Liberation Army of Chameria (LAC, sq, Ushtria Çlirimtare e Çamërisë, UÇÇ) is a reported paramilitary formation in the northwestern Greek region of
Epirus
sq, Epiri rup, Epiru
, native_name_lang =
, settlement_type = Historical region
, image_map = Epirus antiquus tabula.jpg
, map_alt =
, map_caption = Map of ancient Epirus by Heinrich ...
.
[Gregory R. Copley,THE ROAD TO PEACE IN THE BALKANS IS PAVED WITH BAD INTENTIONS,Washington, DC, June 27, 2007]
,"...an Albanian sponsored group, the UCC, seeking secession for part of Greece, Epirus, known historically also as Chameria (In Albanian)... ...the UCC was formed by the KLA and is in fact a part of the quest for a “Greater Albania”... ...A delegation of the UCC on June 10, 2007, delivered a letter to President Bush during his visit to Tirana, referring to the existence of an Albanian minority in Western Greece (Epirus) and the UCC requested recognition of the “genocide of the Albanian Chamerians” allegedly conducted by the Greeks in the end of World War II, and to recognize “the right of the people to return to their homes in Greece from where they were expelled”, and “return their estate that was attached” etc... ...The UCC, meanwhile, has been building its support base with demonstrations and events leading toward today — June 27, 2007 — the date that the Albanian Parliament in 1994 called the “Chameria national anniversary”.
In 2001, a video was released on the internet showing concealed members of the UCC, the leader "Mehmeti" said that the Liberation Army would form in southern Albania, to defend the ethnic Albanians who had "no rights": "circa 1 million Albanians in Northwestern Greece -
Chameria
Chameria ( sq, Çamëria; el, Τσαμουριά, ''Tsamouriá''; tr, Çamlık) is a term used today mostly by Albanians to refer to parts of the coastal region of Epirus in southern Albania and Greece, traditionally associated with the Alban ...
, live without any rights, the UCC will be their legitimate representative."
When U.S. President George W. Bush visited
Tirana
Tirana ( , ; aln, Tirona) is the capital and largest city of Albania. It is located in the centre of the country, enclosed by mountains and hills with Dajti rising to the east and a slight valley to the northwest overlooking the Adriatic Sea ...
on June 10, 2007, a delegation of the UCC on delivered a letter with nationalist requests. UCC delegations delivered letters to the U.S. embassies in Rome and Tirana.
[
In 2001, the Greek police reported that the group consisted of approximately 30-40 Albanians. It does not have the official support of the Albanian government.]
See also
* Albanian nationalism
Albanian nationalism is a general grouping of nationalist ideas and concepts generated by ethnic Albanians that were first formed in the 19th century during the Albanian National Awakening ( sq, Rilindja). Albanian nationalism is also associated w ...
** Greater Albania
Greater Albania is an irredentist and nationalist concept that seeks to unify the lands that many Albanians consider to form their national homeland. It is based on claims on the present-day or historical presence of Albanian populations in th ...
** Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA; , UÇK) was an ethnic Albanian separatist militia that sought the separation of Kosovo, the vast majority of which is inhabited by Albanians, from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and Serbia during the ...
** National Liberation Army of Macedonia
** Albanian National Army
The Albanian National Army (ANA; sq, Armata Kombëtare Shqiptare, AKSh), is an Albanian paramilitary organization which operates in North Macedonia, Serbia and Kosovo. The group opposes the Ohrid Framework Agreement which ended the 2001 insurg ...
* Northern Epirus Liberation Front
The Northern Epirus Liberation Front ( el, Μέτωπο Απελευθέρωσης Βορείου Ηπείρου (ΜΑΒΗ), link=no, ''Métopo Apelefthérosis Voreíou Ipeírou'' (MAVI)) also called the Northern Epirote Liberation Organization ...
References
External links
Media Monitors - More signs NATO is behind ethnic Albanian attacks on Macedonia
{{Cham Albanians
Albanian militant groups
Albanian separatism
Paramilitary organizations based in Greece
Chameria