Skopje, 1 August 2024 (MIA) – We understand our partners' position, because the issue of establishing an Albanian Academy is sensitive, but our goal as a coalition is not to politically harm our coalition partners, but to implement what we promised to the voters, Bashkim Murtezi of the 'Worth It' coalition told a press conference on Thursday.

He pointed out that the 'Worth It' coalition will not adjust its program commitments for the sake of "personal comfort in the Government", because according to the agreement on the government formation, he noted, initiatives should be launched on issues that highly sensitize the public and joint solutions should be found.

"This is how any democratic government composed of parties with different ideological and political affiliations works," said Murtezi. 

The formation of an Albanian Academy, he added, is a reflection of certain negative situations in the country, due to which there is still no place for Albanians in some institutions.

In response to a reporter's question on why a way is not being sought for, as it is said, greater representation of Albanians in the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU) and whether such an initiative by 'Worth It' might threaten relations with the coalition partners, Murtezi said "there is no threat to the relations in the Government".

"There is no threat to the relations in the Government. Any initiative that leads towards improving the conditions in the country, including the academic activities of the Albanians in Macedonia, does not represent a risk for any society. We are not rejecting any initiative. This is an initiative to establish an Academy of the Albanians in Macedonia, and the solution will be found together with everyone," Murtezi said. 

Our goal, he added, is not to establish a parallel institution, pointing to the example of the State University in Tetovo.

"Looking back at recent years, every initiative may have seemed to be a parallel one at first glance. That was also the case with the establishment of the University of Tetovo, where there was resistance from the public, but today we are aware, and we witness that Macedonians also study at the University, so there is no division, but it is building bigger institutions in this sense," said Murtezi. 

Photo: MIA