Skopje, 12 August 2025 (MIA) - The Ohrid Agreement is not just a political document. It is a visionary act, a historic agreement between the communities living in this country, a commitment to building a state in which everyone feels equal, represented and respected, First Deputy Prime Minister Izet Mexhiti told Tuesday's reception marking 24 years since the Framework Agreement. 

This agreement, he said, put an end to the armed conflict and laid the foundations for new coexistence based on the principles of democracy, inclusiveness and mutual respect.

"Today we are gathered here to remember and pay tribute to one of the most significant events in our recent history, the Ohrid Framework Agreement, which 24 years ago put an end to a painful conflict and opened the path to a safer and more just future for all citizens of our country," Mexhiti pointed out. 

According to him, August carries deep symbolism, with Ilinden and the Ohrid Agreement being two cornerstones of the modern statehood of the Republic of North Macedonia.

"These are two dates that should not only live on the calendar, but in our collective consciousness. They remind us that only through joint efforts, sacrifice and dialogue can we build a functional, just and democratic society," said the First Deputy PM. 

On the Ohrid Agreement, he said it is not just a political document, adding that Albanians and Macedonians, as well as all other ethnic communities, are not just parts of one state, but they are all its co-founders.

"We cannot avoid each other, nor should we try. We are called to live together, to create together, to share responsibilities and success, to build a common future for the generations to come. This is not an obligation, this is a historic opportunity," Mexhiti pointed out.

He noted that the local elections are approaching, adding that it was natural in any pluralistic society for political tensions to increase, but also that there is an obligation to preserve unity and stability through institutional maturity and political responsibility. He said that citizens expect responsibility and work, announcing commitment to achieving this.

Following days of negotiations in Ohrid, the Ohrid Framework Agreement was signed in Skopje on August 13, 2001. Then President Boris Trajkovski, former Prime Minister and VMRO-DPMNE leader Ljubcho Georgievski, as well as SDSM, DPA and PDP leaders, Branko Crvenkovski, Arben Xhaferi and Imer Imeri respectively, signed the treaty. EU and US special representatives, Francois Leotard and James Pardew respectively, signed the document on behalf of the international community. In the negotiations that started in July in Skopje and then continued in Ohrid, several advisors and experts were consulted.

Photo: Government of the Republic of North Macedonia