The Macedonian Association "Ilinden"-Tirana Marks Nine Years as a Full Member of the FUEN

15.05.2024

Press release, Ilinden Tirana 15.05.2024:

"Nine years ago, the Macedonian Association "Ilinden"-Tirana was admitted into the Federal Union of European Nationalities (FUEN), which is the largest minority organization in Europe. The Macedonian Association "Ilinden"-Tirana was the first minority organization from the Republic of Albania to become a full member of the FUEN. It was accepted on May 16th, 2015 at the congress held in Komotini, Greece, which was organized by the Federation of Western Thrace Turks in Europe, the Association of Student Graduates of Western Thrace Minorities, and the Party of Friendship, Equality, and Peace.

To this day, the Macedonian Association "Ilinden"-Tirana has made significant contributions in documenting and solving the numerous issues important for the Macedonians in Albania.

Additionally, the Macedonian Association "Ilinden"-Tirana has regularly participated at all FUEN congresses over the past nine years. At all these gatherings, the acedonian Association "Ilinden"-Tirana submitted resolutions whose content and intent was to improve the lives of Macedonians in Albania. All these resolutions were adopted by the FUEN and submitted to international institutions involved with minority rights, as well as to the state institutions in Albania. These resolutions have contributed to the improvement of the position of the Macedonians in the Republic of Albania.

As a full member of FUEN, the Macedonian Association "Ilinden"-Tirana is a part of the Working Group of Slavic Minorities in Europe, and we actively raise the issue of the Macedonians in Albania on the international stage.

 The Macedonian Association "Ilinden"-Tirana would like to extend its sincere gratitude to all the members of the FUEN for their cooperation and understanding of the interests of the Macedonian minority in Albania.

We also extend our sincere gratitude to the Macedonian International Human Rights Movement from Canada and its President Bill Nicholov, whose help has allowed the Macedonian Association "Ilinden"-Tirana to pay its annual membership fee and remain a full member of the FUEN. May we continue to work for many more years and maintain friendship with all nations and minorities in Europe."