Ashkali and Balkan Egyptians
The Ashkali (also Aškalije, Haškalije, Hashkali) and Balkan Egyptians (Jevgs, Egjiptjant or Gjupci) are Albanian-speaking ethnic cultural minorities (recognized communities) which mainly inhabit Kosovo. They are sometimes considered to be Albanized Romani, but they do not self-identify as such and since they are not sharing the same language with the Romani people nor the traditions they want to referred just as Albanians. Prior to the Kosovo War of 1999, Ashkali registered themselves as Albanians. Now they are divided by identifying with two different groups, although the people share culture, traditions and language (Albanian).
During the Kosovo War, they were displaced as refugees in Albania, Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia and whole Western Europe such as Germany and France. The "Ashkali" identity was created in 1999, as they tried to show their pro-Albanian stance and distinguish themselves from the Roms (Gypsies).
History
The "Ashkali" have been classed as a "new ethnic identity in the Balkans", formed in the 1990s.