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92-525: During communist rule, the area became well known for the production of olive oil, lemons, and tangerines. In 2010, national authorities demolished over 200 illegal structures that violated the town's master plan and the integrity of Butrint National Park. Some remains from the demolished buildings have yet to be removed by the authorities. In 1992, the village of Ksamil was inhabited by a mixed population of Muslim Albanians (1,125), Greeks (520) and Orthodox Albanians (210). According to official estimates (2014),

184-403: A 2005 estimate more than 80% had migrated to Greece by then. In Greece, they were issued a "special identity card" in the 1990s. The special identity card was acquired not only by ethnic Greeks but by Aromanians from Albania or people who could demonstrate an Aromanian heritage as Aromanians were recognized by Greece as being of Greek origin and Orthodox Albanians. In 2005, the right to obtain

276-498: A context disputing their Greek ancestry. The Greek minority in Albania is located mostly compactly, within the wider Gjirokastër and Sarandë regions and in four settlements within the coastal Himarë area where they form an overall majority population. Greek speaking settlements are also found within Përmet municipality, near the border. Some Greek speakers are also located within

368-606: A distinct subgroup of Cham Albanians who lived in the Souli region, and were known for their role in the Greek War of Independence . When Epirus joined Greece in 1913, following the Balkan Wars , Muslim Chams lost the privileged status they enjoyed during Ottoman rule and were subject to discrimination from time to time. During World War II, large parts of the Muslim Chams collaborated with

460-675: A long history of Hellenisation , assimilation and integration in Greece. Despite social and political problems experienced by the wave of immigration in the 1990s and 2000s, Albanians have integrated better in Greece than other non-Greeks. A portion of Albanian newcomers change their Albanian name to Greek ones and their religion, if they are not Christian, from Islam to Orthodoxy . Recent studies have shown that second generation immigrants have intricate, hybrid, circumstantial, and complex senses of identity. Which relate to feelings of acceptance or belonging. Even before emigration, some Albanians from

552-505: A minority ethnic Greeks who live in mixed villages and towns inhabited by both Greek and Albanian speaking populations, even in areas where ethnic Greeks form a majority (e.g. Himara ). Consequently, the Greek communities in Himarë , Korçë , Vlorë and Berat did not have access to any minority rights. Contrary to the official Albanian definition, which generally provides a limited definition of

644-499: A mission to preserve the Orthodox faith there, and was executed as a Russian agent in the process. Due to reforms in the late Ottoman Empire and its ultimate collapse, legal discrimination against Christians in favor of Muslims was reduced and ceased entirely in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Under the People's Republic of Albania , the Orthodox faith adhered to by most ethnic Greeks

736-492: A more archaic and faithful picture of the medieval Greek vernacular. The isolation of Albania during the years of communist rule, which separated the Greeks living in Albania from other Greek communities, also contributed to the slower evolution and differentiation of the local Greek dialects. The Greek dialect of Nartë and Zvërnec is characterized by northern vocalism . It is a conservative dialect, and has some isoglosses with

828-623: A party which aims to represent that Greek minority in the Albanian parliament. In more recent years, tensions have surrounded the participation of candidates of the Unity for Human Rights Party in Albanian elections. In 2000, the Albanian municipal elections were criticised by international human rights groups for "serious irregularities" reported to have been directed against ethnic Greek candidates and parties. The municipal elections held in February 2007 saw

920-540: A policy of assimilation, the Greek schools (there were over 360 until 1913) were gradually forced to close and Greek education was virtually eliminated by 1934. Following the intervention by the League of Nations, a limited number of schools, only those inside the "official minority zones", were reopened. During the years of the communist regime, Greek education was also limited to the so-called "minority zone", and even then pupils were taught only Albanian history and culture at

1012-520: A result of different waves of migration. Albanians first migrated into Greece during the late 13th century. The descendants of populations of Albanian origin who settled in Greece during the Middle Ages are the Arvanites , who have been fully assimilated into the Greek nation and self-identify as Greeks. Today, they still maintain their distinct subdialect of Tosk Albanian , known as Arvanitika , although it

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1104-784: A significant part of the identity of Greeks in what became Albania and elsewhere. After the Great Schism , Albania was divided between the Western (Catholic) and Eastern (Orthodox) rites, with much of the Southern regions where Greeks resided being loyal to the Orthodox rite. During the Ottoman era, the Orthodox population, to which most Greeks belonged, was treated according to the Ottoman millet system which privileged Muslims and disadvantaged Christians as second class citizens who received fewer political, social, and economic rights. Orthodox Christianity during

