Skopje, 29 July 2024 (MIA) - The Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU) has always been open to all citizens who meet the high scientific and artistic criteria for membership, regardless of ethnic, religious or any other belonging. There has never been any room for the political parties and their influence within it, said the Presidency of MANU on Monday in reaction to the announcement “of some political parties to establish an academy of the ethnic Albanians in Macedonia”.

The Presidency stressed that “in Macedonia, as in all countries in the region and everywhere in the world, there is only one national academy that represents the country in the European and other international associations of academies.”

“Since its establishment, the Academy has had ethnic Macedonian members, as well as members from all other ethnic communities. Among others, in the last decade MANU’s composition has included four members from the Albanian ethnic community (one of which served as science secretary in the last three leaderships, and two were vice presidents of the Academy, with one of them being a part of the current leadership), as well as three members outside the working composition,” MANU’s Presidency said.

Touching upon MANU’s establishment in 1967, the Presidency noted that “the first composition of academicians was chosen in line with the highest universal scientific and artistic standards and criteria.”

“Today MANU is the most significant national scientific and artistic institution of special societal interest in our country, which for decades back, through its research, creativity and advisory role, has been a pillar in the building and preserving of the identity and statehood of the Macedonian people and the parts of other peoples living in the country,” the Presidency said in its reaction.

The Presidency also urged that “MANU isn’t drawn into political arguments and partisan discussions that burden the regular activity of the Academy, and belong in the domain of the legislative house and state institutions.” 

Photo: MIA Archive