The term
Ethnic Albania as called by Albanians ,
[2] refers to an
irredentist concept of lands outside the borders of the
Republic of Albania which are considered part of a greater national homeland by most Albanians,
[3] based on the present-day or historical presence of Albanian populations in those areas. The term incorporates claims to
Kosovo, as well as territories in southern
Montenegro, northwestern
Greece (
Chameria), the western part of the
Republic of Macedonia, and the
Presevo Valley,
Medveda, and
Bujanovac in
Serbia.
The western part of the Republic of Macedonia is an area with a large ethnic Albanian minority. The Albanian population in Republic of Macedonia is variously estimated to make up 25% of the population.
[14] Cities with Albanian majorities or large minorities include
Tetovo (Tetova),
Gostivar (Gostivari),
Struga (Struga),
Debar (Diber),
Kumanovo (Kumanova) and
Skopje (Shkup).
[15] In 1992 Albanian activists in Struga proclaimed also the founding of the Republic of Illyriade (
Albanian:
Republika e Iliridës)
[16] with the intention of autonomy or federalization inside the Republic of Macedonia. The declaration had only symbolic meaning and the idea of an autonomous State of Illyriade is not officially accepted by the ethnic Albanian politicians in the Republic of Macedonia
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