The term Greater Albania or Great Albania refers to land which is outside the borders of Albania and Albanian nationalists claim as their own. All the places claimed, except Epirus (Chameria), have Albanian majority. Its equivalent in Albanian - Shqipëria e Madhe - is rarely used, usually in translations. The term notes a desire for territorial expansion. Albanians themselves use the term ethnic Albania because the term Greater Albania has negative connotations.

Albanians under Ottoman Turkey

Prior to the Balkan wars of the beginning of the 20th century, Albanians were subjects of the Ottoman Empire. Combatants  Ottoman Empire Balkan League: Bulgaria Greece Serbia Montenegro Commanders Ottoman Empire: Nizam PaÅŸa, Zeki PaÅŸa, Esat PaÅŸa, Abdullah PaÅŸa, Ali Rıza PaÅŸa Bulgaria: Vladimir Vazov, Vasil Kutinchev, Nikola Ivanov, Radko Dimitriev Greece:Crown Prince Constantine, Panagiotis Danglis, Pavlos Kountouriotis Serbia:Radomir Putnik, Petar... For other uses, see Ottoman (disambiguation). ...

The Albanian independence movement emerged in 1878 with the League of Prizren (a council based in Kosovo) whose goal was cultural and political autonomy for ethnic Albanians inside the framework of the Ottoman Empire. However, the Ottomans were not prepared to grant The League's demands. Ottoman opposition to the League's cultural goals eventually helped transform it into an Albanian national movement. 1878 (MDCCCLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... The League of Prizren (Albanian: Lidhja e Prizrenit) was created on June 10, 1878 in a mosque in Prizren, Kosovo by 300 Albanian nationalist leaders, mostly from Kosovo, Western former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Muslim leaders from Bosnia-Hercegovina and the Sandzak, in order to achieve an autonomous Albanian... For other uses, see Ottoman (disambiguation). ... The Ottoman Empire at the height of its power Imperial motto El Muzaffer Daima The Ever Victorious (as written in tugra) Official language Ottoman Turkish Capital İstanbul ( Constantinople/Asitane/Konstantiniyye ) Sovereigns Sultans of the Osmanli Dynasty Population ca 40 million Area 12+ million km² Establishment 1299 Dissolution October 29...

Ethnic Albania

Ethnic Albania is a term used primarily by Albanian nationalists to denote the territories claimed as the traditional homeland of the ethnic Albanians. These territories include Albania, Kosovo, and parts of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (which some ethnic Albanian nationalists refer to as Ilirida) and Montenegro (Malësia, Ulcinj, etc.). Parts of the Epirus region of Greece referred to by Albanians as Çamëria are also sometimes included in this definition, despite the Greek ethnicity of the region's population and despite Greece's non-recognition of any native ethnic Albanian minority. Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution 1830. ... Kosovo (Albanian: Kosova or Kosovë, Serbian: , transliterated ; also , transliterated ) is a region in southern Serbia which has been under United Nations administration since 1999. ... For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... Location of Illyria Illyria (Albanian Iliria Land of the Free; Ancient Greek ; Latin Illyria [1] (see also Illyricum) was in Classical antiquity a region in the western part of todays Balkan Peninsula, founded by the tribes and clans of Illyrians, an ancient people who spoke the Illyrian languages. ... Anthem Oj, svijetla majska zoro Oh, Bright Dawn of May Montenegro() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Podgorica Official languages Serbian (Ijekavian dialect)1 Demonym Montenegrin Government Republic  -  President Filip Vujanović  -  Prime Minister Željko Å turanović Independence due to the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro   -  Declared June 3, 2006... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Coordinates Mayor Gëzim Hajdinaga (DUA - DPS - SDP) Municipality area 255 km² Population (2003 census)  - city  - municipality  - density 10,828 20,290 79. ... Epirus (Greek: Ήπειρος, Ípiros), is a periphery in northwestern Greece. ... Chameria (Albanian: Çamëria, often rendered in Greek as Τσαμουριά Tsamouriá) is the Albanian name for the coastal region of Epirus in southern Albania and northwestern Greece. ...

World War II

Italian Protectorate of Albania as created by Italy August 1941

During World War II, with the fall of Yugoslavia in 1941, Italians placed the land inhabited by ethnic Albanians under the jurisdiction of an Albanian quisling government. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 392 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1126 × 1720 pixel, file size: 116 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Greater Albania created by Italy August 1941 File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 392 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1126 × 1720 pixel, file size: 116 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Greater Albania created by Italy August 1941 File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... Yugoslavia (Jugoslavija in the Latin alphabet, Југославија in Cyrillic; English: South Slavia, or literary The Land of South Slavs) describes three political entities that existed one at a time on the Balkan Peninsula in Europe, during most of the 20th century. ... For other uses, see 1941 (disambiguation). ...

