Two different yet similar cases: Himara and Tetovo

[Draco]

Apparently, 70.3% of Tetovo are Albanians (1) and 85% of Himara are Greeks (or more correctly Greek-speakers) (2). Why are the two cities treated so differently then? People speak of independence or autonomy for the former but don't even mention the latter; doesn't this strike you as unfair? Perhaps if/when Kosovo becomes independent and demands for the changing of the status of Albanian areas in FYROM intensify, that's the best opportunity for Greeks (via the EU which Albania wishes to join) to do the same. As far as I can tell, only Greeks have a significant minority in metropolitan Albania and thus are the only ones who can put a cap on Albanian expansionism.

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(1) According to FYROM's 2002 census (PDF) (probably out of date by now!).
(2) According to official tourist guide (PDF) of Himara Municipality.

[TirAlb]

Originally Posted by Draco

Apparently, 70.3% of Tetovo are Albanians (1) and 85% of Himara are Greeks (or more correctly Greek-speakers) (2). Why are the two cities treated so differently then? People speak of independence or autonomy for the former but don't even mention the latter; doesn't this strike you as unfair? Perhaps if/when Kosovo becomes independent and demands for the changing of the status of Albanian areas in FYROM intensify, that's the best opportunity for Greeks (via the EU which Albania wishes to join) to do the same. As far as I can tell, only Greeks have a significant minority in metropolitan Albania and thus are the only ones who can put a cap on Albanian expansionism.

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(1) According to FYROM's 2002 census (PDF) (probably out of date by now!).
(2) According to official tourist guide (PDF) of Himara Municipality.

some differences.
Tetova is much more biger than himara,actually Himara was officialy a village just few years ago.
Tetova is in the middle of an albanian populated area,were all the sorroundin villages are albanian.
Instead Himara as a "region" is made of about 8-9 villages,Albanian Greek and mixed.
Tetova borders with Albania in the west and Kosova in the north,Himara is sorrounded sea apart from albanian inhabitated regions.


Ps,don't give to much credit to Himara.eu

[Draco]

Originally Posted by TirAlb

some differences.
Tetova is much more biger than himara,actually Himara was officialy a village just few years ago.
Tetova is in the middle of an albanian populated area,were all the sorroundin villages are albanian.
Instead Himara as a "region" is made of about 8-9 villages,Albanian Greek and mixed.
Tetova borders with Albania in the west and Kosova in the north,Himara is sorrounded sea apart from albanian inhabitated regions.


Ps,don't give to much credit to Himara.eu

The size of the settlements are irrelevant, the ethnic composition alone is what counts. Himara is surrounded by Albanian speaking areas you say, like what? Saranda?

As for Himara.eu, it is the municipal website and it has the approval of the mayor (as you can find out by reading the provided link).

[TirAlb]

Originally Posted by Draco

The size of the settlements are irrelevant, the ethnic composition alone is what counts. Himara is surrounded by Albanian speaking areas you say, like what? Saranda?

As for Himara.eu, it is the municipal website and it has the approval of the mayor (as you can find out by reading the provided link).

i was trying to give you some serious facts!...but yes like saranda!

Himara.eu is a website sponsored by "unknown benefactors" and is not the official website of he region.Official ones have the sufix .al .gov or .org not .eu because albania is not a EU country.

[Draco]

Originally Posted by TirAlb

i was trying to give you some serious facts!...but yes like saranda!

Himara.eu is a website sponsored by "unknown benefactors" and is not the official website of he region.Official ones have the sufix .al .gov or .org not .eu because albania is not a EU country.

I'm not sure about the scope of the .eu ending (whether EU strictly or all Europe), so I'll have to take your word for that. Nevertheless, the population statement bears the signature of the elected mayor of Himara (in the PDF which also claims to have been issued by the municipality at the bottom) so it can't be total BS.

To be honest I war rather surprised about the percentage of Albanians in Tetovo, I had imagined it a totally Albanian city. It seems that the myth of "Albanian" western FYROM is coming down in pieces.

[akritas]

TirAlb can you tell us the number of the Greeks that live in South Albania?
and please in the number add and the Vlachs because is known that except the language also they have and Greek conscience

[TirAlb]

I'm not sure about the scope of the .eu ending (whether EU strictly or all Europe), so I'll have to take your word for that. Nevertheless, the population statement bears the signature of the elected mayor of Himara (in the PDF which also claims to have been issued by the municipality at the bottom) so it can't be total BS.

Himara.eu is a long story.

To be honest I war rather surprised about the percentage of Albanians in Tetovo, I had imagined it a totally Albanian city. It seems that the myth of "Albanian" western FYROM is coming down in pieces.

If you go there you will realise how albanian it is.But you have to see it as a region all the sorrounding area is made of albanian villages instead in the citys is normal to have some mac's,remember that the public admin. was mostly mac. during the yugoslavian period and then fyrom,so many slavs were placed in the urban areas.

[TirAlb]

Originally Posted by akritas

TirAlb can you tell us the number of the Greeks that live in South Albania?
and please in the number add and the Vlachs because is known that except the language also they have and Greek conscience

Ill try to find something,but do i have to add Fyrom minority to,we call them macedonians so i guess you consider them greek to.

ps.Albanian vllahs have a strong albanian consience.

[Paulos Melas]

It is not only Himara. It is the whole area called North Epirus that has the right of self determination as per the new reality created by the albanians.
So Albanians shall take a nice piece of western Kosovo and the whole area west of Vardar and Greeks North epirus and monastiri

[Makedonia25]

Originally Posted by Paulos Melas

It is not only Himara. It is the whole area called North Epirus that has the right of self determination as per the new reality created by the albanians.
So Albanians shall take a nice piece of western Kosovo and the whole area west of Vardar and Greeks North epirus and monastiri

I agree.. I have an Albanian friend who HATES going to Southern Albania (Northern Epirus) because he says that everyone speaks Greek and gets married in Orthodox churches

He also says that people speak Greek FIRST and Albanian SECOND in areas such as: Himara, Saranda, Dermi, Gjirokaster..