Original title: Zakharova warns of “Greater Albanian” activities in Tirana, Skopje, and Pristina
On December 10th, 2020, articles were published in the Macedonian media that Russia warns of the formation of a “Greater Albania” in the Balkans, i.e. according to Zakharova, Tirana, Skopje and Pristina have the ultimate goal to promote the idea of a Greater Albania.
The news was first published by the portal MKD.MK with the title: Zaharova warns that activities of “Greater Albanian” character are being carried out in Tirana, Skopje, and Pristina.
Then followed the announcements on the portals expres.mk, emagazin.mk, infomax.mk.
These contents were taken from the statement of the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, Maria Zakharova, which was published on the official Twitter account of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The increased activity in Tirana, Skopje, and Pristina with a pronounced “Greater Albanian” character is noticeable. “It is an attempt to gradually establish a ‘common Albanian space’ outside the legal reality.”
Russia’s reaction comes after the signing of a memorandum to establish a conference for all Albanian-populated municipalities. The memorandum refers to the promotion of the cooperation of the local self-governments, but allegedly in reality it was an attempt to create a pan-Albanian space, ignoring the territorial sovereignty and the borders of the internationally recognized states.
This is an official statement of the spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, which states the position on the memorandum signed in Tirana on November 27th, 2020.
Namely, this is the first signed National Congress of Local Authorities Kosovo – Albania. The First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo, Besnik Tahiri, at a meeting with the Minister of Interior of Albania, Sander Leshaj, in Tirana, signed the start of the first joint Congress at the level of mayors. This platform will identify common areas and intensify communication between the municipalities in the Republic of Kosovo and the municipalities in the Republic of Albania. Deputy Prime Minister Tahiri stressed the importance of this initiative, which, according to him, should serve as a model of regional cooperation, and especially as a platform for regular and formal communication between the cities from both countries. “Apart from the institutional aspect, this type of co-operation aims to expand to the tourism, social and economic level, creating opportunities for co-operation on a more practical level, but also to other countries in the region within the common goal of European integration,” he said. Tahiri.
As can be seen, there are no official representatives of N. Macedonia at the meeting at which the memorandum was signed, nor was the memorandum signed by the Macedonian side.
Despite the fact that this is an initiative for development of regional cooperation at the tourist, social and economic level, by inserting the term “Greater Albanian” Zaharova unfoundedly speculates and manipulates the public. This is not the first time Russia has used the term “Greater Albania” in its statements to provoke interethnic tensions in the Balkans.
