Skopje, 6 February 2025 (MIA) — The Democratic Union for Integration has expressed concern over allegations of rising discrimination against Albanians in the Ministry of Defense and the Army, MP and former parliament speaker Talat Xhaferi told a press conference Thursday.

Xhaferi said discriminatory policies against Albanians had been implemented in recent months in these institutions, with some of them being demoted or completely excluded from key positions despite their professional experience.

Citing data DUI had obtained, Xhaferi said out of 10 directors in the new organizational chart, none were Albanian. 

"Out of 12 advisors to the Ministry of Defense, only one is Albanian. Out of 29 heads of departments in the ministry, none are Albanian. Out of 13 heads of departments in the General Staff of the Army, none are Albanian. Out of 30 battalion commanders, only five are Albanian," Xhaferi said, adding that high-ranking Albanian officers had been demoted or sacked from key positions.

According to Xhaferi, promotions were not given to Albanian officers and non-commissioned officers despite their meeting the criteria. Albanians were also excluded from military education programs abroad, he said, also claiming that hate speech and nationalist rhetoric had increased within the army ranks.

Xhaferi also said the representation of Albanians in the army was at a historic low. He said partisanship had "reached its peak," with jobs being given to party members instead of professionals.

He also objected to only Macedonian army officers being promoted since President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova began her term in office. 

According to Xhaferi, Colonel Dejan Chiplakovski had been promoted to the rank of Brigadier General while "at the same time, not a single Albanian officer was promoted to the rank of general." 

"Generals trained in Belgrade are being promoted instead," he claimed.

He also objected to Brigadier General Sashko Lafchiski being promoted into Major General and appointed new Chief of the General Staff of the Army "without a constitutional basis and without proper procedure." 

Xhaferi said Lafchiski's promotion had caused "a new wave of discontent among Albanian officers, some of whom are considering leaving the military service."

He also said Albanian women were discriminated against and were not given any leadership positions in the army, which forced many of them to leave the country.

Xhaferi demanded “an end to the systemic discrimination" against Albanians in the Army and the Ministry of Defense as well as putting an end to partisanship in the institutions and guaranteeing the rights of the Albanian military personnel, including equal education and promotion opportunities. 

“The current situation is unacceptable and goes against the principles of equality and the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration," he said.

“If this situation continues, the consequences will be serious not only for Albanians but also for the stability and professional operations of the Army as a national institution,” Xhaferi said. mr/