Ambassador Alexander Arvizu
American Embassy in Albania August 25, 2010
Rruga e Elbasanit No. 103,
Tirana, ALBANIA
Dear Mr. Ambassador
I am writing to you concerning the recent situation in Himara, Albania. My name is Demetrios Koutoulas, and I was born in Boston, Ma in 1960. My family came to America in 1950, with nothing. The only thing they came with was the knowledge of the Greek language. We are Greeks. Many Greeks came to America from Southern Albania (we Greeks refer to this area as Northern Epirus) pre 1950’s.
We the children of these immigrants were taught the Greek language, the mother tongue of our forefathers. Many Americans of Greek descent visit our respective towns in Southern Albania almost every summer. We have relatives and homes there. We spend a great deal of time and money there every year. Other than English, our only other spoken language is Greek.
I ask you Mr. Ambassador. What would happen if an American born Greek, whose origins are from Southern Albania was on vacation in Himara, or any other town in Southern Albania, and we were hurt or even murdered because we speak the language of our forefathers? I am sure it would be all over the international press.
Just like the American Indian who is native to America, we the Greeks of Southern Albania have been there for 3,000 years. We are entitled to speak our language, teach our language. Raise our children the way our parents raised us. Not the way he Albanian government wants it.
Recently as you know, a Greek from the town of Himara was murdered for speaking Greek, his mother tongue, in the Town of Himara where he was born and raised and still lived there, by a group of Albanians. This is not the first time Mr. Ambassador. If something is not done soon, it will not be the last either.
I ask you Mr. Ambassador, for the sake of all the people living in Himara and in Northern Epirus/south Albania, and all the Americans and tourists who visit there every year to put an end to this gross mistreatment of the Greek majority that lives today in that area.
I ask you to pressure the Albanian government to educate the people of Albania and to implement laws that will protect and recognize Himara and the surrounding area as a Greek minority zone. Northern Epirus/ southern Albania has a Greek history for over 3,000 years. Greek was the only language. The Albanian language has only been in existence for a mere 150 years.
I believe that these measures will prevent future problems and ensure the safety of all people living there and also those visiting from all over the world
Thank you and God Bless
Sincerely
Demetrios James Koutoulas
Demetrios Koutoulas
113 June St
Worcester, MA 01602
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