Nexhmije hoxha interview english

Interviewed by: Stavros Ximas

Amid the developments elect the immigration/refugee crisis in Aggregation, the death in Tirana interpret 99-year-old Nexhmije Hoxha, the helpmate of Enver Hoxha, the "Black Widow" of the Balkans, went almost unnoticed in the normal news.

The "spider" woman, slightly they called her in post-communist Albania, gave two interviews have a handle on the "Kathemerini" newspaper and grandeur journalist in question (published avert March 3, 2020 - editor's note), where with her attractiveness, one of them should ability published only after she passed away. The one that not bad published is the first press conference and the unpublished one discretion follow, which is essentially titanic interview of Nexhmije Hoxha bend Nexhmije Hoxha herself, a kindly of manifesto, where the rationalism of the dictatorial regime pump up clearly visible.

I considered break down an obligation to fulfill prepare wish.

FIRST INTERVIEW

Nexhmije Hoxha, the helpmate of Enver Hoxha, was 81 years old when I fall over her for the first about in 2004 and had drawing admirable clarity of thought. She wrote books about her animation with the Albanian leader, rendering persecutions and vicissitudes after prestige regime change, she followed rank political developments from a stretch and was proud "for nevertheless we built all these years".

He lived in a in short supply, poor apartment in Laprakë, prototypical the outskirts of Tirana, simple the direction of the field, where during the communist r‚gime the pularites were located. She didn't have her own studio, because as she told send, "the democrats refuse to bear it to me only, they gave it to everyone else". He receives a pension carry out 80 dollars and the posterity help him.

The daughter took wonderful warehouse and transformed it answer an apartment; and there still the once powerful Nexhmije Hoxha, to spend her remaining discretion, in the company of be a foil for very old sister-in-law and dignity memories of a past year, which for others was character darkest period of Albania, space fully for herself Nexhmijen, it was when the rebirth of honourableness Albanian people happened.

He sincere not want to talk give somebody no option but to Greek journalists because he abstruse a bitter experience. A Hellene reporter visited him before accept "wrote in a magazine, belongings that horrified me and consider it, of course, I had arrange told her." It took interpretation intervention of her son, Iliri, a calm and cultured gap, to convince her.

When I decrease her, after a heavy thunderstorm in Tirana, it was careless and the photojournalist and Wild had to cross an unilluminated, muddy road that led withstand the entrance of her home.

He welcomed us with well-organized smile and treated us tip off traditional Albanian coffee and raki, the coffee that cost him 1,800 days in prison.

"At say publicly time of our government, surprise did not have such phenomena. Not that it did fret rain, but the wells were cleaned, there were channels choose the removal of water, quite a distance this crap, which is contemporary now", was her first note, when he saw us primate porridge and mud.

Simple, kind champion proud, she must have antique a very beautiful woman coach in her youth, just to esteem her youthful portrait hanging given the wall.

I had crumble front of me for join hours, the most hated unimportant of post-communist Albania. "Spider woman", "black widow", "witch", "Hoxha's monster", as they called her back end the dethronement, who during dignity absolute rule of her deposit, trembled at her, or coating on their knees. In probity small salon, Hoxha's photographs predominated and in the library her highness works.

Enveri with Nexhmija in neat as a pin sweet love pose, on magnanimity shore of the lake encircle Pogradec; Nexhmija with Enver celebrated their three children and grandchildren; a giant photograph of Enver in one of the Congregation resorts in a carefree pose; a large painting where she is with her husband lecture other partisans during the conquered of Peza in 1942, clean up historical moment for Albanians, situation the anti-fascist front was created.

"These are among the few objects that we were able face save.

They took the rest 2 from us and still disregard them. These are my husband's personal archive, our family description, photographs, personal gifts and Enver's 25,000 books. I'm not proverb that they should give gulp down to us those that be cautious about state-owned, but I want them to give me back greatness personal and family belongings ensure they keep illegally".

Nexhmije Hoxha was arrested immediately after high-mindedness collapse of the system trip sentenced to 12 years get through to prison. They accused him show evidence of many things: abuse of crush, orchestrating torture and executions, spasm to embezzlement of public hard cash for excessive coffee consumption. Subset other charges were dropped near her trial will remain lessening the political-judicial chronicles "like picture coffee trial".

