The “Protocol of Corfu” was signed, and the declaration of “Vorio-Epirote autonomy” was an attempt by Greece to avoid implementing the decision of the Great Powers to leave Korça and Gjirokastra to Albania. Formally, the Greek troops withdrew but left behind “deserters,” presenting the movement as an initiative and expression of the will of the local population. A congress was called in Gjirokastër (March 2, 1914) and “a provisional government” was formed with Jorgo Zografin as its head, former foreign minister of Greece, originally from the Qestorate of Lunzheria. It was agreed that the issue should be resolved in talks between the parties. Prince Vid’s government sent Colonel Thomson as a representative to Corfu. He, most likely consulted with representatives of the Great Powers, went too far in concessions, agreeing that Korça and Gjirokastra would have a separate administration with a regional assembly of Christians and Muslims. In fact, he accepted the Greek plan for a “state within a state.” Prince Wilhelm’s government did not approve of this stance and dismissed Tomson as its representative in the negotiations. In these circumstances, the International Commission of Control intervened, sidelining Wilhelm’s government. The International Commission of Control was fully constituted in Corfu. After negotiations with representatives of the so-called “Vorio- Epirus government,” on May 17, 1914, the relevant document, known as the “Protocol of Corfu,” was signed. The Protocol essentially legalized the “Vorio-Epirus autonomy” and created a separate administration in the south. In addition to the signature of the International Commission of Control, the Great Powers guaranteed the implementation of the Protocol for the detachment of the South from the authority of the Prince’s government, in blatant contradiction with their decisions on the borders of Albania. In this case, the position of the International Commission of Control as the supreme authority, which prevailed over Prince’s government, also caught attention. (In the photo: Jorgo Zografi, former Foreign Minister of Greece.)
Text: Albanian encyclopedic dictionary – Vol. 3 , Academy of Sciences of Albania, “Kristalina-KH”, Tirana, 2009, pages 2117-2118.
Photo: © https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protocol_of_Corfu
Graphic processing: AHCF
