Macedonian president refuses to give mandate to Zaev

I don't get how this got so far! A bunch of Albanian politicians go to Tirana Albania and negotiate with the Albanian president on a platform that would be implemented in Macedonia? That's outrageous? If they weren't Albanians they would ve charged with treason. do the Serbs in the Serb list in Kosovo even do that?

Yes the serb in Kosovo do that regularly,as the serbs in Bosnia, Croatia and Montenegro do . When the albanians do that you people get nervous. I don't understand this. They are not just a bunch of albanians ,they are democratically elelcted leaders of the Albanians parties in Macedonia that came in Tirana and Pristina too for consultations. Thats it. The Tirana platform does not exist its a gruevsky and ivanov creation to block the forming of the new governemt and to keep himself and his gang still in game and out of prison. These are only manifestation of antialbanian sentiment that exist in Fyrom. If respecting albanian language is seen as something against the consTitutions and soveregnity of the country. Well that means that the constitution and this country is base in antialbanian feelings. So there is no place for albanians in this country. And this is against international law and european values too.

This is the beginning of the end of Macedonia. Yugoslavia 1990 all over again, and Macedonians have a lot to lose, more that the others.( if you know what i mean)

The unity of the Macedonian state would be lost by accepting the platform, while its future would be under a question mark, Ivanov said.

He then warned that "accepting foreign platforms" is an act punishable by law.

The Macedonian president also "expects the international community to condemn this platform, as it interferes in Macedonia's internal affairs."

-- If this is indeed the case, Ivanov signed the death of Macedonia. He just told a quarter of its population that they are not equal and that their language holds an inferior status. Thus they are inferior unless they give up on their language. All of this so Gruevski can save his own skin and not end up in jail.

Macedonia's dismembering will not be immediate. It will take time. However with this action Ivanov has set in motion things he still doesn't comprehend. There is nothing holier to an Albanian than our language. It's the thing that unified us all. It's the crux of our identity as a people.You belittle and treat our language badly by assigning it an inferior status, you have just turned a quarter of the country against you. There will be interesting times in the next 10 years. I hope it's peaceful, but Ivanov just threw the first stone. If anything happens, this the action that caused it.

the nation is now officially split. gruevski and ivanov have orchestrated this. the delusional antiques of the far right holding Greek symbol flags of a fake culture against the embarrassed educated and quite helpless Slavs. The Albanians are now the marginalized minority who will react aggressively. It all smells like the makings of a civil war to me. 2001 was a warm up. 2017 is full scale destruction. Gruevski's selfishness and deluded antiquization policies have polarized Fyrom's politics - the slavs and the antiques. The VMRO-DPMNE are worse than Scientologists and gruevski is David Miscavige.

(Alex, 2 March 2017 12:31)

How he protect the FYROM interest? Explain it to me, please? Discriminating 25-30% of its own population?
How can Serbia and Macedonia cooperation be the key? The The real ethnic division already has begun at the first moment Ivanov made that declaration. Serbians in Kosovo are less than 5% and we give to them that right, and are searching even ZSO. So how can Serbia and FYROM can collaborate, is in violation with what you have and search in Kosovo. FYROM don't give to Albanians what we already have with a 5%?
Albanians are FYROM citizen how can the president of FYROM tell that they and their language is a threat for Macedonia? And after telling that what did he expect form us?
I was shocked after reading that. You do not want us, don’t respect our rights, discriminate us and then we are “the problem”?

Kudos to B92 for using a map that sees Kosovo as a separate state and uses the Albanian name of Prishtinë.
Most probably they will change it after my comment. LOL

What's the big deal? Given them their language they are your neighbours and friends. In Canada French make 20% the population and we all have to learn French and no big deal brings two people closer together. Serbia should do the same thing and Macedonia My grandfather always said the more languages you know the better!

are we forgetting something here? the Albanians are indigenous to the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. they are Illyrian decedents and have a longer presence in the Balkans that the Slavs. The Bulgarian identity crisis Slavic Macedonians are the non indigenous ones so if the Albanians want their language as official they get their language as official. In fact i would go as far to suggest that every Slavic Macedonian child should speak Albanian as a first language. It was there first and therefore the original tongue of the country. Wake up Slavic Macedonia for you will be annexing your country soon like Kosovo. Give a little when you have taken so much including other peoples history. Let us hope for equality.

If Albanians in Macedonia never have to speak Macedonian again and can be directed by Tirana does Macedonia have a future? Albanians in Kosovo are allowing Serbs to have a connection to Belgrade because Kosovo Serbs used to live in Serbia!
(Brian., 1 March 2017 21:16)

You have it all wrong dude. This is not about never speaking Macedonian. You're speaking from a position of fear. Albanians are a state-forming people within Macedonia. Hence the language holds an equal status as Macedonian. You have two people's that have an agreement to form a state. As a state forming people their language is not some old twenty year old cell Nokia cell phone that you can simply ignore or discard by some law. This is the language of about a quarter of the country that together with the Macedonians have decided to have this social contract with the agreement of equal treatment to form a country. There is no country of Macedonia without Albanians. You shove us aside and you lose the country.
Now, with Macedonian's being the majority it is utterly stupid to think that one could live normally and advance socially without speaking it. It's why we speak it today and why we'll speak it tomorrow. This is about equal treatment of a state forming people within Macedonia. If the Slavic population of Macedonia do not realize this, they will see their country disappear. There's no incentive to cooperate when you know apriori you are not an equal. It's as simple as that.

(Bulgar of Ohrid, 2 March 2017 11:09)

Look at you. You are a great example for Macedonia. You call your self "bulgar". Where dose that live so-called macedonians? They are shooting themselves in the foot . I'm afraid later it will be too late for the so-called maedonians

Before anyone starts blaming the Albanians for this mess that the Slavic population of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have gotten themselves into then consider this. The Albanians are Illyrians. As such they have a connection to the country which predates the majority Slavic population by 8000 years. They are indigenous to the region. It’s the Slavs that need to be learning how to speak Albanian not the other way around. Albanian should be an official language for this reason alone. They didn’t walk over the border. They were there. The Slavs invaded their territory. Gruevski and his cultural criminals have alienated them. Their cheap reproduction statues’ of Samule(Bulgarian), Delchev(Bulgarian), Gruev (Bulgarian) Alexander (Greek) and the list goes on and on and on, have polarized society. Antique Slav and non antique Slav. The Albanians are not even in the mix. They have been marginalized by both groups. The Flag needs to change. It’s a Greek symbol. The name needs to change. It’s a Greek name. The airport needs to be renamed. It’s a Greek name. Skaderbeg should replace the cheap Italian Alexander the Great statue. Mother Theresa should replace the cheap Italian Phillip statue. All signs of Greek antiquity should be removed and school children need to be educated in both Bulgarian and Albanian with a neutral curriculum. The place is culturally deranged. Gruevski‘s self loathing is similar to Hilter’s.Hiltler had a Jewish father. Gruevski had a Greek grandfather

I don't understand why part of Kosovo was given to Macedonia and Montenegro. Why? We have our people living there and we are trying live with them, but how they can force us living like second hand citizen in our land?
This man tell that Albanian language is a threat for Macedonia? Well i do not know what is more dangerous for FYROM, accept Albanian language or refuse to accept it?
This is a discrimination for more than 25 % of Macedonian population. So i don't like the situations but i translate his declaration like " We don't want you!”. Well we do not want you too!
So, how this can help Macedonia?

When a country has such a long and rich history they care about it. no country has given humanity more than Greece. the fact that you are able to wake up and vote in general elections is because of us – democracy. when you are the most influential culture in history you try and protect it. history must be correct. if it’s not then it’s a distortion. Lets continue keeping history correct for it teaches us lessons for the future. World academia will not allow it. If you want to see something incorrect happen in history that involves the most important culture on earth you’re without conscience. I suggest you do a history coarse before commenting on history.

They blame everyone but themselves. Its Greece’s fault. It’s the Albanians fault. Its Soros’s fault. Its Hillary’s fault, Its the Bulgarians fault. It’s the Serbs fault. Its Zaevs fault, It’s a conspiracy theory.
When will this nation wake up to itself. They are Slavs and as such need to celebrate their Slavic culture. They cannot use the name Macedonia. It’s not theirs to use. They need to turn to their qualified academics who have been silenced, victimized and ostracized for formulating an internal cultural platform that befits their ethnicity. The false antiquization program of Gruevski needs to be dismantled and this means renaming, re branding and re educating. Its almost like Hitler’s Germany in there at the moment. de antiquate. re educate. embrace.

Macedonia it's a FAKE . FAKE stuff don't last long . Wen YU got split up , should've happened to FAKE Macedonia and put to rest

This is the beginning of the end of Macedonia. Yugoslavia 1990 all over again, and Macedonians have a lot to lose, more that the others.( if you know what i mean)
(Macedonian citizen, 1 March 2017 20:47)

Fake countries usually end up like that (i.e. Yugoslavia). FYROM is a fake country with a fake nationality. You're Bulgarian speaking people who stole name of Macedonia. To me it's funny seeing FYROM having closer relations with Turkey and not Greece. I guess religion doesn't matter when it comes to greed.

