Albania–Greece Relations

Albania–Greece relations are diplomatic relations between Albania and Greece. They are influenced by factors such as the presence of Albanian immigrants in Greece, the Greek minority in Albania, historical and cultural ties, and interactions between the governments of both countries.

Both Albania and Greece are members of international organizations such as the Council of Europe and NATO, and share political views about the Balkans and the rest of the world. During the 2004 EU-Western Balkans Summit of Thessaloniki, Greece proposed the "Agenda 2014," which promoted the integration of all Western Balkan states into the European Union. On June 24, 2014, under the Greek EU presidency, Albania was granted official EU candidate status, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of "Agenda 2014."

Greece ranks as Albania's 15th-largest foreign investor. Alongside Italy, Greece has supported Albanian Euro-Atlantic integration efforts, such as Albania's entry into NATO in 2009. Cooperation between the two governments and business sectors spans fields such as energy, military, tourism, and culture, with bilateral projects like the Trans Adriatic Pipeline and hydroelectric power plants being implemented. Greece has also been Albania's largest donor and the leading donor for the National Theater of Albania.

Modern diplomatic relations between the two countries were established in 1971 and are currently considered positive. Despite shared common traditions, culture, history, and inter-ethnic relations, diplomatic tensions relating to the Greek communities in Albania and vice versa continue to influence perceptions in both countries. Current issues in the diplomatic ties of the two NATO states include the unresolved status of war between Greece and Albania, which persists after the Greco-Italian War in 1940, and the human rights issues faced by the Greek minority in Albania. Contrary to media portrayal and despite these factors, Albanians and Greeks continue to maintain relations in their respective countries. This is facilitated by efforts from academics, cultural groups, NGOs, ethnic minorities, mixed families, and other non-state actors to foster closer and stronger social and political ties.

History

Both Albania and Greece claim autochthonous status in their respective countries and the wider Balkan region. This has led to a sense of shared kinship as well as contested claims throughout history.

Due to the close proximity of the two countries, European genetic research has shown that there is genetic similarity between Albanians and Greeks, as well as with other southern European populations, such as southern Italians and Cypriots.

Since the nineteenth century, both Albania and Greece have been separate nation-states. For at least twenty-two centuries prior, they belonged to the same state in different forms. The ancient Greek and Illyrian tribes that inhabited both countries were Indo-European groups that intermarried with pre-Hellenic populations after arriving in the Balkans about four thousand years ago. Multiple migration events occurred then, as they have more recently, between both countries and peoples. Greek colonies were established along the coast of Illyria, which corresponds to modern-day coastal Albania.

In the Middle Ages, Albanians, particularly those in the population group known as Arvanites, migrated across Greece. They established themselves throughout the country and played a role in the Greek War for Independence and the establishment of the modern Greek state. Other Christian Albanians took part in the Greek struggle against the Ottoman Empire.

After the Albanian Declaration of Independence was made in 1912, the land division between Albania and Greece was resolved under the influence of the Great Powers (Austria-Hungary and Italy) with the Florence Protocol. Relations did not improve until the 1939 occupation of Albania by Italy. Greek and Albanian forces came into conflict during the Greco-Italian War. During the Axis Occupation of Greece, the Greek and Albanian resistance groups were in close contact, exchanging information about the Nazi occupation forces.

The People's Socialist Republic of Albania, an ally of the Soviet Union, was involved in the Greek Civil War (1946–1949) by supporting the communist-led Greek Democratic Army. Leskovik, in southern Albania, became its headquarters for some time. Several invasions were mounted from Albanian soil into the Greek region of Grammos, with communist guerrillas retreating to Albania after each operation. Negotiations leading up to the re-establishment of full diplomatic relations started in 1953, and a trade agreement was reached in Paris in 1966. However, the trade agreement was not implemented due to the absence of a payment agreement. In 1970, a new trade agreement was also reached in Paris, leading to the establishment of telegraphic and telephone lines, the opening of trade bureaus in Athens and Tirana, and the first truck with Albanian goods after World War II reaching Greece over Yugoslavia in early April of the same year. Following a lapse lasting more than 30 years, the two countries re-established diplomatic relations on May 6, 1971, in a period when economic cooperation and strategy led Enver Hoxha and the right-wing Greek military junta of 1967–1974 to explore paths of cooperation.

Confederation aspirations

During the Ottoman period, there were numerous discussions, research, and attempts by Albanians and Greeks to form a confederation. In the 19th century, plans were made to create a Greek-Albanian confederation, reviving earlier plans from the 18th century. In 1907, a special protocol and memorandum of understanding were signed by Neoklis Kazazis and Ismail Qemali, the first prime minister of Albania.

Arvanite author Aristides Kollias, in his book ''The Proclamation of the Association of Arvanites'', states that "from 1881 to 1907, sustained efforts and repeated consultations between Greeks and Albanians were made to create a Greek-Albanian state."

In his book ''Greece and Albania in the Early 20th Century'' (1995), Thanos Paleologos-Anagnostopoulos wrote that Ismail Qemali, a philhellene, collaborated with numerous Greek politicians and lobbyists, including Arvanite leaders, on a possible Greek-Albanian federation. This federation was envisioned as one that "maintains the national and religious independence of the two peoples."

Neoklis Kazazis viewed this federation as a means for Greece to counter Italian influence in the region.

1990s

Following the collapse of communism in Albania in 1992, an influx of economic refugees and immigrants from Albania and other former Communist countries—including Bulgaria, Georgia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine—arrived in Greece. Most of these individuals entered Greece as illegal immigrants seeking employment. Albanians in Greece constitute 60–65% of the total immigrant population. As per the 2001 census, there are officially 443,550 Albanian citizens residing in Greece.

In the 1990s, Greece favored and supported Fatos Nano, an Orthodox Christian, as the Albanian leader over Sali Berisha, a Muslim. Nano was perceived as more amenable to Greek interests. pp. 80–81. "Greece's favorite candidate in these elections was clearly MR. Nano. As emerges from the interview material, he –unlike Berisha- was held in high esteem by the Greek side. It should not escape notice that Nano was by origin Orthodox Christian from Southern Albania, whereas Berisha was a northern Muslim... Greece's favour towards Nano was clearly demonstrated in June when he was allowed to speak to a crowd of Albanian citizens at a pre-election rally in one of Athens' central squares. The police did not interfere and no arrests of illegal immigrants were made." During the Albanian Rebellion of 1997, Greece took part in Operation Alba