While the president of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, announced that organizers of public gatherings in Tetovo and Cair “must be punished for displaying provocative nationalist iconography,” the Kosovo PM, who attended the gatherings at one of which the flag with a map of so-called Greater Albania was displayed, alleges that they were not directed against anyone, while also describing North Macedonia as an ally.
Kosovo PM Albin Kurti paid an unofficial visit to North Macedonia on Friday where he met with the mayors of the Skopje municipalities Cair, Visar Ganiju, and Tetovo, Bilal Kasami.
In the Macedonian capital, Kurti and his compatriots marked the renaming of a street once called “Second Macedonian Strike Brigade“ street to “Adem Demaci“ street.
In Tetovo, behind these Albanian officials, a flag with a map of Greater Albania was displayed, along with the Kosovo and Albanian flags. According to media reports, while the Macedonian national anthem was not played, the Kosovo anthem could be heard.
In the meantime, a video clip of the mayor of Tetovo’s speech was published on social networks, in which he allegedly referred to Kurti as “the special prime minister of Tetovo“ and “the prime minister of all Albanians“.
The media, as well as the opposition parties, emphasized that it was an unofficial visit, but an official meeting of Kurti with two Macedonian mayors of Albanian ethnicity, noting that the protocols at these events were unconstitutional and “scandalous“.
The president of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, had a similar reaction, and requested that the organizers of the gatherings be punished.
„Organizers of public gatherings in Tetovo and Cair must be punished for violating legal provisions concerning the use of the state flag and anthem and community flags and symbols, by completely ignoring state symbols,“ he stated.
Pendarovski called on the competent authorities to „wrap up the prescribed procedures as soon as possible“.
He also addressed the display of symbols that promote the „large-state chauvinist idea“ at the gathering.
„Displaying provocative nationalist iconography that promotes big-state chauvinist ideas is inflaming ethnic hatred and intolerance, which unequivocally attacks the basic principles and values of the Framework Agreement, as well as the concept of Macedonia as a multi-ethnic state,“ Pendarovski said.
He also commented on the fact that the name of the street in the municipality of Cair in Skopje was changed, noting that the way it was done is contrary to the principle of democratic discussion and respect for the historical heritage of all communities.
„I expect the competent inspection services to check whether the principle of double majority was respected when making the decision, which should also include the votes of non-majority communities in that municipality,“ said the president of North Macedonia.
The Kosovo PM soon reacted, saying that the meetings and gatherings in North Macedonia were not aimed against anyone.
„I consider the Republic of North Macedonia as a country, partner, ally and friend with common integration goals in the European Union,“ said the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, RTK2 reports.
„They are also a member of NATO, and we have NATO here. This shows that our relations are excellent,“ he said.
He added that he was in North Macedonia on Friday at the invitation of mayors of Cair and Tetovo.
„We had a great time. These get-togethers were not held as meetings and gatherings against anyone. With good relations between us, no one will suffer. I didn’t comment on the other statements, but we always expressed our willingness to cooperate,“ Kurti said.
In the meantime, Pristina media reported that the mayor of Cair municipality, Visar Ganiju, announced that the name of the street was changed in accordance with the law, that is, based on the majority of votes in the local assembly.
The latest events in North Macedonia were also criticized by the Serbian President, who described them as “a huge scandal.”
“The idea of Greater Albania was promoted there, the symbols of a great Albania were displayed. He (Kurti) was presented as the prime minister of all Albanians and the prime minister of Tetovo,“ Vucic said on TV Pink yesterday morning.
Vucic hailed the statement of the former Serbian defense minister and the former head of the Democratic Party, Dragan Sutanovac, regarding the speech of the mayor of Tetovo.
“When the ‘most democratic’ prime minister in the Balkans is announced in North Macedonia as the prime minister of all Albanians, it is a clear confirmation of the fact that this is a man who does not think of de-escalating in the North of Kosovo, but goes one step further towards the destabilization of North Macedonia and the region!“ Sutanovac tweeted.
He went on to condemn the fact that the Second Macedonian Brigade Street in Skopje was renamed to ‘Adem Demaci’ Street. “He spent 28 years in prison as the worst ideologue And promoter for greater Albania and a separatist,” stressed Vucic.
He said that Demaci is “a mentor and idol” to Albin Kurti.
While boasting about the strength of the Serbian army, he also alleged that if that were not the case, Kurti would have attacked Serbia many times.
“Just look at him and his ideology.”
He would not only attack Serbia proper, but North Macedonia and Montenegro as well, and the question is what would happen to Albania – Vucic warned.
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Vucic: „Greater Albania“ promoted in Tetovo, Kurti would attack Serbia proper, N.Macedonia…
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