Kudos to President Ivanov...He looked at the Sovereignty of Macedonia and has clearly indicated that this act is an act of treason by the Albanians parties and Zoran Zaev..If this were the same scenario in Serbia, Ahmeti, Zaev, Ziadin Sela, and even Edi Rama himself would face the firing squad for treason!!!

This is a great decision for Macedonia as they are not bowing down to both the EU and a minority who think they can hold a whole country ransom for bullshit demands that only apply to a small corner of the country...The President and the citizens of Macedonia have spoken..

FYROM needs to be partition.
50% to Bulgaria,35% to Albania dhe te rest to Serbia and Greece.
In the end eveyone will be happy.

Yes Shqiptars have some 15-20% of Slavic blood but it's not enough to call you Illyrians.
rote

I know you live in Mordor and your pscyhe is heavily affected by what you've been exposed to. But, to imply the the only link between the Albanians and Illyrians is through Slavic blood is mind boggling.

I'm not big on name calling, but some people are just plain stupid.

@ Kent Prince

When did Macedonians started to write Macedonian?

And what does that even mean? What is the "time limit" (how old written language) you need to have to ask for equal rights with your superior race?

(Dr Grey, 4 March 2017 09:17)

It's the so-called macedonians who refused the census because they will be disappointed. Don't forget over 60 thousand Bulgarian passports recently, torbesh people no longer forced to be called so-called macedonians , etc,etc. Macedonia it's not a country, so better act smart or will lose more that you bargain for

Of course it's understood that Serbs in Kosovo used to live in Serbia. while Serbia allowed NATO in and withdrew all its official forces in 1999 and in 2013 abolished all its government institutions in Kosovo this was never the case with Macedonia being a part of Albanian! Why are Albanians in macedonia going to Albania or Kosovo and taking those governments policies to Macedonia! Serbs in Kosovo do vote on republic of Kosovo ballots and Serbia appointed Dejan pavicevic ambassador to Kosovo. If Albanians in Macedonia never have to speak Macedonian again and can be directed by Tirana does Macedonia have a future? Albanians in Kosovo are allowing Serbs to have a connection to Belgrade because Kosovo Serbs used to live in Serbia!

This might be one of those decisions that destroyed FYROM. Remember after the war in former Yugoslavia when people were asking when it did begin and how?

(Kent Prince, 3 March 2017 14:21)

Cyrill was a Serb or Bulgarian?

You stole all from Bulgarians.

On a federal level, the US has no official language but the states official language is english. For instance hawaii official language is English and Hawaiian.

In historical terms, the uk, france,germany,austria and spain could have had different borders depending on the outcome of past wars leading to different official language outcomes.
(Kent Prince, 3 March 2017 14:11)

Here in the States I get documents that are written in English, Chinese, Korean, Russian. Most of it is in English of course. In high school I could take certain classes in Chinese or Spanish. Most classes were in English of course. None of this ever upset me or negatively affected my life. Instead it made the life of others easier. Nobody here wants to replace Macedonian, but if some person gets a job in central Macedonia, the government should be able to offer services in Albanian along with Macedonian; translators, paperwork etc. How would Macedonian's feel if Macedonian is banned on parts of the country where they make less than 20% of the people. No paperwork, no services in Macedonian.This is what this is about.

Some people complained about open borders. What do you think EU means? It is open borders. With open borders one removes the incentive for extreme nationalism. Nobody prevents trade, contact, communication, etc. based on the understanding that we all win by not isolating each other. It should be everyone's goal.

I don't get how this got so far! A bunch of Albanian politicians go to Tirana Albania and negotiate with the Albanian president on a platform that would be implemented in Macedonia? That's outrageous? If they weren't Albanians they would ve charged with treason. do the Serbs in the Serb list in Kosovo even do that?

This is the old divide and rule. Zaev in Macedonia, Edi Rama in Albania, Alexis Tsipras in Athens and one can find a Judas like them in every country who is ready to sell his/her country and people for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver. In the Balkans we are all essentially the same people. They pit one against another so that we fight and die while they make money on selling us weapons to kill each other, weapons bought by borrowed money from the elite's banks who control the corporations and weapons manufacturers. Then in exchange for this paper money created out of thin air they demand, like in the case of Greece, to hand over the gold, national corporate assets and the country's resources. Now if we could be just a little bit smarter, we would stop hating one another and instead learn to respect and cooperate with one another and help one another so that we render their ploy ineffective.

Albanian is the official language where they make up %20 hence the the crux of the problem. What is required is a proper census, not o e that include people who are dead or left the country 50 years ago. Once the Baseline is established only then should expansion or vice versa be considered for implementation.. Drive from Skopje to Ohrid, you will see oversized minarets, Albanian flags, endless statues by the roadside for uck dudes and empty houses.. the place just seems a tad empty/wierd. Not sure why the Albanians are getting riled up. As for zaev, he has made a deal with devil as do the moral compass of people of the left.

Ivanov made the right move. He must protect the Republic of Macedonia interests. Now he must seize control of the military as I'm sure the foreign agency's involved will be activating Kosovo Albanians to start the Terrorism and create unrest. New elections nessarry and a proper census needed to determine real numbers of Albanian population. Cooperation between Macedonia and Serbia is key at this point and would be beneficial to both countries.

A question for Macedonian's only: if Macedonia splits up and doesn't exist anymore , can we still sing "makedonsko devojce"? Will it make sense then ? Thanks

No one can tell Macedonians what they want to call themselves. They can call their country Coca-Cola if they want to. America is named after an Italian guy but i don`t see Italy complaining about that.

After all Ancient Macedonians were neither Slavic nor Greeks, so both sides are stupid nationalists who use this "name dispute" to distract public intention from real problems.

For years Macedonian politicianas have complained Greece had blocked Macedonia progress toward EU and NATO. And now Greece is out of their way they complain about EU institutions and Albanians.

These are excuses for following an agenda that comes from elsewhere outside Macedonia. Just look which "Great Leader" Gruevsky try to imitate when he walks, talks...

The root of Fyroms problem is the identity issue.The country has been built on bad foundations so its now faltering. had it had a sound foundation of multiculturalism it would not be in the mess. The Albanians are indigenous and as such deserve equal rights. Just the name Macedonia is offensive to the Albanians. Its offensive the the Greeks. its offensive to the Bulgarians. When a new nation offends its neighbors it is doomed. add to this the cultural fabrications of antiquity. Slavic denials. stolen national heroes. theme parks that are the product of a mad man. languishing economy. ect ect. all these social and economic issues are brought upon from one thing ­ the identity.The minute they redefine who they are in a correct historical and scientific manner the country will thrive. they don't take criticism.they don't get it. Macedonia is a name that is not exclusive to FYROM. They cannot use it. They have had ample time to fix the name issue.
Instead they forged along with a false antiqization policy. Inflammatory airport names. Cheap Italian statues of historical figures
that are not ethnically connected to them.
propaganda. The place stinks. The best option they have is to take Rohrabacher advice. They will save themselves a civil war.
Partition for peace. Let the Albanians split. They will never be accepted by their Slav co occupants. The fragmented mess can
then decide to either forge along in their historical fantasy land or joint their ancestral homeland Bulgaria

Cyrill was Serb or Bulgarian...


He was neither.Cyrill & Methodius were Greek missionary brothers.Check on wiki.

(Kent Prince, 3 March 2017 23:04)

Relax boy . This fake country of Macedonia with somebody's ales language, history, and territory it's over . Your days are numbered. Thanks gruefski-ivanov, the end it's here

Kent Prince out of pity I will attempt to dispel you of your inherent ignorance...

The indigenous And sizable Albanian community of this fake "Macedonian" country if it were a company with shares .....

We would have our rightful voice in proportion to our percentage of the total population.

We demand an International Census monitored by EU and NATO to prevent any cheating and Slav intimidation of the discriminated natives.

"Macedonia" collapsing is not out of the equation.

Do what is right!
Now!
Or ask the Serbs what happens....

@j and @azir.

If you base your argument on indigenous rights your greatest ally, the US need to acknowledge the rightful official language of the US as Spanish. The Mexicans who speak spanish inhabited much of modern day America during the pre colonial era. Further, the spanish speaking population is very significant in America.

Let your ally make Spanish official, give back New Mexico,Texas and California back to the mexicans since the pilgrims took it away by force then your arguement may be considered.

Savvy?
(Kent Prince, 3 March 2017 23:44)

My argument is not based on being indegenous. There are two major peoples in Macedonia. Macedonians and Albanians. Together they have made a social country to have a country; a country that is equal and fair to both of these constituent people. Institutionalized bias against one of these people essentially breaks this contract.

The US has no official language. There is a language that is spoken the most but the government provides services even in the language of all of the groups you mention. Macedonia has three choices. No official language. Two official languages. Or one official language and breaking of this social contract. The laws in question are not about forcing Macedonians to speak Albanian; such a thing should be unconstitutional. They're about making life easier for Albanians and making that Macedonia is treating us equally as a cosntituive people of the republic.