1196-457: A small group of Christian, Albanian-speakers, speakers of a Northern Tosk Albanian dialect are still to be found in the villages of Drosopigi , Flampouro , Lechovo in Florina regional unit. During the Ottoman era however, the Albanian population of the region was more widespread. These communities were largely found in and around the cities of Florina and Kastoria . Muslim Albanians inhabited

1288-541: Is endangered due to language shift towards Greek and large-scale internal migration to the cities in recent decades. The Arvanites are not considered an ethnic minority within Greece. The victory of the Albanian tribes in the Battle of Achelous left Epirus open to increasing Albanian migration. Albanian tribes soon conquered most of the region, except for Ioannina . Arta was captured in 1367 or shortly after, becoming

1380-489: Is also the idea that return is a 'success', when one has migrated away, gained wealth, and now returned. Recent economic migrants from Albania are estimated to account for 60–65% of the total number of immigrants in the country. Systems of migration are established by way of a cumulative effect of previous migrations, in addition to current movements. According to the 2001 census, there were 443,550 Albanian immigrants in Greece. A special ID card for ethnic Greeks from Albania

1472-465: Is concentrated in the south of the country, near the border with Greece . After 1912, in Greece part of this area became known as Northern Epirus . The Greek community is located in the former districts of Sarandë (particularly in Finiq municipality), Gjirokastër (especially in the area of Dropull ), part of Delvinë and in three villages of Himara and the two villages Nartë and Zvërnec , which form

1564-499: Is endangered as the younger generations no longer speak it due to language attrition. The Chams are an Albanian group from the coastal parts of Epirus , in northwestern Greece and the southernmost part of Albania. The Chams of Muslim faith were expelled from Epirus during World War II after large parts of their population collaborated with the Axis occupation forces . Greek Orthodox Albanian communities have been assimilated into

1656-559: Is similar in nature and performance with that of the Mani peninsula in Greece. In recent years there has been a growing interest in polyphonic music from this region, most notably by the musician Kostas Lolis, born near Sopik in Albania but now lives in Ioannina , in Greece. Christianity spread in the late Roman Empire, and throughout much of Medieval and Modern history, the Christian faith has been

1748-492: The Acroceraunian School . The school currently has five teachers and 115 pupils. The Albanian government systematically persecutes Greek communities using mandatory demolition orders, further provocation has come on issuing the demolition orders on Greek national holidays. These are often under the proviso of development but only effect ethnic Greeks and restrict and target educational buildings. A number of people from

1840-522: The Albanian Parliament , and two ministers in the Albanian cabinet . The same number of parliamentary members were elected in the 2017 Albanian parliamentary election . A special ID card for ethnic Greeks from Albania was issued in 2001 which was received by 189,000 individuals who resided in Greece at the time. For ethnic Greeks from Albania this measure was seen as treating them as "lower class citizens" as in order to obtain it their "Greekness"

1932-404: The Albanian language . In the city of Ioannina , a substantial minority of Albanian-speakers existed who spoke a dialect intermediate between Cham and Lab. However, during Ottoman era the Albanian minority in the kaza of Ioannina did not consist of native families but was limited to some Ottoman public servants. The region of Macedonia also saw Albanian settlement. In the modern era only

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2024-710: The Florina regional unit are identified as part of the Greek nation as well. Thessaly was invaded after 1318 by the Albanian tribes of the Malakasioi , the Bua , and the Mazreku . Traces of the Malakasioi are evident in the settlement of Malakasi , which takes the name of the tribe. Another small group is to be found in northeastern Greece, in Greek Macedonia and Western Thrace along

2116-473: The Greek War of Independence , which led them to self-identify in the Greek nation and to be largely assimilated into mainstream Greek culture . Although they retain their Arvanitic dialect and cultural similarities with Albanians, they refuse national connections with them and do not consider themselves an ethnic minority. Albanian remained a "second language" in the Greek navy into the 20th century. Arvanitika

2208-479: The Pogon region (as well as in the Greek part of Upper Pogoni ) perform a style of polyphony that is characterized by a pentatonic structure, and also appears in the music of nearby Albanian and Aromanian populations. Another type of polyphonic singing in the region seems to have features in common with the lament songs ( Greek : Μοιρολόγια ) sung in some parts of Greece. The female lament singing of Greeks in Albania

