Debar, 30 April 2024 (MIA) — The only party of the Macedonians in Albania, the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration, continues advocating for the country's new electoral code to guarantee parliamentary seats for minorities, MIA's Debar correspondent reports.

The parties of other minorities in the country have joined MAEI in these efforts and submitted a request to Albanian state institutions as well as representatives of international organizations and foreign embassies.

"United in our common aspiration to improve democracy and protect the rights of minorities, our party, MAEI, together with the parties of the Vlachs, the Roma and the Egyptians, submitted a request to the Albanian Parliament's Dialogue Group, which is responsible for drafting the new electoral code," MAEI president Vasil Sterjovski said.

They are requesting guaranteed MP seats because, he said, "minorities are the wealth of a country and deserve respect and protection of their rights." 

"We have submitted the same request to the international factor in Albania, because we believe that supporting minorities is an important part of building a stronger and more inclusive community. Together we are fighting for a stronger and more inclusive Albania," Sterjovski said.

He pointed to the examples of other countries guaranteeing parliamentary seats for minorities, including Croatia, Kosovo, and Romania. mr/