Gruevskis has spend too much time on his antiquization program creating a false history via his 2014 program. By creating the myth which has permeated all levels of Slavic Macedonia's society he has alienated the Albanians. They either change their name and destroy their cheap Italian reproduction statues and become an inclusive society or the country will disintegrate. Had Gruevski not forged along with brainwashing of his population, Slavic Macedonia would have been a productive member of Europe. They know what they have to do. The Albanians are on standby. 2001 was merely a warning. The USA has proven loyalty to the Albanians in Kosovo. They would not hesitate to fund an offensive against Slavic Macedonia in the name of selling arms.It will all turn nasty i feel. They need to change their name. They need to remove all reference to antiquity. They need to embrace the Albanians. They need to make friends with their neighbors. Politicians like Ljubo Georgievski and Zoran Zaev offer hope. The Slavic population must swallow their pride and listen to the world. Irredentist and antiquization platforms need to be eradicated. Albanians and Turks make up 35% of Slavic Macedonia's population. This is too high of a percentage to ignore. They either work with their minority groups or the territory will be partitioned via a nasty civil war. Think twice Slavic Macedonia before commissioning another statue from the Italians and naming another airport

Kent, I'm an atheist. I don't care if you think that your middle Eastern religion makes you feel like a superior being bacause you didn't choose that other middle Eastern religion. I don't believe in figments of imaginations and personal friends in the sky. So I don't care how "some" people like these perceive me or my people. I don't base my life on that.

P.S Albania has one language because all of our minorities combined don't make 20% of the country. It can lose a few villages and still be a country. Macedonia is not in that position. It's two ethnicities of considerable size that form a country. If one ethnicity feels they're not being treated equally, the the country risks disintegrating.

I don't get how this got so far! A bunch of Albanian politicians go to Tirana Albania and negotiate with the Albanian president on a platform that would be implemented in Macedonia? That's outrageous? If they weren't Albanians they would ve charged with treason. do the Serbs in the Serb list in Kosovo even do that?

Greeks hijacking this site.
Sam

I doubt there is any greek posting on this article.They're all albanians.

Macedonia it's finished. What are we going to call ourselves? Omg 😩

Disclaimer: I'm an American and married to an Albanian.

As an outsider who absolutely loves the Balkans, you need to stop all the pointless controversies. Your nations are all weak and divided against each other. The instability ensures that none of your economies will grow. Stop arguing about the name Macedonia, or that Kosovo was Serbia in 1400, or that Macedonian is really close to Bulgarian, that Alexander the Great was really Greek, etc... Its pointless and divisive and your just yelling in the echo chamber of people that already agree with you. Instead of fighting, work together! Cooperate! Form a union of Balkan states like France and Germany did with the EU after WW2! If France and Germany can end WW2 and start the EU, then there is no reason Serbia and Albania can't become allies (yes I said allies!). Look at Switzerland, they have 4 official languages and they don't let the EU or the UN or the USA or Russia or anyone else push them around. Unity is strength, division is weakness. If your not going to do this, the region is going to constantly be at the mercy of stronger powers just like it was during the Ottoman period.

Dear Mecedonia, you have allowed yourselves to be lied to and guided by false saviours. Step 1, unrecognize Kosovo. Step 2, tell the EU to beat it. Step 3, make a deal with Putin before Nato 'intervenes'.

Ciao Agnese!

There is alot of hypocrisy going on here. The serbs and other minorities in Croatia deserve their language to be official language as well if the Albanians argue this point. It cant be one rule for one country and a different one for another.

Further, no other country has a right to interfere in another country internal and electoral affairs.

What trump is being accused of is what has happened in Macedonia electoral affairs.

Joni first real declearation was back in 2001 when Kosovo Albanians started unrest in the Northern region of Macedonia not FYROM shortly after Macedonian citizens took them in feed them clothed them and saved them from war.Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. Unfortunately the True colors have been shown long time ago. Sneaky and underhanded with bad Intentions dos not deserve a reward
Plenty of Albanian Tv and Radio stations news papers schools available in Macedonia free to put up your flags where you want and Albanian is official language where Albanians are a majority. If you want more rights than that I suggest moving to Albania proper where you can freely run drugs and prostitutes have your self a wonderful day ;)

What are the official languages of the US, France, UK and Germany along with its large ethnic minorities??????
(Kent Prince, 2 March 2017 18:31)

The US has no official language.

As for France, UK, Germany there were no two different ethnic peoples in those countries that were state forming people that decided to form this social contract that we call a country. Instead Macedonia is not like them in that respect. Macedonia is more like Switzerland. Different sizeable ethnic people that have decided to uphold a social country that is what a country is. At the same time that social countract dies when bias, inequality, and injustice is institutionalized against one particular group.

Greeks hijacking this space to cheer their heart felt desire for the death of a Nation what wonderful human beings they are

Even when the ottomans, albanian allies,ruled the balkans????

If albanians had a starship they would claim all the stars way past alfa centuri and beyond.
(Kent Prince, 3 March 2017 16:26)

Opening Albanian schools during the Ottomans was an offense that was punishable by death. Our teachers were killed for that. It's why so many of our schools carry their names. You are consumed by fear. Having the option to have government service in Albanian as well Macedonia does not make Macedonia weaker, it makes it stronger. It sends the message that Albanians can see their Macedonian neighbors as partners. Forbidding Albanian from government institutions sends the opposite message. Why would Albanians be obliged to cooperate if they are told your language isn't worthy, you aren't worthy. Again this is not a 1% minority. This is 20% of the country that have agreed to form a country with you. If they feel oppressed and if they feel institutionalized bias against them, one day they may rescind that agreement. It will be the day that Macedonia stops existing. You have a choice to make. Russian backed Balkan type authoritarian leaders like Gruevski or Ivanov, or equal treatment of a state forming ethnicity and a functional country. The choice is yours to make.

I'll guarantee you that if a census was conducted now without corruption the Albanians would constitute over 50% of the population. It's time to rise up Albanians. Your Slavic neighbours will never grant you equality so take matters into your own hands. Split and it they don't split peacefully get the brothers from Kosovo over. It should be fun. Ivanov can get the blame. Gruevski can be hung off the fake horseman stature in Skopje square and the entire place can start learning Albanian. Make them suffer because of their racism. Give it back with interest. Long live Albania. No more fake nations with stolen histories. Gruevski the Slavic hitler must go.

For all those saying that the Albanians and Albanian language was first in the region, here a nice animation based on a study that claims that Balto-Slavic was there before Albanian, some 1000 years before. It is a hypothesis launched in 2012 that says that the old hypothesis of languages broad in via the steppes in the Black Sea area is wrong and that all European languages originate from Anatolian — the language of Anatolia, now modern-day Turkey. So, you're all Turks.... ;-)
http://www.businessinsider.com/map-how-indo-european-languages-evolved-2014-12
But anyway people, how long do you want to go back in time to see if somebody was there first or not? In the meanwhile genetic strings of all people in the Balkan have mixed a lot.
Albanians are 25% of Macedonia so doesn't their language deserve an official status in Macedonia/FYROM? Should they not be included more into society? But do they want that in the first place?
On the other hand, if Bulgarians from Macedonia would have gone to Sofia for a "Bulgarian platform" or if Slavs from Macedonia had gone to Moscow for a "Slavic platform" the world would have been too small.
Why can't you all just get along?

What are the official languages of the US, France, UK and Germany along with its large ethnic minorities??????

Michael danias : They cannot use the name Macedonia. It’s not theirs to use.

This morning I wrote for you "all Balkan peoples were formed in 19-20 centuries and none of them including the Greeks had any statehood in the past ... Macedonians (AK-e DON means WHITE RIVER in old Russian) were Bulgars aka Volgars i.e. sort of the Russians."

I also wrote "Alexander of Macedon was first mentioned by former Patriarch of Constantinople Bessarion who flew to Vatican to organize a Crusader war against the Russians who had seized Constantinople in 1453. ... Alexander of Macedon was a legendary person whose bigraphy was composed of life stories of Mehmet II (20%) and his grandson Suleiman Qanuni (80%) and so were the territories of Alexander and Mehmet II"

I can also add that the famous 53 day attack of 1453 started from Macedonia via The Golden Horn. Maybe this is why Macedonia (White River) was used to describe Mehmet II Fatih aka Prophet Mohammad aka Alexander The Great aka Tamerlane. Most likely all of them were one Russian man burried in Samarkand.

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D1%83%D1%80-%D0%AD%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80

Among his 9 names you will find Iskander Ul Ahad = Alexander the Great. The full list is «Великий Эмир», Бек, Мирза, Абу Мансур, Абу Фатих, Абу Гази, Сахиб-и Кирани, Хаган, Гете Стани, Султан, Искандар Ул Ахад, Гурган where Fatih is also the title of Mehmet II.

It wasn't just the language rights, it included a sign off for an open border with Kosovo and Albania, giving them "Greater Albania."

There were one too many demands which in anyone's right of mind would say no to...Well done to President Ivanov and the citizens of Macedonia for standing up to what they believe is right..You don't see the Macedonians of Pustec seeking a platform and calling demands for equal rights to that of the rest of the Albanian population? No...they are not even recognised as a minority in Albania...it is the local municipality who recognise them...

To the Albanians of Macedonia..respect the country you're living in and respect your rights as a minority...you've been given schools, mosques, language rights where your majority live, national days, monuments...and you are a minority of 17%...You are less than stipulated in the Ohrid Framework Agreement on the basis you claim you're 25%...You won't participate in a national census because you very well know you are under the required amount as stated in the framework!!!!!

