Skopje, 31 July 2023 (MIA) — The government protects the interests and rights as well as the language and culture of Macedonians living outside of North Macedonia, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said at a meeting with Macedonians from the Golo Brdo region of Albania on Monday.

According to an official press release, Prime Minister Kovachevski donated to the locals a construction machine and streetlight bulbs worth one million denars.

The donation, in line with the government's Action Plan for Providing Support to Macedonians in Golo Brdo and Pustec, was made in response to a request from the Macedonians from the region, the release says.

At the meeting, Kovachevski noted that North Macedonia's continued support to the people of Golo Brdo was part of the overall state support provided to Macedonians living abroad. 

"And there is no country where there are no Macedonians," he said.

The prime minister said the government's Golo Brdo and Pustec action plan was developed to help improve the living conditions of Macedonians in the region. One of their requests was to solve the decades-old problem of the Trebishte – Dzhepishte border crossing. The locals have long demanded this crossing to be open 24 hours a day, he said.

Kovachevski added that he had talked to Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama about the problem and communication was also ongoing between the countries' interior ministries, which were to work out the details.

He also said the state was increasing the number of scholarships for Macedonians from Albania to study at higher education institutions in North Macedonia.

"We are committed to expanding the cooperation with the competent Albanian institutions on all issues of interest to Macedonians living in Albania, including the census, local self-government organization, and other areas of daily life," Kovachevski said.

He said specific projects were dedicated to improving the working conditions in schools and providing financial help to municipalities where Macedonians live.

"Albania and North Macedonia's relations are at an extremely high and friendly level," he noted. mr/