The Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) is calling for Bilall Kasami to be held institutionally accountable, claiming that the Vergina flag was displayed in Tetovo during celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of North Macedonia, while the Albanian national flag was not used.

According to DUI, the issue goes beyond protocol and demonstrates how the authorities treat the Albanian national symbol. The party recalled that, in its election platform, VLEN had promised that the Albanian national flag, anthem and coat of arms would be used on an equal footing with Macedonian symbols. However, according to DUI, these commitments were forgotten after the coalition entered the government without legitimacy from the Albanian vote.

DUI also cited other cases that it considers evidence of this approach. First, it said, Maksim Dimitrievski banned the use of the Albanian national flag in his office. Ministers then avoided displaying it in official photographs, while during the local election campaign the Albanian flag was absent even in places where it should have been most prominent. According to DUI, the same stance was repeated during a state holiday on which the use of the flag is required by law.

“The greatest paradox is that, while the Albanian national flag was left out, the Vergina flag was displayed in the center of Tetovo. This is not an official state symbol and is contrary to the Prespa Agreement. For those who promised equality between national symbols, there is apparently no place for the Albanian flag, while a non-institutionalized symbol is deemed acceptable at a state ceremony. This says more about their current policies than any statement could,” DUI said.

The party called on the competent authorities to examine the legal basis for the decision and determine the responsibility of those who ordered, authorized or carried out the display of the Vergina flag. It also demanded an explanation for the absence of the Albanian flag.

“The law cannot be applied according to political interests, and promises of equality cannot serve merely to secure Albanian votes. Kasami may make political compromises to extend his time in office by even one more day, but he cannot trade away Albanian national dignity and the Albanian national symbol. The 35th anniversary of independence should be marked as a day of respect for the state, the law and equality, not as a day of humiliation and denial of the Albanian symbol,” DUI said./Telegrafi/

The post DUI demands accountability from Kasami: Vergina flag displayed in Tetovo, while Albanian flag was absent appeared first on Albeu.com.

Tetovo has been without a general urban plan since 2013. The last document was drafted in 2003 and remained in force until that year.

According to the Urban Planning Sector of the Municipality of Tetovo, work is currently under way on the Detailed Urban Plan. The city’s territory contains a total of 128 urban blocks, but only 68 of them have active plans, while the remaining 60 do not have detailed plans.

Rilind Selmani of the Urban Planning Sector of the Municipality of Tetovo said that, after the previous plan expired, no initiative had been undertaken to draft a new document. According to him, the process was launched by Mayor Bilall Kasami, who decided to prepare a new general urban plan.

“Tetovo’s general urban plan was in force until 2013, and after it expired no one took the initiative to prepare a new plan. Mayor Bilall Kasami did so by deciding to draft a new general urban plan. This plan includes 128 other detailed plans: 68 are active, while 60 do not have such plans. For the latter, we must also encourage citizens to engage in their preparation so that further development can be enabled,” Selmani said.

The new plan aims to expand Tetovo’s urban boundaries from approximately 1,160 hectares to up to 1,500 hectares. It provides for the designation of areas for new residential construction, sports halls, a public swimming pool and new infrastructure roads.

Selmani said that the procedures had advanced and that the planning program was currently being prepared. At the same time, the Municipality is securing planning conditions from the Planning Agency, which has requested an overview of the urban development projects that have received planning conditions over the years, with the aim of adapting and synchronizing them.

“We launched the initiative to draft the general urban plan in order to expand the existing plan. The current plan covers approximately 1,160 hectares, while the new plan will extend to up to 1,500 hectares. The designated uses will be adapted to the buildings that have already been constructed on the ground. The process is moving at a fast pace, and we are currently at the stage of preparing the planning program. Before that, we are securing planning conditions from the Planning Agency, which has requested an overview of all urban development projects that have received planning conditions over the years so that they can be adapted and synchronized with one another,” Rilind Selmani said.

During 2025, the Municipality of Tetovo issued a total of 212 construction permits for new buildings, additions and extensions to existing structures.

The post Tetovo begins drafting a new urban plan after more than a decade appeared first on Albeu.com.

Pedestrian movement on Tetovo’s sidewalks is being hindered by spaces occupied by businesses and cafés. Tables, chairs, refrigerators, goods for sale and other materials are placed in these areas, blocking free passage.