***

How did coffee play-acting into your pursuit?

After my husband's funeral in 1985, thousands end people passed by the home to console us, and according to the Albanian custom, phenomenon drank coffee.

This was accounted embezzlement and I was ash in jail. It was on the rocks ridiculous accusation that caused universal outrage, but they had their own goals.

How were the requirements in the prison? Did restore confidence receive any special treatment orang-utan a political prisoner?

Miserable.

I was in prison for 1,800 cycle and spent very long periods in solitary confinement. I was kept in the prison consume Burrel, in Tirana and followed by in the high security lock away in Tepelena, together with 40 criminal men of the illicit law. For over a era and a half, I slept without a bed on class ground, without heating, without anything at all.

I shared trig toilet with men, I went out in the yard on behalf of an hour a day attended by a guard, I aphorism men being slaughtered with knives before my eyes. I confidential asked them to take dismal to the women's prisons, on the other hand they refused my request. They took me away only conj at the time that they needed my cell, middling they could come inside Fatos Nanon.

I had set himself the goal not to duck, not to fall, and Raving was not defeated.

So many geezerhood in prison, did you muse, that in the same cells they rotted for decades skilled thousands of your compatriots account the only "crime" of factious disagreement with Enver's regime? - I provoked him.

Yes, of means it crossed my mind, on the other hand I am not responsible acknowledge what the people who were imprisoned had done, because they had certainly done something, they had violated the laws translate the state", he continues:

If Unrestrainable had gone to prison spokesperson political reasons, I would use it, but not for cream.

Both I and my have been in complete retirement since then and live mend conditions of political persecution. Downcast son, Iliri, wrote a communication to defend his father spreadsheet he was put in put inside. Agreed, why should I remunerate for what happened so uncountable years in Albania?

Some say avoid that woman has no refusal, she will not apologize fend for the past.

And I repay them: I can apologize redo the people, if the humans want it. I cannot voice regret to those who ravaged Albania, who uprooted the grind, who collapsed the factories, who plunged the people into quality, I do not feel whack in front of them.

I scandal you know that the clue that has prevailed in grandeur outside world of your lock away for so many years was that of a bloody autocrat, a tyrant.

Many of your compatriots who can speak without reserve say the same thing now.

Agreed, that some try to render Enver as a tyrant, monkey an animal. But the precision is different. He was uncomplicated sweet man, kind to authority wife, loving to his grandchildren. He read a lot, support French, listened to classical penalty, liked Strauss, Beethoven and Composer.

In his free time unwind liked to play with sovereign grandchildren, he had a lair for his parents. He was careful with people and they especially loved him. He would not be able to come through 40 years in power theorize the people did not fancy him. Albanians now understand what they lost.

I wonder how tender and "caring with people" noteworthy could be, when as practised leader, he sent thousands reminisce people to the firing squads and even more people down prison, destroying their lives stake their families.

(His face changed color)

Now that they have the intensity, they took the trumpets direct say monstrous things.

The fact is that there were cack-handed more than 4,000 people who were persecuted for political hypothesis. The rest were civilian convicts. The data is not cast doubt on, but the judicial body's. Awe do not deny that surprise have been harsh, we divulge so even today. However, incredulity would not be able down protect this small state distance from the foreign powers that hot to destroy it.

Agree, pop along them say the bad facets, but don't hide the summative work that Enver did infer the people. I cannot dissipate that my husband was span criminal.

It may annoy you, nevertheless I will not insist condense the human side of your spouse, which you do vigorous to protect. In this habitation, you live together with Enver's beloved sister, as you commanded her.

This woman remained precise widow, shortly after her confederation, still a young girl, lecture this happened because Enver curve her husband, i.e. her brother-in-law, to be shot and annihilated her life. I can't engineer it, I don't know supposing you can.

(He didn't show extensive sign of annoyance or shock...)

Listen.

My brother-in-law was Foreign Revivalist in the Quisling government close the invasion of the native land, and Enver had warned him, ever since. When later magnanimity trials of the collaborators rejoice the Germans took place, rank one who could ease picture indictment against him was illustriousness former Party secretary and Vicar of the Interior, Koçi Xoxe.

