Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Tetova, represented by Prof. Dr. Nebi Dervishi and assistant Sokol Memeti (on May 22, 2021), participated in the symposium organized by the Vatra -the Pan-Albanian Federation, in cooperation with the Albanian-American Cultural Center, Albanian Civic Center of Arizona and the Albanian –American Women Association of Arizona.
Prof. Dr. Nebi Dervishi in the symposium on “The role of the Arvanites in the organization and victory of the Greek revolution” presented the paper “The contribution of the Arvanites and their heroes in the founding of New Greece”.
According to Prof. Dr. Nebi Dervishi, the liberation movement in Greece began to give results in the early 19th century, and that was achieved as a result of Filiqi Eteria (Association of friends) which was established in Odessa, Russia in 1814, and to this regard worth mentioning is the movement that was initiated by Ali Pasha Tepelena before 1821, this movement started when he refused to pay taxes to the sultan with the intention and the purpose to achieve the final secession from the Ottoman Empire. “In January 1822 Greece declared its independence. To secure its recognition, the Greek people had to face many difficulties and fight until 1829. The uprising of 1821 was entirely Albanian, this is evidenced by the fact that most of the insurgents were Arvanites as well as Albanians from Epirus who went to help the insurgents and who were leaders of the army of Ali Pasha Tepelena, who were trained in the military school of cavalry as: Odise Andruço, Gjeorgios Karaiskaqi, Llambro, Foton, Zguri Xhavela, Noti and Marko Boçari, Athanas Dhiakon, Dhuvunioti Jorgaqi, Dhrako, Llambro Veiko, Tusa Serva, Jani Kuçoniku, Thanas Fotomari, Joni Drakli,etc
He also pointed out that in the first quarter of the 19th century, the Arvanites of Greece and the Albanians of Epirus took part in the uprising of 1821. “From their ranks came military and political leaders such as: brothers Kundurioti, J. Karaiskaqi, Laskarina Bubulina, Marko Bocari, etc. The Arvanite Todor Kolokatroni gave freedom to Greece, while Ioannis Kapodistrias, was the first president of the new state who established the chancellery of the Greek state in the third decade of the 19th century. The role of the Arvanitas heroes in the revolution of 1821 for the independence of the Greek state was enormous. Arvanite Aristidh Kola states: “90 out of 100 heroes of the Greek uprising of 1821 were Arvanitas”,- said among other things, Prof. Dr. Nebi Dervishi.
This symposium was organized through the online platform ZOOM where participated many scientific researchers from Albanian territories.
