Table of Contents
Introduction
Census
Macedonian Church in Pustets
Contact Information for Macedonian Activists in Albania
Introduction
The following interview with Edmond Temelko, president of the Macedonian organization “Prespa” in Albania, outlines the precarious position of the
Macedonian minority in Albania. It appeared in the Macedonian weekly, “Makedonsko Sonce”, on June 15, 2001. Unfortunately, the situation of the
Macedonian minority in Albania has not improved since.
"The plight of the Macedonians in Albania is already known. Macedonians in Albania are discriminated against and the government continues to
unrealistically present their numbers. Albania recognizes that on its territory live only 5,000 Macedonians. But we alone, as Macedonian
organizations in Albania number 120,000 Macedonians who are members of our organizations, or if we investigate there are perhaps more then 350,000
Macedonians in Albania."
"According to the Albanian Constitution, the minorities are allowed 60% education in their mother language. But this is not happening. There are
Macedonians who live in other parts of Albania who do not have the right to get an education in their own mother language, the Macedonian language.
They do not have schools. But even where we have schools, there is very little. For example in the village of Pustets there is elementary education
from first to fourth grade in Macedonian and one course in Albanian. What happens between fifth and eight grade? Only three courses are in
Macedonian, and the history in taught only in seventh grade and only for one hour. But the worst of all is that although the kids study in
Macedonian, the literature is not original. The Macedonian grammar is translated from Albanian grammar. This is one of our complaints. We demand
that the children by educated with original Macedonian textbooks."
"The Albanian press has branded us a potential hotspot. After a peaceful protest, they began to treat us as terrorists, although nobody raised a
gun to fight in Albania. All we did is sent a call that we are fighting for our rights through the institutions of the system. For example, we
publicly proclaim that we do not like the Constitution of Albania. Why? In article 20 it is written that in Albania exist minorities whose cultural
identity should be guaranteed and preserved. But which minorities are these? Let it say: Greek, Macedonian, Vlach, or Roma minority. The Albanian
government is afraid of this because if this is written, i.e. if a real analysis is conducted, Albania is a multiethnic state. If you enter inner
Albania, there live 40-45% of the minorities. There are Greeks, Vlachs, Macedonians, Roma. This is what the Albanian government is afraid of and
this is why it conducted such census. This census was regularly conducted in only one village. It is discrimination and because of it Macedonia
will have to develop a clear strategy for the plight of the Macedonians in the neighbouring countries."
Census
The four Macedonian organizations in Albania, Mir (Peace), Gora, MED (Macedonian Aegean Society) and Prespa, boycotted the 2001 census in Albania
because there was no option for Macedonian in the census list. The Albanian government continues to minimize the actual number of Macedonians, and
other minorities, in the country and in 2003, the Association of Macedonians in Albania (consisting of the four organizations) conducted their own
census of the number of Macedonians in Albania. It is estimated that this number is between 120,000 and 350,000 while the Albanian state only
officially recognizes 5,000.
Macedonian Church in Pustets
The Macedonians in Pustets, Mala Prespa are building a Macedonian Orthodox Church and have requested that a Macedonian Orthodox priest bless the
church. In September 2003, an Albanian priest tried to perform this ceremony but the local Macedonians refused. A few weeks later, the Albanian
priest returned with approximately 40 police officers and forcibly entered the church. The Macedonian minority’s wishes must be respected and the
Albanian state should cease its discrimination against the Macedonian minority.
Written by:
Bill Nicholov, President
Macedonian Human Rights Movement International
Address: 157 Adelaide St. West, Suite 434, Toronto, Canada M5H 4E7
Tel: 416-850-7125 Fax: 416-850-7127
E-mail: info@mhrmi.org
Website: www.mhrmi.org
Presented by:
Ireneusz Slupkowski
Member, Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada
Vice-President, Association of Macedonians in Poland
Address: ul. Odziezowa 15/15 71-502 Szczecin, Poland
Tel: +48-609-321-560
Email: prosper@fiber.net.pl
Contact Information for Macedonian Activists in Albania
For more information, please contact Macedonian Human Rights Movement of Canada, Association of Macedonians in Poland, or the following organizations
of Macedonians in Albania:
MIR
President - Kimet Fetahu
Rr. “Prokor Muzeqari”
P. 31/1/1, Tirana, Albania
Tel. ++3554-341265
Fax ++3554-249945
E-mail: mirshoq@yahoo.com
Prespa
Edmond Temelko
Pustec (Korca), Albania
++355682360274
++355682054652
Association of Macedonians in Albania (consisting of MIR, Prespa, Bratstvo, MED)
E-mail: info@macedoniansinalbania.org
Website: www.macedoniansinalbania.org
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