Current status

The current status talks on the future of Kosovo - and its possible independence - could be interpreted as a degree of success in the creation of a Greater Albania, although the United Nations (UN) has stated that if as a result Kosovo becomes independent annexation to another state would not be possible. In a survey carried out by United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and published in March 2007 only 2,5 % of the Albanians in Kosovo thinks unification with Albania is the best solution for Kosovo. 96% say they wants Kosovo to become independent within present borders^[1]. The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... The United Nations Development Programe (UNDP), the United Nations global development network, is the largest multilateral source of development assistance in the world. ... Kosovo (Albanian: Kosova or Kosovë, Serbian: , transliterated ; also , transliterated ) is a region in southern Serbia which has been under United Nations administration since 1999. ...

Territories claimed

• Kosovo in Southern Serbia

• Malësia Southern and eastern Montenegro with Ulcinj municipality on the coast, Tuzi area near Podgorica, and parts of the Plav and Rožaje municipalities

• Southern Epirus in Greece

During WW2 the Çams cooperated with the Italian occupation forces until 1943. After the capitulation of Italy in 1943 the Çams joined forces with the German occupation army, forming a special Çam Unit. Only few of the Çams (300-500) joined EAM [(Ethniko Apeleftherotiko Metopo)-(National Liberation Front)]. EAM had about 2.500.000 members in 1944. After the war many of the Albanians in Epirus were forced to leave Greece by EDES (right winged partizans)in 1944. Their number was estimated up to 350.000 people before the war ^{[citation needed]}. They call themselves Çam or Cham after the Albanian word for Epirus: Çamëria. Many of them are currently trying to pursue legal ways to claim compensation for the properties seized by Greece. Nowadays only immigrant Albanians live in the area as a result of the fall of the Communist regime in Albania in the late 1980s. Kosovo (Albanian: Kosova or Kosovë, Serbian: , transliterated ; also , transliterated ) is a region in southern Serbia which has been under United Nations administration since 1999. ... Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian 1 Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian, Rusyn 2 Albanian 3 Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 812   -  Kingdom established 1217   -  Empire established 1346   -  Independence lost to... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Anthem Oj, svijetla majska zoro Oh, Bright Dawn of May Montenegro() on the European continent()  —  [] Capital (and largest city) Podgorica Official languages Serbian (Ijekavian dialect)1 Demonym Montenegrin Government Republic  -  President Filip Vujanović  -  Prime Minister Željko Å turanović Independence due to the dissolution of Serbia and Montenegro   -  Declared June 3, 2006... Coordinates Mayor Gëzim Hajdinaga (DUA - DPS - SDP) Municipality area 255 km² Population (2003 census)  - city  - municipality  - density 10,828 20,290 79. ... Tuzi, Montenegro Tuzi (Serbian Cyrillic: Тузи, Albanian: Tuz) is a town in the Podgorica municipality, Montenegro, located on a road between Podgorica and Albanian border, just a few kilometers north of Lake Skadar. ... Coordinates Mayor Dr. Miomir MugoÅ¡a (DPS - SDP) Municipality area 1,441 km² Population (2003 census)  - city  - municipality  - density 136,473 169,132 117,4 pop per km² Time zone  - Standard  - Summer (DST) CET (UTC+1) CEST (UTC+2) Founded Before 12th Century as Birziminium Area code +382 81 Car... Coordinates Mayor Skender Å arkinović (DPS - BS) Municipality area 486 km² Population (2003 census)  - city  - municipality  - density 3,615 13,805 28. ... Coordinates Mayor Nusret Kalač (DPS) Municipality area 432 km² Population (2003 census)  - city  - municipality  - density 9,121 22,693 {{{density}}} No. ... Epirus (Greek: Ήπειρος, Ípiros), is a province or periphery in northwestern Greece. ... Çamëria (or Chameria) is the Albanian name for a region which was once part of the Roman Empire, then the Byzantine Empire, and later the Ottoman Empire. ...

• Western part of the Republic of Macedonia

• The Preševo Valley (Albanian: Lugina e Preshevës or Kosova Lindore) in Southern Serbia: the municipalities of Preševo and Bujanovac, and part of the municipality of Medveđa

For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... The PreÅ¡evo Valley is a geographical region in the far south of Serbia and Montenegro, in Serbias Pčinja District, at the eastern border crossing with the Republic of Macedonia, now commonly used to avoid entrance into Kosovo. ... Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian 1 Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian, Rusyn 2 Albanian 3 Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 812   -  Kingdom established 1217   -  Empire established 1346   -  Independence lost to... PreÅ¡evo (Serbian: PreÅ¡evo or Прешево, Albanian: Preshevë or Presheva) is a town and municipality in Pčinja District of Central Serbia, Serbia and Montenegro, bordering the Republic of Macedonia, with Kosovos mountainous frontier in the visible western distance. ... Bujanovac (Бујановац) is a town and municipality in Pčinja District of Serbia, in south-eastern Serbia and Montenegro, situated in the PreÅ¡evo valley and close to the eastern extreme of Kosovo. ... MedveÄ‘a (Медвеђа) is a town and municipality in Jablanica District of Serbia, Serbia and Montenegro. ...

