Bulgaria welcomed the Law on the Protection of National Minorities passed by Albania’s Parliament today
13 October 2017 News
Deputy Prime Minister for Judicial Reform and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva welcomed the Law on the Protection of National Minorities, passed today by the Parliament of the Republic of Albania, which regulates the legal status of Albanian citizens who identify themselves as Bulgarians and their recognition as a minority. Their right to preserve and develop their linguistic and cultural identity and their historical heritage throughout the territory of the Republic of Albania is guaranteed in this way.
“The existence of a Bulgarian minority in Albania is a historical fact. Its official recognition by the Albanian State is a sign of political maturity and a European approach of statesmanlike thinking. This act reaffirms our excellent bilateral relations and opens up fresh opportunities for cooperation,” Minister Zaharieva said. She emphasised that the Albanian Parliament’s resolution today demonstrated yet again Albania’s readiness and will to carry out reforms. Bulgaria’s principled position is that ensuring and creating conditions for the exercise of minority rights is a key indicator of Albania’s readiness to start EU membership negotiations.
The resolution of Albania’s Parliament also confirms the commitments assumed by the Albanian side at the highest level in recent months. The issue about a formal recognition of the Bulgarian minority in Albania was raised by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in a telephone conversation with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on 28 September, as well as by Deputy Prime Minister Zaharieva during her meeting with President Ilir Meta in Tirana in late July and when she last conferred with her Albanian counterpart Ditmir Bushati in Thessaloniki a week ago.