Tirana, 17 June 2025 (MIA) - The Albanian government itself, based on the Law on the Protection of National Minorities, enables minorities to realize their interests. The most important thing is how much we listen to them, meet with them and discuss their real problems, which are enormous and growing, President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova said in Tirana on Tuesday. 

As part of a two-day working visit to Tirana, President Siljanovska Davkova met Tuesday with Marjana Kostofski - Felah, member of the Committee for National Minorities within the Government of the Republic of Albania, Endrit Fatahu, vice-president of the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration (MAEI), the only party representing the rights of Macedonians in Albania, Nezir Muca, vice-president of the Macedonian Association Ilinden and Slavica Sviderska, professor of Macedonian language at the Macedonian Language Lectorate at the Faculty of Foreign Languages ​​at the University of Tirana.

According to Siljanovska Davkova, the most important thing at the moment is the decision on establishing the criteria, documentation and procedures for collecting data to identify persons belonging to national minorities.

"This seems very democratic, but a two-thirds majority is required to make a comment on the way this procedure will be carried out or to object to the results, which is very difficult to achieve. If anyone is affected by this procedure, then it is the members of the Macedonian national minority," said President Siljanovska Davkova. 

She pointed out it was high time that these problems got a response, adding that their resolution is important for everyone. 

"What would be the problem in doing what all countries do with regard to national minorities in terms of issuing citizenships, opening more border crossings; what is the problem in extending expired passports; what is the problem in intervening as a state in granting passports to people in need. Everyone in our region and in the world does that. What is the problem in helping in the study of the Macedonian language, opening more teaching centres, opening another Consulate where you have a Macedonian minority. It is a problem related to identity. It is truly shocking that people who have declared themselves as Macedonians in these regions for centuries, for better or for worse, now change their position under the pressure of economic needs," President Siljanovska Davkova noted. 

Highlighting the good relations and understanding with the Republic of Albania, Siljanovska Davkova said within such framework we should continue where someone wrongly stopped when they had to be even more active.

"We are obliged to help here," said President Siljanovska Davkova, who concluded her working visit to Tirana with this meeting.

Photo: MIA