Omonoia (organization)
 |
|
| Founded | 1991 Derviçan, Dropull, Albania |
|---|---|
| Type | Political & Cultural organization |
| Focus | Human & minority rights |
| Location | |
|
Key people
|
Leonidha Papa |
Omonoia (Greek: Ομόνοια) is a Greek social, political and cultural organization in Albania that promotes minority rights for the Greek minority in the south of the country.
Omonoia has four affiliates in the cities of Sarandë, Delvinë, Gjirokastër and Tirana, and some sub-sections in Korçë, Vlorë and Përmet. Its leading forum is the General Council consisting of 45 members, it is elected by the General Conference and held every two years.
The organisation was founded in 1991, after the collapse of the authoritarian regime, in the village of Derviçan, by representatives of the Greek national minority. It called for the autonomy of Northern Epirus in 1991 on the basis that the rights provided for the minority under the Albanian constitution were highly precarious. This proposal was rejected and thereby spurred the organization's radical wing to 'call for Union with Greece'.
Under the name "Democratic Union of the Greek Minority", Omonoia contested the Constituent Assembly elections in March and April 1991, the first multi-party elections held since World War II. Despite receiving just 0.7% of the vote, Omonoia won five seats in the 250-seat Assembly. However, it did not contest any subsequent elections. Omonoia was banned from contesting the 1992 elections on the grounds that it violated an Albanian law forbidding the 'formation of parties on a religious, ethnic and regional basis'. This situation was contested during the following elections on behalf of Omonoia by the Unity for Human Rights Party - a party which represents the Greek minority in the Albanian parliament.
...
Wikipedia