2300-595: The Red and Black Alliance (RBA) increased ethnic tensions with the Greek minority groups. There have been many different claims about the size of the ethnic Greek minority in Albania. In the early 1990s, the figures claimed ranged from 50 to 60 thousand (official position of Albania based on the 1989 census within the designated minority zone), upwards of 300,000 (official position of Greece). Greek nationalist orgnaziations claimed that Greeks in Albania were around 250,000. According to Bideleux and Jeffries (2006), Western estimates at

2392-421: The regional units of Ioannina , Preveza and Thesprotia , respectively. In the western Ioannina district, Albanian was concentrated in the region known as Tsarkovista (divided between modern Dodoni and Ziros ). The Albanian-speaking area included Zermi, Krania, Papadates, Rousatsa, Derviziana, Mousiotitsa. In the mid 1800s Albanian was spoken in 33 out of 46 villages of Tsarkovista. In the late 19th century,

2484-595: The "minority zones" of Albania are officially recognised by the Albanian government as the Greek National Minority of Albania ( Greek : Ελληνική Μειονότητα στην Αλβανία , Elliniki Mionotita stin Alvania ; Albanian : Minoriteti Grek në Shqipëri ). In 1913, after the end of five centuries of Ottoman rule , the area was included under the sovereignty of the newly founded Albanian state. The following year, Greeks revolted and declared their independence , and with

2576-505: The "official minority zones". In 2006, the establishment of a Greek-language university in Gjirokastër was agreed upon after discussions between the Albanian and Greek government. Also in 2006, after years of unanswered demands by the local community, a private Greek-language school opened in the town of Himarë, at the precise location where the Orthodox missionary Cosmas the Aetolian founded

2668-494: The 1990s. In Kastoria , Albanians in the city itself as well as the surrounding village of Giannochorio were Christian Orthodox, whereas Muslim Albanians inhabited the villages of Pefkos , Niki , Koromilia , Dipotamia , and Komninades . In the area of Grevena , the village of Syndendro was inhabited by a Muslim Albanian population. Following the October 1913 looting of the Albanian village of Mandritsa , Albanians settled

2760-593: The Axis occupation forces, committing atrocities against the local population. In 1944, when the Axis withdrew, many Muslim Chams fled to Albania or were forcibly expelled by the EDES resistance group. This event is known as the expulsion of Cham Albanians . The Arvanites are a population group in Greece who traditionally speak Arvanitika , a variety of Tosk Albanian . They descended from Albanian settlers who migrated to Greece during

2852-442: The Greek dialects of southern Epirus . Despite the relatively small distances between the various town and villages, there exists some dialectal variation, most noticeably in accent. Though Northern Epirote is a southern dialect, it is located far north of the reduced unstressed vowel system isogloss with the archaic disyllabic -ea. Thus, the provenance of the dialect ultimately remains obscure. The local Greek dialects (especially

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2944-420: The Greek dialects of southern Italy, Ionian Islands, Epirus, but also with more distant Greek-speaking regions, such as Cyprus, Thrace and Asia Minor. Decent knowledge of Albanian is also common amongst the Greek minority; almost all Greeks who have grown up living in Albania are bilingual. Epirote' folk music from this region has several unique features not found in the rest of the Greek world. Singers from

3036-501: The Greek language that had until recent decades negative overtones. These words in Arvanitika have their related counterpart in the pejorative term shqa used by Northern Albanians for Slavs . Ultimately these terms used amongst Albanian speakers originate from the Latin word sclavus which contained the traditional meaning of "the neighbouring foreigner". Arvanites played a major role in

3128-622: The Greek minority to obtain it. In 2008, the citizenship law change in Greece allowed for holders of special ID cards to obtain Greek citizenship and about 45,000 did so just in the first three years of its implementation. As of 2022 , the number of Albanian citizens who are holders of special IDs as homogeneis (Greek co-ethnics) has been reduced to 13,329. In the 2011 census, 480,851 Albanian immigrants were recorded in Greece. Accounting for non-permanent or irregular migration which constitutes up to 30% of Albanian immigrants in Greece, other estimates put their number closer to 600,000-670,000 (~6% of

3220-751: The Greek nation. Alongside these two groups, a large wave of economic migrants from Albania entered Greece after the fall of Communism (1991) and forms the largest expatriate community in the country. They form the largest migrant group in Greece. A portion of these immigrants avoid declaring as Albanian in order to avoid prejudices and exclusion. These Albanian newcomers may resort to self-assimilation tactics such as changing their Albanian name to Greek ones, and if they are Muslim, their religion from Islam to Orthodoxy . Through this, they hope to attain easier access to visas and naturalisation. After migration to Greece, most are baptized and integrated. While Greece does not record ethnicity on censuses, Albanians form