Russia and China represent an alternative and saving grace to Nations of the World thankyou to both

No ones stopping them from speaking their language, but theyre using this as a pretext to federalizing the state. We all know it, hence why Ivanovs stance. They openly talk greater albania!! 65% of Slavs in mk are indigenous, so we are all illyrian/vlach for most part. Historically we're not macedonians, instead illyrian tribes were part of a macedonian kingdom. Quite similarly to the kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Slavs in mk never had a definitive affinity towards any ethnicity until 70yrs ago. I am a Slav wth illyrian DNA E-V13, but im not albanian nor bulgarian. The country should be renamed to Paeonia, so it represents the indigenous people of the past who were first there, or call it Vardarija since it has no attachment to tribes or peoples, simply a river shared by all groups that live there.

Macedonia it's finished. What are we going to call ourselves? Omg 😩
(Makedonsko devojce, 3 March 2017 18:51)

You are kidding right? I don't really understand why Macedonians oppose making Albanian an official language. With Albanian, Macedonia will have an ancient name and an ancient Illyrian official language. The only country that would hate this is Greece. Macedonians should support this.
Macedonians are not Slavic, but only Slavic-speaking, right? Learning the Albanian language will only help you.

don't get how this got so far! A bunch of Albanian politicians go to Tirana Albania and negotiate with the Albanian president on a platform that would be implemented in Macedonia? That's outrageous? If they weren't Albanians they would ve charged with treason. do the Serbs in the Serb list in Kosovo even do that?
A simple Answer ... serbs have the biggest minority right in WHOLE WORLD if you and others believe OR DONT READ the CONSTITUTION OF KOSOVO and if you say this and that its in your hand how to used it if you KNOW...BUT ITS THERE..so nothing wrong its to recognize someone where you live side by side a language if not it simple F...K off

michael danias : Albanians ... are Illyrian decedents and have a longer presence in the Balkans that the Slavs. The Bulgarian identity crisis Slavic Macedonians are the non indigenous ones ...

БОЙСЯ ДАНАЙЦЕВ, ДАРЫ ПРИНОСЯЩИХ ! (Fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts !) and any good idea can be spoiled to the absurd level. Where do you take all that BS from? Yes Shqiptars have some 15-20% of Slavic blood but it's not enough to call you Illyrians. In all mediaeval sources they were mentioned as a Slavic tribe - read Mauro Orbini's list of the Slavs. All peoples of the Balkans have heavy problems with self identification. Concerning the Shqiptars the problem is that word SHQIP (plain speaking) is mentioned since late 18 century while word ALBANIAN/WHITE was attached to you only in 19 century. So no one knows what was your name before 1780 ... Maybe it was the time when your identity began to form. Because in the Osman/Ottoman (Rosman/Ataman) empire you belonged to 3 different peoples - Milliet-i Muslim, Millet-i Rum (Orthodox) and Millet-i Catholic. Guess the language was the only thing that united you. The truth must be somewhere here but not in the ancient times. Because all Balkan peoples were formed in 19-20 centuries and none of them including the Greeks had any statehood in the past. So were the Macedonians (AK-e DON means WHITE RIVER in old Russian) were Bulgars aka Volgars i.e. sort of the Russians.

What are the official languages of the US, France, UK and Germany along with its large ethnic minorities??????
(Kent Prince, 2 March 2017 18:31)

US does not have official Language at all - and in 100years it could be Spanish.

How can one form a state between two or more cultures if one did not have a "written" language until modern times? Was it based on a handshake?

State forming countries had a government by which the ruling party have a written language.

On a federal level, the US has no official language but the states official language is english. For instance hawaii official language is English and Hawaiian.

In historical terms, the uk, france,germany,austria and spain could have had different borders depending on the outcome of past wars leading to different official language outcomes.

@free

The albanians are no less free than anyone else in Macadonia. Noone is stopping them from utilizing their language in day to day living. The problem is them wanting their language being official.

Well why wasn't the language official all these 100 of years ago?
Even when the ottomans, albanian allies,ruled the balkans????

If albanians had a starship they would claim all the stars way past alfa centuri and beyond.

If I applied for a job in central France and somehow passed the interview with french speaking interviewers, the basic expectations is that I conduct discourse in French not my native tongue. 21st century thinking = age of entitlement.

Greeks hijacking this site.
Sam

I doubt there is any greek posting on this article.They're all albanians.

--
On second thought you are probably correct but I can say Albanian and Greek posters can be the same to indistinguishable really

@azir

You call it indigenous when in fact a great proportion you all are run back and forth across borders to trump up the numbers when it so suits the greater albania agenda.

Why don't you all go to india and have over 3 billion babies then argue that albanians have a significant population, demand official language status then ask the international community for assistance and see how indians in india response.

Essentially this is what you are trying to do in the entire balkans and like babies if you don't get your way you get the west to support your terrorist ways.

The kla was once on the west terrorist list until the west saw fit to use them as a tool for regime change. Thats all your people is used for. Regime change.
Be proud of it.

@j and @azir.

If you base your argument on indigenous rights your greatest ally, the US need to acknowledge the rightful official language of the US as Spanish. The Mexicans who speak spanish inhabited much of modern day America during the pre colonial era. Further, the spanish speaking population is very significant in America.

Let your ally make Spanish official, give back New Mexico,Texas and California back to the mexicans since the pilgrims took it away by force then your arguement may be considered.

Savvy?

J: Opening Albanian schools during the Ottomans was an offense that was punishable by death. Our teachers were killed for that. It's why so many of our schools carry their names.

Read something about the Ottomans before you repeat these 19 century manthras. Formally the empire existed since 1453 till 1918 and it's a too big term to say such things. Early Ottomans were one and the late were different. What you say could happen only in the Tanzimat Period after 1826 when they massacred the Slavic Yanissaries. At least before that date the Shqiptars enjoied the rights of national minorities and had their schools ect. But you did not exist as one nation because you were divided among 3 different nations (milliets). It's a long story to explain how come that since 19 century all Balkan peoples became enemies of the empire while before that they were metropolian basis of the world empire. Britain, France, Austria and Russia did much for that. But in 16-18 centuries the Ottoman Empire was the safest place for all of you. For some 130 years Europe fought one another since mid-16 century while you all lived in peace and harmony. You knew nothing about the Rennessiance bloodshed or the Inquisition horror. There were no ethnical or religious problems on the Balkans. And it lasted for centuries before the Satan told you to rebel. Then the Satan (Oldenburgs) told you your legends and fairy tales about Kosovska Bitka, Skenderbeu , Albanian League, Vlad Dragula ect.

Macedonia
should end Diplomatic relations with in response to Tirana fragrant interference in Macedonian internal affairs
and the International Community firstly the EU condemn Albania and Kosovo’s actions rather than promote and invent destabilising in Macedonia for a greater geo-political reasons

michael danias: The Flag needs to change. It’s a Greek symbol ... Skaderbeg should replace the cheap Italian Alexander... All signs of Greek antiquity should be removed

There's some rational seed concerning the Greek history. It is really a big fake I can tell you once. But then you make statements that are not supported by any documents or artefacts.

Your flag is not Greek in the current meaning of the word. It was the coat of arms of the Komnins - a Byzantine Dynasty to which Andronikos I Komnenos belonged. After his death in 1185 the Greeks called him Jesus Christ. So you have a glorious flag - congrats! It was introduced as the coat of arms of the Great (Roman) Horde in late 15 century when Ivan III Grozny married Sophia Paleolog.

Alexander of Macedon was first mentioned by former Patriarch of Constantinople Byssarion who flew to Vatican to organize a Crusader war against the Russians who had seized Constantinople in 1453. Since then relations between Veliki Novgorod and Constantinople were improved for 200 years. Constantine I was killed in Kosovo in 1389 as Murad I aka Dmitry I. Alexander of Macedon was a legendary person whose bigraphy was composed of life stories of Mehmet II (20%) and his grandson Suleiman Qanuni (80%) and so were the territories of Alexander and Mehmet II. Word TERRITORY means LAND OF THE TURKS = TERRI TORY ... All mentioned persons including mystical Skanderbeg most likely were Russians.

But, to imply the the only link between the Albanians and Illyrians is through Slavic blood is mind boggling. I'm not big on name calling, but some people are just plain stupid. (cry me a river, 2 March 2017 17:37)

Which of us is stupid? The one who believes that he is either white or an eagle or a plain speaking or someone who tries to trace your roots? For me it's qite evident that you are not a bird. Also you are not white unless you are a Rus. The remaining Shqip 9plain speaking) looks most reasonable and not even insulting. So what's the matter? When in 19 century your neighbors began to try to escape from the Ottomans your ancestors began to collect their people. The only thing to unite them was their language. Those who spoke understandable laguage later formed Skiperia. You belonged to 3 different milliets of the Ottomans but you spoke almost the same language in 19 century. Thus the language was the only consolidating factor of yours. As simple as that ! Stupid to deny Slavic henomes in you but how do you know that those were Illyrian henomes but not Alanian, Scythian, Celtic, Gothic or any other Slavic blood? Anyway you are our nephews so stop spitting.

