Albania has criticised North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski after the Albanian national anthem was not played at an event in Pustec attended by the North Macedonian leader.
The Albanian Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said the omission represented a serious departure from established protocol and institutional courtesy.
The ministry said the issue was particularly significant because the event took place in Pustec, an area with a predominantly Albanian-speaking population, and was attended by senior national and local officials.
Albania argued that national symbols should be treated with respect and that their recognition should not depend on political considerations.
The ministry said respect for national identity was especially important in areas where different communities live together, describing it as part of democratic coexistence and mutual respect.
The incident has also raised questions about the message conveyed by Mickoski’s participation in the event. For Albania, the omission was not simply a ceremonial oversight but a matter of respect towards the Albanian community represented at the gathering.
Tirana said such incidents could affect relations between the two neighbouring countries and stressed that respect for different national identities should form part of their bilateral relationship.
The message from Albania is clear: good-neighbourly relations require more than diplomatic statements — they also require respect to be demonstrated in practice.
