Dear Ms. Margariti,

The Ministry of Culture persists on sending ‘students’ over to our property under the pretense of a study by architectural students. I say pretense because that’s exactly what it is.

I had a conversation yesterday, April 29, with the Director of the Culture Ministry in Shkodra, Ms. Podgorica, where I was asked to allow these students on the property so that they could analyze, measure and photograph the house for their ‘design’ project. When I inquired as to who these students worked for she said they were were sub-contracted. I asked again, who they worked for, who was the design being submitted to and it was finally admitted that the ‘project’ would be submitted to the Ministry of Culture. What a surprise!

As a result, I unequivocally informed her that their presence on the property was not permitted in order to facilitate the development of a project to satisfy the government’s needs. This is a privately held property.

However, they arrived regardless of my response to her and access to the property was granted to the group by the sole non-blood relative who is a co-owner but does not maintain a permanent residence here.

I started a dialogue with the leader of the group, who was an employee of the Ministry of Culture. I asked whether he or they possessed knowledge regarding the identity of the property’s original owners. Who built it? What is the historical context of the residence and family? I received nothing but a vacant stare in response. The Albanian youth continue to be unaware of our true identity.

The subject of Lek Dukagjini and its descendants are not included in the school curriculums. No information is taught concerning Mirdita and its history. With respect to the historical importance of the Markagjonis in Shkoder and Mirdita, they are entirely ignorant. Nevertheless, they are enthusiastic about accessing this site with the intention of sketching and photographing, all the while professing to have been at the “Kulla” for their personal Instagram photo opportunities and to present the Ministry with a ‘project’ that is unrelated to the historical importance of this residence. To them this house is just a picture-pretty location and a way to make headway in the Ministry by providing a ‘project’ they would find interesting and alluring for their tourism initiatives.

The Markagjoni family rejects any government claim that the house in Shkoder is a ‘cultural monument’, as the communist dictator who confiscated the property made that proclamation. An assertion given by the communist dictator Enver Hoxha, who is acknowledged by the current government as the mastermind behind the execution of as much as 10 percent of the Albanian populace throughout his regime.

A dictator who ordered the murder, imprisonment, torture and hard labor for the members of the Markagjoni family after being evicted from this Kulla and the property cunfiscated by him.

In response to the government’s frequent requests to use or look at the house under the pretext of it being a ‘cultural monument’, this is my reply:

The Albanian government needs to publicly apologize to ALL the persecuted families for crimes committed against them during the regime.

Restitution of ALL our properties confiscated in these locations: Qafe Molle, Orosh, Lac VauDejes, Balldren, Nderfushe, Zadrime, Kallmet, Kakarriq, Barbulloje and Hajmel.

Compensation to the families who suffered for over 45 years in concentration and labor camps under orders of the regime.

Compensation which, in over 30 years of democracy, has yet to be given to ANYONE for their suffering.

Our property will continue to be off-limits to government intrusions until the aforementioned items are acknowledged, compensation is administered, and lands are returned in accordance with the constitutional right of all Albanians as guaranteed in Article 41 of the Constitution of Albania.

Bianca M. Gjomarkaj