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Protection of national minorities in Serbia in accordance with highest international standards
Belgrade,
22 January 2013
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs today sent a sharp protest following the Albanian government’s announcements regarding the removal of the monument to former members of the terrorist OVPMB in the centre of Presevo on 20 January.
The statement said that the wording used in the above statement directly instigates further activities aimed at destabilising the situation in southern Serbia and the wider region, in neighbouring countries inhabited by the ethnic Albanian minority.
Qualifications and accusations directed against the Serbian government are below any dignity and in stark contrast to the assurances given by Prime Minister of Albania Sali Berisha during a recent visit of Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic to Tirana that Albania is ready to turn a new page in bilateral relations between the two countries.
Justifying inflammatory rhetoric by the concern for the position of the Albanian minority in southern Serbia is a severe manipulation, given that the protection of ethnic Albanians and other minorities in Serbia is in accordance with the highest international standards, much higher than those that apply to ethnic minorities living in Albania.
Bearing in mind the very absence of any legal framework for the protection of the Serbian and other ethnic minorities in Albania, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ position is that the Albanian authorities should take immediate and serious measures to ensure the protection of all communities in accordance with applicable international standards.
Albania, as a state whose priority is the adoption of European values and EU membership, is expected to actually act in accordance with the stated priorities and not to contribute to the destabilisation of the situation in neighbouring countries through its actions, the statement reads.
Qualifications and accusations directed against the Serbian government are below any dignity and in stark contrast to the assurances given by Prime Minister of Albania Sali Berisha during a recent visit of Serbian Foreign Minister Ivan Mrkic to Tirana that Albania is ready to turn a new page in bilateral relations between the two countries.
Justifying inflammatory rhetoric by the concern for the position of the Albanian minority in southern Serbia is a severe manipulation, given that the protection of ethnic Albanians and other minorities in Serbia is in accordance with the highest international standards, much higher than those that apply to ethnic minorities living in Albania.
Bearing in mind the very absence of any legal framework for the protection of the Serbian and other ethnic minorities in Albania, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ position is that the Albanian authorities should take immediate and serious measures to ensure the protection of all communities in accordance with applicable international standards.
Albania, as a state whose priority is the adoption of European values and EU membership, is expected to actually act in accordance with the stated priorities and not to contribute to the destabilisation of the situation in neighbouring countries through its actions, the statement reads.
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