Posted on 01/10/2004 11:23:12 AM PST by joan
PODGORICA -- Saturday – A previously unknown group calling itself the Montenegrin National Army has warned that “experimenting with the fate of Albanians in Montenegro” would lead to “actions aimed against essential Montenegrin buildings and interests”.
The organisation’s Internet site claims that the Albanian community in Montenegro and the federal state are discriminated against and threatens to cause “problems in the Balkans”.
Albanian political leaders in the republic say they nothing about the newly-emerged organisation.
The Albanian-language Internet site of the Montenegrin National Army bears a great resemblance to those of Albanian extremists in south Serbia, Kosovo and Macedonia. It’s address is www.ushtriamalitzi.it.st .
An unsigned article on the site claims that Albanians have been “reduced to the level of Gypsies” in the preamble of the Constitutional Framework of what the site refers to as the “pseudostate” of Serbia-Montenegro which, it claims, has been established “on territory which is naturally Albanian”.
“Albanians are seeking a national debate, not the changing of borders by force…But we will pursue our rights with all our power,” claims the organisation.
If the “undervaluing of Albanians” continues, says the Montenegrin National Army it will take action against the essential strategic buildings and interests of Serbia-Montenegro.
"Ushtria Mali Zi" means "Army of the Black Mountain" in English. Appropriately named for Montenegro, but sounds like something from Lord of the Rings. I see they call themselves the "Tigers of Ulqin" and there are references to the 18th Brigade and "Zone 4". The photos look like a couple of teenagers, but who knows.
While Ulqin probably has the best case of any to be part of Albania proper, there has not been much unrest. The theory has been that life was pretty good for the Albanians in Montenegro and that they were in cahoots with President Djukanovic & his various revenue producing schemes.
As small as Montenegro is, the even smaller ethnic Albanian minority is still split into two groupings. Around Ulqin on the Adriatic, they are mostly Catholic and oriented toward Shkodra. In the mountains to the east, they are mostly Muslim and oriented toward the old lower Dukagjini area (western Kosovo) and the upper Dukagjini area (re-named as Tropoje by Hoxha to help forestall any Yugoslavian claim to the area).
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.