People with disabilities and parents using baby strollers face the greatest obstacles. In addition to equipment placed outside by businesses, they also complain about vehicles parked on sidewalks.

The situation is particularly problematic along the section that begins at the roundabout near the location known as the Taksi Pastry Shop and continues to the Pasha’s Mosque. In this part of the city, almost every business has occupied part of the sidewalk in one way or another.

Authorities in the Municipality of Tetovo are aware of this issue and have announced that inspections will be stepped up starting Monday. An awareness campaign has also been announced.

The mayor of the Municipality of Tetovo, Bilall Kasami, said he would cooperate with the municipal inspectorate to remove any obstacle restricting citizens’ freedom of movement. According to him, the municipality takes measures continuously, and inspectors are in the field every day to address this problem.

Kasami stressed that during daily travel around Tetovo, it is evident that citizens place various types of goods and equipment outside, blocking passage. He added that the inspectorate intervenes to remove them and, in certain cases, confiscates both the goods and the equipment obstructing the way.

When a sidewalk is occupied without a permit or when the limits of the approved space are exceeded, the inspectorate may order the removal of the equipment and impose penalties. Cases have also been documented in which establishments were given a deadline to remove tables and chairs illegally placed on the sidewalk. /tv21

The post Tetovo Residents Call for Sidewalks and Public Spaces to Be Cleared appeared first on Albeu.com.

Avni Ameti, the unit chief, reports that the Tetovo team alone carries out an average of ten interventions every day. “This wheat harvest period inevitably brings a heavy workload, as farmers set fire to their fields and we face a high number of fires. Our staff is not allowed to take vacations during July and August, which is our fire ‘season,’ and the entire squad is kept on full alert. We also receive valuable support from the substations in Tearce and Bogovinje,” he stressed.

Beyond the problems with fire outbreaks, residents of the region have recently been facing another concern: an increased presence of snakes. Bashkim Sulejmani from the same unit says there have been cases where teams were called to remove reptiles from homes and yards. However, he assured citizens that most of the species encountered in Polog do not pose a threat to human life, although he urged everyone to remain vigilant.

Meanwhile, in the surgical ward of the Tetovo hospital, two patients bitten by snakes have been registered in recent days.

The post Heatwave and agricultural waste burning increase firefighter engagements in Tetovo appeared first on Albeu.com.

The session was initially abandoned by the group of DUI councilors, but at the moment the meeting resumed, only their coordinator, Berat Murati, appeared in the hall.

After a lengthy discussion, the Council representatives concluded that this matter should be returned for evaluation to the Commission responsible for naming streets.

This commission began its activity several years ago and, based on the information provided during the session, two public discussions on this topic have been held so far.

The Mayor of the Municipality of Tetovo, Bilall Kasami, described the proposal coming from DUI as wrong, emphasizing that procedures for renaming streets have already begun.

The post Proposal for Street Names in Tetovo Removed from Agenda, DUI Councilors Absent appeared first on Albeu.com.

According to him, the next steps they will take will depend on how the Municipality of Tetovo responds to this issue.

“You see a mountain of people showing their anger over the return of the old street names in the Municipality of Tetovo. What has surprised us is how the Municipality of Tetovo is trying to prevent citizens from participating in the protest. We have notified the police about the protest. But also the diplomatic corps in Skopje, who are monitoring the protest. The protests will continue, and they depend on the reflection that the Municipality of Tetovo will show,” Rexhepi said.

Asked about the possibility of elections for councillors being held in Tetovo, Rexhepi said they are prepared for elections, but stressed that their proposal is not the same as the one that was annulled by the Constitutional Court.

The post DUI Holds Another Protest in Tetovo, Rexhepi: There Is a Large Number of Participants, the Municipality Has Prevented Citizens From Coming appeared first on Albeu.com.

According to the statement from this branch, the Municipality of Tetovo did not submit the documentation requested by the Constitutional Court, and this, according to DUI, influenced the annulment of the decision on naming the streets and the restoration of the previous names.

“Therefore, it is more than clear to us that Bilall Kasami bears direct political responsibility for this scandalous decision. His silence and inaction in response to the Constitutional Court’s requests constitute a serious responsibility toward the interests, history and dignity of the citizens of Tetovo,” the DUI statement said.