To the Shqiptars

Can anybody tell me what was your name before late 18 century, say before 1780 ? Because your next two named (Shqiptars and Albanians) definitely appeared after that date. What was your name in mid-18 century, in 17-th, in 16th ect. ??? Kindly give me reliable links where the meadiaeval sources you rely on are mentioned. There's no offence or an insult in being a young nation I think. At least older than the Americans, Germans, Swedes ect. Just tell me what makes you call yourself "plain speaking" one day and the "whites" the next day? Who told you that the historical Albanians (who left their footprints all over the earth) and you are the same people? Why do you think that the language wasn't enough factor to unite folks who had belonged to 3 different nations (milliets) of the Ottomans? Why do you avoid talking about identification of the Shqiptars ? Let's talk about it without nerves. I don't question when and where you have appeared from because this I don't know for sure but it must be interesting for you too. So I challenge you all and promise to behave.

In order to have a social contract which is legally binding,mind you, one must have a written language otherwise its all hearsay isn't it?
When exactly did the albanians develop a written language say compared to the other diverse groups in order to develop this social contract as you put it?

The US federal government chose not to endorse an official language but leave it up to the states that form the union to decide.
The official language within the individual states is english.



By the way, if the Albanians do get their way in europe, the official language may be albanian. They seem to be claiming everything worldwide now.

The major language may become albanian in the states not spanish as the albanian mafia have superceded mafias such as the italian mafia in major cities such as New York City.

@j

And just what is the "official" Languages of Albania?????
Just one, albanian even though there are minorities there.
So why should other countries be obliged your request if there isnt more than one official language even in Albania proper???

So only out of fear did the vast majority renounce their religion?
Or are you going to tell me albanians were always Muslims?

Sorry, i have too much honour and pride to renounce my faith even in the face of death.

Are you starting to see a trend.

The way some percieve your people is that of a turn coat. People who would quickly change agendas depending on the prevailing geopolitical dynamics at hand.

We demand an International Census monitored by EU and NATO to prevent any cheating and Slav intimidation of the discriminated natives.

---
We demand an International Census monitored by EU and NATO to prevent any cheating and Slav intimidation of the discriminated natives.

So should the Macedonians government today in fact
are you game for it
the last census in Macedonia was in 2002
the previous two were both abounded because the Albanians refused point blank
to accept International and State observers on the ground made up of combined Macedonians and Albanians reps including ,EU and UN teams on the ground
why because they would be caught out and be discovered they make up 15-17% of Population
also stop crying wolf enough already
there isn’t a Country in the World were minority’s have more freedoms and individual rights then Macedonia

MikeD
thankyou for the support
Macedonians acknowledge Kosovo is part of Serbia
they always have
the actions of the Government dont represent the people.

@j

What you and the pro albanian, greater albanian agenda are hypocrites.

P.S Albania has one language because all of our minorities combined don't make 20% of the country. It can lose a few villages and still be a country. Macedonia is not in that position. It's two ethnicities of considerable size that form a country.


Again, your greatest ally the US has greater than 20% population of spanish speaking minorities which includes indigenous, illegals, and families of legal immigrants but do not have spanish as an official language. So the issue is not about the amount of minority population in Albania, Macedonia, or Serbia with special attention to kosovo.

The issue is the minorities agenda.
The agenda is to break away and form a greater federation with respect to Abania at the expense of other ethnic groups.

The albanians in countries other than Albania intend to break away whether they get official language status or not. This is the issue.
Everything else is smoke and mirrors.

Get over it, people see through the game.

Again, your greatest ally the US has greater than 20% population of spanish speaking minorities which includes indigenous, illegals, and families of legal immigrants but do not have spanish as an official language. So the issue is not about the amount of minority population in Albania, Macedonia, or Serbia with special attention to kosovo.

The issue is the minorities agenda.
The agenda is to break away and form a greater federation with respect to Abania at the expense of other ethnic groups.

The albanians in countries other than Albania intend to break away whether they get official language status or not. This is the issue.
Everything else is smoke and mirrors.

Get over it, people see through the game.
(Kent Prince, 7 March 2017 22:58)

Kent, again the US has no official language. I'd be OK with Macedonia having no official language. The US even without an official language makes it easy to get government services in different languages. I'd be OK with a Macedonia that resembles the US in this way.
You are speaking from fear. Out of all former Jugoslavia, Macedonia has the best chance to actually make something better out of itself. It will not do this if it institutionolizes bias. It's very easy to assuage your fears. When the law for the Albanian official language passes require that the Albanians sign that Macedonia does not become a federation. Ivanov and Gruevski won't do that though. They're afraid of the special prosecutor;they might go to jail.

The agenda is to break away and form a greater federation with respect to Abania at the expense of other ethnic groups.
(Kent Prince, 7 March 2017 22:58)

That was not the agenda actually, but it could be. It all depends on whether Macedonians are ready to accept Albanians as equals.

I don't get how this got so far! A bunch of Albanian politicians go to Tirana Albania and negotiate with the Albanian president on a platform that would be implemented in Macedonia? That's outrageous? If they weren't Albanians they would ve charged with treason. do the Serbs in the Serb list in Kosovo even do that?

I don't get how this got so far! A bunch of Albanian politicians go to Tirana Albania and negotiate with the Albanian president on a platform that would be implemented in Macedonia? That's outrageous? If they weren't Albanians they would ve charged with treason. do the Serbs in the Serb list in Kosovo even do that?

Of course it's understood that Serbs in Kosovo used to live in Serbia. while Serbia allowed NATO in and withdrew all its official forces in 1999 and in 2013 abolished all its government institutions in Kosovo this was never the case with Macedonia being a part of Albanian! Why are Albanians in macedonia going to Albania or Kosovo and taking those governments policies to Macedonia! Serbs in Kosovo do vote on republic of Kosovo ballots and Serbia appointed Dejan pavicevic ambassador to Kosovo. If Albanians in Macedonia never have to speak Macedonian again and can be directed by Tirana does Macedonia have a future? Albanians in Kosovo are allowing Serbs to have a connection to Belgrade because Kosovo Serbs used to live in Serbia!

Albanian is the official language where they make up %20 hence the the crux of the problem. What is required is a proper census, not o e that include people who are dead or left the country 50 years ago. Once the Baseline is established only then should expansion or vice versa be considered for implementation.. Drive from Skopje to Ohrid, you will see oversized minarets, Albanian flags, endless statues by the roadside for uck dudes and empty houses.. the place just seems a tad empty/wierd. Not sure why the Albanians are getting riled up. As for zaev, he has made a deal with devil as do the moral compass of people of the left.

Ivanov made the right move. He must protect the Republic of Macedonia interests. Now he must seize control of the military as I'm sure the foreign agency's involved will be activating Kosovo Albanians to start the Terrorism and create unrest. New elections nessarry and a proper census needed to determine real numbers of Albanian population. Cooperation between Macedonia and Serbia is key at this point and would be beneficial to both countries.

The unity of the Macedonian state would be lost by accepting the platform, while its future would be under a question mark, Ivanov said.

He then warned that "accepting foreign platforms" is an act punishable by law.

The Macedonian president also "expects the international community to condemn this platform, as it interferes in Macedonia's internal affairs."

-- If this is indeed the case, Ivanov signed the death of Macedonia. He just told a quarter of its population that they are not equal and that their language holds an inferior status. Thus they are inferior unless they give up on their language. All of this so Gruevski can save his own skin and not end up in jail.

Macedonia's dismembering will not be immediate. It will take time. However with this action Ivanov has set in motion things he still doesn't comprehend. There is nothing holier to an Albanian than our language. It's the thing that unified us all. It's the crux of our identity as a people.You belittle and treat our language badly by assigning it an inferior status, you have just turned a quarter of the country against you. There will be interesting times in the next 10 years. I hope it's peaceful, but Ivanov just threw the first stone. If anything happens, this the action that caused it.

the nation is now officially split. gruevski and ivanov have orchestrated this. the delusional antiques of the far right holding Greek symbol flags of a fake culture against the embarrassed educated and quite helpless Slavs. The Albanians are now the marginalized minority who will react aggressively. It all smells like the makings of a civil war to me. 2001 was a warm up. 2017 is full scale destruction. Gruevski's selfishness and deluded antiquization policies have polarized Fyrom's politics - the slavs and the antiques. The VMRO-DPMNE are worse than Scientologists and gruevski is David Miscavige.

Joni first real declearation was back in 2001 when Kosovo Albanians started unrest in the Northern region of Macedonia not FYROM shortly after Macedonian citizens took them in feed them clothed them and saved them from war.Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. Unfortunately the True colors have been shown long time ago. Sneaky and underhanded with bad Intentions dos not deserve a reward
Plenty of Albanian Tv and Radio stations news papers schools available in Macedonia free to put up your flags where you want and Albanian is official language where Albanians are a majority. If you want more rights than that I suggest moving to Albania proper where you can freely run drugs and prostitutes have your self a wonderful day ;)

Kudos to President Ivanov...He looked at the Sovereignty of Macedonia and has clearly indicated that this act is an act of treason by the Albanians parties and Zoran Zaev..If this were the same scenario in Serbia, Ahmeti, Zaev, Ziadin Sela, and even Edi Rama himself would face the firing squad for treason!!!

