The Council of Albanian Ambassadors follows with particular attention the debate on the potential legal amendments by the Constitutional Court in North Macedonia, regarding the status of the Albanian language.
Questioning this status violates not only the rights of Albanians, but also the very foundations of North Macedonia as a multiethnic and democratic state.
The Albanian language is not simply a linguistic issue; it is a symbol of the identity, history and dignity of Albanians in North Macedonia, who are a state-forming population in this country.
Its recognition as an official language is the result of long-standing efforts and great sacrifices of Albanians for equality and justice. The decision of the Constitutional Court in this matter constitutes an important proof of the state’s commitment to the principles of equality, unity and respect for the rights of ethnic communities.
Any attempt to diminish the role of the Albanian language runs against to the spirit and principles of the Ohrid Agreement, a historic agreement that ended the ethnically-based conflict and created the basis for sustainable coexistence and peace.
We call on the institutions of North Macedonia, political and legal actors, as well as international partners, to protect the achievements made so far and to guarantee full respect for the rights of Albanians as an important pillar of the country’s stability and Euro-Atlantic integration.
North Macedonia has the opportunity to prove itself to be a model of successful multiethnic coexistence, and preserving the status of the Albanian language is a cornerstone in this regard.
