The Open Society Foundation for Albania and the South-East Europe Programme of ELIAMEP collaborated to study the complex relationship between Albania and Greece, aiming to understand societal misperceptions and stereotypes. The goal of the project “Greece and Albania: Revisiting a Tense Relationship” was to understand public opinion attitudes and how these may influence the building of closer partnerships between the two nations.
Moreover, the project aimed to:
1) “map” the terrain of bilateral disputes and problems in view of a broader attempt at resolving the problems between Greece and Albania;
2) deliver some preliminary substantive data and tangible instruments that could be used in subsequent resolution and reconciliation efforts;
3) demonstrate the need for further diplomatic and civil society efforts to bring the two countries closer and create a framework and process for a future drive for resolution and reconciliation.
Within the framework of the project, a survey report titled “Relations between Albania and Greece” was authored by:
- Ioannis Armakolas, Assistant Professor at the University of Macedonia and Head of the South – East Europe Programme of ELIAMEP.
- George Siakas, Research Director at the Public Opinion Research Unit of the University of Macedonia.
- Alketa Berzani, Analyst at the Tirana-based Data Centrum Research Institute.
The survey presented the results of parallel public opinion polls conducted in Greece and Albania that examined the perceptions and attitudes of two societies regarding bilateral relations, disputes, and their perceptions of each other, identifying convergence and divergence points and future challenges.
The project was funded by the Open Society Foundation for Albania (OSFA).
