“ - Macedonian prime minister condemns anti-Albanian calls to Kumanovo

According to Albanian politicians in Northern Macedonia, at the weekend, during the match between northern Macedonia and Romania in basketball were heard calls such as the good Albanian “is the dead Albanian”, <x2).

At this event, Macedonian Prime Minister Hristian Mickoski, Deputy Prime Minister Ivan Stoilkovovic and Interior Affairs Minister Panco Toskovski were present.

Mickoski during a press proposal on August 4th said that even though he was present in the hall, he didn't re “vura” fans who cheered on those calls, after he said it was “words for a small group of people”.

“I want to use this case to join the condemnation of nationalism and xenophobia ʹ first for what happened during the [North] and Romanian basketball match, and then to send a message to all fan groups -- to support in a sports way, support their team and national representative of Macedonia”, Mickoski said.

He said calls against Albanians “would be subject to investigation and sanctions, no matter where it comes from. The Macedonian prosecution has launched investigations into the event.

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And Sports Minister Borko Ristovski said that this ministry cannot react specifically to this event, “because it doesn't come from any sports subject. It comes from fans in the ♫ Tribe and we have no competence to react when it comes to fans”.

“Anyway, let me use this case to make an appeal: in Macedonia there is no need for such cheers, either on either side or on any side, from any side to come”.

He added that “from the position of the Sports Ministry, there is nothing we can do but help identify them and act in accordance with law”.

Northern Macedonia's Penal Code envisions penalties for racist calls and hate speech in some articles, while the most important is Article 319, which predicts that anyone who promotes or publicly spreads hatred, divisions or intolerance on racial, religious, ethnic or national grounds is sentenced to imprisonment from one to five years.

Reactions in Northern Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo

The incident in Kumanovo prompted reactions in northern Macedonia, Albania and Kosovo.

The opposition Albanian party in northern Macedonia, the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), said that at this event “heard anti-Albanian choirs, racist calls and pure language of ethnic hatred against Albanians”.

This party said on August 3rd that the most disturbing is the fact that the government and state representatives present were silent about the event.

There was no institutional response, no moral punishment, no political distance. Only silent approval, which is as severe to us as the Coret” itself, DUI said that called for urgent investigation into the event, sanctions against organisers, public distance from the government, and the involvement of the international factor for monitoring the spread of hate speech and, as it said, institutional nationalism.

Everyone must know: We will not allow the country to return to the arena of ethnic hatred. We will not allow Albanians to become the target of fascist calls. We will not be silent now, nor in the future”, DUI said.

Meanwhile, Alliance Secretary General for Albanians Blerant Ramadani said the silence of state leaders for the event in Kumanovo is “moral and political responsibility”.

In a state that aspires to the European Union, hate language cannot be tolerated, relativised or silenced. We request urgent investigation, exemplary punishment and immediate institutional response”, he wrote on Facebook Sunday.

In Kosovo, the country's president and deputies of parties that have been in the opposition last mandate have reacted sharply to the event.

On Monday, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said anti-Albanian calls heard in Kumanovo are unacceptable, and “cenise the spirit of co-existence and mutual respect”.

“Albanians are autochthon people on their lands, as well as deserve to be treated with dignity and equality, just like any other community”, Osmani said.

Kosovo's president demanded that the Macedonian state act and punish those who incite hatred.

“Call on northern Macedonia institutions to take immediate measures against the organisers of these calls, the responsible and those who promote and spread hatred, condemning any form of hate speech, protecting the principles of co-existence and tolerance, as the basic value of a state aimed at EU”, Osmani said.

A day earlier, Artan Behram from the Democratic Party of Kosovo criticised the failure of incumbent Prime Minister Albin Kurti's incumbent Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Minister Donika Grovalla, but also of the president.

“Hristian Mickoski has become prime minister of northern Macedonia with the blessing and vote brought directly to Albin Kurti through the V coalition LEN”, Behram wrote on Facebook, adding that Kurti's <x2 is more than indifference - it is political and moral co-existence”.

Critical of Kurti's failure to react, MP Daut Haradinaj said from the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo ranks. He said Kurti is the “cabinet of the ruling coalition in northern Macedonia” and the new leadership there said that “is saying goodbye to” with racist calls to Albanians.

During recent elections in northern Macedonia, several Albanian parties joined a coalition called V LEN. Bekim Qoku of the Vetevendosje Movement led by Albin Kurti joined this list.

V LEN is part of the ruling coalition in northern Macedonia.

Hard reactions for calls against Albanians also had Albania.

Parliament Speaker Elisa Spiropali described insulting calls to Albanians as unacceptable.

The experience of hatred that promotes violence, ethnic conflict and racism, there is no place in any public space, much less in sports, which essentially carries the spirit of unity, cooperation, fair play and respect to another”, she said.

She said Albania and Albanians continue to be committed to promoting co-existence and stay <x0->modine and paint”.

Meanwhile, Albania's Ambassador to Skopje, Denion Meidani, said that <x0 calls offensive to Kumanovo are alarm for all of us”, adding that co-existence requires daily engagement and respect of rules”. / REL