TIRANA: Macedonians Receive Phone Threats by Albanian Nationalists

[VMRO]

http://www.independent.mk/articles/10491/TIRANA+Macedonians+Receive+Phone+Threats+by+Albanian+Nationalists

Several Macedonian families living in Tirana received telephone threats and were harassed by members of the Albanian nationalist organization Balli Kombėtar, Telegraf.mk reports.

The calls were from hidden numbers and the callers knew exactly who they’re calling. Using offensive words like "infidels" and "Illyrida is not a dream, but a reality," "Serb or Macedonian – there’s no big difference," they were telling them that Albania is country only of the Albanians.

Macedonians and their families believe that the background of such threats is related to the events after the match between Serbia and Albania and the rallies in several cities in the region such as Tirana, Pristina, Gostivar and Struga in support of displaying the flag of Greater Albania in Belgrade.


People targeted with the calls did not want to speak publicly because they fear for their safety and because of the fact that such incidents took place before too but became more frequent after minorities in Albania showed its revolt against the new law on territorial division which abolishes most of their municipalities. They didn’t even report the case to the police.

Amid Gorani, Macedonian activist from Tirana who confirmed the threats says that such events should not surprise us as this group is known for its hostile attitude towards all non-Albanians. According to Gorani, nationalist organizations must accept that Albania should respect the rights of minorities if it wants to be European country.

“Consciousness is slowly evolving among ordinary Albanians that other nationalities and religions must be respected too but it does not apply to various extremist groups that have the support of part of the population. We must always raise our voices when our rights are violated as was the case with the territorial division,” Gorani explains.



Balli Kombėtar or National Front is nationalist organization that fought for Greater Albania and worked with fascists during World War Two. At the recent celebration of the national holidays Flag Day and Liberation Day, the Albanian National Museum refused to expose materials and documents offered by this organization.

Balli Kombėtar is also registered as political party in Albania and is in permanent "war" with the Albanian historians because of their demand to indicate in the history books and textbooks that Albania fought in the World War Two on the side of the fascist coalition.

Albanian politicians believe it’s unlikely that the request of the organization will be accepted due to the official Albanian politics that the country was on the side of antifascists in the World War Two.

Few years Balli Kombėtar began branches in Kosovo and Macedonia. They even formed the so called All-National Albanian Assembly in Tirana which will work on the Albanian issue in the region. One of its main activities is the preparation of a joint program that would help in recognizing and unifying single history of the Albanian people.