Abdurrauf Fico (1881–1944), also known as Rauf Fitso Bey was an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

ambassador and politician.

Early life

Rauf Fico was born in Sanaa, to Tahmaz Fico of the Fico family of Gjirokastër and Hava Buzo from Berat. After finishing high school in Shkodra, he continued his studies in Vienna and later at the Mekteb-i Mülkiye.

Political career

In 1912, Fico joined Vlora's government as a councillor in the Ministry of the Interior. In 1916, he served as vice-prefect of Tiranë. During his tenure as vice-prefect, Fico, along with co-founders Zyber Hallulli, Mytesim Këlliçi, Luigj Shala, and Xhelal Toptani, co-founded Streha Vorfnore, the city's first public orphanage on November 28, 1917, the date of the fifth anniversary of the Albanian Declaration of Independence. In 1918, he was one of the initiators of the Congress of Tiranë—together with Abdi Toptani and

Ismail Ndroqi Ismail Ndroqi (1876–1944) was an Albanians, Albanian politician and philosopher. He was the mayor of Tirana from 1917 to 1922. Life Born in 1876 in Tiranë, capital of modern Albania, he came from a family that was active in the Albanian Revo ...

—which along with the

Congress of Durrës The Congress of Durrës () was a conference of Albanian political leaders, held from December 25 to December 27, 1918, in Durrës, at the time capital of the Principality of Albania. Mehmet Konica was the Chairman of the Congress, which aimed at ...

later that same year, established the continuity of the newly created Albanian state after World War I. Fico then served as Minister of Interior Affairs in

Pandeli Evangjeli Pandeli Evangjeli (6 January 1859 – 14 September 1949) was an Albanian politician who served two terms as the 7th Prime Minister of Albania. He was the first Orthodox Christian to head the Albanian government. Early life and career Born in ...

's cabinet in 1921 and served two terms as deputy of Durrës. His political career culminated in 1929 with a 19-month appointment as

Foreign Minister of Albania The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs ( sq, 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. Th ...

—a post he was removed from in 1930 for his opposition to the Fascist Italian regime.

Ambassadorships

Fico first served as an ambassador to Turkey and Bulgaria in the late 1920s, before his time as

. He then served as ambassador to Yugoslavia (1933–36), Greece (1937) and Germany (1938-9), where Fico helped dozens of Jewish people escape the country on Albanian tourist visas.

Interment and death

During the Italian invasion of Albania, Fico was arrested and interned in Italy. He died in Tirana on January 23, 1944, a few months after he returned from Italy following the country's capitulation.

Orders, decorations, and honours

Throughout his political and diplomatic career Fico had been awarded various orders: * Grand Cordon of Order of Franz Joseph. * Grand Cordon of Order of Leopold. * Grand Cordon of Order of the Crown of Romania. * Grand Cordon of Order of the Crown of Italy. * Grand Cordon of Order of the Phoenix (Greece). * Grand Cordon of the Luxemburg Crown. * Officer of Order of Skanderbeg * ''Officier'' of the French Legion of Honor. *Palm of French Academy. * Order of Boris, Bulgaria. * Doctor Honoris Causa of Naples Academy

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fico, Rauf 1881 births 1944 deaths People from Sanaa Mekteb-i Mülkiye alumni Ambassadors of Albania to Yugoslavia Ambassadors of Albania to Greece Ambassadors of Albania to Germany Ambassadors of Albania to Turkey Ambassadors of Albania to Bulgaria Government ministers of Albania Foreign ministers of Albania Recipients of the Order of Skanderbeg (1925–45) Officiers of the Légion d'honneur