Work-group: Paola Mema Olta Meta Roela Vangjeli Megi Mydinllari Enxhi Tare

Accepted by: Eva Kane

CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION 1. Life of Ismail Qemali 2. Albanian Declaration of Independence a. Background b. Assembly of Vlora c. National Symbols 3. Memoirs Of Ismail Kemal Bey a. A Memorable Day b. Talk With The Sultan B. Albania And The Albanians a. A Famous Telegram b. Stirring Revolt c. Time To Act d. Welcome At Valona e. National Independence 4.Conclusions 5.Bibliography

Introduction Ismail Qemal Bej Vlora (16 January 1844 – 24 January 1919), was a

distinguished leader of the Albanian national movement, and founder of the modern Albanian state as its first head of state and government. In 1908 he became a deputy in the restored Ottoman Parliament, working with liberal politicians and the British. In 1909, during a rising against the Young Turks, he was briefly made President of the Ottoman National Assembly but was forced to leave Constantinople forever a day or two later. Thereafter his political career concentrated solely on Albanian nationalism. The Athens embassy of the Ottoman Empire reported that Qemali negotiated with organization financed by wealthy Tosks and Greece about forging an union. During the Albanian Revolt of 1911 he joined the leaders of the revolt at meeting in a village in Montenegro (Gerče) on 23 June and together they draw up "Gerče Memorandum" (sometimes referred to as "Red Book" because of the color of its covers ) which addressed their requests both to Ottoman Empire and Europe (in particular to the Great Britain). He was a principal figure in the Albanian Declaration of Independence and the formation of the independent Albania in 28 November 1912. This signaled the end of almost 500 years of Ottoman rule in Albania. Together with Luigj Gurakuqi, he raised the flag on the balcony of the two-story building in Vlorë where the Declaration of Independence had just been signed. 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. Qemali was prime minister of Albania from 1912 to 1914.

1. Life of Ismail Qemali He was born in Avlonva (present-day Vlorë) to

a noble family. Having finished the primary education in his hometown, and the gymnasium Zosimea in Ioannina, in 1859 he moved to Constantinople where he embarked on a career as an Ottoman civil servant.  During these years he took part in efforts for the standardization of the Albanian alphabet and the establishment of an Albanian cultural association. During the Albanian Revlt of 1911 he joined the leaders of the revolt at meeting in a village in Montenegro which addressed their requests both to Ottoman Empire and Europe. He was a principal figure in the Albanian Declaration of Independence and the formation of the independent Albania in 28 November 1912. This signaled the end of almost 500 years of Ottoman rule in Albania. Together with Luigj Gurakuqi, he raised the flag on the balcony of the two-story building in Vlorë where the Declaration of Independence had just been signed. He died of an apparent heart attack at dinner there one evening.

2. Albanian Declaration of Independence

Ismail Qemali and his cabinet during the celebration of the first anniversary of independence in Vlorë on 28 November 1912.The Albanian Declaration of Independence (Albanian: Shpallja e Pavarësisë, or Deklarata e Pavarësisë) is thedeclaration of independence of the Albanian Vilayet from the Ottoman Empire. Independent Albania was proclaimed inVlorë on 28 November 1912.

A. Background The success of the Albanian Revolt of 1912

sent a strong signal to the neighboring countries that the Ottoman Empirewas weak. 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. Balkan allies planned the partition of the European territory of the Ottoman Empire among them and in the meantime the territory conquered during First Balkan War was agreed to have status of the Condominium. That was the reason for Ismail Qemali to organize All-Albanian Congress in Vlora.