3312-690: The National Observatory. Ioannis Pangas from Korcë gave all of his wealth for educational purposes in Greece. The Zappas brothers, Evangelos and Konstantinos , endowed Athens with an ancient Greek-style marble stadium (the Kallimarmaro ) that has hosted Olympic Games in 1870, 1875, 1896, 1906 and 2004, and the Zappeion exhibition center. The Zappas brothers also founded a number of hospitals and schools in Athens and Constantinople. Christakis Zografos in

3404-418: The Ottoman capital offered vast amounts of money for the establishments of two Greek schools (one for boys, known as Zographeion Lyceum , as well as one for girls), and a hospital. Greek diaspora Constantinople and Asia Minor : Africa : Other regions : Other groups : Other languages During the years of communist rule, any form of organization by minorities was prohibited. In 1991, when

3496-512: The Ottoman period remained dominant in many areas and became an important reason for preserving the Greek language, which was also the language of trade. In Himara, during part of this period, the local Greek population were Catholics of the Eastern rite due to alliances with Western and Catholic European powers, although they reverted to Greek Orthodoxy ultimately. Greek-Orthodox missionary Cosmas of Aetolia traveled across much of Southern Albania in

3588-704: The Turkish rulers and the desires of wealthy Epirote emigrants in the diaspora, many schools were established. The spiritual and ethnic contribution of the monastery schools in Epirus such as Katsimani (near Butrint), Drianou (in Droviani), Kamenas (in Delvina) and St. Athanasios in Poliçani (13th-17th century) was significant. The first Greek-language school in Delvine was founded in 1537, when

3680-413: The authorities. Also, the ethnic Greek minority complained about the government's unwillingness to recognize ethnic Greek towns outside communist-era "minority zones," to utilize Greek in official documents and on public signs in ethnic Greek areas, or to include more ethnic Greeks in public administration. The 2012 USA annual report mention that the emergence of strident nationalist groups like

3772-480: The birthplace of their parents or grandparents is in Northern Epirus), language, and religion. It has been noted that Albanians have declared themselves as Greeks in the past 20 years in exchange to reside and work in Greece. This allegedly encouraged the process of Greek irredentism in "Northern Epirus". Albanian sources often use the pejorative term filogrek (pro-Greek) in relation to ethnic Greeks, usually in

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3864-563: The border with Turkey , as a result of migration during the early 20th century. They speak the Northern Tosk subbranch of Tosk Albanian and are descendants of the Orthodox Albanian population of Eastern Thrace who were forced to migrate during the population exchange between Greece and Turkey in the 1920s. They are known in Greece as Arvanites , a name applied to all groups of Albanian origin in Greece, but which primarily refers to

3956-588: The centre of the Despotate of Arta , which lasted until 1416. Historically, aside from the Cham and Souliote settlements, Albanians have also formed communities in other areas of Epirus. Those Christian Albanians found in Epirus today identify with the Greek nation. A small community is located in the Ioannina regional unit , where they form a majority in two villages of the Konitsa district. Albanian communities also reside in

4048-491: The city of Florina itself, along with the nearby villages of Pyli , Lefkonas , Laimos , Agios Germanos , Tropaiouchos , Kolchiki , Agios Vartholomaios , Kato Kleines , and Ano Kleines . The Turks of Skopia were Turkicized Albanians , the adults knew Albanian and the young only Turkish . On the other hand, Christian Orthodox Albanians resided in the villages of Kato Ydroussa , Ano Ydroussa and Tripotamos , with these communities utilizing Albanian at least until

4140-465: The coastal regions of Epirus, largely corresponding to Thesprotia . The Chams are primarily distinguished from other Albanian groups by their distinct dialect of Tosk Albanian, the Cham dialect, which is among the most conservative of the Albanian dialects. During the rule of the Ottoman Empire in Epirus, many Chams converted to Islam, while a minority remained Greek Orthodox . The Souliotes were

4232-620: The communist era, some Greek speakers are also dispersed within the Berat region. Human rights in Albania are violated by the Government which have targeted the Greek population via police and secret service according to Human Rights organisations. Greek communities have been targeted by development projects and had their homes demolished in alleged ethnic targeting of Greeks from Southern Albania. Also, according to Amnesty International there were cases of mistreatment of members of Greek minority by