This is a great decision for Macedonia as they are not bowing down to both the EU and a minority who think they can hold a whole country ransom for bullshit demands that only apply to a small corner of the country...The President and the citizens of Macedonia have spoken..

are we forgetting something here? the Albanians are indigenous to the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. they are Illyrian decedents and have a longer presence in the Balkans that the Slavs. The Bulgarian identity crisis Slavic Macedonians are the non indigenous ones so if the Albanians want their language as official they get their language as official. In fact i would go as far to suggest that every Slavic Macedonian child should speak Albanian as a first language. It was there first and therefore the original tongue of the country. Wake up Slavic Macedonia for you will be annexing your country soon like Kosovo. Give a little when you have taken so much including other peoples history. Let us hope for equality.

michael danias : Albanians ... are Illyrian decedents and have a longer presence in the Balkans that the Slavs. The Bulgarian identity crisis Slavic Macedonians are the non indigenous ones ...

БОЙСЯ ДАНАЙЦЕВ, ДАРЫ ПРИНОСЯЩИХ ! (Fear the Greeks even when bearing gifts !) and any good idea can be spoiled to the absurd level. Where do you take all that BS from? Yes Shqiptars have some 15-20% of Slavic blood but it's not enough to call you Illyrians. In all mediaeval sources they were mentioned as a Slavic tribe - read Mauro Orbini's list of the Slavs. All peoples of the Balkans have heavy problems with self identification. Concerning the Shqiptars the problem is that word SHQIP (plain speaking) is mentioned since late 18 century while word ALBANIAN/WHITE was attached to you only in 19 century. So no one knows what was your name before 1780 ... Maybe it was the time when your identity began to form. Because in the Osman/Ottoman (Rosman/Ataman) empire you belonged to 3 different peoples - Milliet-i Muslim, Millet-i Rum (Orthodox) and Millet-i Catholic. Guess the language was the only thing that united you. The truth must be somewhere here but not in the ancient times. Because all Balkan peoples were formed in 19-20 centuries and none of them including the Greeks had any statehood in the past. So were the Macedonians (AK-e DON means WHITE RIVER in old Russian) were Bulgars aka Volgars i.e. sort of the Russians.

michael danias: The Flag needs to change. It’s a Greek symbol ... Skaderbeg should replace the cheap Italian Alexander... All signs of Greek antiquity should be removed

There's some rational seed concerning the Greek history. It is really a big fake I can tell you once. But then you make statements that are not supported by any documents or artefacts.

Your flag is not Greek in the current meaning of the word. It was the coat of arms of the Komnins - a Byzantine Dynasty to which Andronikos I Komnenos belonged. After his death in 1185 the Greeks called him Jesus Christ. So you have a glorious flag - congrats! It was introduced as the coat of arms of the Great (Roman) Horde in late 15 century when Ivan III Grozny married Sophia Paleolog.

Alexander of Macedon was first mentioned by former Patriarch of Constantinople Byssarion who flew to Vatican to organize a Crusader war against the Russians who had seized Constantinople in 1453. Since then relations between Veliki Novgorod and Constantinople were improved for 200 years. Constantine I was killed in Kosovo in 1389 as Murad I aka Dmitry I. Alexander of Macedon was a legendary person whose bigraphy was composed of life stories of Mehmet II (20%) and his grandson Suleiman Qanuni (80%) and so were the territories of Alexander and Mehmet II. Word TERRITORY means LAND OF THE TURKS = TERRI TORY ... All mentioned persons including mystical Skanderbeg most likely were Russians.

J: Opening Albanian schools during the Ottomans was an offense that was punishable by death. Our teachers were killed for that. It's why so many of our schools carry their names.

Read something about the Ottomans before you repeat these 19 century manthras. Formally the empire existed since 1453 till 1918 and it's a too big term to say such things. Early Ottomans were one and the late were different. What you say could happen only in the Tanzimat Period after 1826 when they massacred the Slavic Yanissaries. At least before that date the Shqiptars enjoied the rights of national minorities and had their schools ect. But you did not exist as one nation because you were divided among 3 different nations (milliets). It's a long story to explain how come that since 19 century all Balkan peoples became enemies of the empire while before that they were metropolian basis of the world empire. Britain, France, Austria and Russia did much for that. But in 16-18 centuries the Ottoman Empire was the safest place for all of you. For some 130 years Europe fought one another since mid-16 century while you all lived in peace and harmony. You knew nothing about the Rennessiance bloodshed or the Inquisition horror. There were no ethnical or religious problems on the Balkans. And it lasted for centuries before the Satan told you to rebel. Then the Satan (Oldenburgs) told you your legends and fairy tales about Kosovska Bitka, Skenderbeu , Albanian League, Vlad Dragula ect.

I don't get how this got so far! A bunch of Albanian politicians go to Tirana Albania and negotiate with the Albanian president on a platform that would be implemented in Macedonia? That's outrageous? If they weren't Albanians they would ve charged with treason. do the Serbs in the Serb list in Kosovo even do that?

Yes the serb in Kosovo do that regularly,as the serbs in Bosnia, Croatia and Montenegro do . When the albanians do that you people get nervous. I don't understand this. They are not just a bunch of albanians ,they are democratically elelcted leaders of the Albanians parties in Macedonia that came in Tirana and Pristina too for consultations. Thats it. The Tirana platform does not exist its a gruevsky and ivanov creation to block the forming of the new governemt and to keep himself and his gang still in game and out of prison. These are only manifestation of antialbanian sentiment that exist in Fyrom. If respecting albanian language is seen as something against the consTitutions and soveregnity of the country. Well that means that the constitution and this country is base in antialbanian feelings. So there is no place for albanians in this country. And this is against international law and european values too.

It wasn't just the language rights, it included a sign off for an open border with Kosovo and Albania, giving them "Greater Albania."

There were one too many demands which in anyone's right of mind would say no to...Well done to President Ivanov and the citizens of Macedonia for standing up to what they believe is right..You don't see the Macedonians of Pustec seeking a platform and calling demands for equal rights to that of the rest of the Albanian population? No...they are not even recognised as a minority in Albania...it is the local municipality who recognise them...

To the Albanians of Macedonia..respect the country you're living in and respect your rights as a minority...you've been given schools, mosques, language rights where your majority live, national days, monuments...and you are a minority of 17%...You are less than stipulated in the Ohrid Framework Agreement on the basis you claim you're 25%...You won't participate in a national census because you very well know you are under the required amount as stated in the framework!!!!!

To the Shqiptars

Can anybody tell me what was your name before late 18 century, say before 1780 ? Because your next two named (Shqiptars and Albanians) definitely appeared after that date. What was your name in mid-18 century, in 17-th, in 16th ect. ??? Kindly give me reliable links where the meadiaeval sources you rely on are mentioned. There's no offence or an insult in being a young nation I think. At least older than the Americans, Germans, Swedes ect. Just tell me what makes you call yourself "plain speaking" one day and the "whites" the next day? Who told you that the historical Albanians (who left their footprints all over the earth) and you are the same people? Why do you think that the language wasn't enough factor to unite folks who had belonged to 3 different nations (milliets) of the Ottomans? Why do you avoid talking about identification of the Shqiptars ? Let's talk about it without nerves. I don't question when and where you have appeared from because this I don't know for sure but it must be interesting for you too. So I challenge you all and promise to behave.

In order to have a social contract which is legally binding,mind you, one must have a written language otherwise its all hearsay isn't it?
When exactly did the albanians develop a written language say compared to the other diverse groups in order to develop this social contract as you put it?

I'll guarantee you that if a census was conducted now without corruption the Albanians would constitute over 50% of the population. It's time to rise up Albanians. Your Slavic neighbours will never grant you equality so take matters into your own hands. Split and it they don't split peacefully get the brothers from Kosovo over. It should be fun. Ivanov can get the blame. Gruevski can be hung off the fake horseman stature in Skopje square and the entire place can start learning Albanian. Make them suffer because of their racism. Give it back with interest. Long live Albania. No more fake nations with stolen histories. Gruevski the Slavic hitler must go.

don't get how this got so far! A bunch of Albanian politicians go to Tirana Albania and negotiate with the Albanian president on a platform that would be implemented in Macedonia? That's outrageous? If they weren't Albanians they would ve charged with treason. do the Serbs in the Serb list in Kosovo even do that?
A simple Answer ... serbs have the biggest minority right in WHOLE WORLD if you and others believe OR DONT READ the CONSTITUTION OF KOSOVO and if you say this and that its in your hand how to used it if you KNOW...BUT ITS THERE..so nothing wrong its to recognize someone where you live side by side a language if not it simple F...K off

If I applied for a job in central France and somehow passed the interview with french speaking interviewers, the basic expectations is that I conduct discourse in French not my native tongue. 21st century thinking = age of entitlement.

@azir

You call it indigenous when in fact a great proportion you all are run back and forth across borders to trump up the numbers when it so suits the greater albania agenda.

Why don't you all go to india and have over 3 billion babies then argue that albanians have a significant population, demand official language status then ask the international community for assistance and see how indians in india response.

Essentially this is what you are trying to do in the entire balkans and like babies if you don't get your way you get the west to support your terrorist ways.

The kla was once on the west terrorist list until the west saw fit to use them as a tool for regime change. Thats all your people is used for. Regime change.
Be proud of it.

