Skopje, 28 August 2022 (MIA) — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs remains in communication with the Macedonian minority in Albania on issues that concern the Macedonians here and is actively engaged in the protection and promotion of their ethnic, cultural and linguistic heritage, the head of diplomacy Bujar Osmani said after his working visit to Trebishte and Pustec, where he met with prominent activists and local government representatives. According to an official press release, this is the second time Osmani has visited Macedonians in Albania in the past few months, as part of the continuing cooperation between the MFA and Macedonian associations in Albania. FM Osmani's talks focused on the position of the Macedonians in Albania and the support they receive from North Macedonia’s institutions, with the minister pointing out projects financed by the MFA as well as state scholarships for studying in North Macedonia as examples of support. He said he would propose to the government an action plan for additional projects that North Macedonia and its institutions can implement to help the Macedonians in Albania. At the Trebishte meeting, the possibilities of changing the working hours of the Trebishte–Dzhepishte border crossing were discussed. This change would improve economic and trade cooperation in this region as well as the freedom of movement of the local population on both sides of the border, FM Osmani said, adding that this issue had been raised as one of the most important ones for the Macedonian population in the Golo Brdo area. In the talks, Osmani also stressed the significance of the Open Balkans initiative in opening of new border crossings or revitalizing existing ones. During his visit to Pustec, Osmani met with Vasil Sterjoski, the president of the only party of Macedonians in Albania, the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration; Pustec Mayor Pali Kolefski; and Trajan Vangelovski, the principal of the local school where students attend classes in the Macedonian language. They discussed ways to improve living conditions in the municipality as well as to further increase opportunities for Macedonians from Albania to study at higher educational institutions in North Macedonia. Osmani also visited the Sterjo Spase Memorial House, built with the help of EU’s IPA program by the Bitola Museum and the Korcha Directorate of Culture. mr/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xMUsz5yTqU