Forced Name Changes of Albanians in Greece: Prime Minister Rama Denounces it as a "Stain of Shame" in the History of Democratic Europe.
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| Rama during his speech in front of the Albanians in Milan, May 26, 2024, screenshot of the video posted on his Facebook profileFacebook profile |
During a speech in Milan, where he met with the Albanian community living and working in Italy, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama addressed the issue of the forced name changes of Albanians in Greece. He condemned this practice, labeling it a stain of shame in the history of democratic Europe.
Prime Minister Rama did not hesitate to highlight the slow pace of the European Union's enlargement process, comparing it to the speed of a turtle navigating through bureaucratic channels. He emphasized that while the EU has taken an inordinately long time to expand, recent geopolitical developments, such as Russian aggression, underscore the urgent need for European unity through democratic means.
"While the European Union dragged its feet for thousands of years with so-called enlargement, it took Russian tsarism to spark the first expansionist war in 77 years, making Europe realize that it must unite sooner rather than later through the bridges of democracy and not expand at a turtle's pace through bureaucratic channels," Rama stated.
Addressing the Albanian diaspora in Italy, Rama pointed out that they did not have to change their names and identities, unlike their compatriots in Greece who were subjected to this tragic and reprehensible practice. "You, Albanians of Italy, did not have to change your names and identities as tragically happened to hundreds and thousands of our brothers and sisters in Greece for one single and despicable reason, which we all know and which will remain a stain of shame in the history of democratic Europe," Rama expressed. He acknowledged, however, that some Albanians in Italy chose to change their names voluntarily due to the prejudices associated with being Albanian.
Rama's remarks underscore the deep scars left by the forced assimilation policies in Greece and the ongoing struggles for recognition and respect faced by Albanians across Europe. His speech served as a reminder of the need for greater solidarity and understanding within the European Union, particularly in addressing historical injustices and promoting genuine integration.