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 Sanaa, officially the Sanaa Municipality, is the ''de jure'' capital and largest city of Yemen. The city is the capital of the Sanaa Governorate, but is not part of the governorate, as it forms a separate administrative unit. At an elevation ...

, to Tahmaz Fico of the Fico family of

Gjirokastër Gjirokastër (, sq-definite, Gjirokastra) is a List of cities and towns in Albania, city in Southern Albania, southern Albania and the seat of Gjirokastër County and Gjirokastër Municipality. It is located in a valley between the Gjerë moun ...

and Hava Buzo from

Berat Berat (; sq-definite, Berati) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, ninth most populous city of Albania and the seat of Berat County and Berat Municipality. By air, it is north of Gjirokastër, west of Korçë, south of Tirana, and ea ...

. After finishing high school in Shkodra, he continued his studies in Vienna and later at the

Mekteb-i Mülkiye The Faculty of Political Science of the University of Ankara (, more simply known as "''SBF''") is the oldest institution of administrative sciences in Turkey. It is the successor of the "Mekteb-i Mülkiye" ('), also known simply as "Mülkiye," wh ...

Political career

In 1912, Fico joined

Vlorë Vlorë ( ; ; sq-definite, Vlora) is the List of cities and towns in Albania, third most populous city of Albania and seat of Vlorë County and Vlorë Municipality. Located in southwestern Albania, Vlorë sprawls on the Bay of Vlorë and is surr ...

's government as a councillor in the Ministry of the Interior. In 1916, he served as vice-prefect of

Tirana Tirana ( , ; ) is the capital and List of cities and towns in Albania, largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills, with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest ov ...

. 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 Tirana—together with

Abdi Toptani Abdi Toptani (28 August 1864 – 1 August 1942) was an Albania Albania ( ; or ), officially the Republic of Albania (), is a country in Southeast Europe. It is located in the Balkans, on the Adriatic Sea, Adriatic and Ionian Seas within ...

and

Ismail Ndroqi Ismail Ndroqi (1876 – 5 March 1944) was an Albanian politician and philosopher. He was the mayor of Tirana from 1917 to 1922. Life Born in 1876 in Tirana, capital of modern Albania, he came from a family that was active in the Albanian Rev ...

—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 ...

later that same year, established the continuity of the newly created Albanian state after

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. Fico then served as Minister of Interior Affairs in Pandeli Evangjeli's cabinet in 1921 and served two terms as deputy of

Durrës Durrës ( , ; sq-definite, Durrësi) is the List of cities and towns in Albania#List, second most populous city of the Albania, Republic of Albania and county seat, seat of Durrës County and Durrës Municipality. It is one of Albania's oldest ...

. His political career culminated in 1929 with a 19-month appointment as Foreign Minister of Albania—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 Turkey, officially the Republic of Türkiye, is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a relatively small part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. It borders the Black Sea to the north; Georgia (country), Georgia, Armen ...

and

Bulgaria Bulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria, is a country in Southeast Europe. It is situated on the eastern portion of the Balkans directly south of the Danube river and west of the Black Sea. Bulgaria is bordered by Greece and Turkey t ...

in the late 1920s, before his time as Foreign Minister of Albania. He then served as ambassador to

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

(1933–36),

Greece Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, is a country in Southeast Europe. Located on the southern tip of the Balkan peninsula, it shares land borders with Albania to the northwest, North Macedonia and Bulgaria to the north, and Turkey to th ...

(1937) and

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

(1938-9), where Fico helped dozens of Jewish people escape the country on Albanian tourist visas.

Internment and death

During the

Italian invasion of Albania The Italian invasion of Albania was a brief military campaign which was launched by Fascist Italy, Italy against Albanian Kingdom (1928–1939), Albania in 1939. The conflict was a result of the imperialistic policies of the Italian prime m ...

, Fico was arrested and interned in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

. He died in Tirana on January 23, 1944, a few months after he returned from Italy following the country's capitulation.

Orders, decorations, and honors

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 French may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France ** French people, a nation and ethnic group ** French cuisine, cooking traditions and practices Arts and media * The French (band), ...

. * Order of Boris,

. *

Doctor Honoris Causa An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or ''ad hono ...

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) Officers of the Legion of Honour