Bollano Draws Parallels Between Albania’s Himara and Kosovo

[akritas]

“We do not want more than Albania has been asking for in connection with Kosovo. This is to the benefit of Balkans and Greek minority in Albania,”

Himara Mayor said TIRANA -

The Greek minority in Himara, southern Albania, has the right to push for the same solution like Albanians in Kosovo, Vasil Bollano, the Mayor of that municipality has said, calling those areas Vorio Epirus

Tuesday 24 April 2007

and the Albanian answer

Zogaj, head of parliamentary foreign affairs committee, saw in Bollanoʼs stance violation of Albaniaʼs territorial integrity TIRANA – In a rare unified stance, Albaniaʼs political forces gave on Tuesday the strongest indication towards Mayor of Himara Vasil Bollano with some politicians calling for his dismissal, while deputies of a party representing Greek minorityʼ interests believed there was a misunderstanding



Wednesday, April 25, 2007

source.


Albanian Daily News

In my opinion we must not play Dangerous nationalistic games. Better is to give more poltical and financial support to the Greeks in Albania and avoid ethinkistikes korones. If this story is real happen of course

[Amarantos]

Originally Posted by akritas

.......avoid ethinkistikes korones. If this story is real happen of course

αν πραγματικα συνεβησαν τα παραπανω, αν και ειναι ριψοκινδυνο παιχνιδι, σιγουρα βοηθαει στην εκτιμηση (βολιδοσκοπηση) της καταστασης, στην μελετη των αντιδρασεων της αλλης πλευρας (In a rare unified stance, Albaniaʼs political forces) και στον τροπο που αντιμετωπιζουν μια εστω υποθετικη "απειλη", κλπ...Δες τι "ψαρεμα" τρωμε εμεις καθε τοσο.Ειχε δικιο εκεινος που αποκαλεσε την διπλωματια εναν ακηρυχτο πολεμο.

[akritas]

Daily Press Briefing
Sean McCormack, Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 6, 2006


QUESTION: Mr. McCormack, in the gathering yesterday with the participation too of American Ambassador Frank Wisner, organized by the European Institute, we heard in a statement of the policy on Kosovo and the reiteration of the standard position about the inviolability of the Balkan borders. At the same time, we heard the official Albanian position that asserts no borders will be respected if Kosovo is not granted independence. Therefore I’m wondering would the Department of State reconsider its position concerning autonomy for the Greek minority of northern Epirus, E-p-i-r-u-s? As you would be aware, Mr. McCormack, the Greek former Prime Minister in the 1990s linked the status of Kosovo with northern Epirus; moreover, the Greeks in northern Epirus was the only Balkan minority whose autonomy was recognized by the League of Nation and actually was used as a precondition for the recognition of Albania itself in 1921 by the League of Nations.


MR. MCCORMACK: Well, with regards to Kosovo, you rightly point out that Ambassador Wisner, who is working actively with Mr. Ahtisaari as well as other members of the international community just on the question of the status of Kosovo. There's not an answer to that question yet. And I know that they're working hard and they seek to come up with an answer by the end of this year.


Now, in terms of the status of the citizens, the individuals who live in north Epirus, I'm going to have to dig pretty deep in the bureaucracy for that one, for an answer to that one. But if -- we'll try to get you an answer on that.

Daily Press Briefing -- April 6 (Revised)

[Hermes]

................................................
Again.....
Sorry not being here these times.....
Anyway here comes the oposition....

About Bollano , and Himara...
I had been there once....and saw these "vorioepirotes". They said me there, thay had a lot of money(pensions) ( and visas and other privileges) from Greece. I wonder if all these would not happen, what would they claim????? Have u ever thought?

What made it more interesting were those hundered surnames autentic albanian, and others that were sure of that, but had a lot to lose if they became part of the game....

Bollano , himself, was told, was albanian (not from Himara, went there tooooo many years before).
As i see , always is made the same mistake...Himara has been too many times separated from the events of Albania. Its geographic possition and autonomi from Turkey, put out it from the great events that invaded Albania( changing religion, some traditions and others related of them).

Himara people was poor in general, and many men were obligated to work like soldiers under Napoli, Venetia , Rome, and others.... With the foundation of the Italian State, "there were not more wars" to work. Many of them went like simple workers in Greece, there they learned greek and after many years returned and made their families, but sometimes language wasn't the same ( i'm sure u know sons of emigrants that dont speak their mother language).
In the other side, The Greek Propaganda feeded by the Church , made it worse. The only schools at the begining were open by them....the results???
A friend of mine have a book at home about Himara, there were some facts about Letters of Himara people to Europe in general ( 18-19 century) . There they claim to be Albanians like all others from Preveza to Dubrovnik. I will get the source and will write more. Also i remember that they said that some of them spoke italian at home, other spanish or.... and some other greek ,about 50 houses in general, for all these languages ( i will get the exact nr, with the source too).

That book has enough to write for months...so take a look at this page anytime, would be a lot to do for all...

---Another interesting " Horse of Troy " is Tenet, ex director of CIA ( USA) , the cousins(first grade) of this kind " vorioepiriotes" said that there were all albanians and they had the surname KOKA ( head - in albanian). They said Tenet took the surmane Tenet bcz his father was a Tenent of USA army ( i dont remember it well but was sth about that) So if u meet him anytime ask him which was the surname of his father in Albania( Himara), and also, what would he become if the greek lobs in USA wouldnot helped him...?

