Greece Is Preparing to Occupy Southern Albania
The attack plan is divided into two stages
— First stage: the armed minority would start the civil war
— Second stage: the Greek armed forces would attack to defend the “rights” of the minority
OMONIA MOVEMENT
OMONIA
BAREKETI
The plan to create Northern Albania, a homeland of its own for the Greek minority, and the preparations for occupying Albanian lands in the south of our country have become quite well known.
At least since the beginning of this century. All this was enshrined in the so-called “Megalo Idea,” which in a second phase envisaged an advance northward to the Shkumbin River. After the Second World War these plans were thought to have faded. But in fact they were never put aside. They have been preserved and at this moment every effort is being made to revive them. For this reason we are providing some facts and data that prove what present-day Greece is preparing for Albania.
A schematic sketch of the deployment of Greece’s military forces on the southern frontier. It was published in the French newspaper “Le Monde”. These areas of our homeland are being included under the so-called “Autonomous Region of Vorio Epirus”. All this is also being done with the direct encouragement of Greek reactionary circles. Only a few days ago, military patrols stationed on the border moved as far as the green line, penetrating in certain points even into our territorial zone. The officers who brought them there, in conversations with local residents, declared that, on orders from above, they had entered Albanian territory, calling it “Greek territory”.
On March 25 an envelope arrived in the newsroom from Tirana. Along with the sender’s details, a well-known writer, a friend of the small Trupja. He sent us an attached highly secret document, in which his theses and files are laid out. But these theses are already circulating in other political circles as well. It is even believed that a fierce struggle is taking place within Greek ultrareactionary circles over who will take credit for “achieving” OMONIA’s further objectives. The document is typed, in Greek, and in a publication eyes had with them. It had a cut-and-paste piece previously published in the Turkish newspaper “ELEFITA DOCU,” which repeats the occupation of Southern Albania.
In the coming days they will gather in interviews with the Greek Embassy in Tirana, around here loop of everyone.
Our writer, together with 5–6 others, will cooperate. He sent us another attached letter. But these theses are already circulating in other political circles as well. It is even believed that a fierce struggle is under way within Greek ultrareactionary circles over who will get the credit for “achieving” OMONIA’s further goals. The document is typed, in Greek, and in a style that recalls the platforms of the civil wars of Europe in the last century.
Its main purpose is to incite the minority to revolt. The document states that the most important part of this effort is the creation of a powerful intelligence network throughout the south of our country. The document calls this territory “Vorio Epiri”. It speaks of dividing Albania into two “autonomous regions,” one in the South and the other in the North. In the South, Gjirokastra, Delvina, Saranda, Tepelena, Përmeti, Erseka and some other nearby areas would be included. In the North, another “autonomous region” would be created, which would include the city of Shkodra, Lezha and some surrounding areas.
After that, a provisional government of “Vorio Epirus” was to be created, which would request military assistance from Greece under the pretext of protecting the minority. In this way the Greek military intervention in Southern Albania would be legalized. This is the essence of the plan.
Another point in the document concerns the organization of armed groups in Albania, which would provoke civil clashes. This would serve as a pretext for the entry of the Greek army.
According to the document, Greek forces would launch the attack from three main directions: from Ioannina toward Kakavijë and Gjirokastra, from Konitsa toward Leskovik and Korça, and from the area of Filat toward Konispol and Saranda. In a second phase, an advance toward the North would be sought.
The document also foresees a powerful propaganda campaign in Europe and the USA, aimed at presenting the conflict as a matter of human rights and of defending the Greek minority.
It is clear that the efforts to destabilize southern Albania are no accident. They are part of a broader strategy, drawn up long ago and encouraged by chauvinist circles.
A. FRANGAJ
A schematic sketch of the deployment of Greece’s military forces on the southern frontier. It was published in the French newspaper “Le Monde”. These areas...