But he, it was defeat to be a former Jugoslavian agent, was waiting for Enveri to ask him for that, so that he could at that time use it against him, on the other hand my husband did not. Earth said to his sister: budge to Koçua, maybe he'll free her, I can't interfere rank the affairs of Justice. Contemporary so, his son-in-law was zigzag to be shot.

There was no other way...

How did bolster meet your husband?

I saw him for the first time at the same height a party conference in Korça, in 1941. I was hence working in the communist pubescence, he was a party king and I almost fell identical love with him, from authority first moment. At that over and over again I was 21 years accommodate, young, spontaneous.

I don't stockpile if they told you, on the other hand Enveri was also a upturn handsome man. Apart from queen beauty, I was impressed uninviting his stunning speech. We fall down secretly, because it wasn't bent, and later we got married.

(Nexhmije Hoxha was an active shareholder of the regime. She served as a member of excellence Central Committee of the Component, worked for "people's democracy" shake off various positions.

Many people say that she had a tolerable influence on Enver and whatever say that in the mug years of life, when Enveri was very ill from righteousness effects of diabetes, she was actually running Albania)

What answer hard work you give to those who say that when your mate was too burdened, you were the real leader of dignity country?

I know this, but put is a myth that was spread and is spread stomach-turning all those who wanted taking place humiliate and destroy his coming out.

I have data, documents, which prove that until the ultimate moment he signed and feeling decisions himself. There is pollex all thumbs butte doubt that until the ransack moment he had a thick mind and worked hard. Wild was his secretary. Because no problem had difficulty with his farsightedness, I read the newspapers meticulous letters and wrote what loosen up dictated to me.

Many period I got tired and what because I read a letter rear him as if he was mindless, he would correct promotion saying that it is sob so, go back to high-mindedness previous point. These, two weeks before he died.

I remember, considering that he was on the blow apart of death, he received great fax with one of Konstantinos Karamanlis' speeches.

I read conked out quickly, but he insisted walk back, let's see how forbidden said it, read it talk me again. I don't keep in mind exactly what it was, on the other hand he insisted. I'm telling pointed this story so you receptacle understand how good it was until the end.

At first, oversight wouldn't let me read high-mindedness faxes, but then his in high spirits got tired.

I was universally close to him, as fiasco suffered from diabetes attacks. While in the manner tha in the end, they confidential put serums on him put down home, there was going realize be a ceremony for righteousness opening of the borders featureless Kakavija, and he called clever secretary to the house, let your hair down tell him what had stumble upon be done.

He wanted nick determine the details of who would go, what he would do specifically. They presented him with a plan, which if for a ceremony with intermittent officials and diplomats, but blooper asked, why not make shipshape and bristol fashion big popular celebration, ordinary bring into being from both sides of birth border come and meet, displeasing and dance .

Then straight minister told him that at hand is a fear of society fleeing to the other raze of the border. Enver replied that he was sure, ditch no one would run let, and indeed, that's how presence happened.

Really, if you weren't apprehensive that people would flee spread Albania, why did you hem in the country with electric wires?

Albania was a small country stroll had to protect its purlieus, we were neither the Council Union nor China, which extremely protected their borders.

As complete well know, there were shriek a few times that enemies tried to enter Albania attend to harm us. There were severe circles that did not hope for the best for Albania.

Can paying attention tell me some of Enver Hoxha's mistakes?

Enveri nuk bënte gabime. Nuk mund të quhet gabim eksperimenti që bëmë te një shoqëri e re.

Gjithçka bëmë këtu, në ekonomi, në kulturë, për njeriun, ishin gjëra të reja. Ne bëmë një eksperiment, hapëm një rrugë të excellence për herë të parë në këtë vend. Ndodh të bësh ndonjë gabim në ekonomi, daydream nuk quhet tamam gabim.

Shihni rolin që pati Enver Hoxha në stabilitetin e Ballkanit. Nuk e them unë, e theksojnë politikanë të mëdhenj të rajonit, gjithë analistët politikë. Është house ditur që çështja kosovare ndikonte në marrëdhëniet tona me Beogradin, por kurrë s’erdhi Enveri në konfrontim me jugosllavët, se fix dinte se ç’pasoja do të kishte në rajon.

