Interview with the president of the Macedonian society “Ilinden”-Tirana, Nikola Gjurđaj, on the occasion of the organization of the 29th seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe (AGSM)
- With the president of the Macedonian society “Ilinden”-Tirana, Nikola Gjurđaj, we discuss the significance of the 29th seminar of the Working group of Slavic minorities in Europe (AGSM), as well as for the Macedonian national minority in Albania, the role of the society within FUEN and the challenges faced by Macedonians in Albania today
In Tirana, from June 4 to 7, the 29th seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe (AGSM), organized by the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) and the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana, was held. The event coincided with the jubilee – 30 years of existence of AGSM, while for the first time in the history of the minorities in Albania, it was the Macedonians who hosted such a European meeting. The seminar brought together representatives from 20 organizations and 11 countries, creating a space for the exchange of experiences, strengthening of cooperation and affirmation of the cultural and linguistic identity of the Macedonian national minority in Albania. Along with the symbolic value, the event also had a practical meaning – European institutions and organizations directed attention to the position of Macedonians, especially in the sphere of education in their mother tongue, preservation of cultural heritage and equal participation in social life. On the occasion of this significant event, we are talking with Nikola Gjurdjaj, president of the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana, about the significance of the 29th AGSM seminar for the Macedonian national minority in Albania, the role of the society within FUEN and the challenges that Macedonians in Albania face today.
What is the significance of the 29th AGSM seminar for the Macedonian national minority in Albania?
– Exactly 11 years ago, the Macedonian association “Ilinden”-Tirana made history, becoming the first association from the Republic of Albania to be accepted as an equal member of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN). For us, it represents an extremely significant moment, not only for the company, but also for the Macedonian national minority in the Republic of Albania and for the country itself. We are particularly proud that this year, for the first time in the history of minorities in the Republic of Albania, we were the organizers of the 29th seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe, organized by the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) and that the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana at the same time celebrated 30 years of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities (AGSM) at the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN). This seminar has great significance for the Macedonian national minority in the Republic of Albania, as it represents an important opportunity for the promotion of our identity, culture and rights at the European level. Holding the event in Tirana enabled the attention of European organizations and institutions to be directed towards the position of Macedonians, especially in the area of education in the mother tongue, preservation of cultural heritage and equal participation in social life. For us, this event also has a strong symbolic value. He confirms that the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana is an active part of the European processes for the protection of national minorities and represents a step forward towards greater visibility, stronger institutional support and further advancement of the rights and position of Macedonians in the Republic of Albania.
How do you evaluate the role of the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana within FUEN, 11 years after its membership?
– This year marks eleven years since the admission of the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana to the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN), the largest and most influential organization that represents the rights and interests of national minorities in Europe. On May 15, 2015, at the Congress of the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN) held in Komotini, Greece, the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana was accepted as an equal member, thus becoming the first organization from the Republic of Albania, which received membership in this important European institution. In the past eleven years, the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana made a significant contribution to the affirmation and protection of the rights of Macedonians in the Republic of Albania. Through its active action, the society continuously works to preserve the ethnic, linguistic and cultural identity of Macedonians, as well as to nurture their national traditions and cultural heritage.
It is particularly significant that the representatives of the society regularly participated in all FUEN congresses, where they actively represented the interests and needs of the Macedonian national minority in Albania. During this period, several resolutions dedicated to improving the position of Macedonians in the country were submitted, which received support and were adopted by FUEN. The adopted resolutions were submitted to the competent state institutions of the Republic of Albania, as well as to relevant international organizations and institutions dealing with the protection of minority rights. In this way, it was possible for the issues related to the Macedonian national minority to gain wider international visibility and support. As an equal member of FUEN and an active participant in the Working Group of Slavic Minorities, the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana successfully opens and represents the issue of the rights and position of Macedonians in the Republic of Albania at the European and international level.
What challenges does the Macedonian minority face in Albania today and how does it deal with them?
– There are always problems, starting from economic, social and a series of other problems. We can freely say that the biggest problem for Macedonians in the Republic of Albania is the lack of the right to education in the Macedonian mother tongue in the areas of Golo Brdo and Gora, as well as in larger cities, such as Tirana, Elbasan, Korca, Bilište, Pogradec. Unfortunately, only in Mala Prespa do Macedonian children learn their mother tongue, and only in primary and secondary education. Another handicap for Macedonian students is that there is no department of Macedonian language in Tirana, there is only a lectureship at the request of the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana, where young Macedonians in the Republic of Albania will have the opportunity to continue their education. Another big problem for the Macedonians in Golo Brdo is the working hours at the border crossing Jepishte-Trebiste, which was opened in May 2013. The governments of the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Albania, at the joint session held in Pogradec, on December 15, 2017, decided that the border crossing Dzepište – Trebište should work 24 hours a day. Despite that, from then until today the crossing does not work 24 hours, but with reduced working hours. On several occasions, we as a company requested that this border crossing be open 24 hours due to the needs of the citizens on both sides of the border. In addition, a major problem for Macedonians in the areas of Golo Brdo, Gora and Mala Prespa is the road infrastructure, which is the main reason for the weak economic development of these areas inhabited by the Macedonian population. Health care in populated areas is also in a catastrophic state, because either there are no facilities for that purpose or they are in extremely bad condition.
It is inadmissible in the 21st century for Macedonians in the Republic of Albania to be exposed to pressure, manipulation and contestation of their national identity by Bulgaria, a member state of the European Union. It is time for the Government of Albania to strengthen its presence and invest more in the regions of Golo Brdo, Mala Prespa, Gora and Vrbnik, where the Macedonian population lives. It would be a clear signal that Macedonians in the Republic of Albania are an equal part of the state and that their rights, culture and identity will be protected and guaranteed.
At the same time, any attempt to pressure people to declare against their own national feeling is unacceptable. The protection of the rights of all citizens, including Macedonians who freely identify themselves as such, should be the responsibility of the institutions of Albania, the country in which they live.
How can such meetings contribute to the preservation of the language, cultural heritage and identity of the Macedonians in Albania?
– The twenty-ninth seminar of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe, organized by the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN), and the Macedonian Society “Ilinden”-Tirana have great significance for the preservation of the Macedonian language, cultural heritage and identity of the Macedonians in the Republic of Albania. They create an opportunity to nurture and use the mother tongue, as well as to transmit traditions, customs, folk songs and dances. Through such events, the feeling of belonging to the community is strengthened and respect for one’s own roots and cultural values is encouraged. At the same time, they enable the exchange of experiences, cooperation between different organizations and greater visibility of Macedonians internationally, which contributes to the preservation and affirmation of their identity in a multicultural society.
