Skopje, 17 January 2024 (MIA) — Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti's attempts to interfere in North Macedonia's politics are nothing new but he will not influence the Macedonian Albanian political bloc, which is consolidated, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani said in response to a reporter's question during a press conference held with his Albanian counterpart Igli Hasani on an official visit to Skopje on Wednesday.

"First of all, this is nothing new. Such attempts for direct support and participation have been made before," FM Osmani said, adding that prominent Kosovo politicians had attended local political campaign ralies before.

"This has demonstrated that the political scene of the Albanians in the Republic of North Macedonia is consolidated so I don't expect him to have any influence on it," Osmani added.

Speaking about the fragmentation of North Macedonia's Albanian political spectrum "into several smaller parties," Osmani said this weakened their power of representation.

He said there was "a tendency, driven by external factors, but also somewhat by internal ones, for Albanians in North Macedonia to organize in political parties in each city led by their city's own political leader so they deal with local issues and each other and there isn't a single political platform representing Albanians and their political will in the institutions."

According to Osmani, relations between ethnic communities in the country were "so precisely defined" that "legitimizing any other countries' — be it Serbia's, Bulgaria's, Albania's, or Kosovo's —influence through their political parties could disrupt the local dynamics that are so precisely calibrated," he said.

"The most important thing to note is that this has already been attempted and will not affect the consolidated political scene in any way," Osmani stressed.

Albania's FM Hasani, in response to the same question, said he was in the country as a representative of Albania, to support the progressive European forces of the Albanians and of North Macedonia in their clear positions on the country's European future.

He expressed confidence that the results of the upcoming elections would not change the country's commitment to remaining on its EU path.

"Albania is focused on encouraging good neighborly relations," Hasani said. "The unwavering protection of the rights of Albanians in the entire region is one part of this. But we should not forget the Euro-Atlantic perspective of all Albanians, in Albania, North Macedonia, Kosovo, Montenegro or anywhere else."

"We will do our best to help our neighbors progress on the European and Euro-Atlantic path. It is important that we stand together, not only as Albanians, but also as part of all progressive forces in the region, for the Western Balkans' common future in the European family," Hasani said. mr/