Also travelling in Albania, once in a bus , met a man from Himara, i sked him which was the truth ....of these polemiks...? He waited a little and answered " if there is no one on your head u have to take another flag to put up".
As i saw after the indipendece of Albania, they were not so glad about these muslims and consider them diferent for their religion.

[Tsontos]

^^^And you thought you had heard it all. Apparently there is and was never any such thing as a Greek population in Southern Albania. These so called Northern Epirots are just Albanians who want pensions from Greece All these people, these "Greeks" the various treaties from the Balkan wars keep referring to like the Corfu Protocol are just Albanians who want state subsidies. its so simple! welcome back Hermi!

[olvios]

Greeks in turkey spoke turkish had turkish surnames know all about turkish customs.But still were greeks. North epirotes claim as you say was always alive even when they had no money.

[Hermes]

There are Greeks in south Albania, no one denie it, it would be the same to say there are not albanians today in Greece. But they are not etnic, and they are more less than u pretend....
North of Vlora there is a village , called Narte, they are greek , all know that, but is known also they are not etnic, and u still put the border there.
About the pensions and the money and visas u have to be sure, that had been so much and easy for the "vorioepirotes" that too many entered in the game, changed name too.

About "vorioepirotes" claims can u saud when it was the first time they spoke for it ? ( i have no idea, than i can answer) Was is a real causa or was invented? thats a big deal.

Give a look at these in general.
Medieval History - Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Medieval History - Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Medieval History - Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Full map of Europe in year 1600
Full map of Europe in year 1700

[Tsontos]

Originally Posted by Hermes

There are Greeks in south Albania, no one denie it, it would be the same to say there are not albanians today in Greece. But they are not etnic, and they are more less than u pretend....
North of Vlora there is a village , called Narte, they are greek , all know that, but is known also they are not etnic, and u still put the border there.
About the pensions and the money and visas u have to be sure, that had been so much and easy for the "vorioepirotes" that too many entered in the game, changed name too.

About "vorioepirotes" claims can u saud when it was the first time they spoke for it ? ( i have no idea, than i can answer) Was is a real causa or was invented? thats a big deal.

Give a look at these in general.
Medieval History - Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Medieval History - Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Medieval History - Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Full map of Europe in year 1600
Full map of Europe in year 1700

What on earth are those 6 links meant to show?

Yeah thats right these people just think they are Greek falsely or have been told they are such. How about you pull your head out of the sand and stop talking in platitudes? How did over a hundred thousand people in Southern Albania come to speak Greek if they are not "etnic" Greek?

[Orphic_Hymn]

Originally Posted by Hermes

There are Greeks in south Albania, no one denie it, it would be the same to say there are not albanians today in Greece. But they are not etnic, and they are more less than u pretend....

Hermes when you use a term, do try to fully understand it first if anything to assist the process of the discussion.

Main Entry: eth·nic
Pronunciation: 'eth-nik
Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Late Latin ethnicus, from Greek ethnikos national, gentile, from ethnos nation, people; akin to Greek Ethos custom

1 : HEATHEN
2 a : of or relating to large groups of people classed according to common racial, national, tribal, religious, linguistic, or cultural origin or background <ethnic minorities> <ethnic enclaves>
b : being a member of a specified ethnic group <an ethnic German>
c : of, relating to, or characteristic of ethnics <ethnic neighborhoods> <ethnic foods>



Main Entry: ethnic
Function: noun

:a member of an ethnic group; especially : a member of a minority group who retains the customs, language, or social views of the group

Source:
Merriam Webster

So how is "ethnic" defined ?

racially
Some would say purely Hellenes, but I'd say beyond any doubt indeed partially members of the Hellenic race.

nationaly
Since a nation is comprised of people that share common origin, tradition, and language and the Voreio-Epirot nation was a reality in the early 1900's which proves that they could and have comprised a nation, they obviously can be considered as Hellenic nationals.

tribally
Since antiquity the Epirotes have been considered a Hellenic tribe.

religious
In their vast majority they practice the Orthodox Christian religion

linguistic
While bi-linguals for the simple reason that the official language of the country they reside in is Albanian, noone can regect the fact that they do speak Hellenic.

cultural origin or background
Cultural origin/background is beyond any doubt Hellenic.

So do the "Voreio-Epirotes" constitute ethnic Hellenes?
Yes.

Give a look at these in general.
Medieval History - Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Medieval History - Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Medieval History - Life in the Middle Ages and Renaissance
Full map of Europe in year 1600
Full map of Europe in year 1700[/quote]

While I have absolutely no idea what the links to "renaissance" imply since Albania like all other under the Ottoman rule countries totally ignored it, the maps which you present do not indicate ethnicity, since they are political maps of the centuries in question and the Albanian-Ottoman relations are both well known and recorded.

[Hermes]

-Orphic, there are 7 villages in Himara district.
-3 of them ( Palasa, Dhermi and a part of Himara ) are wellknown that has as home language greek.....the reasons ??? its very long to say.....there were many......and there were also many elements.....
-the other 4 villages ????....they speak albanian, can u say why?
- In medieval history is said that Himara district has 50 villages......its obvious that those hadnt been all in the terrytory of today Himara District, its too small. dont are those still greeks, or better to say do u have any source where have they finished?
[ medieval district = region (geografic, cultural,traditions) ]

- In the medieval turk Defters....lookoing to the surnames and names of the inhabitans of Himara, u dont see orthodox-latin names, but just albanian common names Gjike, Gjin, Mehilli, Dode, Prenge, Kola etc... today many of them exsist as surnames...there are hundered.....can u say me anything me about that.
and the orthodox ones its too simple to know that if my name is Jorgou, Andrea etc...my family would have probably in future this surname.