Status of the Albanian Muslims in Greece During the Population Exchange on the Basis of the Minutes of Lausanne Conference and the Reports of the Embassy of Albania in Athens
Özet
The Subcommittee of Population Exchange at Lausanne Conference addressed the exchange topic in twelve sessions between January, 11, 1923 and January 30, 1923. The convention and protocol concerning the exchange between populations of two countries were signed on January 30, 1923 by the Turkish and Greek Governments. Accordingly, it was decided to conduct compulsory population exchange between the "Turkish nationals of Greek Orthodox religion" who had domiciled in Turkish territories and the "Greek nationals of Muslim religion" who had domiciled in Greek territories. Despite Greece provided all assurances at Lausanne Conference and afterwards, it took action to exchange the Albanian Muslims, who lived in Epirus-Chameria region where almost all of the population was Muslim with the immigrant Greeks who came from Anatolia, due to the fact that the Albanian Muslims were "Greek nationals with Muslim religion." During this period, Mid'hat Frasheri was assigned to the Embassy of Albania in Athens on January 1923. The Ambassador discussed the situation of the Albanian Muslims in Greece, with the authorities, the League of Nations, the Mixed Exchange Committee, the Turkish authorities and mainly the Greek authorities. Mid'hat Frashri sent approximately 200 reports, which included these discussions to the Albanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
