Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, has weighed in on the ongoing debate over the use of the Albanian language in North Macedonia, asserting that the issue is not one of laws or political will, but rather one of cultural and national importance.
Rama emphasized that the matter should not be subject to the Constitutional Court’s decisions, saying, “For me, it’s a matter beyond explanation in the context of North Macedonia’s Constitutional Court. I don’t argue that other countries’ Constitutional Courts might be wrong, but what Albanian has gained as a right of citizenship in North Macedonia is not a legal issue, nor a matter of temporary political party will.” He further stated that political parties change after every four years, making the use of the Albanian language a deeper, more intrinsic issue that transcends political agendas.
According to Rama, the Albanian language plays a crucial role in the cohesion of the country and the harmonious coexistence between the two founding peoples of North Macedonia, the Macedonians and the Albanians. He remarked, “The Albanian language in North Macedonia is a matter of substance, which has greatly helped not only to keep North Macedonia together, but also to nurture a spirit and a way of coexistence between the two peoples.”
This statement comes at a time when the Constitutional Court of North Macedonia is reviewing the legality of the language law, which allows for the use of the Albanian language in all state institutions alongside Macedonian.
