This week marks 24 years since the signing of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended the armed conflict between Macedonian forces and the National Liberation Army and signaled a historic turn toward stability and coexistence in the country. While political leaders have highlighted achievements from the agreement, experts note that it has not been fully implemented, with the status of the Albanian language remaining among the unfulfilled obligations.
Under international pressure, representatives of the Macedonian government and Albanian political leaders signed the Ohrid Agreement 24 years ago, which included ceasefire, demilitarization, decentralization, language rights, and Albanian representation in state institutions and administration. The agreement was guaranteed by the United States and the European Union, with a four-year implementation timeline, including constitutional and legislative changes.
Ali Ahmeti, chairman of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), told Kosovapress that many achievements have been realized, including NATO membership and the launch of EU accession talks. Ahmeti emphasized that the agreement brought ethnic cooperation, legal reforms, and institutional representation, including recognition of the Albanian language, national flag, higher education, and equitable representation in government.
However, experts argue that implementation has been inconsistent. Analyst Xhelal Neziri noted that the Ohrid Agreement’s effectiveness has largely depended on the political will of successive governments. When Macedonian parties held a parliamentary majority, the spirit of the agreement often remained minimally implemented, as genuine dialogue and compromise between ethnic groups were not always pursued.
Neziri stressed that no comprehensive analysis exists evaluating which provisions of the Ohrid Agreement have been implemented effectively in North Macedonia’s political system. He added that parties responsible for overseeing implementation, particularly Albanian parties, did not fully conduct serious assessments.
Former diplomat Xhevdet Halili pointed out that the deadline for full implementation was three years after the signing. He emphasized that a law is needed to make Albanian not only an official language but also fully equal, reflecting the constitutional guarantees under Yugoslavia in 1974. Halili noted that current legislation, agreed upon by coalition partners, must be properly applied, particularly regarding adequate Albanian representation in institutions.
The 2018 Language Law in North Macedonia requires public institutions to allow the official use of languages spoken by at least 20% of citizens. Albanians, making up nearly 30% of the country’s population, are the largest minority. The law expanded Albanian usage in judicial processes and police uniforms. VMRO-DPMNE, currently in power, had opposed the law, which was later reviewed by the Constitutional Court.