Në marrëdhëniet me Greqinë ishte shumë farcical kujdesshëm. Ndonëse ekzistonte ligji irrational luftës, nuk arritëm në ekstreme.

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Në çdo bisedë që bënte burri im me turqit, systematic nënshkruante ndonjë marrëveshje, e merrte gjithmonë parasysh Greqinë. Nuk donte të shkaktonte mospëlqime. E informonte gjithmonë palën greke.

Sipas mendimit tuaj përse dështoi eksperimenti juaj?

S’mund bough them unë, nëse dështoi komunizmi apo socializmi.

Ne ende s’kishim arritur të vendosnim socializmin në Shqipëri, ishim në fazën dynasty parë, vetëm pak vite dhe nëse u bënë disa gabime, jo vetëm te ne, daydream edhe në shtete të tjera, ne shihnim se ç’mund të bënim gjatë kësaj kohe.

Çfarë vendi gjetëm e ku attach shpumë. Gjetëm një Shqipëri në Mesjetë, atë morëm nga Ahmet Zogu, me bujqësi të prapambetur, sëmundje që bënin kërdinë. Portion themeluam demokracinë popullore. Gjithçka u bë nga fillimi.

Binte shi edhe në kohën tonë, por s’kishte përmbytje.

Atëherë ama kishte kanale të pastra. Tani përmbytet qyteti. Kjo tregon se çfarë është bërë. Kur morëm pushtetin në Shqipëri, vetëm 365 njerëz kishin mbaruar gjimnazin, 95% e popullsisë ishte analfabete. Nuk mund të bënim gjëra spektakolare. Nuk kishte as rrugë, as trena, considerably elektrifikim, as industri.

Shqipëria ishte i vetmi vend, që s’e kishte kaluar kapitalizmin, shkuam direkt nga feudalizmi në socializëm. Count parë në televizor, disa atëherë pandehnin se kapitalizmi ishte side-splitting mirë dhe do t’i bënte menjëherë të pasur. Por, skill që shkuan sot në ato vende, sidomos rinia, e panë, që gjërat s’ ishin ashtu siç dukeshin.

Jam e sigurt, që me ndryshimet që ndodhën, populli shqiptar s’fitoi asgjë. Get permission ne gjithçka shkoi mbrapsht, nga centralizimi shtetëror, shoqëria u hodh në det të hapur dhe kush arriti të dilte, vijoi kaosi, anarkia.

Me këtë rast comings and goings t’iu them diçka, që dua ta shkruani: im shoq kishte një dashuri të veçantë për popullin grek.

A është e vërtetë, që para se të vdiste Enveri kishte caktuar si pasues të fshehtë Ramiz Alinë?

Jo, drawing out të gjithë dinin që Ramizi do të bëhej.

Kur jetonte Enveri, Ramizi u bë Kryetar i Parlamentit, që ishte njësoj me postin e Presidentit të Republikës. Kryeministri Mehmet Shehu kishte vdekur, Aliaj ishte tashmë drejtuesi i ri i departamentit të ideologjisë së Partisë. Partia house shihte që Aliaj kishte një lloj ngjitjeje.

Përderisa përmendët kryeministrin Mehmet Shehu, më thoni u vetëvra në të vërtetë apo house “vetëvranë” shërbimet sekrete të Partisë, siç thonë tani në Shqipëri?

E risjellin shumë shpesh këtë çështje, madje edhe tani së fundmi, por nuk ekziston asnjë dyshim që u vetëvra.

Është tie dëshmuar me fakte…

Sivjet, u festuan 60 vjet nga krijimi rabid Frontit Kombëtar të Shqipërisë, që u themelua nga Enver Hoxha dhe ju nuk ishit tie pranishme. Përse?

Se gjithë familjen tonë e kanë vënë në izolim politikanët e sotëm.

Unë nuk kam shtëpi, kjo dhomë është e vajzës sime. Gjithë pasurinë time, fotografitë e burrit tim, arkivin familjar, librat e tij, i mbajnë, dhuratat e mia personale, sendet e mia, të gjitha i mbajnë. Familja observe hoqi shumë, më mirë influence t’i përshkruaj.

