Then the director of the International Crisis Group for Macedonia, Edward Joseph, raised the issue of the recognition of the Macedonian language in the context of the recognition of the Macedonian identity, referring to the formula hitherto used as a solution in the language dispute, which talks about the language "as described in the Constitution" and is vague and leaves room for reserves regarding the recognition. Dimitrov responded to this by saying that this was essentially an academic issue and that the statement in the treaty signed by Kostov and Georgievski is clear and that he would not waste time on that matter. To the insistence by Joseph that it is not merely an academic issue, but also a political one, very important for the stability of the region, Dimitrov responded that regarding that issue the Bulgarian side was trying to find a right balance hoping not to irritate Bulgarian extremists.
However, the trouble started after the official part of the meeting, when ambassador Jordanov approached ICG representatives and invited them to talk to him in the language they had talked about earlier, and addressed them in the Bulgarian language. The ICG representatives patiently waited for ambassador Jordanov to finish and then director Joseph responded: "I speak Serbo-croatian. Although I cannot speak the Macedonian language, I do understand it. However, I was not able to understand a word of what you were saying. For me that is yet another proof that Macedonian and Bulgarian are two completely different languages".
According to witnesses, this was the fuse that lit the Bulgarian ambassador, who excitedly said: "you understand Macedonian because it has been Serbianized, and has been for 80 years under Serb influence". Ognen Vangelov from the ICG replied to Jordanov by saying that "the same applies to Bulgarian, which has been Russified 50%". Vangelov used the word "vopros" (question) as an example, alluding to influences experienced by languages in the region. At that point ambassador Jordanov exploded and started a direct verbal fight with Vangelov, telling him that the young gentleman was arrogant and cheeky, that all of them had been brainwashed and taught all that, that they were talking nonsense. Jordanov followed Vangelov and screamed at him until he was asked to refrain from insults and go away.
MITREVSKI: Representatives of "Mala Prespa", "Mir", "Gora", and "Med" gathered in Tirana to agree on a common strategy for dealing with the Albanian authorities in our attempts to solve problems of Macedonians in Albania, that have been troubling us for more than ten years already. The priority of the newly formed Association of Macedonians will be issues related to our human rights. The association will represent all Macedonians in front of the Albanian institutions. Our first and basic task is to insist that Albanian authorities recognize ethnic Macedonian identity of all Macedonians, not only those who live in Mala Prespa, but also those living in Gora, Golo Brdo, and in large cities. Secondly, we shall try to win the right to education in our mother tongue, Macedonian, everywhere where significant numbers of ethnic Macedonians live.
Nonetheless, there are indications that the Albanian authorities do not want to recognize the existence of ethnic Macedonians anywhere except in the ten villages in the Mala Prespa region, continuing practice dating back to Enver Hoxha's [Communist] regime?
Regarding the rights of minorities, Albanian authorities are acting dumb and deaf. But we shall insist on our demands and insist on our rights. We shall present all our demands to the international organizations active in Albania, but also to those that are not active in the country. We shall increase pressure until our problems are considered and we obtain the same rights as other ethnic minorities elsewhere in Europe. Unfortunately, we have bitter experiences from the past regarding our human rights.
You demand that the Macedonian language become the second official language in Mala Prespa. What is that demand based on?
Our demand makes a lot of sense. In the region of Mala Prespa all 13 councilors are ethnic Macedonians and it is only natural and normal that they use their mother tongue and keep records in their mother tongue, Macedonian. That is our goal and we do not mean to destroy anything. We simply demand our legitimate rights and this should not be a problem for Albania.
It is still not known how many ethnic Macedonians actually live in Albania. Unofficially, there are claims that there are as many as 300,000 of them, while the Albanian authorities officially recognize only 5,000. Realistically, what is the actual number of ethnic Macedonians in Albania?
We have always demanded that the population census also record ethnicity of the citizens of Albania. That would allow that the real number of ethnic Macedonians and other minorities be established. The census held last year was not a true population census because it did not reflect the ethnic structure of the population. We are convinced that there are more than 300,000 ethnic Macedonians in Albania. By the way, the Albanian authorities are officially using the figure of only 5,000 ethnic Macedonians living in Mala Prespa only. We reject that figure. The president of our association "Prespa", Edmund Temelko, said clearly and loudly at the conference organized by the OSCE and Council of Europe in Tirana that the figure used by the Albanian authorities is far too small and that about 350,000 ethnic Macedonians live in Mala Prespa, Golo Brdo, Tirana, Dures, Elbasan and elsewhere. The authorities should prove their claim of only 5,000 ethnic Macedonians with a population census.
What were the reactions after the setting up of the association?
All ethnic Macedonians welcomed the founding of the association. They are optimistic that we shall finally achieve our rights, that we shall have an ethnic Macedonian representative in the Albanian parliament and that the model of inclusion of ethnic minorities in the political life that is used in some European states, and now even in Kosovo, will be adopted in Albania.
Recently, president of the Bulgarian parliament Ognjan Gerdzikov requested that Albania recognize Bulgarian minority in a meeting with his Albanian counterpart in Tirana. What do you think about this request?
That is true. Let me answer by saying two things. First, I doubt that the Albanian authorities will recognize the existence of an ethnic Bulgarian minority in Albania. If they do, that will be a disgrace for them, because there are no Bulgarians in Albania.
by V.C.
President of the OMO "Ilinden" Ivan Singartiski spoke about the life and achievements of Jane Sandanski, placing emphasis on his struggle against Bulgarians. "The heirs of Bulgarian Vrhovists are even today trying to sully his record," he said, emphasizing that six months before they destroyed the memorial plaque placed at the spot where the "Emperor of Pirin", as Sandanski was known in his time, was killed in 1915 by Vrhovists.
Singatirski stated for Utrinski Vesnik that since the verdict by the European Human Rights Court in Strasbourg the Bulgarian authorities have changed their attitude regarding the commemoration of the anniversary of Sandanski's murder. As is well known, the European Human Rights Court struck down the attempts of the Bulgarian authorities over the last ten years to ban ethnic Macedonians from gathering and commemorating important dates from their past. Those who attempted to do so were beaten and persecuted by the police, especially on the anniversary of Sandanski's murder. That was the main reason for their decision to file a suit against Bulgaria in Strasbourg.