4324-1088: The communist regime collapsed, the political organization Omonoia ( Greek : Ομόνοια ) was founded, in the town of Dervican by representatives of the Greek minority. The organization has four affiliates, in Sarandë , Delvinë , Gjirokastër and Tirana , and sub-sections in Korçë , Vlorë and Përmet . Its leading forum is the General Council consisting of 45 members, which is elected by the General Conference held every two years. Albanians in Greece Albanians in Greece ( Albanian : Shqiptarët në Greqi ; Greek : Αλβανοί στην Ελλάδα , romanized :  Alvanoí stin Elláda ) are people of Albanian ethnicity or ancestry who live in or originate from areas within modern Greece . They are divided into distinct communities as

4416-402: The communities of Zagori or were adopted by Zagorisian families and quickly became part of the local population. In the case of Tristeno , although no memories are preserved among the local population of any past Albanian presence, Albanian linguistic remnants in the local Greek speech suggest that they were the first settlers of the village; this would also explain the local Aromanian name of

4508-509: The ethnic Greeks living in Albania, Greek migration policy defines the Greek origin on the basis of language, religion, birth and ancestors from the region called Northern Epirus . In that way, according to the Greek State Council, the Greek ethnic origin can be granted on the basis of cultural ancestry (sharing "common historical memories" and/or links with "historic homelands and culture"), Greek descent (Greek Albanians have to prove that

4600-409: The following Protocol of Corfu the area was recognised as an autonomous region under nominal Albanian sovereignty. However, this was never implemented. In the communist era the Greek population suffered from the prohibition of the Greek language if spoken outside the recognised so-called "minority zones" (which have remained after their establishment in the communist era) and even limitations on

4692-665: The idioms of Chimariotic and the Argyrokastritic) are a more conservative Greek idiom (similarly to that spoken in the Mani peninsula in Greece, and the Griko language of Apulia in Italy ), because they were spoken by populations living under virtual autonomy during Ottoman rule due to the rugged nature of the region. Thus, separated from other Greek dialects, the Northern Epirote Greek dialects underwent slower evolution, preserving

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4784-489: The largest immigrant community in Greece. In recent years many Albanian workers and their families have left Greece for other countries in Europe in search of better prospects. In 2022, the number of Albanian citizens in Greece with a valid residency permit was 291,868; down from 422,954 in 2021. As of 2022 , in total, there might have been more than 500,000 Albanian-born migrants and their children who received Greek citizenship over

4876-496: The largest minority group in the country. They are mostly concentrated in the south of the country, in the areas of the northern part of the historical region of Epirus , in parts of Vlorë County , Gjirokastër , Korçë , and Berat County . The area is also known as Northern Epirus . Consequently, the Greeks hailing specifically from Southern Albania are also known as Northern Epirotes ( Greek : Βορειοηπειρώτες Vorioipirotes , Albanian : Vorioepirot ). The Greeks who live in

4968-439: The largest non-Greek ethnic community and the top immigrant population in the country. As of 2019, Greece was the second top destination for Albanians, as movement to Greece constituted 35.3% of total Albanian immigration. Albanian immigrants are the largest immigrant community in Greece . In recent years many Albanian workers and their families have left Greece for other countries in Europe in search of better prospects. In 2022,

5060-641: The last 20 years. Most Western sources put the number at around 200,000. The Albanian government in the 1989 census estimated around 60,000, while the Greek government supports a figure of 300,000. Furthermore, 13,329 ethnic Greeks with Albanian citizenship reside in Greece, and are issued special identity cards as of 2022. Most of Albania's ethnic Greeks have acquired citizenship and thus no longer rely on special identity cards. It has been suggested that some Albanians and Aromanians have claimed to be Greeks in exchange for economic benefits in Greece, such as work permits and pensions. The Greek minority in Albania

5152-514: The late Middle Ages and were the dominant population element of some regions in the south of Greece until the 19th century. Arvanites call themselves with the Old Albanian endonym arbëreshë , and until the 19th century they were regarded as ethnically distinct from the Greeks. Amongst the Arvanites, this difference was expressed in words such as shkljira for a Greek person and shkljerishtë for

5244-608: The late 19th century, the wealthy banker Christakis Zografos founded the Zographeion College in his hometown of Qestorat , in the region of Lunxhëri . Many of the educated men that supported Greek culture and education in the region, then the culture of the Orthodox Patriarchate, were Aromanians by origin. In 1905, Greek education was flourishing in the region, as the entire Orthodox population, including Orthodox Albanians, were educated in Greek schools. However, in

