Political scientist Naim Iljazi has commented on the protest of Albanian students in North Macedonia, emphasizing that their demands for the use of the Albanian language are legitimate and constitute a fundamental right.
Iljazi, in a conversation on the "Lunch Program" in News24, said that the students gave a clear political and social message for building a democratic and multiethnic culture in the country. The political scientist emphasized that exams in the faculties of jurisprudence should be held in Albanian and called on the students to continue the protests for their rights.
He added that the ethnic situation in the country remains tense, while criticizing the government for its lack of will to address the real problems of citizens. According to him, there are also individuals in North Macedonia who use chauvinistic rhetoric against Albanians to cover up, according to him, “their own complexes.” Protests by Albanian students in the RMV have continued in recent days, with demands for respect for linguistic rights and equality in the education system.
"A clear political message was given by the students. For the building of a culture in the RMV. Albanians have the absolute right to speak in Albanian. When the state of North Macedonia was built, the foundations were built on our homes. That is why they should take into account the existence of Albanians. That is why the jurisprudence exam should be given in Albanian. Students should continue the protests, for their rights. I do not think that this issue has been used by politics enough. The situation is tense, the ethnic relationship is tense. The government does not want to get out of the mess it has created, but wants to have those titles, and they do not want to function for the good of the citizens. Albanians are not the problem. We live, we develop and we want to have our preparation in our language. There are those who are radical and come up with chauvinistic concepts regarding the Albanian people in North Macedonia, to cover up their own complexity. We do not suffer this complex. The tensions will not be regulated, if we do not "The status of the Albanian language is fulfilled. Most institutions do not respect the Albanian language. We have a blocked Albanian in our institutions, so the state must create their own mechanisms. Institutions must have their own translator for Albanian. The country risks destabilization due to many factors, and not only for Albanian," he said.
The political scientist did not spare criticism of official Tirana and Pristina, while adding that there must be concrete reactions.
"Tirana and Kosovo only have statements and no serious commitment. Albania has it in the Constitution to react and protect Albanians. We demand that this point of the Constitution of the Republic of Albania be put into use, and used not only for the RMV, but for Albanians wherever they are. Kosovo is using the situation more to dilute the students' demands than to make them more encouraging," he said.
