Bulgarian passport/ Deputy Minister Dimitrovski: Outside of any European rules, we are being pressured

2025-02-08 16:58:00, Aktualitet CNA

Bulgarian passport/ Deputy Minister Dimitrovski: Outside of any European rules,

The Deputy Foreign Minister of North Macedonia participated this morning in the meeting organized between the majority and opposition parties of this country and representatives from the "AMIE" party.

In a statement to the media, Zoran Dimitrovski commented on the ongoing Bulgarian pressure towards the Macedonian minority, stating that the Albanian government has been forced to recognize another minority, which does not exist. The Deputy Minister emphasized that he seeks to work together with the Albanian government to undertake all processes for EU integration, but also for the development of a bridge between the Albanian population in Macedonia and the Macedonian population in Albania.

"We are aware that the Albanian government is also under constant pressure from the Bulgarian government, which is why a few years ago the Albanian government was forced to recognize another "ninth" minority, that is, another minority, the ninth in Albania that does not exist, with the aim of advancing in the European integration processes, therefore we understand the situation the Albanian government is in.

"We want to work together with the Albanian government to take on all processes for European integration, especially for the development of the minority here and the Albanian population living in Macedonia, meaning to be a bridge between the two states," he said.

According to Dimitrovski, the Macedonian state is known as one of the states that has granted the most rights to the Albanian minority living in Macedonia. He states that they have no problems with the current government regarding the recognition of the identity of Albanians in the Macedonian state.

"The Macedonian state is known as one of the states that has granted the most rights to all minorities living in Macedonia. So far, we have not had any problems with the Albanian government regarding the recognition of the identity of Albanians in Macedonia. The point is that European standards show something else and what Bulgaria is doing is outside any rule of European standards," he declared.

MP Metodija Ilievski from the opposition SDSM party has called through Albanian media for Macedonian organizations and parties in Albania to unite and have the same goal before the institutions of the Albanian state.

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"We will call on all Macedonian organizations and parties to unite with Albania and have the same goal before the institutions of the Albanian state. Let us help all Macedonian organizations as citizens of Albania, through institutions, with international assistance, to realize their rights and maintain their status as a Macedonian minority in Albania, which is also recognized by the Albanian state," said the MP.

Ilievski stated that the party that was in power took a serious step in improving the living conditions of Macedonians settled in Albania, where the Macedonian language was introduced in Albanian universities. Among other things, Ilievski mentions the fact that they took concrete steps in recognizing the cultures of both countries. He expresses the desire to build a good inter-party and inter-state relationship on issues that help the Macedonian community in Albania, not considering the conflict between the two states as a cause, but according to him, the concerns of the Macedonian minority in Albania should be resolved democratically by the country's institutions.

"The party that was once in power, from the very beginning, took a serious step in improving the living conditions for Macedonians settled in Albania, and then we helped the Macedonian language be in Albanian universities, specifically in Tirana and Korça. And then we made an agreement for the first time on artifacts, icons, between Albania and North Macedonia, as a way to strengthen the Macedonian community in Albania. We cannot say what other countries that enter Albania do. We want to build good relations, both inter-party and inter-state, on the concrete issue, to help the Macedonian community in Albania. This is not a cause for conflict between North Macedonia and Albania. We really want the concerns of the Macedonian minority in Albania to be resolved democratically and through the country's institutions," he emphasized.

The two statements by Macedonian state officials were given to the media after the meeting they held today in Korca, with the sole focus on developing the best possible relations between the two communities./ CNA