5336-456: The new mayor of Himara. Goro who himself had acquired Greek citizenship as a member of the minority declared in his election campaign that "there are no Greeks in Himara" and that he had changed his name from "Gjergj" to "Jorgo". The Greek state revoked his citizenship in 2017 on grounds of him "acting against national interests". In 2019 the candidacy of the representative of Omonoia, Fredis Beleris

5428-527: The northernmost districts of Berat and Durrës, the above numbers do not reflect the ethnological distribution, because a large number of students were Orthodox Albanians. When Albania was created in 1912, the educational rights of the Greek communities in Albanian territory were granted by the Protocol of Corfu (1914) and with the statement of Albania's representatives in the League of Nations (1921). However, under

5520-458: The northernmost island of Greek speech in Vlorë County ). The areas where the Greek community forms the main part of the population are not a uniform region, but areas interspersed by Albanian communities, except for Dropull which is located along the border with Greece. The communist government (1945–1991), in order to establish control over the areas populated by the Greek minority, declared

5612-1011: The number at 287,000 after their so called "Greek census" in 2013. This census is not recognised by the Albanian government. As of 2022 , the number of Albanian citizens who are holders of special IDs as homogeneis (Greek co-ethnics) has been reduced to 13,329. A number of Northern Epirotes have migrated since the late 19th century to the Americas, and are generally integrated in the local Greek-American communities. The Pan-Epirotic Union of America, an organization which consists of 26 branches in various cities, according to its estimates counted nearly 30,000 Northern Epirotes in North America in 1919. According to post-war sources, Northern Epirotes in America numbered over 15,000 families in 1965. Northern Epirotes also emigrated to Australia, where they are active in raising political issues related to their motherland and

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5704-476: The number of Albanian citizens in Greece with a valid residency permit was 291,868; down from 422,954 in 2021. As of 2022 , in total, there might have been more than 500,000 Albanian immigrants and their children who received Greek citizenship over the years. Groups of Albanians are first recorded in Epirus during the high Middle Ages. Some of their descendants form the Cham Albanians , which formerly inhabited

5796-555: The official use of its language within those zones. During the same period many formerly Greek place-names were officially changed to Albanian ones. Greeks from the "minority zones" were also frequently forcibly moved to other parts of the country since they were seen as possible sources of dissent and ethnic tension. In post-1990 era, these issues, including the emerging subject of private property rights, continue to persist to an extent. Both Albania and Greece hold different and often conflicting estimations, as they have done so for

5888-500: The outward migration of locals, as well as movements of groups like the Souliotes. These Albanians (locally known as Arvanítes ) were considered métoikoi 'immigrants'; they comprised the lowest social class in the region and lived at the outskirts of the villages without civil and property rights. They often worked as guards for the villages which had no military protection, and as workers in their fields. They intermarried into

5980-467: The participation of a number of ethnic Greek candidates. Vasilis Bolanos was re-elected mayor of the southern town of Himarë despite the governing and opposition Albanian parties fielding a combined candidate against him. Greek observers have expressed concern at the "non-conformity of procedure" in the conduct of the elections. In 2015, Jorgo Goro, supported by the Socialist Party of Albania became

6072-413: The past. Also, Aromanians from villages around Vlorë, who identified as "Helleno-Vlach", were able to obtain visas and work permits without any difficulties. It has been suggested that a certain number of Aromanians have claimed to be Greek in exchange for benefits; such as Greek pensions , passports and visas. However, the official Albanian definition about minorities did not recognize as members of

6164-558: The population of the commune of Ksamil numbered 9,215, of whom 4,207 were Greeks , seven Aromanians , and the rest Albanians. Ksamil is one of the most frequented coastal resorts by both domestic and foreign tourists. Ksamil Beach and Albania's Ionian Coast further north were included in the Guardian's 20 of the best bargain beach holidays for 2013. The main attractions are the nearby Ksamil Islands . The Caribbean white sand beaches in Ksamil gave

6256-477: The primary level. If a few Albanian families moved into a town or village, the minority's right to be educated in Greek and publish in Greek newspapers was revoked. One of the major issues between the Albanian government and the Greek minority in Albania is that of education and the need for more Greek-language schools, due to overcrowded classrooms and unfulfilled demand. In addition, the Greek minority remands that Greek language education be made available outside

