The leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), Ali Ahmeti, stated that 24 years ago, “Albanians and Macedonians extended their hands to each other to build a new Macedonia.” More than two decades after the agreement, Ahmeti said that there have been many achievements, mentioning NATO membership and the start of negotiations for joining the European Union.
In his speech on the 24th anniversary of the Ohrid Agreement, the BDI leader said that universities, cultural institutions, and identity institutions have been built.
“24 years ago, Albanians and Macedonians extended their hands to each other to build a new Macedonia, equal and integrated into NATO and the EU, through the peaceful Ohrid Agreement, guaranteed by the United States of America and the European Union. Together, we changed the Constitution and adopted the normative part of the Ohrid Agreement, including the regulation of the use of the Albanian language, the national flag, higher education, fair representation, and many other laws,” Ahmeti said.
Over the years, Ahmeti said, they led the Parliament and all ministries, culminating in the “promised and realized position of the first Albanian prime minister.”
“Our contribution to the state resulted in good interethnic and neighborly relations, NATO membership, and the start of negotiations for joining the European Union. From all these and many others, our shared state benefited, and no one lost. All the achievements over the past 24 years were made together, with VMRO, with SDSM, as well as with our international friends. These achievements themselves are the state; they are the foundation of stability, security, and the future of our country,” he added.
He said that everyone must come together so that the quarter-century of the Ohrid Agreement “finds us standing tall as before, and not bent, humiliated, and despised as today.”
“To those who learned history from television screens, who have no contribution to the achievements and national processes, and who never gained the trust of the people, but were chosen by others to serve evil, I say: Courage after the war and wisdom after the parliament do not COUNT. To know oneself is wisdom; to govern oneself is courage. Therefore, when the door opens, honor increases. We are coming together, as never before, focused on roots rather than branches, not as servants or opportunists, but proud and committed to answering the call of the people for national dignity, today or never! Let us unite, everyone, young and old, men and women, so that the quarter-century of the Ohrid Agreement finds us standing tall as before, and not bent, humiliated, and despised as today!” concluded Ahmeti.
Twenty-four years ago, the Framework Ohrid Agreement was signed between Albanians and Macedonians to establish new socio-political relations and further develop the state.
This agreement was made with the assistance of the international community after an armed conflict that took place in 2001.
