President Obama Congratulates Albanians on Albania's National Day

Press Statement

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State

Washington, DC

November 25, 2011

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I am delighted to congratulate the people of Albania as you celebrate your Independence Day this November 28.

Our two countries share a long history of friendship and cooperation. Today, we are strengthening this partnership as we work side by side in NATO and encourage stability in the region and around the world. We continue to support Albania’s integration into the European Union and we encourage Albania’s political leadership to work together to ensure their country moves forward. The Albanian people want a transparent government, accountable leadership, and strong democratic institutions that will help build a prosperous and secure future. The United States will continue to stand firmly with the people of Albania as we work together to achieve these goals.
As you celebrate this special day, know that the United States is a partner and friend. I wish all the people of Albania the very best and look forward to deepening our partnership in the years to come.

PRN: 2011/2009

Greqia tronditet nga çështja Çame, universiteti “Kean” konferencë shkencore

Mediat elektronike greke i janë referuar konferencës shkencore të mbajtur në universitetin amerikan “Kean”, rreth çështjes Çame.

Ato nuk fshehin befasinë e tyre, ndaj reagimeve të fundit nga ana e shqiptarëve për ta kthyer këtë çështje në epiqendër të vëmendjes botërore. Mediat greke, akuzojnë qeverinë e tyre dhe e fajësojnë atë, përsa i përket “gjumit” të rëndë që ajo fle lidhur me këtë çështje.

Sipas tyre: “Nuk është e mundur që pala shqiptare ta ndjekë deri matanë atlantikut çështjen Çame, si dhe të organizojë deri dhe konferenca ‘shkencore’ për këtë çështje delikate dhe historinë e saj në Universitetin “Kean” të Amerikës. Pasi për ne, ajo është inekzistente, nuk ekziston si problem. Po qeveria greke çfarë ka bërë dhe çfarë masash duhet të marrë lidhur me këtë çështje?”.
Gjithashtu, ato analizojnë tepër të shqetësuara deklaratën dhe kërkesat e parashtruara nga ana e shqiptarëve si dhe deklarimeve të kryetarit të partisë së PDIU-s, Tahir Muhedini, ku ky i fundit ka deklaruar: “Ne presim që Greqia të kërkojë njëlloj ndjese për atë që ka bërë. Ne presim që të ketë një zgjidhje graduale pajtuese për çështjen çame. Pra një ligj që të parashikojë afate për kompensime, riatdhesime të atyre që dëshirojnë, etj, madje dhe në përputhje me ligjet greke të riatdhesimit të emigrantëve politikë që u miratuan në vitet 70-80. Sot ne kemi instrumenta në dorë për të patur sukses në kërkesat tona. Ne kemi një parti politike. Ne kushtëzojmë qeverisjen në vend. Ne kemi krijuar shpresë tek popullsia jonë. Ne I kemi  treguar të gjithë popullit shqiptar, të rinjve se plaga e popullsisë çame kullon ende gjak. Ndaj, ne besojmë se do ketë zgjidhje problemi çam. Na duhet ndihma juaj dhe besojmë shumë në dituritë tuaja. Nuk mund të mbetet pa zgjidhje, me këto ligje ndërkombëtare, një problem si yni. E drejta vonon, por nuk mënon thotë populli shqiptar.”, tha z. Muhedini.
Sipas mediave greke është e pa pranueshme që Muhedini të kërkojë: “Ne presim që të ketë një zgjidhje graduale pajtuese për çështjen çame. Pra një ligj që të parashikojë afate për kompensime, riatdhesime të atyre që dëshirojnë, etj, madje dhe në përputhje me ligjet greke të riatdhesimit të emigrantëve politikë që u miratuan në vitet 70-80”, pasi ato i konsiderojnë këto deklamime si ultimatum ndaj Greqisë, që kjo e fundit të pranojë kërkesat e shqiptarëve, t’i kompensoj ata dhe të pranoj riatdhesimin e tyre.
Për gazetarët grek, mbajtja e kësaj konference në nivel shkencor dhe akademik në universitetin Amerikan, përbën një problem madhor dhe ndoshta kombëtar për Greqinë, pasi në të morën pjesë shumë figura të shquara, ku dalloi ajo e gazetarit të famshëm Anglez, njëkohësisht dhe lektor në Akademinë Mbretërore të Mbrojtjes, James Pettifer. Gjithashtu në këtë konferencë morën pjesë dhe antarë të kryesisë së Institutit Ndërkombëtar të Drejtave të Njeriut.

