March 18, 2008 (the date of publication in Russian)
Alexei Chichkin
GREECE IS IN JEOPARDY
What the six stars on the Kosovo flag may actually mean
For several years, Albania has been pressuring Greece not only over the rights of the Albanian minority but also over the territorial title of Chamuria, a part of the Greek province of Epirus. This debate dates back to the XIX century.
As far back as in 1879, Abdul (Abdyl) Frasheri and Mehmet Ali Vrioni published a declaration, substantiating the claims of Albania to the whole territory of Epirus. The document, presented in Rome, Paris, London, Berlin and Istanbul, contained allegations that "the Albanian people is far more ancient than the Greek people", and that "in ancient times, Epirus was a part of Albania, and was never ruled by the Greeks". A century later, the foreign ministry of Communist Albania repeatedly acknowledged of "original Albanian lands in the north-west of Greece", declaring that in case Athens raises the issue of the Greek minority in Albania, Tirana will "discuss the border problem".
The recent declaration of Kosovo independence, heavily promoted by the United States, has revived the debate. According to Russian researcher Pyotr Iskenderov, the breakaway province of Serbia, dominated by ethnic Albanian population, is openly advertising the project of Great Albania. Maps, published in Pristina, depict new borders of the country merging Macedonia along with its capital Skopje, as well as one third of the north-western Greece.
The number of ethnic Albanians in Chamuria, rapidly increasing with inflow of labor force, is likely to reach 70% of the whole population.
Greek experts are especially concerned of a massive inflow of Albanians from the presently overpopulated south-eastern territory of Macedonia. Skopje's powers are not supposed to prevent this resettlement for their own reasons, as Greece is firmly reluctant to recognize Macedonia under its name, interpreting it as a claim on the Greek territory, and tries to prevent its integration in the EU and NATO. At the same time, Macedonian authorities are concerned of increase of Albanian population on its own territory.
Speculating on reported infringement on human rights of Greek Albanians, Tirana's TV channels demand "international involvement" in the situation.
In their turn, Greek politicians believe that the reluctance of Athens to recognize Kosovo independence is likely to fuel up the anti-Greek bias of Albanian policy, with implications for the Greek minority of Albania. Rev. Andreas Trempelas, Metropolitan of Dryinoupolis, Pogoniani and Konitsa, recently warned about the menace of Albanian expansion in Epirus. He referred, in particular, to the huge poster highlighted by CNN during the celebrations of Kosovo independence: "Albania Can't Exist without Kosovo and Chamuria!"
"We may demand the same for the Greeks of Northern (Albanian) Epirus that the Albanians demanded for the Kosovars. It is high time to undertake resolute measures to support our compatriots, and prevent implementation of the Great Albania plans. Otherwise, we are going to face great troubles", the Metropolitan said.
The appeal of Athens to the headquarters of EU and NATO is believed to inhibit Albanian expansion to neighbor territories at least for a certain time. However, Brussels was too active in its support of Kosovo independence to be relied upon.
French analyst Jean-Arnaud Dereins, in his recent interview to Le Temps, suggested that the six stars of the EU-invented Kosovo flag may actually symbolize not the six peoples of the newly-independent province of Kosovo but rather six nations where Albanians reside, namely: Albania; Kosovo; Macedonia; Serbia (the Presevo Valley); Montenegro, and the province of Greece named Chamuria by Albanians and South Epirus by the Greek.
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