and Albanian situation. It
evaluated the forces working for peace, emphasizing the aid the USSR has given,
and is still giving, to this cause.
The conference expressed its eagerness to contribute to a union of all
creeds as well as of the whole Albanian nation, which, under the guidance of
the Albanian Workers Party, headed by Enver Hoxha, is striving to defend peace
and build the bases of socialism.
Speakers at the conference were as follows:
His Eminence Hafiz Musa Haxhi All, head of the Albanian Moslem community,
who gave the opening speech. :resides following the tenor of the ideas in the
above introduction, he claimed that the Americans had conducted bacteriological
experimenta on prisoners of war on Koje Island,
Mark Ndoja, author, who spoke in the name of the Albanian Committee for
the Defense of Peace. Ndoja named the following ecclesiastics as betrayers
of the people: the Pope, Fr Anton Arapi, Don L. Santoja, B. Shapati, Sali
Myftia, Visarion Xhuvani, Pandeleimon Kotoko, Dervish Rexhepi, and Bt. Ili
Tomori. Ecclesiastics whom he called patriots included: Don Pjeter nudi,
Papa Kristo Negovani, Hoxhe Tastai, Dom Ndre Mjeda, Baba Faja Martaneshi,
and Bobs Fejzo Dervishi..
Gago Peristeri, chairman of the Committee on Ecclesiastical Affairs,
Presidium of the Council of Ministers.
His Eminence Paisi Vodica, Primate of the Autocephalic Orthodox Church
of Albania.
Monsignor Bernardin Shllaku, Primate of the Catholic Church of Albania.
His Holiness Ahmet M. Dede, head of the Albanian Bektashi community and
World Primate. He claimed that Duclos was arrested in France by order of the
Americans and on the basis of false documents.
Monsignor Sulejman M;,rto, chief mufti of Tirana Rreth. He claimed that
Rexhet Sha ti and Sail Myftia were tools of the occupying forces fn-ot
identifie /
Archimandrite Dhimitri Kokonesht, Vicar-General of the Bishopric of
Korce. He said that Americans experimented on war prisoners on Koje Island
with poison gas, plague, cholera, and other germs, and that Americans were
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700120477-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700120477-8
the most cruel enemies of Albania, organizing frontier incidents and espionage
with the aid of Yugoslavia, Greece, Italy, and Albanian war criminals.
Reverend David Pici, Head of the Albanian Franciscans.
Venerable Ikea Prishta, Deputy of the People's Assembly.
Reverend Rrok Vataj, Cure of Leah.
Archimandrite Sofron Borova, delegate from Korce. He accused Bishop
Ilandeleimon Kotoko of working for the annexation of Korce and Gjinokaster
by Greece.
Monsignor Ferik Ajazi, Mufti of Durres.
Don Mark Dushi, Dean and Cure of Tirana.
Archdeacon Aristotele Strato, Vicar-General of the Bishopric of
Gjinokaater.
Venerable Qazlmi., Elbasan Rreth.
Monsignor Pjeter Dema, Bishop of Durres Diocese.
Monsignor Ali Shehu, vice-mufti of Kukes.
Reverend Fr Polizoi, Vicar of Fier Bishopric. He said that General
Ridgway was called "General Plague" by the people.
Don Ndoc Saatcia, Capitulary Vicar of Leah Diocese. He accused
Americans of using poison gas and bacteriological warfare, torturing
-prisoners, and being inhumane to children and innocent people.
Monsignor Sali Ferhati, vice-mufti of Lushnje.
Monsignor Spiro Veli, Vicar-General of Berat Bishopric.
Venerable Ibrahim, Gji.nokaster Rreth.
Reverend Pal Gjint, Curate of Durres.
Monsignor Hafiz Musa Staf-Haeani, vice-mufti of Barrel Rreth.
Dom Ndre Krogi, Assistant Curate of Shkoder.
Monsignor Rrapo Rustemi, mufti of Beret.
His Eminence Hafiz Muse Haxhi Ali, head of the Albanian Moslem community.
He gave the closing speech and prayer for the success of the decisions of the
conference and its work for the holy cause of peace..
Appeals, Broadcasts, Telegrams
An appeal was addressed to Moslem and Chrtz.tian ecclesiastics and faith-
ful f,r intensified participation in the struggle for the defense of peace.
A broadcast was made by His Eminence Paisi Vodica, Primate of the Auto-
cephalic Orthodox Church of Albania, to the Orthodox clergy and faithful, ap-
pealing for peace and condemning American massacres in Korea and Anglo-
American imperialism.
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700120477-8
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700120477-8
A broadcast by Monsignor Bernardin Shllaku, Primate of the Catholic Church
of Albania, to the Catholic clergy and faithful praised Hoxha and Stalin and
appealed for peace.
A broadcast by His Eminence Hafiz Musa Haxhi All, head of the Albanian
Moslem community, to the Moslem clergy and faithful condemned American mas-
sacres and bacteriological warfare and appealed for the defense of peace.
A broadcast by His Holiness Ahmet Muhtar Dede, head of the Bektashi com-
munity and World Primate, to the Bektashi clergy and faithful appealed for the
defense of peace.
A telegram was sent to Enver Hoxha expressing condemnation of the Korean
war and devotion to Hoxha.
A telegram was sent to the World Council of Peace, Paris, protesting
against the Korean war and against weapons of extermination and destruction,
and expressing admiration for the council's mission and hopes for success.
STAT
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/14: CIA-RDP80-00809A000700120477-8