site.btaMickoski at VMRO-DPMNE Albania Association Office Opening: Macedonians in Pirin Region Have No Such Opportunity

The Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia and leader of the ruling VMRO–DPMNE party, Hristijan Mickoski, attended the opening of the VMRO–DPMNE Albania Association’s office in Tirana, the party headquarters in Skopje announced on Thursday.

“I emphasized to those present the opportunity for Macedonians in Albania to have their own club, an opportunity to organize, to freely work to preserve their culture, identity, language, and traditions, an opportunity that Macedonians in Bulgaria’s Pirin region do not have, who in the 21st century are prevented from registering a non-governmental association and cannot speak freely about their Macedonian identity. We are hardworking, patient, and smart, and I assure you that sooner or later we will achieve this goal,” Mickoski wrote on his Facebook profile.

In his remarks, Mickoski said he was pleased that all attendees at the ceremony recognized “the centuries-old authentic Macedonian roots and the centuries-old Macedonian identity,” and that he was impressed “that the Macedonian language is being cherished and preserved.”

“The Macedonian state will be a pillar for Macedonians around the world, wherever they may be, a state that is their homeland, a state that with open arms awaits their return home, to be together with the Macedonians in Macedonia,” Mickoski stated.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia is in Albania to participate in the Western Balkans Leaders’ Our Pathway to the EU Growth Plan Summit, which is being held in Tirana on Friday. According to the government press office, he will speak at a panel discussion titled Implementing Joint Commitments, Results and Acceleration.