Liberation Army of Chameria
Encyclopedia
Liberation Army of Chameria (LAC, , UÇÇ) is a reported paramilitary formation in the northern Greek region of Epirus
. The organisation is reportedly linked to the Kosovo Liberation Army
and the National Liberation Army
, both ethnic Albanian
paramilitary organisations in Serbia
and the Republic of Macedonia
respectively.
In 2001, a video was released on the internet showing conceiled members of the UCC, the leader "Mehmeti" said that the Liberation Army would form in southern Albania/Epirus, to defend the ethnic Albanians who had "no rights": "circa 1 million Albanians in Northwestern Greece - Chameria
, live without any rights, the UCC will be their legitimate representative.".
When president Bush visited Tirana
on June 10, 2007, a delegation of the UCC on delivered a letter with nationalist requests. UCC delegations delivered letters to the US embassies in Rome
and Tirana.
As of 2001, the Greek police reported that the group consisted of approximately 30-40 Albanians. It does not have the official support of the Albanian government.
Epirus (periphery)
Epirus , formally the Epirus Region , is a geographical and administrative region in northwestern Greece. It borders the regions of West Macedonia and Thessaly to the east, West Greece to the south, the Ionian Sea and the Ionian Islands to the west and the country of Albania to the north. The...
. The organisation is reportedly linked to the Kosovo Liberation Army
Kosovo Liberation Army
The Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
and the National Liberation Army
National Liberation Army (Macedonia)
The National Liberation Army , also known as the Macedonian UÇK, was a militant organization that operated in the Republic of Macedonia in 2001 and was closely associated with the Kosovo Liberation Army ....
, both ethnic Albanian
Albanians
Albanians are a nation and ethnic group native to Albania and neighbouring countries. They speak the Albanian language. More than half of all Albanians live in Albania and Kosovo...
paramilitary organisations in Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
and the Republic of Macedonia
Republic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
respectively.
In 2001, a video was released on the internet showing conceiled members of the UCC, the leader "Mehmeti" said that the Liberation Army would form in southern Albania/Epirus, to defend the ethnic Albanians who had "no rights": "circa 1 million Albanians in Northwestern Greece - Chameria
Chameria
Chameria is a term used today mostly by Albanians for parts of the coastal region of Epirus in southern Albania and northwestern Greece It was also used by Greeks till the mid of 20th century and is frequently found in Greek literature. Today it is obsolete in Greek, surviving mainly in Greek folk...
, live without any rights, the UCC will be their legitimate representative.".
When president Bush visited Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
on June 10, 2007, a delegation of the UCC on delivered a letter with nationalist requests. UCC delegations delivered letters to the US embassies in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and Tirana.
As of 2001, the Greek police reported that the group consisted of approximately 30-40 Albanians. It does not have the official support of the Albanian government.
See also
- Albanian nationalismAlbanian nationalismAlbanian nationalism is a general grouping of nationalist ideas and concepts among ethnic Albanians that were first formed in the beginning of 19th century in what was called the Albanian National Awakening...
- Greater AlbaniaGreater AlbaniaGreater Albania or Ethnic Albania is an irredentist concept of lands outside the borders of the Republic of Albania that are considered part of a greater national homeland by most Albanians, based on the present-day or historical presence of Albanian populations in those areas...
- Kosovo Liberation ArmyKosovo Liberation ArmyThe Kosovo Liberation Army or KLA was a Kosovar Albanian paramilitary organization which sought the separation of Kosovo from Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the 1990s....
- National Liberation Army of MacedoniaNational Liberation Army (Macedonia)The National Liberation Army , also known as the Macedonian UÇK, was a militant organization that operated in the Republic of Macedonia in 2001 and was closely associated with the Kosovo Liberation Army ....
- Albanian National ArmyAlbanian National ArmyThe Albanian National Army , is an ethnic Albanian organization closely associated with the Kosovo Liberation Army — operating in the Republic of Macedonia and Kosovo...
- Greater Albania
- Northern Epirus Liberation FrontNorthern Epirus Liberation FrontThe Northern Epirus Liberation Front also called Northern Epirote Liberation Organization , was an ethnic Greek resistance group that operated in areas of southern Albania during the Italian and German occupation of Albania...