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| Liberation Army of Chameria | |
|---|---|
| Ushtria Çlirimtare e Çamërisë | |
 | |
| Foundation | 2001 |
| Dates of operation | 2001-present |
| Active regions |  Albania |
| Ideology | Greater Albania[1] Albanian nationalism Separatism Irredentism |
| Size | 30–40 |
| Allies | Albania (alleged) Albanian mafia (alleged) |
| Opponents |  Greece |
The Liberation Army of Chameria (LAC, Albanian: Ushtria Çlirimtare e Çamërisë, abbr. UÇÇ) is a reported paramilitary organization founded in 2001 that is active in the northwestern Greek region of Epirus.[1][2][3][4][5] The group is reportedly linked to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and National Liberation Army (NLA), both ethnic Albanian militant groups.[6][7]
In 2001, a video[8] was released on the internet showing concealed members of the UÇÇ, with former NLA leader Ali Ahmeti[9] stating that the Liberation Army would form in southern Albania, to defend the ethnic Albanians who had "no rights":[1][10]
"Circa 1 million Albanians in Northwestern Greece [Chameria], live without any rights, and the Albanian Liberation Army of Chameria will soon be ready for action as the legitimate representative of Albanians in defence of their rights."
Ahmeti later denied that he ever stated such statements in an interview with the BBC, with the Greek media and government dismissing any reports of the organization existing.[1]
In 2005, the UÇÇ dropped leaflets over the Greek city of Ioannina, which declared that they would liberate Chameria from Greece.[11] When U.S. President George W. Bush visited Tirana on 10 June 2007, a delegation of the UÇÇ delivered a letter with nationalist requests. Other UÇÇ delegations delivered letters to the U.S. embassies in Rome and Tirana.[2]
In 2011, Greek police arrested ethnic Albanian criminals for smuggling light weapons into Chameria. Speculation arose questioning the motive for this, while some believe the weapons were meant for an UÇÇ weapons depot located in a forest.[12] In 2012, Greek authorities reported that ethnic Albanian criminal groups were financing the UÇÇ and its activities by use of drug trafficking.[12]
In 2001, the Greek police reported that the group consisted of approximately 30–40 Albanians. It does not have the official support of the Albanian government.[13]
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...an Albanian sponsored group, the UCC, seeking secession for part of Greece, Epirus, known historically also as Chameria (In Albanian)... ...the UCC was formed by the KLA and is in fact a part of the quest for a "Greater Albania"... ...A delegation of the UCC on June 10, 2007, delivered a letter to President Bush during his visit to Tirana, referring to the existence of an Albanian minority in Western Greece (Epirus) and the UCC requested recognition of the "genocide of the Albanian Chamerians" allegedly conducted by the Greeks in the end of World War II, and to recognize "the right of the people to return to their homes in Greece from where they were expelled", and "return their estate that was attached" etc... ...The UCC, meanwhile, has been building its support base with demonstrations and events leading toward today — June 27, 2007 — the date that the Albanian Parliament in 1994 called the "Chameria national anniversary".
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1Settlements inhabited by communities known as Arvanites, and very rarely characterized as Cham | |
