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May 28, 1920 – Korça finally belonged to Albania

2025-05-30 08:17:00, Blog Klodi Stralla

May 28th for Korça is a historic date. In Kapshtica (border with Greece), 105 years ago, the act known as the "Kapshtica Protocol" was signed between representatives of the Greek government and representatives of Paris of the city of Korça, a protocol that saved the city from being recaptured by Greek military occupation, until the Great Powers expressed themselves at the Paris Peace Conference as to who Korça would belong to, Albania or Greece?!

From December 6, 1912 (after the declaration of Independence) until the end of World War I (1918), Korça was occupied and liberated 3 times by the Greek army: first with the departure of the Ottomans, defeated in the Balkan War (1912); then after the departure of Prince Wid and the beginning of the First World War (1914) and finally in 1916, when the French occupied the region as part of the military operations of the Army of the East, removing the occupying Greek army from there.

May 28, 1920 – Korça finally belonged to Albania

Until May 1920, the province of Korça was administered by the city's Paria (of both faiths), through a local Council, under French supervision. After a short period of autonomy, after the assassination of TH. Germain by the French (1917), autonomy was also suppressed, but the city's Paria continued to control public life (finances, schools, order), of course under French supervision. In May 1920, after the war had ended, the French command received orders to return to its homeland.

What would happen after the French left? Who would they hand over the city to? This worried the Korça patriots a lot. The chances were that their place would be taken again by the Greek army, as an ally of the Entente, which had deployed numerous troops on the border, awaiting orders from Athens. But the city made it clear that if the Greek army crossed the border, it would face local resistance and blood would be shed.

In such circumstances, to avoid bloodshed, it was recommended that the parties sign a joint protocol, valid until the Peace Conference declared who would own the city. Fate smiled on the truth: Korça had Greeks who wanted union with Greece, but was ethnically Albanian. Greece was given other concessions in the Aegean islands, but their dream of Northern Epirus remained for years.

May 28, 1920 – Korça finally belonged to Albania

To be fair to the events, I am attaching the status with the full text of the Protocol.

“Kapshtica Protocol”

We the undersigned, on the one hand the Governor-General of Western Macedonia, Mr. S. Iliaqis, and on the other hand Eshref Frasheri, Director General of World Affairs of the Government of Tirana, Jorgji Raci, President of the Council of Paris, Pandeli Cali, former Albanian Minister, Qani Dishnica, member of the Council of Paris, Nikollaq Zoi, Director of Finance and Captain Selahedin Blloshmi, representative of the Albanian Government, having met today, May 28, 1920, in Kapshtica, have agreed on the following:

At the request of the second party, the first party assumes the responsibility of stopping the advance of the Greek army that is advancing to occupy Korça, replacing the departing French army; the purpose of this stoppage is to facilitate the agreement between the Greek and Albanian governments and to strengthen the relations of good neighborliness between the two brotherly peoples and to avoid any bloodshed.

In accordance with the above and until the matter is settled, either by the Peace Conference or by a direct agreement between the Greek Government and the Albanian Government, the latter party undertakes the following obligations:

First, none of the Greeks residing in the territory that will not be occupied by the Greek army will suffer any harm to their feelings.

Second, Greek schools and Greek churches will function regularly in these territories.

May 28, 1920 – Korça finally belonged to Albania

Third, no advance shall be made by either party beyond the line occupied by the Greek army before the last war and which begins at the village of Slimnice, on Mount Gramoz, follows the watershed between the Upper Devolli and the Upper Aliakmon (Vishtrica) and passes west of the village of Kapshtice, runs northwards, passing west of the village of Vernik. The Albanian gendarmes, who may be located beyond this line from the direction of Greek territory, must withdraw within three days from today.

The two contracting parties also give their word that they will submit to the decision of the Conference which will finally determine the border line.

In witness whereof, this Protocol was made in two original copies and was signed by the contracting parties and by those present at this agreement, the Metropolitan of Durres, who has shown an excellent zeal for reconciliation and good agreement between the two brotherly peoples, and Mr. Riza bey Hamza Hurshiti, who works wholeheartedly for the strengthening of Greek-Albanian relations.

Representatives of the Greek government - S.G.Iliaqis, N.Tripupis

Representatives of the Albanian government - Eshref Frasheri, Jorgji Raci, Pandeli Cali, Qani Dishnica, Nikollaq Zoi, Selaudin Blloshmi

Assisted in the editing of this protocol - Metropolitan of Durres, Jakov and Riza H. Hurshiti./ CNA