Yugoslav diplomat in Albania Velimir Stojnić

Abstract

After the end of the Second World War, Yugoslavia and Albania established political and diplomatic relations. Colonel Velimir Stojnić was the first Yugoslav envoy to Albania and he remained in that position until November 1945. In my paper, I will first give a brief overview of the relations between Yugoslavia and Albania 1945–1948. Then in the main chapter, I will deal with the role and significance of Velimir Stojnić in Yugoslav–Albanian cooperation and his impact on Albanian leader Enver Hoxha and Albanian politicians. My research could be part of a broader study of Yugoslav–Albanian relations, especially as an example of good practice in bilateral cooperation. 

Summary: After the end of the Second World War, Yugoslavia and Albania continued the cooperation that was established during the war, when their goal was to fight against a common enemy. Yugoslavia was the first state to recognize the People’s Republic of Albania in April 1945, when diplomatic relations were established. Colonel Velimir Stojnić, who was first sent to Albania as an instructor to help the Communist Party of Albania, became the first Yugoslav envoy. He remained in that position until November 1945. In his reports, Stojnić followed the establishment of Yugoslav–Albanian co-operation. He worked on establishing the Albanian trust in Yugoslav aid, because the representatives of the Albanian authorities and the Albanian opposition believed that Yugoslavia was currently incapable of helping them. Distrust was reflected in the business of companies, but also in the attitude of the press towards the events in Yugoslavia. Stojnić considered it very important for the development of good Yugoslav–Albanian relations and willingness to regulate the border, so his proposals were adopted and turned into an agreement. He insisted on more responsible Yugoslav behavior towards fulfilling the trade agreement, in order to develop mutual trust. 

However, the Albanian leader, Enver Hoxha, believed that Stojnić had interfered in the party struggle during the Berat Plenum in November 1944. Therefore, Hoxha did not trust Stojnić. That was the reason why the Yugoslav government had appointed a new envoy to Tirana, Josip Đerđa. He worked on building greater trust of the Albanian leadership in the Yugoslav side and insisted on the fulfillment of the Yugoslav promises, especially those related to economic agreements. When Albania began to turn to the Soviet Union, Đerđa tried to maintain Yugoslav dominance in Albania. Nevertheless, Yugoslav–Albanian relations began to deteriorate and cooperation between the two countries was terminated in June 1948. After that the Yugoslav envoy ended his duty. Yugoslavia and Albania reopened their embassies in 1954 in Tirana and Belgrade, but relations remained cold.