AAOC 1st International Conference

We have the honor to inform you about the first international conference organized by the Albanian American Organization Chameria and Kean University’s Human Rights Institute held in New Jersey, USA on November 12, 2011 at Kean University. The theme of the conference is:

Chameria Issue: International Perspectives and Insights for a Peaceful Resolution

AAOC's First International Conference on Chameria
... Saturday, November 12, 2011

The post-WWII and post-Cold War period have been a period of ethnic conflict, which, amongst other things has manifested itself in the ways of wars and continuous tensions in Southeastern Europe. After Kosovo's independence, how has the continuous presence of Chameria issue affected the regional peace in the region, and what can be done to achieve a peaceful solution to the ethnic Albanians issue in the Balkans? Abstracts or paper drafts are welcomed on topics that are specific or relevant to the Chameria issue or other ethnic minorities in Greece, and Greek-Albanian relations in general. Detailed program information will be published soon.

All inquiries regarding conference details should be sent to: chameriaorganization@gmail.com.

For Questions and Directions you may contact AAOC administrators:
Endri Merxhushi at 1-973-449-7172
Sali Bollati at 1-347-268-4388

Special guest panelists will include Prof. James Pettifer from the UK, member of the Oxford University History Faculty & St Cross College and Stanley J. Seeger Research Fellow at Princeton University; Prof. Sali Bollati, and other international academics and representatives.

You are welcome to participate in this educational and cultural event where topics of ethnic conflict and justice will bring awareness to the American and Albanian people and the international arena

Admission to the event is free.

Kean University
University Center Theatre Hall
11 am - 2:00 pm.
1000 Morris Avenue
Union, New Jersey 07083

AAOC Memorandum to UN, NATO, OSCE, EUROPEAN COUNCIL AND USA

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:                  UN Secretary General

                        President of the European Council 

                        N.A.T.O. Secretary General

                        O.S.C.E. Secretary General

                        U.S. State Department                                               

FROM:            Albanian American Organization Chameria

DATE:              October 11, 2011

RE:                  Greece’s Threats on Albania, also a NATO Member

DATE:              October 11, 2011

RE:                  Greece’s Threats on Albania, also a NATO Member

We as directors of the Albanian American Organization Chameria (AAOC), a non-profit organization incorporated and organized in the United States of America with much respect and firm trust in the implementation of international law in your previous actions, turn to you for an issue that especially concerns us, with the belief that only through you we can find a just and suitable solution to our human rights issue.

  Our organization as an N.G.O. always refers to established legislation by preserving the American and European democratic values as well as the traditions inherited from our forefathers’ birthplace, Chameria. Ethnic Albanian Chams presently reside in the Republic of Albania and elsewhere in the world. We originate from the Chameria region (currently northwestern Greece). AAOC operates in five U.S. states and we conduct educational and awareness raising activities to maintain and revive our ethnic Albanian culture, traditions and language.

  Our concerns arise from several recent provocative actions of the Greek political officials that challenge the territorial integrity of the Albanian State. More specifically, the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Greece are legally in a state of war which was proclaimed by Greece in 1940 as Law 2636/1940.[1]. After a decree was issued in 1987 to abolish this law, the Greek Parliament did not ratify it. To date this law has not been abolished by the Republic of Greece. 

  What is particularly significant to the Balkans peace is that both Greece and Albania are NATO members. Greece has joined NATO in 1951 and Albania has joined NATO in 2009. On the other hand, the Government of Greece continues to meddle in Albania’s internal affairs by raising expansionist claims against Albania’s sovereign territories in its political arenas and its educational system funded partly by European taxpayers’ money. 

