In 1930, during the general census of the population of Albania, the country's Ministry of Interior issued a circular through which it ordered the change of surnames of Albanian citizens that referred to foreign nationality.
According to the circular, changes should be encouraged in other forms as well, as presented in the document.
He wrote to us about this subject the Chimaera doctor mr. Evryviadis Goros the following article:
How Albania changed the personal data of Albanian citizens with foreign nationality.
A "logical" circular for a country like ours.
Such a country, small, with a heterogeneous population, cannot help but live in the world of racism and chauvinism, it needs education and a big heart to accept coexistence with other nationalities, and above all when you don't know, well, well your origins...
Yes. This circular is racist and chauvinistic. It's the same as if tomorrow, the Minister of the Interior, told you: "Listen, you, your father's name will not be Giovanni, but Mustafa, a genuine Albanian! Whether you want it or not!"
It would have been fairer if the minister had also taken your mom's opinion...
We do not know if this circular was accepted by all the people, but when I was a student at the Medical University, in 1952, my professor, the esteemed Skodranos, surgeon IUL KOLIKI, had not changed the "qi" and the surname, he did not write it "Kolai!", but as it should be, KOLIQI! (KOLIKI!)
This circular, although it is from 1930, has several similarities with the decision of the Albanian government during the last population census in 2011, to impose a fine of 100,000 lek (820€) on those citizens who declared a nationality other than that registered in the registry office of their place of birth.
Miracles from Wonderland!!!
The following is the content of the circular in Greek translation:
KINGDOM OF ALBANIA – MINISTRY OF INTERIOR – CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT
Tirana, 6/6/1930
Although during the time of the Austro-Hungarian occupation, the surnames of Albanian citizens, which ended with the syllables "it, vi, os, ηs, aki, δίs", had disappeared, changing to "ai, i, a", in later years, most of them were not slow to reattach these endings.
Considering that such endings do not coincide with the etymology of names in our language and do not match grammatical rules, we kindly ask you to order the following measures to be taken:
- During the population census, employees should change their last names ending in "its, viits, is, os, aki, pullos, ev, of" to endings "ai, i, a", e.g. Dervisovic = Dervishai, Miltiadis = Miltai, Dimitriadis = Dimitrai.
- The new surnames should be used in passports, identity cards, birth, marriage, death certificates and other registers.
- Remove all store signs with foreign endings and be replaced.
- In financial and official transactions, surnames with foreign endings should not be used.
- All government offices and law firms should be informed not to accept applications from citizens with such surnames.
- All schools should immediately change the endings on school documents.
We deem it unnecessary to remind you of the obligation to change foreign endings, for the good of national conscience.
We remind you once again that we wish the above measures to be implemented pleasantly, without creating immediate dissatisfaction.
We hope that within a short period of time, we will have the desired results.
H.E. MINISTER OF INTERIOR – PRIME MINISTRY
For information and with the request to order all Ministries and relevant services.
NOTE: Measures have been taken to safeguard the circular.