6348-459: The prosperous Northern Epirote diaspora of the 18th-19th centuries made significant contributions not only to their homeland, but also to the Greek state and to the Greek world under Ottoman Turkish domination. They donated fortunes for the construction of educational, cultural and social institutions. The Sinas family supported the expansion of the University of Athens and sponsored the foundation of

6440-448: The rights of the Greek minority only to those people who live in the areas which are recognized as minority zones. The last census that included ethnicity, from 1989, included only the numbers of the Greek minority in the minority zones. Ethnic Greeks living outside those areas were not counted as such. This has had a practical effect in the area of education: With the exception of the officially recognized Greek minority zones, where teaching

6532-430: The rights of the Greek populations still living there. The largest number of such persons are in the state of Victoria with further communities in the states of New South Wales and South Australia. The Greek dialects of Albania mainly belong to the branch of southern Greek dialects . In addition to Albanian loanwords, they retain some archaic forms and words that are no longer used in Standard Modern Greek, as well as in

6624-405: The so-called "minority zones" ( Albanian : Zona e minoritarëve ), consisting of 99 villages in the southern districts of Gjirokastër, Sarandë, and Delvina. Tirana's official minority policy defines the Greek origin of Albanian citizens according to the language, religion, birth and ancestors originating from the areas of the so-called "minority zones". The Albanian law on minorities acknowledges

6716-562: The southern dialectological group of Arbëreshë . The Albanian speakers of Western Thrace and Macedonia use the common Albanian self-appellation Shqiptar . After the fall of the communist government in Albania in 1990 , a large number of economic immigrants from Albania arrived in Greece seeking employment. There are seven major types of migration and return between Albania and Greece. The return could be prepared, or abrupt and forced, or voluntary. And these types also have flavors of being by necessity, or by choice, or by opportunity. There

6808-509: The special identity card was extended to non-Greek members in the families of ethnic Greeks. About 189,000 individuals acquired the special identity card by 2008. After Greek citizenship was made available, the number of special identity card holders has declined to about 13,000 in 2023. The minority's sociopolitical organization from promotion of Greek human rights, Omonoia , founded in January 1991, took an active role on minority issues. Omonoia

6900-406: The time considered them to be around 200,000. According to Miranda Vickers (2010), Albanian sources noted the Greek population at the time between 40-50,000. She also notes that the high Greek official figure would likely have had to include Orthodox communities such as Aromanians and Albanians. The vast majority of ethnic Greeks from Albania have emigrated to Greece since the 1990s. According to

6992-448: The total population of Greece). Since the Greek economic crisis started in 2011, the total number of Albanians in Greece has fluctuated. According to a study of 2012 conducted in Albania it is estimated that around 18%-22% Albanian immigrants returned to Albania the last five years. As of 2019, Greece was the second top destination for Albanians, as movement to Greece constituted 35.3% of total Albanian immigration. Albanian immigrants are

7084-790: The town great tourism boost. Albanians from Kosovo and other Albanian-speaking areas visited Ksamil in recent years, but more and more international tourists are visiting the beach. This leads, for example, to new hotel facilities, but also to more expensive prices. Other activities are the Blue Eye in Muzinë , the Butrint National Park , Saranda and as well some other minor beaches that lie north to Ksamil. Greeks in Albania The Greeks in Albania are ethnic Greeks who live in or originate from areas within modern Albania . They form

7176-483: The town of Himara in 1770. In Moscopole, an educational institution known as the " New Academy " ( Greek : Νέα Ακαδημία ) and an extensive library were established during the 18th century. A local monk founded in 1731 the first printing house in the Balkans (second only to that of Constantinople ). However, after the destruction of Moscopole (1769), the center of Greek education in the region moved to nearby Korçë . In

7268-509: The town was still under Venetian control, while in Gjirokastër a Greek school was founded in 1633. The most important impetus for the creation of schools and the development of Greek education was given by the Orthodox missionary Cosmas of Aetolia together with the Aromanian Nektarios Terpos from Moscopole . Cosmas the Aetolian founded the Acroceraunian School , harkening back to the region's name in classical antiquity, in

7360-606: The use of Albanian had decreased. Sirziana, Mousiotitsa, Derviziana and Zorista are described as being exclusively Albanian-speaking, while use of Albanian had stopped in Lippas, Toskesi, Gratsiana, Bariades, Kopanoi by 1888 according to contemporary Greek historian I. Labridis. Over the centuries, some groups of Albanians also settled in various villages of Zagori . Most of the Albanian settlement in Zagori can be attributed to post-15th century settlement that resulted from labour gaps caused by

