Macedonia and Official Language

Macedonia and Official Language

Question: U.S. reaction to Macedonia Prime Minister’s rejection of request from Albanian community to designate Albanaian as the official second language for Macedonia? Is this a violation of the Ohrid Agreement?

Not aware of any such statement by the Prime Minister of Macedonia regarding official national languages. Press reports that the Prime Minister has stated that he is opposed to the use of Albanian as an official language in the military

The Government of Macedonia is in the process of preparing a language law that addresses Ohrid Framework Agreement provisions for the use of languages other than the Macedonian language.

This is an issue to be worked out by the government and parliament of Macedonia.

The Framework Agreement has no specific provisions with regard to language usage in the police and military. This too is an issue for the government and parliament of Macedonia to decide, in the spirit of the Framework Agreement.
2005/806

Released on August 23, 2005

Taken Question Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC August 24, 2005 Question Taken at the August 23, 2005 Daily Press Briefing

more at Macedonia or Albanian and Ohrid Agreement or Department of State and State Department