B. Assembly of Vlora Under these circumstances, delegates from all over Albania were gathered in the Assembly of Vlorë

(Albanian: Kuvendi i Vlorës). Ismail Qemali returned to Albania with Austro-Hungarian support and, at the head of a swiftly convened national assembly, declared Albanian independence in the town of Vlora on 28 November 1912. The declaration was more theoretical than practical because Vlora was the only town in the whole country under the delegates’ control. Though Albanian independence was recognised de facto on 17 December 1912 at the London Conference of Ambassadors, it was not until 29 July 1913, after the second Balkan War and the solving of the delicate problem of Shkodra, that the international community agreed to recognise Albania as a neutral, sovereign and hereditary principality. The Albanians had never forgotten their own language and nationality, the best proof of this being the endeavours and uprisings that had taken place from time to time, in particular over the last four years, to preserve their rights and customs. The Ottoman Government had never taken their interests into consideration and had never been willing to recompense the Albanians for the great services they had rendered. War had recently broken out with four countries in the Balkans that were seeking change and rights for their peoples, united by their ethnicity and religion. Later, these countries put aside their initial objective and, as the war was going well for them, they agreed to divide the Empire up among themselves, including Albania. For this reason, Ismail Kemal bey departed for Istanbul and, having come to an understanding with the Albanians of Bucharest, too, set off for Vienna where he reached an agreement with the Great Powers that had vital interests in the Balkans. As there was no more hope of saving Albania by means of arms, the only road to salvation was to separate Albania from Turkey. It was only Russia that remained somewhat hostile to the idea because of the Slavs, but it did not deny the existence of Albania. According to Ismail Kemal Bey, the most urgent measures that the Albanian nation must take today are these: that Albania be independent under a provisional government; that a council of elders be elected to assist and supervise the government; and that a commission be sent to Europe to defend Albanian interests among the Great Powers. The delegates unanimously agreed with the words of Ismail Kemal bey and resolved that Albania, as of today, should be on her own, free and independent under a provisional government.

C. National Symbols The same day, Ismail Qemali

waved the national flag of Albania, from the balcony of the Assembly of Vlorë, in the presence of hundreds of Albanians. This flag was sewn after Skanderbeg's principality flag, which had been used more than 400 years earlier.

The diplomatic rol of Ismail Qemali in 1908-1912"The twentieth century marks a new phase of military-political changes

in Balkan because it had decided to declare war on the Ottoman Empire with the help of Russia. In these new circumstances created in Balkan, one of the main figures of the diplomatic-political movement has been Ismail Qemali, who along with other Albanian patriots would launch a diplomatic way for the creation of an independent Albanian state, which route starts at early twentieth century and was held at the Assembly of Vlora on 28 November 1912. The struggle of Albanian people for the creation of an independent state would be developed in two directions, the first direction was that of organizing armed people for uprising situations and the second way would be a diplomatic path led by Ismail Qemali, which would require support from the Major Powers for the creation of an independent Albanian state.

Last year of life Last years of his life he spent in exile working for the

good of the country and collaborating with Albanian colonies.In 1917, National Political Party of Albanians in USA, appointed his delegates to the Paris Peace Conference in 1919-1920. Ismail Qemali died in Perugia, where he was invited by the Italian Government to achieve cooperation for the future of Albania. Accompanied by his three sons on February 8, 1919, Ismail Qemali body was sent by train to Brindisi, was accompanied in Vlora.  On February 12, under a grand ceremony, his body, placed on the bed wrapped in the national flag, was escorted to Janina, where he was buried in the yard of Tekke

Conclusion 1. Ismail Qemali was a principal figure in the Albanian

Declaration of Independence and the formation of the independent of Albania.

2.Ismail Qemal was proclaimed in Vlorë on 28 November 1912 the Albanian Declaration of Independence, of the Albanian Vilayet from the Ottoman Empire.

3. The memoirs of Ismail Qemali bey concentrate on his career as an ottoman diplomat.

4. Ismail Kemal bey departed for Istanbul and, having come to an understanding with the Albanians of Bucharest, too, set off for Vienna where he reached an agreement with the Great Powers that had vital interests in the Balkans.

5. Ismail Kemal Bey must take some measures : that Albania be independent under a provisional government; that a council of elders be elected to assist and supervise the government; and that a commission be sent to Europe to defend Albanian interests among the Great Powers.

Bibliography http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/

Ismail_Qemali http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albanian_Declaration_of_Independence http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ismail_Qemali.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:28nentor.jpg http://archive.org/stream/memoirsofismailk00ismauoft/memoirsofismailk00ismauoft_djvu.txt