7452-474: The village of Plikati of Konitsa. Although they are sometimes called Arvanites , their dialects are closer to the Tosk Albanian group rather than Arvanitika . Albanian communities historically have inhabited Konitsa , Delvinaki , Pogoniani , Gorgopotamos , Mousiotitsa , the villages of Agia , Ammoudia , Anthousa , Kanallaki and Narkissos , as well as the village of Kastri , which are located in

7544-500: The village, which is Arbineshi ' Albanian village ' . Besides Tristeno, Albanians also settled in the villages of Aristi , Megalo Papingo , Anthrakitis, Asprangeloi , Kavallari, Kipi , Leptokarya, Monodendri , Tsepelovo , Vitsa , Vradeto and possibly Kapesovo . Local Albanian traces, with the exception of some toponyms, have disappeared; an extensive study of 3,546 toponyms in Zagori , found that 184 (5.19%) were mediated via

7636-662: The villages of Amparkioi (later renamed Mandres in their honor) in the Kilkis regional unit , as well as the villages of Souroti and Zagliveri in the Thessaloniki regional unit . Sporadic Albanian communities, Christian Orthodox by faith, have further settled in other areas of Macedonia, including the villages of Nea Petra , Kalochori and Paralimnoi in the Serres regional unit . Those small Arvanite-speaking communities in Epirus and

7728-434: The wider Korçë region. Due to both forced and voluntary internal migration of Greeks within Albania during the communist era, some Greek speakers are also located within the wider Përmet and Tepelenë regions. Outside the area defined as Northern Epirus, two coastal Greek speaking villages exist near Vlorë; Nartë and Zvërnec . While due to forced and non-forced internal population movements of Greeks within Albania during

7820-428: The years. After the first generation of Albanian migrants settled in Greece, second-generation Albanians who were either born or raised in Greece began to attend compulsory education. In 2004-2005, there were ca. 100,000 Albanian students in the Greek school system and they constituted 72% of migrant pupils (2002-2003). By 2011-2012 students of Albanian origin made up 77.6% of migrant pupils in Greece. Albanians have

7912-483: Was banned entirely alongside the other religious faiths all over the country. The process started in 1949, with the confiscation and nationalisation of Church property and further intensified in 1967, when the state launched its atheistic campaign. However, some private practice managed to survive. This campaign was also part of the state persecution against the identity of the Greek people; as many of their traditions were closely related to Eastern Christianity. The ban

8004-452: Was banned in the parliamentary elections of March 1991, because it violated the Albanian law which forbade 'formation of parties on a religious, ethnic and regional basis'. This situation resulted in a number of strong protests not only from the Greek side, but also from international organizations. Finally, on behalf of Omonoia, the Unity for Human Rights Party contested at the following elections,

8096-428: Was examined in the form of a questionnaire. Another issue with the special ID card had to do with ethnic Albanians using fake documents which presented them as members of the Greek minority to obtain it. In 2008, the citizenship law change in Greece allowed for holders of special ID cards to obtain Greek citizenship and about 45,000 did so just in the first three years of its implementation. The Omonoia organization put

8188-506: Was held in both the Greek and Albanian languages, in all other areas of Albania lessons were taught only in the Albanian language. Work in Greece is of importance in Albania, and people who declare to be members of the Greek minority or prove their "Greek origin", receive special benefits and identity cards. A substantial number of Aromanians (Vlachs) in south-eastern Albania, as well as some Muslim Albanians, have claimed Greek identity based on pro-Greek social networks and identity idioms of

8280-406: Was issued in 2001 which was received by 189,000 individuals who resided in Greece at the time. For ethnic Greeks from Albania this measure was seen as treating them as "lower class citizens" as in order to obtain it their "Greekness" was examined in the form of a questionnaire. Another issue with the special ID card had to do with ethnic Albanians using fake documents which presented them as members of

8372-409: Was lifted in 1990 just in time for Christians to observe traditional Christmas rites. Thus, one of the first Orthodox masses was celebrated in the town of Dervican on 16 December of that year. During the first period of Ottoman occupation, illiteracy was a main characteristic of the wider Balkan region, but contrary to that situation, Epirus was not negatively affected. Along with the tolerance of

8464-451: Was rejected by the Albanian authorities due to a three-year conviction in the past. Albanian electoral law allows participation in elections as a candidate after 10 years have passed from the later conviction of a candidate. In the following election most of the Greek minority abstained from the procedure and Goro was re-elected. Several irregularities were also reported during the elections. In 2004, there were five ethnic Greek members in

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