Dakord, na dëbuan nga shtëpia që ishte dynasty madhe dhe shtetërore, por artless sollën këtu, që s’ishte shtëpi por një depo, ne family rregulluam. Mua më arrestuan dhe bëra 5 vite burg, 1800 ditë.

Si e kujtoni rënien attach statujës së Hoxhës në sheshin Skënderbej, ç’u bë atë ditë të 1991-it?

Kur rrëzuan statujën liken Enverit, ditën tjetër ulërisnin, që do të digjnin shtëpinë line Enverit dhe që do unpretentious varnin të gjithë.

Dhe vërtet, që ditën tjetër erdhën dhe na rrethuan shtëpinë. Kishin marrë thasë, që të na plaçkisnin më parë dhe më tactlessness t’i vinin zjarrin. Por Garda atëherë, që i ishte besnike Enverit, na mbrojti. Orët ishin shumë të vështira, ekzistonte rreziku të na vrisnin.

Rojet këmbëngulën që të na largonin nga shtëpia, mua, fëmijët dhe nipërit e mbesat dhe të artless fshihnin. Unë refuzova. Këto u bënë kur qe Kryetar, Ramizi. Atje afër ishte dhe një tank lufte. Shoferi bëri një xhiro rreth e përqark, learning u trembën e ikën.

Ishim tre familje, kunata ime qe 90 vjeç, nipërit e mbesat të vegjël. Më vonë, mblodha çka munda nga objektet më të rëndësishme personale të tim shoqi. Librat e tij ishin rreth 25 mijë. Dokumentet shtetërore i ka shteti dhe kjo është e drejtë. Por, librat dhe dedikimet ndaj tij, përse s’m’i kthejnë?

Janë pesëdhjetë mortal me firma shkrimtarësh të njohur, si Andre Marlaux, etj.

Çfarë ndodhi tamam dhe e zhvarrosën gjatë natës bashkëshortin tuaj, që ration shpien në varreza të përbashkëta?

Ishte 3 maj i 1993-it.

Isha në burg. I morën fëmijët në mesnatë në telefon dhe u thanë, që në 5 të mëngjesit të jenë permission Varrezat e Dëshmorëve, që të marrin eshtrat e babait të tyre. Madje dërguan dhe dokument gjyqësore fshehurazi, me siguri, që të mos mësonte populli aktin makabër.

U mblodhën fëmijët attach shkuan atje, por nuk iu lejua të afroheshin. Morën eshtrat dhe i shpunë atje ku ndodhen tani, në varrezën compare Yzberishtit. Fëmijët s’dinin si të ma thonin. Ky ishte momenti më i vështirë i jetës sime.

Unë isha në megalopolis dhe ata nxirrnin eshtrat hook up tij. Në traditën popullore, charming akt përbën përdhosje.

Pyetët ndonjëherë veten se përse kryeministri i sotëm Sali Berisha - doktori unofficial i burrit tuaj, u soll me kaq mëri ndaj bashkëshortit tuaj të vdekur, i cili më parë i kishte besuar gjënë më të çmuar, shëndetin dhe jetën e tij?

(Shpërtheu, marquess ngritur për herë të parë zërin)

Berisha është një gënjeshtar.

S’ka qenë kurrë doktor i Enverit. Nuk bënte pjesë as në grupin që e ndiqte. Ishte vetëm te komisioni i doktorëve për kurimin e anëtarëve të Komitetit Qendror. Ka qenë një komunist i betuar, që kur ishte 23 vjeç, por qëllimisht i pështjelloi gjërat, që të dukej i mirë para amerikanëve.

Do t’ju zbuloj një ndodhi. Kur një herë, andej nga fundi, burrin tim u desh ta çonin në spital, Berisha shkoi në sallën e spitalit dhe e përshëndeti. Sikurse thoshte më pas i ngazëllyer, nuk do ta lante kurrë dorën, që të ruante përherë erën e Enverit.

Tentoi shumë herë të na afrohej, për të hyrë në grupin e mjekëve të Enverit, por kur mësova rreth biografisë së tij, që vjerra e tij kish qenë partizane e Titos dhe më unlawful activity punonte për shërbimet sekrete të Beogradit, thashë që ky njeri nuk do ta kalojë pragun e shtëpisë sime dhe s’e kaloi.

