Chameria is a term predominantly used by Albanians to describe parts of the coastal region of Epirus in southern Albania and Greece, traditionally associated with the Albanian ethnic subgroup known as the Chams. The opening of State Security files from the communist era (1945–1991) is set to shed light on the history of Chameria during this period. The patriotic association "Çamëria" and the Authority for Information on the Former State Security Files have signed an agreement to disclose all files pertaining to Chameria.
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| Map showing the boundaries of Chameria as described by Robert Elsie; The regions of contemporary Greece inhabited by Albanians at the beginning of the 20th century as well as the Ottoman Vilayet of Ioannina in the 20th century |
“The act of opening the Chameria files today, following the approval of the resolution and the establishment of the monumental cemeteries in Kllogjer, is a significant step towards achieving long-missing transparency. For relevant Albanian state institutions, it is crucial that the engagement goes beyond the authority. All entities, starting from the Academy of Sciences to history books, must uncover the truths about Chameria and its Albanian population,” stated Shpëtim Idrizi, chairman of the PDIU.
"Firstly, these documents provide new and impartial historical evidence regarding the events that occurred during and after World War II, helping to clarify facts and occurrences. This is a vital step towards the fair recognition and resolution of the Cham issue, contributing not only to Albania's history and public discourse but also to diplomatic efforts. Secondly, the opening of these files for the Albanians of Chameria is both an emotional and identity-related matter," said Gentiana Sulaj, chairwoman of the Authority for Information on the Former State Security Files.
The files cover the entire communist period from 1945 to 1991 and encompass three collections totaling 105 files, containing approximately 200,000 archival pages. These documents from the internal affairs departments of Sarandë, Berat, Lushnje, Elbasan, Tiranë, Vlorë, and across Albania include records of escapees, executions, massacres, surveillance, persecution, severe prison sentences, and internment of the entire Cham Albanian community.
Liljan Idrizaj, chairwoman of the Patriotic Association of Chameria, emphasized that this agreement aids in understanding the files of prominent Cham community figures to reveal the criminal activities of the former state security apparatus and the extensive machinery used to persecute them for the second time. The event featured extensive discussions on this significant development, paving the way towards resolving the Cham issue and establishing new diplomatic communication channels between Albania and Greece.