Congress of Dibra
The Congress of Dibra was a congress held by members of Albanian committee in Debar (than part of Ottoman Empire, now part of the Republic of Macedonia) from July 23 to July 29, 1909. The congress was chaired by Vehbi Dibra, mufti of the Sanjak of Dibra and was sponsored by the government of the Young Turks. It was held on the first anniversary of the Young Turk Revolution.
The Young Turks wanted Albanians to stay loyal to the Ottoman government using peaceful means. The Albanian members of congress were divided in attitudes: the pro-Ottoman part wanted to sign the program proposed by Young Turks, while the more patriotic members demanded more rights such as greater autonomy, Albanian schools, tax reforms, construction of roads, permission to retain their own weapons etc.[1] On the sixth day of the Congress, the assembly approved a resolution with 5 points from the Young Turks program and 12 points proposed by representatives of the Albanian patriots.
Historians are still divided on the outcome of the Congress of Dibra. The patriotic press of that time described the Congress as a puppet of Young Turks,[2] however current historians have tended to assert that the congress was important since allowing the teaching of Albanian in schools, it obtained for the first time the making the Albanian language official within the Ottoman Empire.[3]
See also
- Congress of Manastir
- Congress of Elbasan
References
- ↑ Jacques, Edwin (1994). The Albanians: An Ethnic History from Prehistoric Times to the Present. p. 266. ISBN 0899509320.
- ↑ (Albanian) Yllipress: Kongresi i dibrës ne raportin e diplomatit anglez
- ↑ Torte, Rexhep (4 gusht 2009). "Përfundoi shënimi i 100-vjetorit të Kongresit të Dibrës". Albaniapress.