The Greek minority in Albania : current tensions /
Vickers, Miranda.
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom.
[Shrivenham] : Defence Academy of the United Kingdom,
2010.
Albania's ethnic Greek minority constitutes a linguistic, cultural and religiously distinct minority, the majority of which live south of a line running roughly from the Adriatic port of Vlore to the eastern town of Korce, with a particular concentration in the Drin Valley. In marked contrast to the early 1990s, the Greek minority is noticeable largely by its absence. With the exception of a few elderly women dressed in black, the villages of the minority areas are eerily deserted. Since the end of the one-party state in 1991, up to two-thirds of the minority population, along with tens of thousands of ethnic Albanians,  have gone to live in Greece, leaving mostly elderly relatives to act as caretakers of their Albanian property. The problems of the Greek minority in Albania continue to affect the wider relationship between Albania and Greece. Efforts to improve  the situation and human rights of the minority have met with delays and difficulties as both past and present Albanian and Greek governments have been willing to use nationalism as political capital for electoral benefits. External manipulation of the minorities' issues by nationalist-based groups has hindered efforts to correctly evaluate the minority situation and contributed to interethnic  tensions. However, the election of a new government in Greece may offer an opportunity to attempt to solve some of these problems and improve regional relationships.
"January 2010"--P. 1.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 11).
Introduction -- Historical background -- The Greek minority in post-communist Albania -- The church -- Himara -- Recent developments -- Education -- Conclusion.
Albania's ethnic Greek minority constitutes a linguistic, cultural and religiously distinct minority, the majority of which live south of a line running roughly from the Adriatic port of Vlore to the eastern town of Korce, with a particular concentration in the Drin Valley. In marked contrast to the early 1990s, the Greek minority is noticeable largely by its absence. With the exception of a few elderly women dressed in black, the villages of the minority areas are eerily deserted. Since the end of the one-party state in 1991, up to two-thirds of the minority population, along with tens of thousands of ethnic Albanians,  have gone to live in Greece, leaving mostly elderly relatives to act as caretakers of their Albanian property. The problems of the Greek minority in Albania continue to affect the wider relationship between Albania and Greece. Efforts to improve  the situation and human rights of the minority have met with delays and difficulties as both past and present Albanian and Greek governments have been willing to use nationalism as political capital for electoral benefits. External manipulation of the minorities' issues by nationalist-based groups has hindered efforts to correctly evaluate the minority situation and contributed to interethnic  tensions. However, the election of a new government in Greece may offer an opportunity to attempt to solve some of these problems and improve regional relationships.
Greeks
Minorities
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