TIRANA, April 6 /ATA/ Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Ferit Hoxha, issued a statement on Monday in response to the protest by Albanian students in North Macedonia, who are demanding the right to sit their examinations in the Albanian language. In a post on the social media platform X, Hoxha stressed that the use of one’s mother tongue constitutes a fundamental right, enshrined in the Constitution and the Law on the Use of Languages in North Macedonia.
Hoxha wrote: “I have closely followed the concerns expressed and the fair and legitimate demand of Albanian students in North Macedonia to be allowed to sit their examinations in the Albanian language.” He stressed that “the use of one’s mother tongue is a fundamental right, guaranteed by the Constitution of North Macedonia and the Law on the Use of Languages, which cannot and should not be restricted or delayed by any procedure.”
Hoxha underlined that, should procedures prove inadequate or vague, institutions have a duty to come up with fair and sustainable solutions. He added: “This is an issue that requires a measured and responsible approach, devoid of politicisation. It must be addressed with institutional seriousness and in the spirit of respect for fundamental rights.”
Hoxha went on saying that “democracies possess not only the necessary mechanisms but also the requisite maturity to identify remedies that harmonise the rule of law, legislation and the rights of citizens.”
Hoxha emphasised: “Students deserve commendation for their civic engagement and for the democratic manner in which they have articulated their request. This requires a response of equal responsibility, delivered through constructive dialogue and remedies that fully uphold the rights guaranteed.”
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