The Macedonian minority in Albania is the focus of a resolution unanimously adopted by the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN), following a proposal submitted by the Macedonian Association “Ilinden” – Tirana.

The resolution, identified as Resolution 2026-02, addresses several issues concerning the rights, status and identity of the Macedonian national minority in the Republic of Albania.

The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) welcomed the unanimous adoption of the resolution and described it as an important step toward the protection and advancement of the rights, Macedonian language, culture and identity of Macedonians in Albania.

The resolution is titled “Macedonian national minority in the Republic of Albania” and was submitted by the Macedonian Association “Ilinden” – Tirana.

According to the document, the resolution was prepared in connection with the 70th Congress of the Federal Union of European Nationalities and refers to issues concerning the position of the Macedonian national minority in Albania.

Resolution calls for protection of Macedonian minority rights

One of the key requests contained in Resolution 2026-02 concerns the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

The resolution calls on the Government of the Republic of Albania to sign and ratify the Charter.

The document also refers to Article 3 of the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities. It calls on the Albanian Government to ensure that persons belonging to the Macedonian national minority may freely choose to be treated as members of that minority.

The resolution further calls for effective measures against external political pressure aimed at denying or assimilating Macedonian identity in Albania.

The document links these requests to the broader protection of the rights of the Macedonian national minority, including issues related to language, identity and cultural rights.

The resolution also refers to discussions concerning the Macedonian minority that took place during a FUEN seminar in Tirana in June 2026.

A significant part of the document focuses on the Municipality of Pustec and its position within the administrative structure of Albania.

The Macedonian Association “Ilinden” – Tirana and the Macedonian national minority in Albania call for the Municipality of Pustec to remain a separate local self-government unit.

The resolution specifically addresses the Special Parliamentary Commission for Administrative-Territorial Reform of the Assembly of the Republic of Albania.

It calls on the commission to ensure that the Municipality of Pustec remains a separate local self-government unit and does not undergo territorial changes or merge with other administrative units as part of a new administrative-territorial reform.

The document bases this request on the Constitution of the Republic of Albania, as well as Article 16 of Law No. 96/2017 on the Protection of National Minorities.

The resolution cites the provision stating that measures changing the composition of the population in local self-government units where persons belonging to national minorities live are prohibited when such measures have the purpose or effect of limiting the rights and freedoms provided to those minorities.

The document also refers to the historical, geographic, cultural and natural characteristics of the Pustec area.

It states that these characteristics should be taken into account when proposals concerning a future administrative-territorial reform are prepared.

Another request included in the resolution concerns the official name of the municipality.

The Macedonian Association “Ilinden” – Tirana calls for the Municipality of Pustec to be renamed the Municipality of Prespa.

The request is included among the measures and issues presented in the resolution concerning the Macedonian national minority in Albania.

UMD welcomes the unanimous adoption

The United Macedonian Diaspora welcomed the unanimous adoption of Resolution 2026-02 in a statement published on its Facebook page.

UMD described the adoption as an important step in efforts to protect and advance the rights, Macedonian language, culture and identity of Macedonians in the Republic of Albania.

The organisation also extended its congratulations to the Macedonian Association “Ilinden” – Tirana, highlighting its dedication and work.

The resolution itself identifies the Macedonian Association “Ilinden” – Tirana as the organisation that submitted the proposal.

The document places its requests within the framework of existing international instruments concerning the protection of national minorities and minority languages.

Among the issues addressed are the right of members of the Macedonian national minority to identify themselves as such, the protection of Macedonian identity, the status of the Macedonian language and the administrative position of the Municipality of Pustec.

The adoption of Resolution 2026-02 adds another resolution concerning the Macedonian national minority in Albania to the work of the Macedonian Association “Ilinden” – Tirana within FUEN.

UMD concluded its statement by congratulating the Macedonian Association “Ilinden” – Tirana on the adoption of the resolution and its work concerning Macedonians in Albania.