# Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Albania)

The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (Albanian: Ministria për Europën dhe Punët e Jashtme) is a department of the Albanian Government, in charge of diplomacy, foreign policy and the process of admission of Albania into the European Union. The ministry also provides support to Albanian citizens residing abroad. In September 2017, the ministry was restructured and it was merged with the Ministry of European Integration.

## History
### Establishment

The establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the modern Albanian state dates back to the creation of the Provisional Government of Vlora on December 4, 1912, a few days after declaring Albania's secession from the Ottoman Empire. The Prime Minister of the Provisional Government, Ismail Qemali, also held the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs until June 1913. Later this function passed to Myfit Bey Libohova who exercised it until the end of January 1914. The MFA in this period functioned as a section of the Provisional Government, with the main objective ensuring the recognition of Albania's independence from the Great Powers at the London Conference of Ambassadors. To accomplish this goal were also accomplished the first diplomatic services as was the diplomatic deployment of the Government of Vlora at the Ambassadorial Conference, headed by the personal diplomat of the Prime Minister, which was Rasih Dino.

### 1914–1920

On March 7, 1914, the German prince Wilhelm Friedrich Heinrich arrives in Durrës. The Prince of Albania appointed on 17 March 1914 the "definitive government". The first Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the newly recognized Albanian state was Turhan Pashë Përmeti, former ambassador of the Ottoman Empire in Saint Petersburg. Turhan Pasha remained foreign minister until May 28, 1914, later replaced by Prenk Bib Doda and the latter, after July, was followed by Mehmet Konica.
Since Italy and Austria-Hungary were the authors of the formula for recognition of Albania's independence, Captain Castoldi, an Italian officer, was "commanded" at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for diplomatic missions. He and the Austrian diplomat Carl Buchberger formed the prince's political cabinet. The first official Albanian diplomatic representation was established in Vienna, represented by Syrja bey Vlora, and in Rome, represented by Myfid bej Libohova. The government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Albania operated until the eve of the First World War in September 1914. On September 3, Prince William of Wied left Albania and the country turned into a theater of war in the Balkan states and the Great Powers.

### 1920–1925

In January 1920, in Lushnje, at the initiative of Albanian patriots and intellectuals of the time, a Congress was convened with representatives from all the liberated provinces of Albania, which would elect Albanian national government away from Italian influences. On January 30, 1920, the Albanian national government was created, with a broad support base.
Its prime minister was Sulejman Delvina and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mehmet Konica. Since the Peace Conference in Paris left unresolved recognition of the independence and borders of Albania, as set forth in 1913, Foreign Minister Konica immediately embarked on the key European chancellors of the time to secure their support in reaching a decision-making for Albania. To build a foreign professional service, with a special decision of the Council of Ministers, in October 1920, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, M.Konica, was asked to find a consul from the old Austrian consuls to be hired for a 2-year period for organizing Albanian consulates and serving as teachers for those who wanted to enter the consular service of Albania. Then, in August 1921, the National Council (parliament), upon the proposal of the Foreign Policy Committee, decided to open the Albanian consulates in Brindisi, Trieste and Florence.

