On the 25th anniversary of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, VLEN co-chair Izet Mexhiti said the 2001 document not only ended the conflict but also laid the foundations for a new concept of the state. According to him, the multiethnic composition of society should be reflected in institutions, legislation and public life.
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He said that, for Albanians, the agreement launched an important process toward institutional equality, including fair and adequate representation, the use of the Albanian language, decentralization, education, culture and participation in decision-making.
According to Mexhiti, the Ohrid Agreement cannot be viewed as a document that has remained unchanged since 2001. He said it is a process that must continuously evolve and adapt to the needs of citizens, as well as to European democratic standards.
Among the most important developments of the past two years, Mexhiti highlighted the shift of the principle of fair and adequate representation from administrative mechanisms to a legally regulated framework.
He stressed that the Government has approved the legal solution on fair and adequate representation, saying that enshrining this principle in law ensures greater stability and increases the accountability of institutions.
Another issue at the center of attention, according to him, is the exercise of the right to use the Albanian language. Mexhiti called on institutions to provide sustainable legal solutions in cases where obstacles or gaps arise in practice.
Referring to decentralization, he described it as one of the pillars underpinning the Ohrid Agreement.
Mexhiti said that the process of further advancing local self-government and decentralization has begun over the past two years, while warning that local government cannot function without financial capacity.
Through the Government’s program for financing capital projects at the local level, he said, more than €250 million has been secured for municipal projects. The funds cover investments in roads, water supply systems, sewerage networks, schools, kindergartens and other public infrastructure.
Among the municipalities that have benefited from these investments, he listed Čair, Tetovo, Gostivar, Struga, Saraj and Lipkovo, alongside other municipalities.
In his speech, Mexhiti also emphasized that strategic infrastructure investments are directly linked to equal development.
He cited Corridor VIII, which connects important parts of the country with Albania and the Adriatic, as a key route for economic development.
Along the same lines, Mexhiti also spoke about the Skopje–Blace motorway. He announced that work on the new route will begin this August, the very month marking the 25th anniversary of the Ohrid Agreement.
According to him, the completion of this project will improve connections between Skopje and Kosovo, facilitate trade and travel, and open up new opportunities for the area’s economic development.
Special attention during the speech was also devoted to higher education conducted in the Albanian language.
In this regard, Mexhiti highlighted the construction of the new campus of Mother Teresa University in Skopje, a project worth €42 million, which he described as an investment of particular importance for Albanian-language education.
“For the first time, Mother Teresa University will have a modern, permanent campus,” Mexhiti said. According to him, this investment represents support for education, the Albanian language and younger generations.
He stressed that the advancement of rights stemming from the Ohrid Agreement cannot be limited solely to legal provisions but must be accompanied by strong institutions and concrete infrastructure.
In conclusion, Mexhiti also spoke about culture, noting the need to support Albanian festivals, book fairs, publications, artists and cultural activities.
According to him, 25 years after the Ohrid Agreement, the challenge lies not only in safeguarding the achievements made so far. The new goal is for its principles to be translated into stronger institutions, economic development, quality education and better living conditions for citizens.
