TIRANA, April 8 – The ombudsman of the Republic of Albania, Endrit Shabani, met in Skopje with his counterpart from North Macedonia, Faton Selami. Kosovo ombudsman Naim Qelaj also attended. They discussed Albanian student protests and the guarantee of using Albanian in higher education.
Shabani, also president of the Mediterranean Ombudsmen Organization, urged authorities not to treat student demands as routine administrative issues. He framed the matter in its historical and legal context as a fundamental pillar of the rule of law.
“The Ohrid Agreement (2001) was not just a tool to stop conflict. It created a new social contract to build a shared and pluralistic state,” Shabani said. He added that recognizing the language respects Albanian citizens’ existence and their right to public representation. “Administrative procedures or temporary political will cannot override rights earned and exercised over years. Guaranteeing this right tests regional stability and forms a key condition for European integration,” he said.
Selami said his office has launched an investigation and raised the issue with the highest state authorities. He expressed optimism for a solution allowing Albanian students to take exams in their mother tongue. He also said a report is in preparation on Albanian representation in public institutions.
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