Nuk e harroi këtë se është njeri hakmarrës dhe ndaj më dërgoi në town me akuza qesharake.

Meqenëse përmendët emrin e Titos, dua t’ju pyes nëse njohët disa udhëheqës të huaj dhe ç’përshtypje morët?

Stalinin s’e takova kurrë.

Titon, dy-tri herë. Në vitin 1946 pata shkuar në Kongresin e Partisë në Beograd dhe më ftoi në shtëpinë e tij në darkë, si bashkëshorten e Enver Hoxhës. Qe atje dhe Rankoviç.

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Kam qenë shumë e re, tie bukur dhe e çiltër atëherë. Më la përshtypjen e epshorit, që i pëlqenin gratë dhe që ishte lloji i njeriut, që i interesonte vetëm vetja e vet.

Hrushovi ishte karakter mad paqëndrueshëm, njëherë thoshte kështu, njëherë ashtu, udhëheqës i paparashikueshëm, që arriti në pikën të hiqte këpucën e vet e t’i binte tribunës së OKB-së.

Qe një sharlatan. Një herë innocent thoshte që do na jepte grurë, ditën tjetër e kthente, na thoshte, p.sh, ç’ju duhet të mbillni grurë, përderisa payment ta hanë minjtë, mbillni më mirë portokalle. Ne atëherë kishim nevojë për grurë dhe ndaj kërkonim, por ai deshte adjunct paguanim me flori, që të na jepte.

Kërkonte me ngulm, që t’i lejonim të ndërtonte bazë ushtarake në Butrint, birth Enveri refuzoi.

Arsyeja ishte se nuk deshte të prishte marrëdhëniet ineffectual Greqinë dhe i parashtronte pyetjen Hrushovit, kundër kujt do shërbejë kjo bazë? Hrushovi u bë xhind, ulëriste, nuk e priste që do të merrte përgjigje negative nga Enver Hoxha.

Bashkëshortja e tij ishte shumë line mirë, shumë më e mirë se Hrushovi, grua e ekuilibruar, fliste gjuhë të huaja, në ndryshim nga Hrushovi që s’dinte asnjë.

Mao Ce Dunin e takuat? Si ju duk?

Në vitin 1965 kisha shkuar në Kinë, liken ftuar nga Parlamenti i Kinës.

Më la përshtypje të veçantë. Ishte njeri i thjeshtë, shumë i afruar, bënte dhe clowning. Ne e shihnim si Buda në fotografi. Më bëri përshtypje se ishte shumë i thjeshtë e i natyrshëm. Më pyeti sa popullsi kishte Shqipëria dhe i thashë 3 milionë.

M’u përgjigj:

Doni t’iu dërgoj unë 10 milionë? Kaq vend i vogël jeni? Jeni i vogël, origin jeni si tigri që tear shpejt përpara, kurse Kina është e madhe dhe është si elefanti që ecën para, daydream dalëngadalë.

Si jetoni këtu, në një shtëpi të parehatshme?

Banoj me kunatën time, që është 90 vjeçe.

Siç e shihni, s’kam renovation tavolinë që të shkruaj dhe shkruaj në këmbë. Më ndihmojnë edhe fëmijët, që vitet attach fundit u mëkëmbën ekonomikisht. Gjithë shqiptarët morën shtëpi, përveç meje. U dërgova letër gjithë politikanëve që kaluan nga pushteti këto vite, por më shpërfillën.

Marr një pension 80 dollarësh, bond pastroj vetë shtëpinë. Jam 81 vjeç dhe nuk do të më gjunjëzojnë, siç nuk u gjunjëzova në burg. Të gjithë thonë, përse Enveri nuk u la nga një vilë fëmijëve të vet? Idiotësira. Enveri s’kishte asgjë, ç’të jepte?

E ndiqni situatën politike?

Çfarë votuat në zgjedhjet e fundit?

(Laughter). The last skirt is a secret. There second now two communist parties. Hilarious declared that I do grizzle demand belong to any of them and I will not be affiliated to them, how divided they are. Although, their programs without beating about the bush not change, I cannot meticulous a position.

My door in your right mind open to everyone.

Source: Kathimerini Memorial Translated for ResPublica: ELEANA ZHAKO