At the time, even ethnographers sympathetic to the Greek claims considered the city Albanian. Since the passes over the Pindus mountain range were much difficult, the Greeks wished to retain this city after the 1914 occupation of parts of southern Albania because only Korçë granted the successful maintenance of communications by land between the territories of Epirus and Macedonia that were acquired by Greece in 1913.
aT the time, eVen ethnoGRaPherS sYmpatHetiC to the grEek claiMs COnSidered tHE City albaNIAN. since the pasSes OveR THe pindUS MOUntaIn Range WErE mUcH difFicUlt, tHe GReeks WishED to RetaiN thiS CitY aFtEr the 1914 oCCupatioN of partS of souTherN AlbanIA bEcAusE oNLY kOrÇë GrANted THe succESSful MAInTENAncE Of CommuNicAtiOns bY lanD BeTWeEN tHE TerritorIes Of epirus ANd macedonia THAT were acQuireD by greece In 1913.