university of nova gorica graduate school contested spaces and ...

Spyro Spyromilos) as the liberator of Himarë/Himara from the Ottoman dominancy. Though
defending different, pro-Albanian perspective, Çami gives a similar description of Spiro Milo
and defines him as the leader of separatists’ movement. Unlike the administrators, Çami
points out the divided attitudes of Himarë/Himara people, majority of whom were supporting
the nationalist visions whilst the minority was on the side of the separatists. Frashëri, who
defends the national perspective, gives a somewhat different description of Spiro Milo. In
contrast to administrators and Çami he does not point out his separatist intentions and the
struggle for autonomy, but describes him as a professional soldier of Greek army who
received the military pension from the Greek government after his retirement. Jorgji, who
supports the local interests, criticises Frashëri’s writings which like the rest of Albanian
historiography favours only particular kinds of data and disregards all other. As an example
Jorgji presents the correspondence between Eqerem Bej of Vlorë and Spiro Milo.
The exchange of letters between Spiro Milo and Eqerem Bej of Vlorë illustrates the discord
considering the Himarë/Himara people’s belonging. Though Bej of Vlorë mentiones Spiro
Milo’s pro-Greek attitude, he defines the people of Himarë/Himara as being part of the
Albanian nation. Contrary to Bej of Vlorë, Milo points out the Himarë/Himara people’s
distinct locality and writes, “even if we prove our brotherhood in this principality we will
keep our noble sentiments which will always stay the same”. Both, Bej of Vlorë and Milo
agree in brotherhood between the people of Himarë/Himara and the rest of inhabitants of
Albania. But nevertheless they define their brotherhood on different foundations. Bej of Vlorë
defines it on the national basis, whereas Milo defines it on the religious basis. The main
reason for splitting of their brotherhood they put forward the treacherous nature of each other.
Eqerem Bej of Vlorë projects it in Milo’s and Himarë/Himara people’s religious
backwardness while Milo projects it in those Albanians who accepted Islam.
2.4.11. The First World War (1914-1918)
In 1914, the Italian government without yet entering the war sent troops across the Adriatic in
order to land on the uninhabited and rocky Island Sazano. On Christmas day the Italian army
seized Vlorë and explained its deed as temporary, in order to protect the territory of Vlorë
from the Greek army which had to retreat from the territory of Southern Albania (see Jacques
1995: 360).
146