We demand an International Census monitored by EU and NATO to prevent any cheating and Slav intimidation of the discriminated natives.

---
We demand an International Census monitored by EU and NATO to prevent any cheating and Slav intimidation of the discriminated natives.

So should the Macedonians government today in fact
are you game for it
the last census in Macedonia was in 2002
the previous two were both abounded because the Albanians refused point blank
to accept International and State observers on the ground made up of combined Macedonians and Albanians reps including ,EU and UN teams on the ground
why because they would be caught out and be discovered they make up 15-17% of Population
also stop crying wolf enough already
there isn’t a Country in the World were minority’s have more freedoms and individual rights then Macedonia

FYROM needs to be partition.
50% to Bulgaria,35% to Albania dhe te rest to Serbia and Greece.
In the end eveyone will be happy.

@free

The albanians are no less free than anyone else in Macadonia. Noone is stopping them from utilizing their language in day to day living. The problem is them wanting their language being official.

Well why wasn't the language official all these 100 of years ago?
Even when the ottomans, albanian allies,ruled the balkans????

If albanians had a starship they would claim all the stars way past alfa centuri and beyond.

The US federal government chose not to endorse an official language but leave it up to the states that form the union to decide.
The official language within the individual states is english.



By the way, if the Albanians do get their way in europe, the official language may be albanian. They seem to be claiming everything worldwide now.

The major language may become albanian in the states not spanish as the albanian mafia have superceded mafias such as the italian mafia in major cities such as New York City.

No one can tell Macedonians what they want to call themselves. They can call their country Coca-Cola if they want to. America is named after an Italian guy but i don`t see Italy complaining about that.

After all Ancient Macedonians were neither Slavic nor Greeks, so both sides are stupid nationalists who use this "name dispute" to distract public intention from real problems.

For years Macedonian politicianas have complained Greece had blocked Macedonia progress toward EU and NATO. And now Greece is out of their way they complain about EU institutions and Albanians.

These are excuses for following an agenda that comes from elsewhere outside Macedonia. Just look which "Great Leader" Gruevsky try to imitate when he walks, talks...

There is alot of hypocrisy going on here. The serbs and other minorities in Croatia deserve their language to be official language as well if the Albanians argue this point. It cant be one rule for one country and a different one for another.

Further, no other country has a right to interfere in another country internal and electoral affairs.

What trump is being accused of is what has happened in Macedonia electoral affairs.

How can one form a state between two or more cultures if one did not have a "written" language until modern times? Was it based on a handshake?

State forming countries had a government by which the ruling party have a written language.

On a federal level, the US has no official language but the states official language is english. For instance hawaii official language is English and Hawaiian.

In historical terms, the uk, france,germany,austria and spain could have had different borders depending on the outcome of past wars leading to different official language outcomes.

Russia and China represent an alternative and saving grace to Nations of the World thankyou to both

No ones stopping them from speaking their language, but theyre using this as a pretext to federalizing the state. We all know it, hence why Ivanovs stance. They openly talk greater albania!! 65% of Slavs in mk are indigenous, so we are all illyrian/vlach for most part. Historically we're not macedonians, instead illyrian tribes were part of a macedonian kingdom. Quite similarly to the kingdom of Yugoslavia. The Slavs in mk never had a definitive affinity towards any ethnicity until 70yrs ago. I am a Slav wth illyrian DNA E-V13, but im not albanian nor bulgarian. The country should be renamed to Paeonia, so it represents the indigenous people of the past who were first there, or call it Vardarija since it has no attachment to tribes or peoples, simply a river shared by all groups that live there.

Dear Mecedonia, you have allowed yourselves to be lied to and guided by false saviours. Step 1, unrecognize Kosovo. Step 2, tell the EU to beat it. Step 3, make a deal with Putin before Nato 'intervenes'.

Before anyone starts blaming the Albanians for this mess that the Slavic population of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia have gotten themselves into then consider this. The Albanians are Illyrians. As such they have a connection to the country which predates the majority Slavic population by 8000 years. They are indigenous to the region. It’s the Slavs that need to be learning how to speak Albanian not the other way around. Albanian should be an official language for this reason alone. They didn’t walk over the border. They were there. The Slavs invaded their territory. Gruevski and his cultural criminals have alienated them. Their cheap reproduction statues’ of Samule(Bulgarian), Delchev(Bulgarian), Gruev (Bulgarian) Alexander (Greek) and the list goes on and on and on, have polarized society. Antique Slav and non antique Slav. The Albanians are not even in the mix. They have been marginalized by both groups. The Flag needs to change. It’s a Greek symbol. The name needs to change. It’s a Greek name. The airport needs to be renamed. It’s a Greek name. Skaderbeg should replace the cheap Italian Alexander the Great statue. Mother Theresa should replace the cheap Italian Phillip statue. All signs of Greek antiquity should be removed and school children need to be educated in both Bulgarian and Albanian with a neutral curriculum. The place is culturally deranged. Gruevski‘s self loathing is similar to Hilter’s.Hiltler had a Jewish father. Gruevski had a Greek grandfather

For all those saying that the Albanians and Albanian language was first in the region, here a nice animation based on a study that claims that Balto-Slavic was there before Albanian, some 1000 years before. It is a hypothesis launched in 2012 that says that the old hypothesis of languages broad in via the steppes in the Black Sea area is wrong and that all European languages originate from Anatolian — the language of Anatolia, now modern-day Turkey. So, you're all Turks.... ;-)
http://www.businessinsider.com/map-how-indo-european-languages-evolved-2014-12
But anyway people, how long do you want to go back in time to see if somebody was there first or not? In the meanwhile genetic strings of all people in the Balkan have mixed a lot.
Albanians are 25% of Macedonia so doesn't their language deserve an official status in Macedonia/FYROM? Should they not be included more into society? But do they want that in the first place?
On the other hand, if Bulgarians from Macedonia would have gone to Sofia for a "Bulgarian platform" or if Slavs from Macedonia had gone to Moscow for a "Slavic platform" the world would have been too small.
Why can't you all just get along?

But, to imply the the only link between the Albanians and Illyrians is through Slavic blood is mind boggling. I'm not big on name calling, but some people are just plain stupid. (cry me a river, 2 March 2017 17:37)

Which of us is stupid? The one who believes that he is either white or an eagle or a plain speaking or someone who tries to trace your roots? For me it's qite evident that you are not a bird. Also you are not white unless you are a Rus. The remaining Shqip 9plain speaking) looks most reasonable and not even insulting. So what's the matter? When in 19 century your neighbors began to try to escape from the Ottomans your ancestors began to collect their people. The only thing to unite them was their language. Those who spoke understandable laguage later formed Skiperia. You belonged to 3 different milliets of the Ottomans but you spoke almost the same language in 19 century. Thus the language was the only consolidating factor of yours. As simple as that ! Stupid to deny Slavic henomes in you but how do you know that those were Illyrian henomes but not Alanian, Scythian, Celtic, Gothic or any other Slavic blood? Anyway you are our nephews so stop spitting.

@j

And just what is the "official" Languages of Albania?????
Just one, albanian even though there are minorities there.
So why should other countries be obliged your request if there isnt more than one official language even in Albania proper???

So only out of fear did the vast majority renounce their religion?
Or are you going to tell me albanians were always Muslims?

Sorry, i have too much honour and pride to renounce my faith even in the face of death.

Are you starting to see a trend.

The way some percieve your people is that of a turn coat. People who would quickly change agendas depending on the prevailing geopolitical dynamics at hand.

@j and @azir.

If you base your argument on indigenous rights your greatest ally, the US need to acknowledge the rightful official language of the US as Spanish. The Mexicans who speak spanish inhabited much of modern day America during the pre colonial era. Further, the spanish speaking population is very significant in America.

Let your ally make Spanish official, give back New Mexico,Texas and California back to the mexicans since the pilgrims took it away by force then your arguement may be considered.

Savvy?

This is the beginning of the end of Macedonia. Yugoslavia 1990 all over again, and Macedonians have a lot to lose, more that the others.( if you know what i mean)
(Macedonian citizen, 1 March 2017 20:47)

Fake countries usually end up like that (i.e. Yugoslavia). FYROM is a fake country with a fake nationality. You're Bulgarian speaking people who stole name of Macedonia. To me it's funny seeing FYROM having closer relations with Turkey and not Greece. I guess religion doesn't matter when it comes to greed.

Kudos to B92 for using a map that sees Kosovo as a separate state and uses the Albanian name of Prishtinë.
Most probably they will change it after my comment. LOL

I don't understand why part of Kosovo was given to Macedonia and Montenegro. Why? We have our people living there and we are trying live with them, but how they can force us living like second hand citizen in our land?
This man tell that Albanian language is a threat for Macedonia? Well i do not know what is more dangerous for FYROM, accept Albanian language or refuse to accept it?
This is a discrimination for more than 25 % of Macedonian population. So i don't like the situations but i translate his declaration like " We don't want you!”. Well we do not want you too!
So, how this can help Macedonia?

What's the big deal? Given them their language they are your neighbours and friends. In Canada French make 20% the population and we all have to learn French and no big deal brings two people closer together. Serbia should do the same thing and Macedonia My grandfather always said the more languages you know the better!

