Albania & Kosovo: Political & Ethnic Boundaries 1867-1946

ISBN: 978-1-85207-910-9 First published: 1999
Extent: 1 volume, 1,100 pages, including 1 map box Editor: Bejtullah Destani
Paper: Printed on acid free paper
Binding: Library bindings with gilt finish
See sample pages: not available
E-BOOK DIRECT LINK

RESUMÉ

This two volume set of documents and maps provides the historical background appropriate to understanding the present Balkan crisis. It makes available the essential historical texts and maps determining the formation of boundaries in the Kosovo region. Treaties, political reports and diplomatic correspondence have been selected from British government files to show the main historical developments in territorial relations between Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia and Greece.
The collection begins with the rise of Balkan nationalism in the mid-nineteenth century, and ends with the provisional Government of Albania set up in 1944, turning away from its original close links with Yugoslavia, fearing Yugoslav expansionism, and seeking alliances with China and other Communist powers.

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

The collection begins with the rise of Balkan nationalism in the mid-nineteenth century. This important period establishes the basis for much of the modern conflict between the Balkan States. The Treaty of Berlin in 1878 not only denied the Albanians their independence then, but started what is seen as the first partition of Albania, so that when Albania came to declare independence in 1912 almost half the population was resident in neighbouring states.
Following Italian occupation in 1914, by 1920, Albania had resumed its independence and a republic was declared in 1925. Albania was occupied again by Italy during World War Two, and then by Germany between 1943-44. When the provisional Government set up in 1944 it was a Communist regime with close links to Yugoslavia, but subsequently, fearing Yugoslav expansionism, Albania turned away from Yugoslavia and sought alliances with China and other Communist powers.

KEY DOCUMENTS

Documents include:
1878 - Vice-Consul Harry Cooper: despatch from Prishtina
1878 - Protest of Albanians against union with Greece
1878 - Inhabitants of over 100 Albanian villages in the Topliza and Vranja valleys driven from their homes by the Serbian army
1878-80 - Reports of Consul Kirby Green from Scutari on Albanian League of Prizren
1880 - Great Britain's attitude towards Albania
1880 - Lord Fitzmaurice and Lord Goshen on united Albania
1881 - Reports of Maj. Ardagh on Greek-Turkish frontier
1883 - Some observations on the present state of Dardania (Kosovo) by Arthur Evans
1890 - The Turco-Greek frontier geographically and strategically considered
1912-13 - The independence of Albania
1912-13 - Vice-Consul Peckham reports on Balkan wars
1913 - The occupation of Kosovo by Serbia
1912-13 - Serbian atrocities in Albania and Kosovo...

KEY DOCUMENTS continued

1913 - The question of boundaries of Albania
1913 - Greek atrocities in south Albania
1913 - Memorandum on condition of Serb inhabitants of Kosovo communicated by the Serbian Consul at Uskup
1919-20 - The Peace Conference and boundaries settlement
1918 - Memorandum on Albania by the Very Rev. Fan S. Noli
1919 - Proposed settlement of Albania': Maj. Barnes and Maj. Temperley
1919 - Yugoslavian territorial claims
1919 - Report of committee on Greek territorial claims
1921 - Military aspect of Albanian frontier question
1922-26 - Proceedings of the Serbo-Albanian boundary commission
1937 - Dr Cubrilovic's proposal for the expulsion of the Albanians
1942-46 - The Albano-Yugoslav frontier
1942-46 - The Greek-Albanian frontier

MAPS

The map box provides a sequence of ethnographic maps of the Kosovo region from 1730-1913.

01. Ethnographische Uebersicht des Europaeischen Orients. H. Kiepert, Berlin, 1876.
02. Albania as claimed by the Albanians. First published in: The Albanian Committee,The Plea of Albania, London 1913.
03. Répartition Générale de la Population en Albanie non comprise lors de la Délimitation en 1913. Paris 1918.
04. Répartition de la Population des Villes d'Albanie après la Délimitation en 1913.
05. Carte de l'Etat Albanais. Showing Boundaries included and not included in the Delimitation of 1913.
06. Map of Northern Albania showing Distribution of Tribes. Admiralty War Staff, London, 1916.
07. Carte Ethnographique de la Péninsule des Balkans. First published in: J. Cvijic, La Péninsule Balkanique, Géographie Humaine.
08. Map of Albania showing Albanian, Serbian and Greek Frontier Proposals. War Office, London 1918.
09. [Greek-Albanian] Frontier Lines proposed at the Peace Conference, 1919. Foreign Office, London, 1919.
10. Carte Ethnographique de l'Albanie. Prepared for the Albanian Delegation to the Peace Conference, 1919.
11. [Part of] Map showing Spheres of Influence in Albania and Bordering Territories, 1920.
12. Balkan Frontiers (West). Foreign Office Research Department, London, 1944.