The Congress of Gjirokastra was convened, one of the most important national assemblies of the League of Prizren. It was held under the leadership of Abdyl Frashëri. Delegates from almost all Albanian regions participated. The main issue discussed was the autonomy of Albania within the Ottoman Empire, whether or not desired by the latter, to be achieved through armed rebellion if necessary. According to the prevailing viewpoint, the most appropriate time to declare Albania’s autonomy would be when the Ottoman Empire accepted the occupation of Albanian lands by Greek and Montenegrin armies. In this case, the League of Prizren would take political power and declare itself a temporary government; Turkish officials would be replaced by Albanians regardless of religion; fiscal revenues would be administered by the temporary government for the needs of the League. A constitution would be drafted, containing a series of democratic rights. The temporary government would take all measures to establish order and peace throughout the country; the sultan would only have the right to appoint the General Governor of Autonomous Albania, while Albania would pay the Ottoman Empire an annual tribute and provide a certain contingent of soldiers; the Ottoman Empire would be obliged to militarily defend Albania from any external aggression. The Congress of Gjirokastra marked a significant step towards the formation of the Albanian national state. Both in the preparation and in the decision of this congress, Abdyl Frashëri played a major role. (In the photo: Painting “Gjirokastra Town and Castle”, by Edward Lear, November 3, 1848.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 2 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2008, page 1436.
Photo: © http://www.albanianart.net/painting/lear/lear040.htm
Graphic processing: AHCF
