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The '''Albanians''' are the people of the western ], numbering today some six million: The '''Albanians''' are the people of the western ], numbering today some five million:
*3,300,000 in ] *3,300,000 in ]
*1,900,000 in ] (including refugees abroad following the conflict of ]-]) *1,350,000 in ], about 40,000 in ], the remaining in Serbia (mostly ]) (including refugees abroad following the conflict of ]-])
*500,000 in the ] *440,000 in the ]
*100,000 Albanians live in southern Italy, mostly in the Calabria region, the majority having arrived since ] *100,000 Albanians live in southern Italy, mostly in the Calabria region, the majority having arrived since ]
*150,000 in ] *150,000 in ] (most of whom are ethnic ])
*50,000 in ] *50,000 in ]


Albanians are thought to be descended largely from the region's ancient ] inhabitants, and the ] is thought to be derived from that spoken in the area at the time of the ]. ] replaced ] as the majority religion during the period of ] Turkish rule from the ] until ], though ] and ] are also practised. Among the poorest of the Continent's nationalities, in the latter half of the ] Albanians experienced the highest rate of natural population growth of any of ]'s major indigenous ethnic groups, increasing their numbers from 1.5 million around ] and fewer than 2.5 million in ]. Some believe the Albanians to be descendants of the ] while others give them slightly humbler origins which date back to 1043 when they were first mentionned in the Balkans. ] replaced ] as the majority religion during the period of ] Turkish rule from the ] until ], though ] and ] are also practised. Among the poorest of the Continent's nationalities, in the latter half of the ] Albanians experienced the highest rate of natural population growth of any of ]'s major indigenous ethnic groups, increasing their numbers from 1.5 million around ] and fewer than 2.5 million in ].


==Albanian Nationalism== ==Albanian Nationalism==
Both Kosovo (legally a province of ] though governed since June 1999 by a ]-led international force) and western Macedonia have in recent years seen armed movements (], ], ]) aimed at stopping human right violations and eventual independence in Kosovo and increased rights of Albanians in Macedonia. Both Kosovo (a ] province though governed since June 1999 by a ]-led international force) and western Macedonia have in recent years seen armed extremist movements (], ], ]) which claimed human rights and independence for Albanians as their main concern (despite being accused of human rights violations themselves) in Kosovo and in Macedonia.


The fate of Kosovo remains uncertain owing to the reluctance of the Albanian majority to contemplate a restoration of effective Serbian sovereignty and of the ] and NATO to separate the territory definitively from the Serbian Republic in contravention of statements made at the time of the 1999 intervention. The fate of Kosovo remains uncertain owing to the reluctance of the Albanians to contemplate a restoration of effective Serbian sovereignty and of the ] and NATO to separate the territory definitively from ] in contravention of ] from 1999.


The situation in Macedonia seems to have been resolved by giving the Albanians living there greater government representation and the right to use the Albanian language in education and government. The situation in Macedonia seems to have been resolved by giving the Albanians living there greater government representation and the right to use the Albanian language in education and government.

Revision as of 00:24, 14 August 2003

The Albanians are the people of the western Balkan peninsula, numbering today some five million:

Some believe the Albanians to be descendants of the Illyrians while others give them slightly humbler origins which date back to 1043 when they were first mentionned in the Balkans. Islam replaced Christianity as the majority religion during the period of Ottoman Turkish rule from the 15th century until 1912, though Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Roman Catholicism are also practised. Among the poorest of the Continent's nationalities, in the latter half of the 20th century Albanians experienced the highest rate of natural population growth of any of Europe's major indigenous ethnic groups, increasing their numbers from 1.5 million around 1900 and fewer than 2.5 million in 1950.

Albanian Nationalism

Both Kosovo (a Serbian province though governed since June 1999 by a NATO-led international force) and western Macedonia have in recent years seen armed extremist movements (Kosovo Liberation Army, UCPMB, Macedonian NLA) which claimed human rights and independence for Albanians as their main concern (despite being accused of human rights violations themselves) in Kosovo and in Macedonia.

The fate of Kosovo remains uncertain owing to the reluctance of the Albanians to contemplate a restoration of effective Serbian sovereignty and of the United Nations and NATO to separate the territory definitively from Serbia in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 from 1999.

The situation in Macedonia seems to have been resolved by giving the Albanians living there greater government representation and the right to use the Albanian language in education and government.

See Also

External Links