35 years of OMONIA – The historical course of the Northern Epirus organization

This year the political-social organization "CONCORD" of the National Greek Minority closes 35 years. 35 years of struggle for the consolidation and safeguarding of the Rights and Freedoms of the National Greek Minority, efforts to preserve and cultivate our national identity, upward trajectory, rallying of all Greeks within its fold, recognition inside and outside the country, cooperation based on the principles of equality, equity and respect for human rights.

At January 11, 1991 in Dervitsiani Dropolis, a group of determined and courageous intellectuals, born and raised in this place, took the historic step. They founded their own organization, the organization of E.E.M., making a wish come true concentrated in the hearts of all Greeks, of all those who were sacrificed, who were imprisoned and exiled, who were executed and disappeared without a trace, without a grave, without a name.

Από το πρωτόκολλο της Φλωρεντίας στην αυτόνομη Βόρειο Ήπειρο – Το χρονικό του Αυτονομιακού αγώνα

At February 22 the Minister of Justice of Albania delivers the decision of the establishment. The echo of the establishment spread like the Easter fragrance in the northern Epirus area, like a thunderbolt in the nationalist circles. For the first time the Northern Epirus they looked into each other's eyes. Within them the lessons of their ancestors, the love for their oppressed compatriots, the desire for a better tomorrow awakened. They shook hands, rallied and thundered for their own organization, their own voice, their own vision and symbol.

At February 24, with the presence of representatives from almost all the villages of Dropoli, the biggest celebration took place in Dervitsiani. Four days later in Georgoutsates the first peaceful rally is held. The joy is indescribable. The sea of people had filled the entire square. From the streets and houses, people were watching with joy and curiosity what would happen. The loudspeakers they sounded Greek, something unprecedented and courageous.

The founding of OMONIAS it was a necessity. It revived the hopes of the people of Northern Epirus, who had been long-suffering and oppressed by the dictatorial regime, for a better future that would fulfill and justify the desires of their grandparents and great-grandparents.

"OR "CONCORD" is established to fulfill a sacred ideal, to strengthen the national and democratic spirit, to defend by democratic means the national identity and the rights of the Greek Minority, wherever they may be, which are provided for in the new albanian Constitution and in the basic international documents on national minorities...", is mentioned in the first appeal of the Initiative Group for the establishment of Omonia.

"To truly be a genuine greek part of the land of our ancestors, with full communication with our nation, a bond of friendship between the Greek and Albanian people within the framework of the Inter-Balkan And European cooperation. to be free in the expression and development of our identity, our religion, our Language. free to enjoy our rights, to increase our prosperity, so that this word takes on its real meaning and not just to pronounce it" is also mentioned in the first official Announcement.

With these appeals, with these announcements, "OMONIA" rapidly spread throughout Albania and was able to rally all Greeks around it, rekindling their national spirit within them.

The March 31, 1991 by presidential decree it was decided to carry out the first free elections για την 12η Νομοθετική Σύνοδο της Λαϊκής Βουλής. Παρά την αναγνώριση της ΟΜΟΝΟΙΑΣ ως μια πολιτικο-κοινωνική οργάνωση, που βάσει του νόμου είχε το δικαίωμα να κατεβάζει δικούς της υποψηφίους στις Κοινοβουλευτικές εκλογές, ως εκλογικό υποκείμενο, εσκεμμένα οι αλβανικές Αρχές – ξεκινώντας από τον Πρόεδρο της Δημοκρατίας – που κουβαλούσαν την νοοτροπία του χθες, αλλά και πιο πολύ την εθνικιστική τους αντίληψη για την «Ομόνοια» και την Ε.Ε. Μειονότητα γενικά, πρόβαλλαν εμπόδια και μέχρι πιέσεις ώστε η «Ομόνοια» να μην αναγνωριστεί ως εκλογικό υποκείμενο, άρα να μην αντιπροσωπεύεται στην αλβανική Βουλή με τους δικούς της βουλευτές.

"...At the end of the meeting, the President Alia "He told me that OMONIA's demand to field its own candidates in the parliamentary elections should not be accepted. It is not at all unlikely, he added, that OMONIA will ask tomorrow to also fly the Greek flag," writes the Menelaos V. Dalianis, then a member of the Presidency Council, in his book "The days of the great upheaval" for this fact.

The Omonia delegation requested, in addition to the candidates for parliament in the provinces of the E.U. Minority, to also field candidates in the cities of Gjirokaster and Saranda. R. Mejdani, President of the Electoral Commission, announced that the candidates for MPs of OMONIA in the regions of the E.E. Minority are approved. The requirement to field candidates for MPs in the cities of Gjirokaster and Saranda rejected.

As a result of the rallying of all, of unity with the "OMONIA" compass, despite many obstacles, the first victories were consolidated. In the first free elections, which took place on March 31, 1991, the E. E. M. emerged five members of parliament, when Ramiz Alia himself lost in the traditional constituency, where the Communist Party of Albania had been founded and where his victory was considered a given.

This representation and this action of Omonia scared some and the January 1992 the electoral law is passed which does not allow Omonia as an electoral subject in the second pluralist elections, on March 22, 1992, thus removing the right of the SSM to be represented in the Albanian parliament.