The DUI branch in Tetovo called on all citizens to take part in this protest, which they describe as a reaction aimed at defending the dignity, history and identity of the city.

The post DUI in Tetovo announces protest on July 11 after decision on street names appeared first on Albeu.com.

Fatmir Rexhepi, spokesperson for the Tetovo Department of Internal Affairs, said it is planned for police officers to be present at every intersection, as well as in other problematic areas, to prevent double parking and the blocking of areas near intersections, with the aim of easing traffic flow. He added that the tow truck will also be in operation, removing vehicles that obstruct traffic. According to him, during this period additional police inspectors wearing police vests will also be deployed, and they will take measures and carry out activities related to possible criminal offenses as well.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of the Municipality of Tetovo, Bilall Kasami, called on citizens to use public transport as much as possible during this period, so that expatriates can move more easily around the city.

Kasami stressed that Tetovo already offers free public transport and for this reason asked permanent residents of the municipality not to use their cars to go into the city, but to choose public transport instead. He also announced that at the next council meeting, several roads will be regulated to become one-way streets, which is expected to help ease vehicle traffic.

The mayor also spoke about a new feature this year, saying that work will continue intensively to complete this boulevard, which during the next month will be turned into a pedestrian-only zone from seven in the evening until twelve at night. According to him, all cultural summer activities related to young people will be organized precisely on this boulevard./Alsat.mk.

The post Tetovo steps up controls and traffic regulation ahead of the arrival of expatriates appeared first on Albeu.com.

The march began from the city square and then moved in front of the Municipality of Tetovo.

In Tetovo’s square, protesters carried banners reading “Yugo VLEN TITO”, “There is no peace with humiliation”, “Ivoja is not a martyr of my nation”, “There is no place for Tito in Illyria Square”, “Resistance begins in Tetovo”.

Bajram Rexhepi of DUI addressed the citizens, stressing that they are demanding a reconsideration of the Constitutional Court’s decision.

“This peaceful protest march was called as a result of the civic revolt that was created after the scandalous decision of the Constitutional Court to annul the decision on the names in the city of Tetovo. This march will begin from ‘Illyria’ Square yesterday

Our demand is for this decision to be reconsidered so that we can protect Tetovo’s dignity. The Municipality of Tetovo had a deadline to respond and reflect, and it did not respond to our offer for cooperation. This is why we were forced to call citizens to protest,” Bajrami said.

Asked why they are not organizing a protest in front of the Constitutional Court, Rexhepi replied that the court has already issued its decision.

Rexhepi added that civic revolt will only continue to grow further./Telegrafi/

The post Rexhepi: The Constitutional Court should reconsider the decision, let us protect Tetovo’s dignity appeared first on Albeu.com.

In a reaction published on Facebook, Rexhepi stressed that the Municipality of Tetovo bears responsibility as a co-author for the cancellation of the names of streets and squares.

“Today, at the meeting of the party structures of DUI – Tetovo Branch, in the presence of leader Ali Ahmeti, a clear decision was made: Tetovo will not remain silent in the face of this humiliating act against its history, identity and dignity. After the silence of the Municipality of Tetovo regarding our request for an emergency session and after the reasoning of the Constitutional Court, which shows that for nearly a year the Municipality failed four times to respond to requests for documentation, it is clear that this is not negligence, but co-authorship.”

He added that, in his view, this issue goes beyond the naming of streets.

“This is not just a matter of street names. It is an attempt to deny the National Awakening figures, history, heritage and every Albanian achievement built with sacrifice over the past 20 years. Tetovo is the cradle of Albanian culture, education and pride. This is where the movements that move Albanians forward have begun and will begin. Therefore, we do not accept going backward and we accept nothing less than our full dignity.”

Rexhepi called on citizens to gather on Friday, June 26, at 20:00, in Illyria Square and join the Protest March.

“On Friday, June 26, at 20:00, from Illyria Square, we invite every citizen, every intellectual, every free voice and every patriot, regardless of political belief, to join the Protest March. Come too. Your voice is Tetovo’s voice!” Rexhepi wrote.

The post DUI calls protest in Tetovo over street names issue: History cannot be erased appeared first on Albeu.com.