When they come with euros they are brothers, when they come with banners they are foreigners

2026-06-23 09:56:00, Opinione Lutfi Dervishi

When they come with euros they are brothers, when they come with banners they

Before anathematizing the presence of one or dozens of Albanians from Kosovo, North Macedonia, or the diaspora in the Tirana protests, it is worth remembering some basic facts.

About 4.6 million arrivals are registered from Kosovo per year; from North Macedonia about 750 thousand. Together, they make up almost half of that "miracle" of 12 million tourists that the government proudly trumpets in statistics.

Then comes the diaspora. These are the same people who have been keeping the economy afloat with remittances for decades, who buy houses, open businesses and fill airports and beaches every season. When they send money, they are christened the “engine of development”. When they promote Albania abroad, they are proclaimed “our best ambassadors”. When they say good words about the government, the red carpet is rolled out for them and their seats are made ready in the television studio.

But it only takes a few of them to show up at a protest square for the spell to be broken. Overnight, they are transformed into "outsiders," "manipulated," or "agents" of dubious agendas.

And we're not talking about strangers with no connection to this earth.

Kosovo gave us the League of Prizren and the foundations of modern national history. The Albanians of North Macedonia remind us of the Congress of Manastir and the alphabet with which we write today. While the diaspora has kept thousands of families alive in our most difficult days.

Therefore, this double standard is as absurd as it is insulting: when they bring currency, investments or praise, they are model Albanians; when they dare to bring criticism or join a civic cause, they are treated as foreigners without the right to vote. If they have the legitimate right to contribute to this country, they have the same right to worry and talk about it. The square and public debate cannot have customs. Or should we put another beam on "Skënderbej" Square? / CNA