The 17th Session of the United Nations Forum on Minorities

Geneva, 28-29 November 2024

Madame President,

Albania thanks the organizers of this forum. The topics that we will discuss during these days are in align with national priorities in Albania.

Albania is committed to protecting and promoting all human rights in accordance with international obligations. The Constitution considers national minorities as an integral part of Albanian society.

Since 2017, a specific law on national minorities has been in force in Albania. Several measures, policies and action plans have been implemented to ensure the participation of national minorities in the public life in Albania.

The local government in Albania decides to provide topographical indication in minorities languages alongside Albanian where over 20% of the inhabitants belongs to national minorities. Currently, in three municipalities bilingual signage is in place.

The Albanian Authorities undertake activities that contribute to promotion of national minorities such as promotion of Roma Day (8 April) and Egyptian Day (24 June).

Pursuant to the law on national minorities, two  by laws are dedicated to the approval of measures and policies necessary to ensure the participation of persons belonging to national minorities in public, cultural, social and economic life and the second one is dedicated  to drafting strategies, programs and action plans aimed at creating the necessary conditions for national minorities to preserve and develop their distinct identity in the Republic of Albania.

A Committee on National Minorities in Albania is established to insure protection and promotion the rights and interests of national minorities.

Albania continues to cooperate with all countries in the region to advance the agenda of protecting the rights of minorities. In this context we encourage the Government of Serbia to promote and respect the rights of the Albanian population, especially regarding the policy of passivation of addresses in the Presheva Valley, and to avoid legitimizing the practices of systematic discrimination against the Albanian population in the Valley.

In the framework of the Forum, Albania considers as important the enhance of the implementation of the legal frameworks  and policies aiming to improve the representation and self-representation of minorities in public spaces and the need to strengthen cooperation between institutions, national minorities and civil society.

Thank you, Madam President.