How long are they to wait?

We are very regretful since once again we should come back to what has been repeatedly stressed out from this column: That is, Albanians have not been abiding by their agreements with Greece. How else would be described their stance regarding the issue of a second cemetery in Kleisoura for the Greek casualties during the epic Italian-Greek war in 1940-41?  Since already quite a long time, in that specific site, a church and a depository for our fighters’ sacral relics have been erected. Nevertheless, Albanians do not move along the agreement signed with Greece. Why not? According to their allegations, that is due to the objection of nationalistic circles that view such a move as the N. Epirus issue’s rising up!

However it is evident that such footy excuses are just void pretexts. The Greek officers and soldiers fell for their faith and their motherland braving out the dignity of Greece which the Italian Fascism so savagely machinated on. But it was that same Mussolini’s Fascism that Albania had sided up with fighting against our country. Of course the victorious Greek Army liberated also the N. Epirus’ territories unstintingly shedding its valiant troops’ blood there.

If now Albania has a feeling of guilt about its anti-Hellenic stance during the years of that Great War then it is solely a burden as well as problem of its own since Albania has injured Greece and N. Epirus. However Albania should by no means be entitled to object a graveyard for the Greek combatants. We strongly believe that for this matter the political leadership of Greece is held largely responsible. By steering an “undertone” policy, in essence Greece encourages Albanian intolerance. We should dauntlessly add that Greece also has been displaying irreverence to its children who selflessly were present in that national call-over and exalted their country by their epic strife. Moreover by giving up their prime they left us a splendid trust of national duty so that our Motherland’s glory should not be measured up to acres. Instead it is up to our hearts’ glow and our blood that it should be measured.

However their sacral relics persistently are in quest for a lay. Greece should move with vigor and determination so that the cemetery in Kleisoura would be eventually functional. It has been seventy years since the epic struggle in 1940-41 while the case has lagged unreasonably long. Indeed, our heroes questing for a lay, how long are to wait?

                                                                              “NORTH EPIROTAN TRIBUNE”