IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author): “Information on the current treatment of Macedonians [ALB11176]”, Document #1282727

Information on the current treatment of Macedonians [ALB11176]

According to the 1989 census, there were 4,697 ethnic Macedonians in Albania (RFE/RL 13 Dec. 1991, 3; Minnesota Lawyers International Human Rights Committee Jan. 1990, 112). Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reports that most Macedonians live near the Albanian-Macedonian border (RFE/RL 13 Dec. 1991, 4). RFE/RL states further that only limited information is available on the current status of minorities in Albania, and that "there is no evidence of discrimination against either ethnic or religious minorities in Albania" (Ibid., 3). Please see the attached report.

The BBC and RFE/RL indicate that a radio station in Korce, Albania was to begin broadcasting some programs in Macedonian in August 1991 (BBC Summary 18 July 1991; RFE/RL 13 Dec. 1991, 4). Another BBC report states that a Political Association of Macedonians in Albania was approved by the Justice Minister in September 1991 (12 Sept. 1991). Further information on this association is not currently available to the IRBDC.

A document on the elections held in Albania in March 1992 states that there was a ban on ethnically, religiously and regionally-based political parties in the country (CSCE April 1992, 10). The document indicates that the ban's primary effect was on national minorities, and on the Greek minority in particular (Ibid.).

A number of reports indicate that Albania has been developing inter-governmental relations with the Republic of Macedonia, including visits by parliamentary officials to and from Macedonia and the opening of borders on holidays to allow travel of each country's respective minorities (RFE/RL 19 June 1992, 38; Radio Tirana Network 10 June 1992; ATA 4 June 1992; BBC Summary 27 May 1992; Ibid. 8 Nov. 1991; Ibid. 2 August 1991).

There is no further information currently available to the IRBDC on this topic.

References

Albanian Telegraph Agency (ATA) [Tirana, in English]. 4 June 1992. "Serreqi Receives Macedonian Counterpart Maleski." (FBIS-EEU-92-109 5 June 1992, p. 4)

BBC Summary of World Broadcasts. 27 May 1992. "Albanian Foreign Minister in Macedonia Cooperation, Minorities Discussed." (NEXIS)

_____. 8 November 1991. "Albanian-Macedonian Parliamentary Talks on Minority Rights." (NEXIS)

_____. 12 September 1991. "Justice Minister Approves Political Association of Macedonians in Albania." (NEXIS)

_____. 2 August 1991. "Macedonian Government Delegation in Albania; Minority Rights Discussed." (NEXIS)

_____. 18 July 1991. "Albanian Radio Launches Macedonian Language Service." (NEXIS)

Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE). April 1992. Albania's Second Multi-Party Elections: March 22 and 29, 1992. Washington, D.C.

Minnesota Lawyers International Human Rights Committee. January 1990. Human Rights in the People's Socialist Republic of Albania. Minneapolis: Minnesota Lawyers International Human Rights Committee.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). 19 June 1992. RFE/RL Research Report [Munich]. Vol. 1, No. 25. Duncan M. Perry. "Macedonia: A Balkan Problem and a European Dilemma."

_____. 13 December 1991. Report on Eastern Europe [Munich]. Vol. 2, No. 50. Duncan M. Perry and Louis Zanga. "Minorities: An Overview."

Radio Tirana Network [Tirana, in Albanian]. 10 June 1992. "Macedonian Border Open for Religious Observances." (FBIS-EEU-92-113 June 1992, p. 11)

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