Yiani Mantsu-Conference on Minorities, Tirana, 13-14 Febr. 2013 Juridical and political aspects regarding the minority of the Makedon-Armâns in Albania

Yiani Mantsu-Conference on Minorities, Tirana, 13-14 Febr. 2013

Juridical and political aspects Juridical and political aspects regarding the minority of the regarding the minority of the

Makedon-Armâns in Albania and Makedon-Armâns in Albania and how they enjoy all the rights granted how they enjoy all the rights granted by the European and international by the European and international

normsnorms

Yiani Mantsu

Makedon Armân Council


Makedon-Makedon-ArmânArmâns s no other European people known under so many names:

“Aromân”- Romania (taken ever: Aromanian, Aroumain, Aromune, Arumano, Arumeno, etc.)Vlach (Vlleh / “Çoban”) – AlbaniaVlach (Helino-Vlach) – Greece Vlasi – R. of MacedoniaCincar (Zinzar) – Serbia and BulgariaMazedo-Romanen – Germany Armân / Makedon-Armân – self definition = identifies their native space, the ancient Macedonia


The continuity thesis about their The continuity thesis about their origins origins

((supported by the most historians and linguistic scientists – excepting the Romanian supported by the most historians and linguistic scientists – excepting the Romanian

linguistic scientists )linguistic scientists )

descends directly from the Romanized population of ancient Macedonia (including Thessaly and Epirus) 168 BC / 148 BC – Romanizing process - 275 years before Dacia (present Romania) was occupied by the Romans the ancient Macedonia (including Thessaly and Epirus), is the birth area of Makedon-Armân Language > 1,5 mill. p. The first document of Makedon-Armân language are the words “Torna, torna, fratre!” (Turn back, turn back, brother), dating 587 / Byzantium, chronicle of the monk Theophanes)


The cultural movement of The cultural movement of Moschopolis Moschopolis

Moschopolis: 60.000 to 70.000 inhabitants, most of them Makedon-Armâns (Johann Thunmann: “everyone in the city spoke Armân, many also spoke Greek, the language used for commerce”) the birthplace of the Makedon-Armân enlightenment the movement was an initial beginning of the European spirit in the Balkans Moschopolis gave birth to a multicultural movement in 1813, in Vienna was published by Michael Bojadjchi – the first Modern Grammar in the Balkans – Armân,Greek and German language – an “official document of a language of a European people”



The critical moment in their The critical moment in their historyhistory

the second Balkan War (1912) and Bucharest Treaty 1913 the establishment of the national states at the beginning of 20-th

century the lifestyle of the Makedon-Armâns was totally disturbed by the

political and social changes in the Balkans a lot of residual effects in contemporary politics, especially

concerning the Makedon-Armân people the “Armân” subject was always a controversial subject between

Greece and Romania Greek Academy: the Armâns = part of the Greek people Romanian Academy: the Armâns = part of the Romanian people the truth: neither Greek nor Romanian = different from any other Balkan

people, with deep roots in the Ancient Macedonia


Council of Europe andCouncil of Europe andthe Reccomendation 1333 /97the Reccomendation 1333 /97

the most imp. achievement for the Armâns in their modern history the Council of Europe encouraged the Balkan states to support their

language in the fields of education, religion and the media have supported the adoption of this Recommendation and therefore,

implicitly, recognized the existence of the Armân people Albanian authorities did not make any steps to implement the

Recommendation to prevent the imminent disappearance of Armân language and culture

merely supporting the activities of some folk groups does not mean supporting as Rec. provided: education in their mother tongue, religious services in their mother tongue,

newspapers, magazines, radio and television programmes in their mother tongue associations are not able to cover the fundamental needs in the

various fields of the language and culture


Makedon-Armân CouncilMakedon-Armân Councilwww.makedonarman-council.orgwww.makedonarman-council.org

Makedon-Armân communities from Balkan countries and diaspora established in October 2005 the Makedon-Armân Council

to assure coordination, collaboration and fulfillment of all initiatives contributing to the preservation and promotion of their language, traditions and cultural values

organized a lot of events in the Balkan countries where the Armâns live: Great Assembly in Moschopolis / Voskopoje (Albania), in 2010 Great Assembly in Krushevo / Republic of Macedonia, in 2012 a lot of cultural activities (in Albania, Greece, Romania, R. of Macedonia) attended international congresses, conferences, seminars and forums on

minority issues (UNO Geneva, London University, Fryske Akademy Leeuwarden / Netherlands, Lorient (Bretagne) / France, etc)


Salient juridical and political Salient juridical and political issues regarding the issues regarding the

Makedon-Armâns in AlbaniaMakedon-Armâns in Albania Albanian State-Reports submitted to FCNM:

the minority of Armâns / Aromanians was described as a “livestock nomadic population”(?)

discriminating treatment, or an attempt to marginalization practiced transhumant pastoralism, which has nothing to do

with nomadism Analysis of all submitted Albanian State-Reports, focused on three

salient juridical and political aspects regarding the Armân minority: national or linguistic minority minority language education census on minorities


National or linguistic minorityNational or linguistic minority Albanian authorities make a strict difference between national

minorities and linguistic minorities = reason for discriminating or marginalization of a non-recognized linguistic minority as a national minority

This classification leads implicitly to a different treatment in enjoying of certain rights by persons belonging each of these linguistic minorities

The refuse is based on the assumption that they have no “motherland” or “kin-state”

In Albania, the Makedon-Armâns represent in fact a traditional national minority, an autochthonous minority = an issue which has to be re-examined and be taken into consideration by the Albanian authorities


Minority language educationMinority language education the change in the political systems in Southeastern-Europe and HR

changes in Europe - brought the freedom of assertion and promotion of the identity of each people

every Armân living in Albania is naturally bilingual and exercises dual ethno-cultural identity

education in their own language within the public system and within the Monday-through-Friday educational time = an immediate solution

lack of support to their language in the fields of education, religion and the media (Radio, TV, etc.)

lack of reaction to the several requests for dialogue-meetings made by Makedon-Armân Council

Albanian authorities opens a “free line” for Romanian authorities: the recognition of the status of Romanian minority to the Armâns from Albania(?)


Census on minoritiesCensus on minorities census on minorities enables the persons belonging to national or

ethnic minorities to assert their ethnic identity a fair census on minorities is an essential right in any democracy statistical data on minorities is also a determinant factor for design of

policies in the relation to national and ethnic-linguistic minorities the percentage of national minorities (including ethnic-linguistic

minorities) = 1,4 % : the media has not paid enough attention to inform the minorities information tools (newspapers and radio-television operators) not available information on census in their own language, were missing responsible authorities on census on minorities did not cooperate with minority

associations State Committee for Minorities not enough involved preparation of persons belonging to minotity groups to be self involved in census

activities, was missing the result of census could be best supplemented by rigorous

studies on minorities


ConclusionsConclusions

A clear State-minority policy is necessary, more than even Submitted State-Reports to FCNM do not contain enough

substance and do mostly not reflect the real existing problems of the national or ethnic-linguistic minorities

Makedon-Armâns, represent in fact an autochthonous minority an issue which has to be re-examined and be taken into consideration by the Albanian authorities

fair-mindedness to all minorities, independently from their minority status, are to be expected from Albanian authorities


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Yiani Mantsu-Conference on Minorities, Tirana, 13-14 Febr. 2013 Juridical and political aspects regarding the minority of the Makedon-Armâns in Albania