Political uses of the concept

The degree to which different groups are working towards, and what efforts such groups are undertaking in order to achieve a Greater Albania is disputed. Non-Albanian politicians and ethnic leaders have often used the idea to generate ethnic hatred and fear of Albanian political activities, and to justify policies that undermine political and human rights of Albanian minorities, for example in the Republic of Macedonia, and Serbia, in earlier years. For an explanation of terms related to Macedonia, see Macedonia (terminology). ... Anthem Serbia() on the European continent() Capital (and largest city) Belgrade Official languages Serbian 1 Recognised regional languages Hungarian, Croatian, Slovak, Romanian, Rusyn 2 Albanian 3 Government Semi-presidential republic  -  President Boris Tadić  -  Prime Minister Vojislav KoÅ¡tunica Establishment  -  Formation 812   -  Kingdom established 1217   -  Empire established 1346   -  Independence lost to...

• "We spent the 1990s worrying about a Greater Serbia. That's finished. We are going to spend time well into the next century worrying about a Greater Albania." (Christopher R. Hill, US Ambassador to F.Y.R.O.M, 1999) [1]

Assistant Secretary Christopher R. Hill Christopher R. Hill is an American diplomat who currently serves as the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs. ...

International Crisis Group Research

International Crisis Group researched the issue of Pan-Albanianism and published a report titled "Pan-Albanianism: How Big a Threat to Balkan Stability?" on February 2004^[2]. Their report concludes that the "notions of pan-Albanianism are far more layered and complex than the usual broad brush characterisations of ethnic Albanians simply bent on achieving a greater Albania or a greater Kosovo." Furthermore, the report states that amongst Albanians "violence in the cause of a greater Albania, or of any shift of borders, is neither politically popular nor morally justified." International Crisis Group advises the Albanian and Greek governments to endeavour and settle the long-standing issue of the Chams displaced from Greece in 1945, before it gets hijacked and exploited by extreme nationalists, and the Chams' legitimate grievances get lost in the struggle to further other national causes. Moreover, the ICG findings suggest that Albania is more interested in developing cultural and economic ties with Kosovo, whilst maintaining separate statehood. The International Crisis Group is an international, non-profit, non-governmental organization whose mission is to prevent and resolve deadly conflicts through field-based analysis and high-level advocacy. ...

See also

• Chauvinism
• Extremism
• History of Albania
• History of the Balkans
• Irredentism
• United Macedonia
• Etno Engjujt — an ethnic Albanian rap-group who support the concept.

Chauvinism (IPA:) is extreme and unreasoning partisanship on behalf of a group to which one belongs, especially when the partisanship includes malice and hatred towards a rival group. ... This article or section includes a list of works cited or a list of external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations. ... This article briefly outlines each period in the history of Albania; details are presented in separate articles (see the links in the box and below). ... Current political map of the Balkans. ... irredentism is position advocating annexation of territories administered by another state on the grounds of common ethnicity and/or prior historical possession, actual or alleged. ... A map distributed by extreme Macedonian nationalists circa 1993. ...

External links

• Albanian history by Robert Elsie
• Albanian Canadian League Information Service (ACLIS)
• Perspective: Albania and Kosova by Van Christo
• High Albania by M. Edith Durham
• Albanian Identities by Antonina Zhelyazkova
• The Kosovo Chronicles by Dusan Batakovic
• Albania and Kosovo | What happened to Greater Albania?, The Economist, 18 January 2007

The Economist is a weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd and edited in London, UK. It has been in continuous publication since September 1843. ...

References

1. ^ UNDP: Early Warning Report page 16, March 2007 http://www.kosovo.undp.org/repository/docs/EWR15FinalENG.pdf
2. ^ Pan-Albanianism: How Big a Threat to Balkan Stability?, Europe Report N°153, 25 February 2004

• Velika Albanija: "Greater Albania" : concepts and possibile [sic] consequences; ed Jovan M. Canak, Belgrade: Institute of Geopolitical Studies, 1998
• Archivo storico, Ministero degli Affari Esteri (Italy)
• Sottosegretario di Stato per gli Affari Albanesi (State Undersecretary for Albanian Affairs) of Italy (1939-1943)
• Jaksic G., Vuckovic V.: Spoljna politika srbije za vlade, Kneza Mihaila, Belgrade, 1963
• Dimitrios Triantaphyllou: The Albanian Factor, ELIAMEP, Athens, 2000