June 2025 marks the 81st anniversary of the genocide and ethnic cleansing committed against the Albanians of Chameria. It has been 81 years of injustice, silence, and unresolved pain.
To honor this anniversary, the Patriotic Association “Chameria” organized a memorial pilgrimage at the “Roses of Chameria” Monumental Cemetery in Kllogjer, Albania. Flowers were laid at the memorial site where over 2,900 Albanians lost their lives during the Greek campaign of forced expulsion, starvation, disease, and violence in one of the most tragic episodes in Balkan history.
The ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Party for Justice, Integration and Unity (PDIU), Mr. Shpëtim Idrizi, representatives of the association’s Kosovo branch, members of the Cham diaspora from Izmir, Turkey, and other Albanians from across the region.
In his remarks, Mr. Idrizi emphasized the resilience of the Cham Albanian community, who for 81 years have preserved their memory, culture, and identity while continuing to seek justice and dignity.
“For over eight decades, the Cham Albanians have carried the weight of historical injustice,” said Idrizi. “Now is the time for Greece to repeal the War Law still in effect against Albania and to commit to resolving the Cham issue through constructive dialogue.”
He noted that the evolving geopolitical context and the reaffirmed unity between NATO allies and the United States present a real opportunity for progress.
“We, the Albanians of Chameria, are fully committed to improving relations with Greece — but this must include resolution of key historical issues, such as the War Law and the Cham question,” Idrizi added. “Additionally, resolving the maritime delimitation, including the Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf, is essential to Albania’s EU integration.”
Mr. Idrizi underlined that fast-tracking Albania’s EU accession would be a historic step, comparable to the country’s independence in 1912, Kosovo’s independence in 2008, and the sacrifices of the Kosovo Liberation Army. “Albania has always belonged to the West,” he said, “but has often been left under the shadow of Eastern influence.”
During the ceremony, the President of the Patriotic Association “Chameria,” Mr. Liljan Idrizaj, MP Nustret Avdulla, and other representatives from Kosovo, Izmir, and youth organizations called on the Albanian government to grant the “Roses of Chameria” site official status as a National Historic Cemetery.
This resting place holds the remains of more than 2,900 Cham Albanians who died in exile from disease, starvation, and forced displacement — victims of one of the most infamous acts of ethnic cleansing in the Balkans.