  We have noted many Greek organizations in the U.S., Europe, Australia, along with the relevant ministries of the Republic of Greece raise deliberate claims for the territorial and maritime annexation of the southern part of the Republic of Albania. These actions are in conflict with the good, yet fragile neighborly relations between Albania and Greece. Furthermore, several Greek terrorist organizations as MAVI, add to the inter-regional provocations against Albanian territories without any reaction from Greek officials. Moreover, diplomatic representatives of the Greek state like Mr. Ikonomou, Consul of Greece, officially claim that the city of Korce in Albania is historically a Greek city and its citizens should be recorded as Greek and not as Albanian in the current census. For this purpose, similar officials also refer to South Albania as “Northern Epirus”.[2]  They refer to “Epirus” as a Greek region, at a time when this label belonged to a Roman administrative division dating 2.000 years ago. Epirus has been continuously inhabited by a majority of Albanians as many Greek and international historians will confirm this fact. Although the Greek state is maintained by the loaned funds of European taxpayers, it continues to pay special ‘pensions’ of over 300 Euros monthly to thousands of ethnic Albanian citizens on the condition they falsely declare themselves as ethnic Greeks. To add more fuel to the fire, the Greek parliamentary party LAOS recently officially declared by demanding that southern Albania be annexed to Greece.[3]

   Lately several incidents have occurred that are not only discriminatory but also illegal for the movement of Greek citizens of Albanian nationality. Although the European Council generously granted Albanian citizens the right to travel without visas within the Schengen area, Greek authorities have not allowed Albanian-born Greek citizens of Chameria, to enter freely there to see the graves and the lands of their ancestors. The Greek Consulate in Tirana has always denied issuing entry visas to Albanians born in Greece. These circumstances create a negative precedent for the preservation of territorial integrity in the region after Greece opens the way for conflict between two NATO members. 
  
  These issues make it impossible for us to remain indifferent, but to turn to you with more respect and trust to help these two countries stop these provocations that do not serve well to the European community. Ethnic Albanians of Chameria have suffered a brutal genocide, have been ethnically cleansed from their ancestral lands, and persecuted by the communist regime. Nevertheless, we still want to live in peace among the Greek people. That is why Albanians and Greeks as neighbors should peacefully solve legally inherited issues. We do not want to escalate to the point where scholars from the Center for Conflict Resolution Studies at the UK Ministry of Defense caution: "The Chams will soon have exhausted all channels to find a peaceful solution to their demands. Dialogue between Tirana, Athens, Cham representatives and international mediators to resolve the issue is urgently needed in order to avoid further straining relations between Albania and Greece, and risking the issue being hijacked by radicals”.[4]

 

Finally, the republics of Albania and Greece deny the rights of 500.000 Chams living in both countries. We believe that peace and stability in the Balkans will be achieved if Greece effectively and completely puts an end to its dated nationalistic claims and revokes the 1940 legislation on the Status of War with Albania. We therefore kindly demand an appropriate solution to this issue through independent mediation.

Respectfully submitted, 

Albanian American Organization Chameria-AAOC

---

[1] Greek Kingdom Government Journal, Nr. 379, Date 10.11.1940, Law 2636.1940.

[2] http://www.mia.com.mk/default.aspx?vId=81094715&lId=2

[3] http://www.balkanweb.com/bw_lajme2.php?IDNotizia=69214&NomeCategoria=rajoni&Titolo=greqi-laos-kerkon-autonomine-e-vorio-epirit&IDCategoria=2687

[4] www.da.mod.uk/colleges/arag/document-listings/.../07(01)MV.pdf

NJË VIZITË ÇAMËRISË SIME

(Nga shqetësimi në dhimbje, nga dhimbja në shpresë …) 


U nisa herët nga Kosturi,
... në Çamëri, ëndërra më shpuri,
thash, po ndalem në Margëlliq,
kam ca vëllëzër e kam ca miq!

Mendova, do më presin Çaparët,
siç e kanë adet shqiptarët,
por, gjeta të përmbysura magje,
rrafsh me tokë, kulmet mbi pragje!

