The Albanian Mountaineering and Mountain Tourism Federation has issued an official statement regarding an incident reported a few days ago, in which a group from North Macedonia removed a double-headed eagle symbol that had been placed by a team of Albanian mountaineers on Mount Korab.
The Federation stressed that the double-headed eagle is a symbol of Albanian history, identity and national dignity, and that its removal undermines mutual respect and the spirit of solidarity in sport.
The Federation also called on Albanian authorities to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and restore the symbol to its original location.
Full statement:
“Sports unite nations and build bridges of cooperation, not division. The Albanian Mountaineering and Mountain Tourism Federation condemns the removal of the double-headed eagle by a group from North Macedonia. The symbol had been placed by a team of Albanian mountaineers on Mount Korab. The incident was reported on September 29, 2026.
The double-headed eagle is a symbol of Albanian identity, history and national dignity. Its removal is an act that undermines mutual respect and runs counter to the spirit of solidarity represented by mountaineering.
According to a statement by North Macedonia’s Ministry of Interior, as reported by MKD.mk and Skopje1.mk, the symbol had been placed on the other side of Mount Korab, outside the territory of North Macedonia. This information makes it necessary for the relevant institutions to clarify the intervention and determine responsibility for it.
We call on the Albanian authorities to investigate the incident and take the appropriate steps to identify those responsible and restore the symbol, in accordance with the law and territorial jurisdiction.
At the same time, we call on mountaineering organizations in North Macedonia to distance themselves from such actions and contribute to clarifying the incident. The actions of individuals should not undermine the friendship and cooperation between our sporting communities.
In the mountains, mountaineers rely on one another regardless of nationality. Respect for national symbols and the dignity of every individual is part of this ethic.
The Federation remains committed to sporting cooperation and good-neighbourly relations, while seeking the same respect for Albanian identity and national symbols. The mountains unite us. Mutual respect should guide us!”
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