Authored by Roland Qafoku. Translation Petrit Latifi
Summary
On April 19, 1919, over two thousand people from the Skrapar region gathered in Çorovodë to protest Greek and Serbian territorial claims and to send a message to the Paris Peace Conference. The event, documented in the newspaper Kuvendi, featured speeches by prominent local patriots such as Hysen Zaloshnja, Pasho Vërzhezha, and Deputy Prefect Neki Starova. They emphasized national unity, Albania’s historical rights, and the injustice of previous territorial decisions. The rally concluded with powerful collective declarations affirming Albanian claims to regions historically inhabited by Albanians.
The structured text below is based on Roland Qafoku’s presentation.
Background
In 1919, Çorovodë was the only sub-prefecture that was neither a city nor a significant residential center. It served merely as an administrative hub for the Skrapar region. Despite this, on April 19, it was transformed into one of the most important patriotic gathering places in Albania.
More than two thousand residents from surrounding villages gathered in a field to protest against Greek and Serbian territorial claims, directing their message to the Great Powers at the Paris Peace Conference. While similar rallies had taken place in cities such as Shkodër, Vlorë, and Korçë, holding such an event in a small administrative unit like Çorovodë gave this protest exceptional importance.
The most emotional moment occurred when all participants shouted in unison: Ioannina, Prezeva, Chameria and all of Kosovo, Manastir, Tivar, Ulcinj, Hot and Gruda are our lands.
Key figures
Zalo Halim Vërzhezha:
Author of the article. It is a significant discovery that Skrapar had a highly skilled journalist writing from abroad. He was from the Hysi neighborhood of the village of Vërzhezhe and carried the village’s surname. Further details about this notable journalist, active in the 1920s, will be published in the future.
Hysen Zaloshnja:
Author of the rally’s first speech. A prominent figure in education and patriotic activities. His address emphasized the necessity of national unity.
Pasho Vërzhezha:
A member of the large Hysi family. His speech revealed his importance not only within the family but also within the patriotic movement of the Skrapar region. He called upon every resident to fulfill their national duty during Albania’s difficult circumstances.
Neki Starova:
The deputy prefect of Skrapar and the official government representative at the rally. He delivered the petition, signed by prominent figures of Skrapar, to Prime Minister Turhan Pasha Përmeti for presentation to the Great Powers.
Full Article from Kuvendi (April 23, 1919)
A meeting in Çorovodë
By Zalo Halim Vërzhezha
Received: Çorrovodë, late March
On the 12th of this month, here in Çorovodë, the center of the Skrapar sub-prefecture, a protest meeting was held with large demonstrations against the Serbs and Greeks, who seek to violate our national rights.
Most of the people had gathered and prepared since Tuesday evening, and by the next day many more had arrived. On Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock Turkish time, the entire population gathered in a field where spring had already shown its signs, a place blessed by nature.
In the middle of this field, a designated area was set up for those carrying flags, adorned with brilliant national banners.
Hysen Zaloshnja addressed the people first, holding a flag and explaining the purpose of the meeting, the goals of the gathering, and the evil intentions of the Serbs and Greeks in attempting to violate Albania’s rightful claims. He congratulated the people of Skrapar and Tomorrica for their unity and reminded them of the ancient covenant of the land. He emphasized that unity brings strength and that only through unity can a nation secure and honor its rights.
After him, Pasho Vërzhezha gave a speech recounting the recent events and changes in Albania, and the great destruction caused by the World War. He called upon everyone to work for the nation and fulfill their sacred patriotic duty.
Thereafter, the minutes of the meeting, written and signed by the representatives of the 20,000 citizens of the Skrapar sub-prefecture, were read aloud, and the people called upon Deputy Prefect Neki Bey Starova to deliver them to the appropriate authorities.
At this moment, the entire crowd shouted: Ioannina, Prezeva, Chameria and all of Kosovo, Manastir, Tivar, Ulcinj, Hot and Gruda are our lands.
Deputy Prefect Neki Starova congratulated the people for their national spirit and assured them he would send the report to the highest authority, to be presented to Turhan Pasha, the head of the Albanian government.
He spoke about the causes of the world war and refuted claims made by Albania’s enemies who said Albanians could not govern themselves. He invoked history, pointing out that Albanians are one of the oldest peoples in Europe, energetic and capable, and he recalled historic figures such as Alexander the Great, Pyrrhus, Gjin, and Tefta, emphasizing that Albanian blood runs through those lineages.
He continued by mentioning Xhavello and Mihalë, reminding the people that Albanians had always been capable of resisting foreign domination and achieving independence.
He stated that the Peace Conference must recognize Albania’s rights and determine its fate according to natural borders. If the Conference truly wished for peace, it had to correct the great mistake made at the London Conference of 1912, where nearly two million Albanians were excluded from the independent Albanian state. Otherwise, lasting peace would never be achieved, and the Balkans would remain a volcano.
After the deputy prefect concluded, the meeting ended, although the demonstrations continued for more than two hours.
(Zalo Halim Vërzhezha)
Balkan Academia 