Ah, medet, ç´pashë o Hyji im,
zemra u mbush zeher, pelim,
n´dëshprim, nisa këngën në gjuhë Nëne,
këngës m´i erdhi një erë gjëme!

Mora rrugën për në Janinë,
desha t´vizitoj Pashanë, Alinë,
pyeta se ku e ka Kalanë,
a do shoh Vasiliqinë, Pashanë?!

Shkova në Oborr t´Lavdisë,
ai që i bëri tërmet Perandorisë,
kot qesh nisur dhe kot shkova,
Ali Pashanë dot s´e takova!

Nuk dëgjova asnjë fjalë shqipe,
në Kështjellën përballë Liqeni,
gjurmëve t´kohës Ilirike,
tash n´greqisht iu shkrua refreni!

Ndjeva dhimbje n´krahëror,
rrënjët e mia ishin zh´bërë,
një Copë Lavdi e Trungut Arbëror,
ishte prerë keq me gërshërë!

Ah, mendova unë i ngrati,
të marr rrugën kah Filati,
po dhe atje, sytë çfarë më panë,
derdha lot për atë copë Vatan!

Ishin ndërruar emra, gjuhë, çka mos...
nuk tymonte më Oxhak në Shqip,
s´di ku mbeti gjithë ai Epos,
i Trungut tim t´lashtë Ilirik?!

Koka më vlonte, gjaku ndezë,
mora rrugën për në Prevezë,
ndoshta aty do gjej Picarët,
Kollokotronët apo Çaparët?!

Kisha hy n´mendime t´thella,
kur, para m´del Kiço Xhavella,
me një ngërdheshje në ironi,
m´thot: Mirë se erdhe në Greqi!

Ah, i thom, o farë e shitur,
ti për rrënjët, kurrë s´ke ditur,
po ta kisha Markon gjallë,
ty e Karaiskaq do ju kish kallë!

Mu mbush zemra plot maraz,
thash, t´kërkoj Tahir Abaz,
s´gjeta Tahir e as ushtri,
po ku i le o Nënë Çamëri?!

E shkretë përpara më doli Arta,
tashmë të gjitha i kisha t´qarta,
nuk pashë dot as Bubulinë,
rrafsh me tokë i bënë shtëpinë!

Loti i vakët më shkoi përfaqe,
s´flitej shqip më n´ato konaqe,
ku janë çamët, kah i shpuan,
s´ka djepa as varre, vallë kah shkuan?!

S'pashë më n´shqip tabela as targa,
si e vdekur më dukej Parga,
n´Gumenicë e n´Paramithi,
nuk i vinte më erë Çamëri!

Ev! Thash po iki për në shtëpi,
para më doli një djalë i ri,
më buzëqeshi ashtu qeltas,
dy tri fjalë mi tha krejt fshehtas:

- Xhaxhi, të qoftë rruga e mbarë,
t´falemnderit për këtë vizitë,
mos harro, edhe ne jem shqiptarë,
që s´guxuam të t´flasim shqip!

Kujdes t´lutem, po t´përcjellin,
ca langonjë që i vrau zezona,
frikë e ankth duan të mbjellin,
që t´mohojmë ne rrënjët tona!

Pasha Nderin e Bubulinës,
pasha trimërinë e Marko Boçarit,
kurrë në gjunj s´i bie Athinës,
se jam Nip i Ahmet Çaparit!

Ma thonë emrin: Marko Pirro,
kështu dëshironin t´partë e mi,
babai, ndjesë pastë, më tha: Biro,
Çamëria është Shqipëri!

Eh, i thash, xhaxhai të pastë,
tash po kthehem me t´reja shpresa,
s´jeni vetëm, do jemi t´gjithë bashkë,
se përndryshe, do na vret Besa!!!

Me sy hapur po ëndërroja,
për Çamërinë dhe çamët e mi,
nga dhimbja n´shpirt, po lotoja,
a do vi ajo ditë, o Nënë Shqipëri?!



Mentor Thaqi VS., 22.09.2011

Greece's Unwanted Citizens are now Citizens-What about the Chams?