## Officeholders (1912–present)

| No. | Name | Term in office | Term in office |
| 1 | Ismail Qemali | 4 December 1912 | 22 January 1914 |
| 2 | Turhan Pasha Përmeti | 14 March 1914 | 20 May 1914 |
| 3 | Prenk Bib Doda | 28 May 1914 | 3 September 1914 |
| 4 | Pavli Tërka | 5 October 1914 | 27 January 1916 |
| * | Mehmed Konica → Mehdi Frashëri | 25 December 1918 | 29 January 1920 |
| 5 | Mehmed Konica | 30 January 1920 | 14 November 1920 |
| 6 | Ilias Vrioni | 15 November 1920 | 1 July 1921 |
| 7 | Pandeli Evangjeli | 11 July 1921 | 6 December 1921 |
| 8 | Fan Noli | 6 December 1921 | 12 December 1921 |
| 9 | Xhafer Villa | 12 December 1921 | 24 December 1921 |
| (8) | Fan Noli | 24 December 1921 | 11 September 1922 |
| (7) | Pandeli Evangjeli | 11 September 1922 | 25 February 1924 |
| (6) | Ilias Vrioni | 3 March 1924 | 10 June 1924 |
| 10 | Sulejman Delvina | 16 June 1924 | 24 December 1924 |
| 11 | Gjergj Koleci → Mufid Libohova | 6 January 1925 | 31 January 1925 |
| 12 | Mufid Libohova | 1 February 1925 | 23 September 1925 |
| 13 | Hysen Vrioni | 28 September 1925 | 10 February 1927 |
| (6) | Ilias Vrioni | 12 February 1927 | 18 April 1929 |
| 14 | Rauf Fico | 18 April 1929 | 11 April 1931 |
| (13) | Hysen Vrioni | 20 April 1931 | 7 December 1932 |
| (9) | Xhafer Villa | 11 January 1933 | 16 October 1935 |
| 15 | Fuad Asllani | 21 October 1935 | 7 November 1936 |
| 16 | Ekrem Libohova | 9 November 1936 | 7 April 1939 |
| * | Mihal Sherko | 8 April 1939 | 12 April 1939 |
| 17 | Xhemil Dino | 12 April 1939 | 25 May 1939 |
| (5) | Mehmed Konica | 5 November 1943 | 7 February 1944 |
| 18 | Bahri Omari | 7 February 1944 | 16 June 1944 |
| * | Omer Nishani | 28 May 1944 | 11 January 1946 |
| 19 | Eqrem Vlora | 18 July 1944 | 28 August 1944 |
| * | Ibrahim Biçaku | 6 September 1944 | 25 November 1944 |
| 20 | Omer Nishani | 23 October 1944 | 9 February 1946 |
| 21 | Enver Hoxha | 9 February 1946 | 31 July 1953 |
| 22 | Behar Shtylla | 1 August 1953 | 16 March 1966 |
| 23 | Nesti Nase | 17 March 1966 | 15 June 1982 |
| 24 | Reis Malile | 15 June 1982 | 21 February 1991 |
| 25 | Muhamet Kapllani | 22 February 1991 | 6 December 1991 |
| 26 | Ilir Boçka | 18 December 1991 | 13 April 1992 |
| 27 | Alfred Serreqi | 13 April 1992 | 10 July 1996 |
| 28 | Tritan Shehu | 11 July 1996 | 1 March 1997 |
| 29 | Arian Starova | 11 March 1997 | 24 July 1997 |
| 30 | Paskal Milo | 25 July 1997 | 6 September 2001 |
| 31 | Arta Dade | 6 September 2001 | 25 July 2002 |
| 32 | Ilir Meta | 29 July 2002 | 18 July 2003 |
| 33 | Kastriot Islami | 29 December 2003 | 10 September 2005 |
| 34 | Besnik Mustafaj | 11 September 2005 | 30 April 2007 |
| 35 | Lulzim Basha | 1 May 2007 | 17 September 2009 |
| (32) | Ilir Meta | 17 September 2009 | 14 September 2010 |
| 36 | Edmond Haxhinasto | 17 September 2010 | 2 July 2012 |
| 37 | Edmond Panariti | 3 July 2012 | 4 April 2013 |
| 38 | Aldo Bumçi | 4 April 2013 | 15 September 2013 |
| 39 | Ditmir Bushati | 15 September 2013 | 18 January 2019 |
| 40 | Edi Rama → Gent Cakaj | 22 January 2019 | 31 December 2020 |
| 41 | Olta Xhaçka | 4 January 2021 | 9 September 2023 |
| 42 | Igli Hasani | 12 September 2023 | Incumbent |