Despite international pressure, the electoral law was not allowed to be changed, which excluded "OMONIA" as an electoral subject and deprived it of the possibility of becoming a party because it was not entitled to establish parties on national and religious bases.

At February 8 after great efforts, an application for the approval of a political party with the name was submitted to the Ministry of Justice of Albania. "Union for Human Rights" (KEAD), which will aim to contribute to the democratization of the political system and to ensure human rights and individual freedoms for all Albanian citizens, as defined by the Charter of International Law.

In this way, in February 24 the same year the Ministry of Justice approved the party KEAD which was supported by Omonia, the Greek population throughout Albania and the Vlachs and we elected 2 members of parliament. While in the local government elections of the same year, 3 prefects, two mayors, nine district governors and a great many prefectural, municipal and provincial councilors.

The memoranda, the statements, the protests, at regular intervals, inside and outside the country, showed the pulse of Omonia. They showed the seriousness, the insight, the fighting spirit. The culmination of these was the 1993 Resolution, with 12 requests for which meetings were held with all Albanian parties, the Albanian leadership and was sent to all bodies.

In these years of its existence, the "CONCORD" did not stop fighting for the fulfillment of the goals of its program. This struggle may have been sometimes more intense, sometimes milder, but it never stopped, because "UNIQUE" equals fight for our national rights.

Let us Remember: the huge rallies Of October 13, 1991 and February 23, 1992 in Saranda and August 10, 1992 in Gjirokastra, for the opening of Greek schools in the cities of Agioi Saranda, Delvinos and Argyrokastro and in the villages with a mixed population: Examilia, Metochi, Bistrissa and MTS. The abstention of students and teachers from classes, in all the schools of our Greek Community, the "illegal" schools that operated in the offices of Omonia of the three prefectures by volunteer teachers, the violence of the police against them and the fines to the parents, who faced it with their heads held high, emphasizing: "We, the Greeks of the city of Saranda, have unanimously decided that the boycott of classes will continue until Greek schools are opened in our city and in the villages with a mixed population...", as well as those of Delvinos and Gjirokaster.

Let us remember the greatest rally of 1993 as a protest against his deportation Archimandrite Chrysostomos Maidonis, which was of course also a blow against Orthodoxy.

The petitions and protests forced the Council of Europe and the OSCE to visit our site. In July 23, 1993 the European Parliament adopted a Resolution on Cultural and Religious Autonomy of the Greek-Speaking Minority in Albania.

At August 27, 1993 the People of Himariots they send the OSCE High Commissioner, Mr. Van de Stoel, a long letter with their demands, where the demand for nationality was highlighted, but the Albanian governments at each time are adamant, which we saw along the way with the recognition of the nationality of its inhabitants, the non-approval for the operation of a public school in the Greek language, the murder of Aristotle Gouma, the imprisonment of the elected Mayor Fredis Beleris.

The pressures from nationalist circles shaped an anti-Omonia, anti-Greek climate in the country. They prepared the ground, shaped the environment so that "Omonia" could be strangled, silenced, and dissolved.

They destroy the Omonia offices in Saranda and Gjirokastra, they burn the shops of Greek merchants, in order to deliver the big blow, the big shot at April 1994A shot that was aimed at "CONCORD", the E. E. M., Greece itself. A shot that woke up in the middle of the night from food and bed dozens of Greeks in Albania and led them to the detention centers. That put in the dock of the accused and tried 5 leaders of OMONIA with the accusation, as the late emphasized Thodoris Vezianis on the day of the trial: "Today we are in the dock and we are being tried not because we committed a crime, but simply because we are Greeks."

The 1997 "OMONIA" and Hellenism were once again severely tested by the furious uprising of the South. However, even at this moment, "OMONIA" showed political maturity by taking a responsible and clear position from the first hours to avoid the crisis. It tried to minimize the losses of such an unprecedented anarchy, and to pave the way for upgraded political participation.

The 2000, based on the protests of OMONIA, the mask of Albanian fraud and violence is shattered, the himara Folder. The International Observers' Report catapulted, for the first time, STATE DEPARTMENT refers to its report on the violation of the rights of the Greek-speaking minority. The Council of Europe points out: "In Himara, where a Greek-speaking minority lives, the end of the campaign was marked by nationalist rhetoric, and serious irregularities took place."

"Although there are no recent official statistics on the size of the various national communities, the Greek community is more well-organized and enjoys the greatest attention and support from abroad...", it is emphasized in the annual US State Department report, for ethnic and racial minorities.

"The organization "CONCORD", is the only vehicle for the Expression of Hellenism In Northern epirus. and my recommendation is that you all stay united, Tightly With "OMONIA". "OMONIA and your eyes", the legacy of blessed SebastianUnfortunately, in recent years we have seen a weakening of Omonia, a recession and a degradation.

Our permanent request was and must be: Let's upgrade this place and bring our people back.. This is what the times demand, what Northern Epirotic Hellenism demands, what our national duty demands. And this will be done with a new, unified, revolutionary "CONCORD".