South Albania/Northern Epirus

I have read that this area, call it what it must, should be an autonomous region, yet I believe it is under full control of Albanian government? What happend that its not autonamous anymore?

It has been given and promised to us Greeks by the Great Powers and Albanian Leaders over and over again only to be taken away and added to the Albanian State for no Historical reason. Greek Armies have librated this region atleast twice in the 20th Century again only to watch the region be handed over to the Albanian Occupiers once the wars ended.

It was garenteed in the Corfu protocal

Greek is a common language in northern Epirus. But not because there are tons of greeks, but because of the same reason Italian is a common language in northern Albania, cnearest destination. I come from northern Epirus, Sarande to be exact. The people there are certainly ethnic Albanians and not Greeks, even the Himariots are declared as Albs during their immigration to Italy during the 17th century. The Greek minority of northern Epirus was, by the time of Hoxha's death, realistically around 100,000 to 120,000. I know a northern Epiriot at the Dodona forum who would confirm this. Relations between Albs and greeks there are generally mild, though few have actually intermarried. I myself have a Greek grandmother. Most of the Albanized Greeks there still retain greek last names. For instance my grandmothers was Pappa, a comon Epirotic Greek last name. the myth that the Albaians there are ethnic Greeks was perpetrated by the Orthodox church. Anyone who was orthodox was taken as Greek. In fact, the speaking of the Alb language was so heavy there that the Orthdox church moved to illegalize it and stop its teaching in school.

As for the Corfu protocol. You have to realize we never actually signed the deal. it was signed by a foreign administerd King, Wied, during a time when we were revolting. On top of this, it was written by Pro-Hellenes.

As for the northern Epirus topic? I find it comical that it is discussed as such a big thing mainly by greek diaspora. None whom I have met from northern Epirus are people making such claims that people there are Greeks and not Albs.

Your friend? I see a very scientific research coming from him. No albs there do not consider themselves Greek Albanian, only those with dreams of leaving to Greece or those who are getting paychecks from the greek gov't to do so...

Greeks in northern Epirus are a minority. Yes Albs are the majority but its not just them. There are plenty of vlachs who today consider themselves Albanians or simply vlachs as a majority, with a Greek-Vlach and Romanian-Vlach political groups that do so for purely economical purposes. The Albanians of northern Epirus all made their way there from northern Albania in the 13th century when they began to populate and control it. They are part of the Tosk Albanian group. Tosk is nothing more then a difference of dialect. To say we are not ethnically Albanian makes little sense. Especially considering that Himariots themselves speak old dialects of Albanian in their homes, have Albanian traditions, and were recognized as so in the past centuries... I have the Italian records if you want to see them...

Go speak to Epirotes, see what they think of the issue. You will find that its not too different from Albs.

Edited by Iskender Bey ALBO

As for the Corfu protocol. You have to realize we never actually signed the deal. it was signed by a foreign administerd King, Wied, during a time when we were revolting. On top of this, it was written by Pro-Hellenes.

I need you to clarify this one.
Revolting??
Who was revolting and for what reason exactly were they revolting???

Maybe my knowledge of the area's history is wrong (not likely) but the way I know it.
On Feb 1914 the Epirots revolted due to the previously signed 1913 'Protocol of Florence' that annexed them to Albania and demanded to be annexed to Hellas, which is what they actually accomplished in May of the same year with the 'Protocol of Kerkyra'. That is how things remained untill Italy understood the area's significance and invaded in Oct 1915.
The rest is history....

But we are talking about Epiros aren't we??

Anyway, the revolt of the Epirots I mention, began as I said in Feb 1914, but the powers didn't appoint Weid untill March of the same year and  the Albanians didn't revolt against him untill the 23rd of May 1914, when he demanded that the Hellinic troops in Epirus leave.
So these are obviously two totally different events.




Edited by Phallanx

If this story is a true one (I do not deny it but I do find it a bit "hmmm"), then I assure you that these funds do not come from the Greek public, as the Greek Orthodox church is not financed by the Greek public. They have their own resources, as they are owners of large amounts of land, properties and other investments.

It is not Greece who has these ideas, Tobodai. It's just the wishful thinking of a handful of people, something like 2-3%.
But then again, there are nationalists everywhere, aren't they?

If this story is a true one (I do not deny it but I do find it a bit "hmmm"), then I assure you that these funds do not come from the Greek public, as the Greek Orthodox church is not financed by the Greek public. They have their own resources, as they are owners of large amounts of land, properties and other investments.

Phallanx, I put nothing of thiis on the public, I just said that if this comes but entirely on the church. Its them who are making people in Albania scared. I have seen papers distributed with them claiming as far up as the Shkumbini. You dont have to come to Albania to witness this event. Its happening with Albs in Greece itself, they are now getting Greek names, baptisms and signing Vorior Epirote paper. This is also similar with Vlachs. The Orthodox church in ALbania has far more freedom due to the fact that the country is **** and completely unsupervised. These events go on right under the nose of the public. For instance, Gjirokaster. A shop there, two years ago was entirely Alb signs and everything, a year later, not only did this guy refuse to speak Alb allowed but had changed all his signs into Greek. I put the balme entirely on my people, but Im have to tell you. it does occur. That 200 EU a month is money that is supposed to go to Vorio Epirotes. Anyone who in Albania signs such papers, gets that.

Also, you do realise UNPO simply takes this info from the people who claim them.

Menippos, about the money thing. I was just saying is that does the Greek populace know that tax money is being spent on such things. On top of this, the endless amount of churches that are being built around Albania simply to replace the old demolished ones, even if none on the community are Orthodox.

Edited by Iskender Bey ALBO

this topic should have never been started..
im puzzled by Phallanx claims that Hellenic companies are investing into Albanian tourism... this simply doesn't make sense ... Greece sees Albania as a competitor in this field so why would it help it "steal" more of its tourists?

An incident happned 3 years ago when i went there that Greece took a nasty punitive measure against Albanian immigrants who work hard there. During the summer when they went back to visit their families they weren't allowed to enter Greece and were stuck in traffic for one straight week! This was all due to a "computer malfunction" something that was too hard to swallow for many people. I believe 3 women had failed baby delievers and many more others got sick from going to relieve themselves in the bushes and terrain nearby.

it was never autonomous ever since Albania was created.