The leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), Ali Ahmeti, has responded to acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti following criticism directed at the Democratic Union for Integration during its time in government. Kurti had suggested that DUI governed alongside a VMRO administration that was more hostile toward Albanians.
Ahmeti stated that such interpretations and remarks risk undermining the political achievements of Albanians across the region. Addressing Kurti directly, he defended the Ohr Framework Agreement, describing it as one of the fundamental achievements that ensured peace and coexistence in North Macedonia, as well as a cornerstone of the Ahtisaari Plan that paved the way for Kosovo’s independence.
He emphasized that during his period in government, significant progress was made in advancing the rights of Albanians, including the official use of the Albanian language, increased representation in public administration, and the leadership of key state institutions by ethnic Albanians.
In a public statement, Ahmeti said:
“Dear brothers and sisters, tonight I would like to express a concern before you—not a partisan concern, but a national one. Some among us in Skopje, but also in Pristina and Tirana, knowingly or unknowingly, are serving harmful interests. Whether due to a lack of accurate information, deliberate misinformation, or even partisan agendas, we are damaging our national achievements.
Dear Albin,
The Ohr Agreement of 2001 was also the cornerstone of the Ahtisaari Plan for Kosovo’s independence. For this agreement, blood was shed by our brothers from Kosovo and Albania. The agreement is not perfect because it was a compromise reached during wartime, with both sides equally dissatisfied, yet choosing peace and coexistence.
Through this agreement, I left this country with Albanian as an official language, the national flag officially recognized, three universities operating in Albanian, more than 25,000 Albanian public administrators, an Albanian Prime Minister, an Albanian Speaker of Parliament, and countless state institutions led by Albanians.
I left behind institutions where Albanian was spoken in official communication, including the Presidency, the Government, Parliament, municipalities, the police, and other state bodies. My government invited you to Skopje for a joint meeting where both you and my ministers spoke Albanian from beginning to end.
My government prepared the Skopje–Blace highway, established the joint border crossing with Kosovo, enabled border crossings using identification cards, advanced Corridor VIII, completed the Tetovo–Prizren road project, and handed it over to you ready for implementation five years ago, together with 11 other bilateral agreements.
My government recognized Kosovo’s independence and lobbied on Kosovo’s behalf. Dear brothers and sisters in Kosovo, these achievements—and many others—were made possible by the Ohr Agreement, the Law on Languages derived from it, and the Constitution.
Last night, you spoke about respecting the will of the people. I agree. However, here too, you have been misinformed. VLEN does not have the people’s mandate; it lost the elections and entered government as the preferred partner of VMRO, not of the Albanian electorate. When you do not have the people’s mandate to represent them, you become a servant rather than a representative.
You cannot defend the language when it is taken away from you, as happened; when the flag is disrespected; when Albanian administrators are dismissed from their jobs; when institutions close their doors to Albanians; or when no major project can be delivered because you entered government through VMRO’s choice rather than through the will of Albanians.
And finally, Serbia has gained significant influence in North Macedonia, Albin. The minister responsible for the Ohr Agreement is Ivan Stoilkovic, who today is in China, yesterday was in Russia, and is frequently in Belgrade and Banja Luka.
The ministry established through the sacrifices of Albanian martyrs from North Macedonia, Kosovo, and Albania has been turned into a tool serving Putin and Vucic,” Ahmeti said.
The post Ahmeti Responds to Kurti: Ohr Agreement Was Also the Cornerstone of the Ahtisaari Plan for Kosovo appeared first on Euronews Albania.
