| North Epirus: Although North Epirus is by far one of the oldest lands of the Greeks nowadays is under the Albanian yoke. The tragedy of North Epirus starts in the beggining of the 20th Century. During the Balcan Wars (1912-13) the Greek Army under the leadership of KING KONSTANTINOS, won the Ottoman forces and liberated the 70% of the territory of North Epirus. Old Greek cities such us Argyrokastro, Tepeleni and Delvino were again coloured by the blue-white flag. Unfortunatelly the "Big Powers" had a different plan, so in May 1913, with the "CONVENTION OF LONDON", they decided to take under their control the regions of North Epirus and Albania. The Greek Army was forced by law to withdraw, and thousands hundreds Greeks of North Epirus started to feel again unprotected. Moreover in July 1913, with the "PROTOCOL OF FLORENCE" the "Big Powers" (G.Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Russia, Austro-Hungarian Emp.) created the Kingdom of Albania, and illegitimately incorporated North Epirus on it. Although the 90% of the population of North Epirus was of Greek origin and Cristian Orthodox dogma.In January 1914 the "Protocol of Florence" came in force, and together came the first organized reactions by the North Epirotians. In the region of Heimara, on 9th of February 1914, Spyros Milios declared the Struggle against the Albanians. On 12th of February 1914 GEORGIOS ZOGRAFOS from Argyrokastro was diclared leader of the Autonomy Struggle, and an revolutionary goverment was formed. On 16th of February the cities of Agioi Saranta and Delvino entered the Struggle. On 17th of February 1914 in the city of Argyrokastro, the Autonomy was diclared officialy, and the Greek flag with the bicipetal eagle was raised. On March of 1914, serious battles took place in Premeti. The forces of the North Epirotians won and the Greek flag was raised there also. On April 1914, the Autonomy forces were controlling the 80% of North Epirus, so the Albanian Army was obliged to withdraw in the Albanian mainland. The Albanian goverment shocked by the success of the North Epirotians asked for an international mediatization uppon the matter. |
