Remember Albania?

The Communist leaders of Albania--a small Balkan country that borders on Yugoslavia, Greece and the Adriatic Sea--have long done their best to insulate the Albanian people from troublesome outside influences. To an appalling degree they have succeeded. Recent visitors report, however, that the winds of change are being felt ever so slightly even in Albania.

Albania, a fiercely independent country that was occupied by the Axis powers in World War II, fell under Communist rule after the war. For 40 years it was run by Enver Hoxha, a fervent disciple of Stalinist-style dictatorship who nonetheless split with the Russians in 1961 and expelled Soviet military forces from the country.

Hoxha died two years ago, but his dreary legacy is still evident. Albania remains by far the poorest country in Europe. Private cars are banned. Long fingernails for women and long hair for men are no-no’s. Nothing resembling dissent is tolerated. The regime actually boasts that, of 1,830,653 votes in the most recent “elections,” only one was cast against the party’s hand-picked candidates. The country is 70% Muslim and 20% Orthodox by background, but organized religion does not exist.

However, recent visitors report that Ramiz Alia, who succeeded Hoxha, is presiding over a very slow and cautious process of change. Diplomatic links are being broadened with Western Europe, though not with Moscow or Washington. About 6,000 foreign tourists a year are being allowed to enter, but Americans and Soviets need not apply, and there is little for the tourists to do when they get to Albania anyway. A handful of students are allowed to study abroad. The state-controlled television network took the unprecedented step lately of showing a contemporary American film.

The relaxation, such as it is, apparently reflects a realization that economic growth requires greater trade and technological development.

The Soviet Union used to operate a submarine base at the Albania port of Valona before the break in relations in 1961; whereas the United States has secure naval ports on Crete and at Naples, the Valona installation was Moscow’s only permanent naval base in the Mediterranean. If the Soviets could regain access to the base, the whole balance of power in the Eastern Mediterranean could be affected. For that reason the Soviets would dearly love to patch things up with Tirana. Western governments dread the thought that they might succeed.

Fortunately, it seems unlikely. Although an improvement of relations with Moscow could develop, it is highly improbable that the xenophobes who run Albania will be prepared to give the Soviets a new military foothold in the country now or in the foreseeable future.