The anti-Albanian attitude of Serbia during the Turkish parliamentary elections of 1912
Author | Astrit Sahitaj |
Pages | 221-225 |
European Journal of Economics, Law and Social Sciences
IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria
Vol. 1 No. 2
June, 2017
ISSN 2519-1284
Acces online at www.iipccl.org
221
The anti-Albanian a itude of Serbia during the Turkish parliamentary elec-
tions of 1912
PhD (C.) Astrit Sahitaj
Abstract
Year 1912 is characterized by the armed resistance of Albanians against the O oman Empire,
in order to gain the legitimate rights, which were infringed by the Young Turk rulers. From
January of that year the Turkish parliamentary opposition tried persistently to collapse the
government that had brought the state near a total collapse, because of misruling. Albanian
deputies had clearly stated their decision pro the collapse of the Young Turks government.
Hasan Pristina denounced the harsh treatment of the government towards Albanians, and this
increased the complaints of Albanians to that level, that they prepared for armed resistance
against the O oman Empire. The Albanian protests against the Young Turks government were
analyzed with special a ention by Serbia, which aspired to benefi t. Through their agents, they
persuaded the main leaders of the Albanian movement allegedly that they would have the
material and moral support by Serbia. Main objective of this manuscript is the analysis of the
anti-Albanian a itude of Serbia.
Keywords: Albania, Serbia, O oman Empire.
Introduction
Serbia kept a friendly a itude even with the government of Young Turks. Neither
the leaders of the Albanian Movement, nor the House of O oman had suspicion
that the Serbian politics had double standards on them. The leaders of the Albanian
movement did not understand that Serbia wanted to bring about the Garašanin and
Čubrilović project of creating the Great Serbia, which included the occupation of the
Albanian land.
The Turkish opposition succeeded to collapse the parliament. A er this act, the
preparations for new parliamentary elections began. Special a ention on the
parliamentary elections was paid to the Vilayet of Kosovo. On the other side, the
representatives of Belgrade showed maturity with both sides. Serbia tracked with
vigilance the course of the events. In the report of Gavrilovic directed to Belgrade on
the 2nd of February, 1912, it is mentioned that “the mood of Albanians against Young
Turks is very unfriendly” (Dassip, Mids, 1912). Serbians are on direct services of the
Young Turks regime. This is not because they loved Turkey, but because it would
be easier for them on their anti-Turkish actions. The a itude of the Serbian politics
against the Albanian case is seen on the report of the 9th of February 1912, by which
Gavrilovic notifi es Belgrade about the progress of the electoral process. He reports
about the a itude of the Serbian element on the Turkish elections, among others. He
emphasizes that a er “Haxhi Ristic was asked by Hasan Pristina about the a itude
of Serbians on elections, Mr Haxhi Ristic answered –on my opinion, sneakily – “we
will go there where we will have more interest, and for now, on this topic, nothing
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