A letter from Ismail Qemali to the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Minister, Graf Berthold

Syle Ukshini

Requests telegrafike for the recognition of the Independence of Albania, which Ismail Qemali sent on November 28, 1912 to the governments of the six Great European Powers, found an echo in the press of the time in Austria-Hungary as well. Unlike the countries of the Tripartite Alliance, Austria-Hungary was for an independent Albania and for a territorial extension sufficient to make its existence as a separate state possible.

The National Assembly in Vlora, which in its first meeting had taken two main decisions: the historic decision to declare the Independence of Albania and the creation of the first national government. Ismail Qemal's Independence and Government began its existence in the exceptional circumstances created by the outbreak of the Balkan War.

Ismail Qemaili, who on November 28 began his efforts to seek the recognition of independence and the temporary government of Albania. Of course, such activity was also reflected in the Viennese press, i.e. in the well-known newspaper "Neue Freie Prese" close to the Austro-Hungarian government circles, which followed developments in the Albanian areas with special attention and interest.

The Viennese newspaper "Neue Freie Presse", dated November 30, 1912, announced that the president of the Provisional Government of Albania, Ismail Qemal Bey, had sent a letter to the Foreign Ministry of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, in which, among other things, it was said:

"Today, in Vlora, the National Assembly, which consists of delegates from the Albanian provinces and regardless of religion, has already declared the political independence of Albania and has elected the temporary government which is tasked with protecting the will and existence of threatened Albanians. n with disappearance from the Serbian army and to liberate the motherland from the armies of the Balkan Alliance states.

Making your Excellency known, I have the honor to ask your Government and Your Majesty to recognize the change in the political life of the Albanian nation.

The Albanians, who in this way have entered the family of Europe, in which they have the goal of being the oldest in the Balkans, pursue only this goal, to live in peace with all the countries of the Balkans.

And, that they become an element of the balance and are convinced that the Government and Majesty, like the whole civilized world would prepare them in final acceptance. And, it will be defended against any attack on the national existence and against the division of their territory."

Further, the Viennese newspaper, referring to the announcements from Rome, the Italian Foreign Minister San Giuliani, had been sent such a despatch with the same text.