TIRANA, Jan 10 – An agreement bringing together Albanian parties in Macedonia has been welcomed by the government in Tirana, which played a firsthand role to make the agreement possible by bringing all the leaders to meet in the office of the Albanian prime minister, Edi Rama.
Rama called the agreement an “historic step, expressing the will of the Albanian parties in Macedonia.”
In its statement of Albania’s Foreign Ministry said the agreement “is a moment of political maturity, and at the same time, an urgent need to advance the rights of Albanians in Macedonia”.
However, Macedonia’s own foreign ministry was unhappy with the proxy diplomacy by Albanian Prime Minister Rama, calling the meeting in Tirana “interference in internal affairs” of the Republic of Macedonia. It added that Albania’s stance does not help cohabitation in the region.
Representatives of Macedonia’s ethnic Albanian parties in Skopje earlier signed a joint declaration that will serve as a platform for their future participation in any government that is formed following the Dec. 11 general election.
Rama has also faced domestic criticism in Albania over his protagonist role in the region when it comes to countries where ethnic Albanians live, including Kosovo and Macedonia.
However, this week, the agreement of the Albanian parties in Macedonia was also welcomed by Albania’s main opposition Democratic Party. “This is a good and encouraging news for the advancement of the rights of Albanians in Macedonia. Coming together and coordination on the principles and democratic attitudes and integration should be a strategic orientation in the Albanian political factor approach is everywhere,” noted a statement of the Democratic Party.
The three parties — the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, led by Ali Ahmeti, the Besa movement, led by Bilal Kasami, and the Movement for Reform — Democratic Party of Albanians, LR PDSH, led by Ziadin Sela — which together have 18 seats — seek full equality between Macedonians and Albanians in the Macedonian state.
“The constitution of Macedonia should define the Macedonian language … and the Albanian language … as official languages [throughout] the Republic of Macedonia,” the declaration reads.
The declaration goes on to demand economic and social development parity through the equal progress of all of Macedonia’s regions.
