Greek media: Albanian nationalism obstacles to Erdogan's Balkan ambitions

According to the Greek daily Kathimerini, the Turkish president is trying to manipulate ethnic Albanians in the Balkans through their radicalisation, however, here he has encountered an obstacle to Albanian nationalism.

Citing Pasko Vasa's phrase, that the Albanian “is Albanian,” the biggest Greek daily says Albanians “welcome Turkish investments or money for construction of mosques, but very few residents want to live among a democracy as Erdogan has built at home. ”

Most Albanians have oriented themselves westward, while almost everyone thinks Islam, in part radical Islam, affects their national identity. It also mentions Albanian history, which speaks of a five-year war against Ottomans and the removal of the Turkish flag from the hydro-power plant from the local residents of Mirdita.

Erdogan may see himself as the leader of Balkan Muslims, but when he recently visited Skopje, the leader of the largest Albanian party, Ali Ahmeti, refused to accompany him to a tour of ethnic Albanian settlements and prevented his ministers from joining him, the Greek daily writes at the end.