The only party of the Macedonians in Albania, the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration (MAEI), at its Fourth Congress held in Korça, Republic of Albania, adopted a Resolution for the advancement of the position, rights and freedoms of the Macedonians in the Republic of Albania, which was sent to the Albanian institutions and the international organizations.
Based on the Statute of the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration, the Fourth Congress of the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration, held on July 29, 2023 in Korça, adopted
Resolution
for the advancement of the position,
rights and freedoms of the Macedonians in the Republic of Albania
(1) Macedonians in the Republic of Albania respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Republic of Albania and the inviolability of its borders.
(2) Macedonians in the Republic of Albania stand for love, peace, tolerance and coexistence in Albanian society.
(3) Macedonians in the Republic of Albania are considered an inalienable and inseparable part of the Macedonian nation.
(4) Macedonians in the Republic of Albania will cooperate with the Macedonians and their associations of citizens and political parties in the Republic of Macedonia and in the whole world in the advancement of their position and rights and freedoms.
(5) Macedonians in the Republic of Albania encourage the development of mutual fraternal and good-neighborly relations and advocate for the advancement and deepening of cooperation in all spheres between the Republic of Albania and the Republic of Macedonia.
(6) Consent is expressed to build the Republic of Albania as a multi-ethnic, multicultural and multi-confessional society with equality of citizens before the Constitution and laws, regardless of their opinion, ethnic origin, religious belief, political affiliation and property and social position.
7) The recognition of the rights and freedoms of Macedonians in the entire territory of the Republic of Albania is demanded, especially in the areas of Gora and Golo Brdo, and not only in the area of Prespa.
(8) Adequate and fair representation of Macedonians in state government bodies and other public institutions and in local self-government at all levels is required.
9) It is requested that we have guaranteed seats in the Albanian Parliament for all minorities.
(10) We insist that the Parliament of Albania adopt a new territorial reform in order to establish two separate municipalities in Gora and Golo Brdo.
(11) The economic development of the areas of Prespa, Golo Brdo, Gora and Vrbnik is requested, with a special budget from the Albanian government, as the Ombudsman of the Republic of Albania in his 2014 report on the position and rights of national minorities pointed out the bad living and working conditions in the regions where they live.
(12) We request that a decision be made as soon as possible to make the border crossing Xhepishte-Trebishte open 24 hours a day.
(13) Apart from the Albanian language as the official language of the entire territory of the Republic of Albania and in its international relations, it is required in the local self-government units where at least 10% of the citizens are Macedonians, the official language should be also and the Macedonian language and its Cyrillic script.
(14) It is requested that personal documents (registry records of births, marriages and deaths, identity cards and passports) be issued to Macedonians in addition to the Albanian language and its Latin script and in the Macedonian language and its Cyrillic script.
(15) Macedonian language teaching is required in primary, secondary and higher education.
16) It is requested to renew the Lectureship in Macedonian language at the State University in Tirana.
(17) Government institutions of the Republic of Albania are required to respect and guarantee freedom of speech, public performance, public information and the free establishment of institutions for public information in the Macedonian language.
(18) The state is required to guarantee the freedom of association of Macedonians without any restrictions, for the purpose of realizing and protecting their political, economic, social, cultural and other rights and beliefs.
(19) Consent is expressed for respecting freedom in the right to religion and the formation of religious communities.
(20) The establishment of a special state television and radio channel for the minority ethnic communities in the Republic of Albania and adequate representation of state and local television and radio programs in the languages of the minority ethnic communities, including the Macedonian language, is required.
(21) The Government of the Republic of Albania is requested to assist the publishing of newspapers in the Macedonian language.
(22) It is requested to organize a census of the population according to all international standards, which will allow free declaration with separate columns on the census lists for the ethnic origin of the citizens of the Republic of Albania, among which there should be a column “Macedonians”.
(23) We strongly reject the attempts to denationalize the Macedonians in Albania by Bulgaria, which it does by abusing the veto for Albania’s membership in the European Union.
(24) The Macedonians in the Republic of Albania agree on the full membership of the Republic of Albania in the European Union and the NATO-Alliance and with their behavior and actions will contribute to the achievement of Euro-Atlantic standards in all spheres of society and the state.
25) We expected the help and action of the European Union, OSCE, the Council, NATO and the United Nations in the implementation of the points of this Resolution and the achievement of Euro-Atlantic standards in the Republic of Albania.
(26) Macedonians and their representatives in the implementation of this Resolution will cooperate with other minority ethnic communities in the Republic of Albania and their representatives, with the institutions of the government of the Republic of Albania and with the international community.
27) This Resolution enters into force upon its adoption.
(28) One copy of this Resolution is delivered to: the Party archive, the delegates of the Fourth Congress of the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration, the Parliament, the President and the Government of the Republic of Albania, the Parliament. The President and the Government of the Republic of Macedonia; and the OSCE, the Council of Europe, the EU and the UN.
July 29, 2023
Korcha