TIRANA, August 12 – Foreign Minister Ferit Hoxha has highlighted the importance of the Ohrid Framework Agreement ahead of its 25th anniversary on August 13. He described the 2001 accord as a major political and diplomatic achievement for North Macedonia and the Western Balkans.
According to Hoxha, the agreement gave the country a new direction after the interethnic conflict. It placed dialogue, compromise and respect for rights at the heart of coexistence. Meanwhile, he said Ohrid showed that the Balkans can address interethnic conflicts through inclusive institutions rather than force.
Hoxha also stressed the agreement’s importance for Albanians in North Macedonia. Their rights, he said, do not represent a concession from the majority. Instead, he described those rights as part of the country’s political contract and democratic foundations. In addition, he argued that they should not depend on the political climate.
At the same time, Hoxha said respect for identity, language, culture and representation makes a state stronger. Citizens who feel equal and represented have more reason to see the state as their own. As a result, he argued, equality among communities also strengthens social stability.
Turning to Albania’s position, Hoxha linked North Macedonia’s stability and well-being directly to the security of the Western Balkans. He said Albania will continue to support the rights of Albanians wherever they live. At the same time, he reaffirmed support for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and democratic functioning of the states where they live.
Hoxha said the Ohrid Agreement should not remain only a commemorative document. Instead, he described it as a political contract that requires continued implementation and attention. Twenty-five years after its signing, he said, Ohrid remains a foundation for peace, coexistence and North Macedonia’s European future.
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