Posted on 04 September 2011 by Apostolos Papapostolou

 

Jews who left Greece during World War II can have their citizenship reinstated after the passage of a new law.
The Greek government on Sept. 2 passed an amendment to a new foreign resident law, which will automatically reinstate Greek citizenship for all Jews that were born in or before 1945.
The number of Greek Jews affected by the amendment is likely no more than 300-350, according to reports.
Their descendants, although eligible, will not receive citizenship automatically. They will have to apply and if they meet the proper criteria will receive their Greek passports and citizenship.
The amendment comes after 65 years of appeals, applications and behind-the-scenes efforts by the Greek Jewish community.
The problem was created during and after WWII. During the war a number of Jews were able to escape to Turkey where the Greek consular officer tried to persuade them to join the Greek Army in Egypt. Those who refused and wanted to reach Palestine were stripped of their citizenship.
Another group of Greek Jews fought with the communist partisans’ organization against the Nazis. After WWII and during the civil war in Greece from 1946-1951, the members were hunted down as communists and either executed, imprisoned or exiled in concentration camps that mirrored the Russian gulags. In order to avoid that fate, many Jews accepted the government’s offer to go to Palestine and be stripped of their citizenship.
During the debate in the Judicial Committee of the Greek parliament, Justice Minister Harry Kastanidis said “it is an honor to Greece [to have these people requesting their citizenship back], an honor that Greece would be obligated to reinstate their citizenship no questions asked.”

The far-right LAOS Party fought against the amendment, saying: “The law will raise many serious issues from other ethnic groups, a thing we of course all deprecate, such as Bulgarians, Muslims, Armenians, Albanians, Skopje, and maybe even Chams (a sub-group of Albanians who originally resided in the coastal region of Epirus in north-western Greece, an area known among Albanians as Chameria.) What will you do then?”
As expected the communist party was also against the amendment, saying that this was one step closer to forming close ties with Israel in order to further the “imperialistic plans regarding the natural gas reserves.”

 http://greece.greekreporter.com/2011/09/04/greek-jews%E2%80%99-citizenship-reinstated/
 

Krenar

Ndjehem shumë krenar që jam nga Shqipëria
Linda shqiptar,
kam gjuhën e traditat e mia
Na nënshtruan por s'na zhdukën
sa e sa perandorira

Malësia, Molla Kuqe, Ilirida e Çamëria
Gjithë Jemi Nje,
Jo nuk shitet kombësia, nuk vdes shqiptaria
Kemi qenë, jemi dhe do të jemi
e tëra Iliria.....

Interview with a witness of Genocide in Chameria

Interview with a witness of Crimes in Chameria, Mehmet Hima.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5957131311704011373

Summer School from Institute of Chameria Studies

Shkolla Verore 2011

Shkolla Verore, Ulqin 2011.

Insituti i Studimeve per Camerine per te katertin vit radhazi me mbeshtetjen e nje grup profesoresh te nderuar organizon shkollen verore kushtuar problemeve aktuale te Ceshtjes Came si nje ceshtje e rendesishme ne rajonin e Ballkanit.
Ne kuader te trajtimit te kesaj ceshtjeje si nje ceshtje qe nuk i perket vetem popullsise se krahines se Camerise por te gjithe kombit shqiptar, nga data 28-31 Gusht 2011 zhvillohet ne qytetin
historik te Ulqinit  Shkolla Verore me pjesemarrjen e studenteve te viteve 4-5 si dhe master kushtuar problemeve aktuale te Çeshtjes Çame.

INFO – Chameria-Summer-School-2011-Ulcinj.pdf

Per pjesemarrjen ne te jeni te lutur te aplikoni online ne kete faqe interneti, duke derguar nje CV dhe
motivimin tuaj ne kontaktet e meposhtme:
Email: gjxhafa@gmail.com
Tel: +355 4 2272091
Mob: +355 67 20 03283

Djale Cam

Do martonem t'ia bej bam se me thone djale cam,
per nje vajze gjeraqine
do gjezdis gjithe Camerine
Do nisem me kal te bardhe te marr nuse ne Sajadhe
zemren time se cma mori kjo vajza nga Grikohori