The Greek Minority in Albania was an UNPO member between 1991 and 2012. 

Represented by Omonoia, the Greek minority in Albania joined the UNPO during a critical moment of political transformation following the collapse of the communist regime. The community, historically concentrated in the southern regions of Himara, Gjirokastër, and Sarandë, faced longstanding issues related to ethnic recognition, cultural rights, and social equality. Under decades of isolationist rule, expressions of Greek identity—such as language use, religious practice, and education—had been tightly controlled or suppressed. After the transition to democracy, new challenges emerged as the state redefined its national identity and minority policies, often leaving the Greek population in a position of uncertainty and mistrust. 

Within the UNPO, Omonoia worked to bring these concerns to international attention, advocating for fair political representation, the right to Greek-language education, freedom of religion, and the restitution of property confiscated during the communist era. Another significant issue was the lack of clear minority recognition and administrative rights in areas where Greek communities formed a majority, which limited their participation in local governance and development decisions. Periodic tensions between Albania and Greece—particularly over border demarcation, migration, and national identity—further complicated the situation, sometimes resulting in discrimination or social exclusion. 

Membership in UNPO offered the Greek minority an important avenue to highlight these human rights and cultural protection issues at a global level, encouraging dialogue and peaceful advocacy. Although some progress was made through Albania’s gradual alignment with European minority standards, many challenges persisted, especially regarding property rights, political inclusion, and the protection of cultural heritage. 

Concentrated mainly in the south of Greece, the community has preserved the Greek language as the cornerstone of its identity, using it in both daily life and religious practice. The Greek Orthodox Church plays a vital role in sustaining this identity, with monasteries, churches, and religious festivals serving as focal points of community life and cultural transmission. Traditional dance and music, such as the polyphonic songs of Epirus and local folk dances performed at village festivals, reflect deep cultural continuity and shared Greek heritage. Architecture, too, carries cultural significance, with stone-built houses, Byzantine-style churches, and village layouts mirroring Greek influence across the southern Albanian landscape. 

Family traditions, hospitality, and close transnational ties with Greece further reinforce the community’s sense of belonging and identity. Despite periods of restriction, especially under the communist regime, and continuing challenges such as emigration and limited cultural rights, the Greek minority has successfully maintained a strong cultural cohesion. 

The Greek minority in Albania has a deep-rooted historical presence, primarily in the southern regions of the country, an area often referred to as Northern Epirus. Greek communities have inhabited these territories for centuries, forming part of the wider cultural and historical landscape of Epirus, which spans both modern Greece and southern Albania. Throughout antiquity and the Byzantine period, these regions were closely linked to Greek civilisation through language, religion, and trade. During Ottoman rule, the local Greek population preserved its identity largely through the Orthodox Church and Greek-language schools, many of which were supported by religious and educational networks based in nearby Greek-speaking areas. 

Following the Balkan Wars and the collapse of Ottoman authority, the borders between Albania and Greece were redrawn by international agreement, leaving a significant Greek population within Albania’s newly established boundaries. The 1914 the Protocol of Corfu granted the Greek minority in southern Albania a degree of autonomy and protection for its language, religion, and education, but the arrangement was never fully implemented due to political instability. During the interwar period and under King Zog, tensions persisted between the Albanian state and the Greek minority over cultural and political rights. 

Under communist rule, the Greek community was officially recognised as a national minority but lived under strict state control. Religious practice was banned, property was collectivised, and expressions of ethnic identity were heavily monitored. Although Greek-language education was permitted in certain “minority zones,” many aspects of cultural and religious life were suppressed. 

After the fall of communism, the Greek minority reasserted its identity through renewed cultural and religious activity, establishing organisations such as Omonia to represent its interests. However, disputes over property rights, political participation and minority recognition have continued to shape its relationship with the Albanian state.