Macedonia it's a FAKE . FAKE stuff don't last long . Wen YU got split up , should've happened to FAKE Macedonia and put to rest

A question for Macedonian's only: if Macedonia splits up and doesn't exist anymore , can we still sing "makedonsko devojce"? Will it make sense then ? Thanks

What are the official languages of the US, France, UK and Germany along with its large ethnic minorities??????

Greeks hijacking this site.
Sam

I doubt there is any greek posting on this article.They're all albanians.

This is the beginning of the end of Macedonia. Yugoslavia 1990 all over again, and Macedonians have a lot to lose, more that the others.( if you know what i mean)

This is the old divide and rule. Zaev in Macedonia, Edi Rama in Albania, Alexis Tsipras in Athens and one can find a Judas like them in every country who is ready to sell his/her country and people for the proverbial 30 pieces of silver. In the Balkans we are all essentially the same people. They pit one against another so that we fight and die while they make money on selling us weapons to kill each other, weapons bought by borrowed money from the elite's banks who control the corporations and weapons manufacturers. Then in exchange for this paper money created out of thin air they demand, like in the case of Greece, to hand over the gold, national corporate assets and the country's resources. Now if we could be just a little bit smarter, we would stop hating one another and instead learn to respect and cooperate with one another and help one another so that we render their ploy ineffective.

When a country has such a long and rich history they care about it. no country has given humanity more than Greece. the fact that you are able to wake up and vote in general elections is because of us – democracy. when you are the most influential culture in history you try and protect it. history must be correct. if it’s not then it’s a distortion. Lets continue keeping history correct for it teaches us lessons for the future. World academia will not allow it. If you want to see something incorrect happen in history that involves the most important culture on earth you’re without conscience. I suggest you do a history coarse before commenting on history.

They blame everyone but themselves. Its Greece’s fault. It’s the Albanians fault. Its Soros’s fault. Its Hillary’s fault, Its the Bulgarians fault. It’s the Serbs fault. Its Zaevs fault, It’s a conspiracy theory.
When will this nation wake up to itself. They are Slavs and as such need to celebrate their Slavic culture. They cannot use the name Macedonia. It’s not theirs to use. They need to turn to their qualified academics who have been silenced, victimized and ostracized for formulating an internal cultural platform that befits their ethnicity. The false antiquization program of Gruevski needs to be dismantled and this means renaming, re branding and re educating. Its almost like Hitler’s Germany in there at the moment. de antiquate. re educate. embrace.

(Alex, 2 March 2017 12:31)

How he protect the FYROM interest? Explain it to me, please? Discriminating 25-30% of its own population?
How can Serbia and Macedonia cooperation be the key? The The real ethnic division already has begun at the first moment Ivanov made that declaration. Serbians in Kosovo are less than 5% and we give to them that right, and are searching even ZSO. So how can Serbia and FYROM can collaborate, is in violation with what you have and search in Kosovo. FYROM don't give to Albanians what we already have with a 5%?
Albanians are FYROM citizen how can the president of FYROM tell that they and their language is a threat for Macedonia? And after telling that what did he expect form us?
I was shocked after reading that. You do not want us, don’t respect our rights, discriminate us and then we are “the problem”?

Greeks hijacking this space to cheer their heart felt desire for the death of a Nation what wonderful human beings they are

The root of Fyroms problem is the identity issue.The country has been built on bad foundations so its now faltering. had it had a sound foundation of multiculturalism it would not be in the mess. The Albanians are indigenous and as such deserve equal rights. Just the name Macedonia is offensive to the Albanians. Its offensive the the Greeks. its offensive to the Bulgarians. When a new nation offends its neighbors it is doomed. add to this the cultural fabrications of antiquity. Slavic denials. stolen national heroes. theme parks that are the product of a mad man. languishing economy. ect ect. all these social and economic issues are brought upon from one thing ­ the identity.The minute they redefine who they are in a correct historical and scientific manner the country will thrive. they don't take criticism.they don't get it. Macedonia is a name that is not exclusive to FYROM. They cannot use it. They have had ample time to fix the name issue.
Instead they forged along with a false antiqization policy. Inflammatory airport names. Cheap Italian statues of historical figures
that are not ethnically connected to them.
propaganda. The place stinks. The best option they have is to take Rohrabacher advice. They will save themselves a civil war.
Partition for peace. Let the Albanians split. They will never be accepted by their Slav co occupants. The fragmented mess can
then decide to either forge along in their historical fantasy land or joint their ancestral homeland Bulgaria

Cyrill was Serb or Bulgarian...


He was neither.Cyrill & Methodius were Greek missionary brothers.Check on wiki.

Macedonia it's finished. What are we going to call ourselves? Omg 😩
(Makedonsko devojce, 3 March 2017 18:51)

You are kidding right? I don't really understand why Macedonians oppose making Albanian an official language. With Albanian, Macedonia will have an ancient name and an ancient Illyrian official language. The only country that would hate this is Greece. Macedonians should support this.
Macedonians are not Slavic, but only Slavic-speaking, right? Learning the Albanian language will only help you.

(Bulgar of Ohrid, 2 March 2017 11:09)

Look at you. You are a great example for Macedonia. You call your self "bulgar". Where dose that live so-called macedonians? They are shooting themselves in the foot . I'm afraid later it will be too late for the so-called maedonians

Yes Shqiptars have some 15-20% of Slavic blood but it's not enough to call you Illyrians.
rote

I know you live in Mordor and your pscyhe is heavily affected by what you've been exposed to. But, to imply the the only link between the Albanians and Illyrians is through Slavic blood is mind boggling.

I'm not big on name calling, but some people are just plain stupid.

Michael danias : They cannot use the name Macedonia. It’s not theirs to use.

This morning I wrote for you "all Balkan peoples were formed in 19-20 centuries and none of them including the Greeks had any statehood in the past ... Macedonians (AK-e DON means WHITE RIVER in old Russian) were Bulgars aka Volgars i.e. sort of the Russians."

I also wrote "Alexander of Macedon was first mentioned by former Patriarch of Constantinople Bessarion who flew to Vatican to organize a Crusader war against the Russians who had seized Constantinople in 1453. ... Alexander of Macedon was a legendary person whose bigraphy was composed of life stories of Mehmet II (20%) and his grandson Suleiman Qanuni (80%) and so were the territories of Alexander and Mehmet II"

I can also add that the famous 53 day attack of 1453 started from Macedonia via The Golden Horn. Maybe this is why Macedonia (White River) was used to describe Mehmet II Fatih aka Prophet Mohammad aka Alexander The Great aka Tamerlane. Most likely all of them were one Russian man burried in Samarkand.

https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%93%D1%83%D1%80-%D0%AD%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%80

Among his 9 names you will find Iskander Ul Ahad = Alexander the Great. The full list is «Великий Эмир», Бек, Мирза, Абу Мансур, Абу Фатих, Абу Гази, Сахиб-и Кирани, Хаган, Гете Стани, Султан, Искандар Ул Ахад, Гурган where Fatih is also the title of Mehmet II.

Kent Prince out of pity I will attempt to dispel you of your inherent ignorance...

The indigenous And sizable Albanian community of this fake "Macedonian" country if it were a company with shares .....

We would have our rightful voice in proportion to our percentage of the total population.

We demand an International Census monitored by EU and NATO to prevent any cheating and Slav intimidation of the discriminated natives.

"Macedonia" collapsing is not out of the equation.

Do what is right!
Now!
Or ask the Serbs what happens....

Greeks hijacking this site.
Sam

I doubt there is any greek posting on this article.They're all albanians.

--
On second thought you are probably correct but I can say Albanian and Greek posters can be the same to indistinguishable really

If Albanians in Macedonia never have to speak Macedonian again and can be directed by Tirana does Macedonia have a future? Albanians in Kosovo are allowing Serbs to have a connection to Belgrade because Kosovo Serbs used to live in Serbia!
(Brian., 1 March 2017 21:16)

You have it all wrong dude. This is not about never speaking Macedonian. You're speaking from a position of fear. Albanians are a state-forming people within Macedonia. Hence the language holds an equal status as Macedonian. You have two people's that have an agreement to form a state. As a state forming people their language is not some old twenty year old cell Nokia cell phone that you can simply ignore or discard by some law. This is the language of about a quarter of the country that together with the Macedonians have decided to have this social contract with the agreement of equal treatment to form a country. There is no country of Macedonia without Albanians. You shove us aside and you lose the country.
Now, with Macedonian's being the majority it is utterly stupid to think that one could live normally and advance socially without speaking it. It's why we speak it today and why we'll speak it tomorrow. This is about equal treatment of a state forming people within Macedonia. If the Slavic population of Macedonia do not realize this, they will see their country disappear. There's no incentive to cooperate when you know apriori you are not an equal. It's as simple as that.

Ciao Agnese!

On a federal level, the US has no official language but the states official language is english. For instance hawaii official language is English and Hawaiian.

In historical terms, the uk, france,germany,austria and spain could have had different borders depending on the outcome of past wars leading to different official language outcomes.
(Kent Prince, 3 March 2017 14:11)

Here in the States I get documents that are written in English, Chinese, Korean, Russian. Most of it is in English of course. In high school I could take certain classes in Chinese or Spanish. Most classes were in English of course. None of this ever upset me or negatively affected my life. Instead it made the life of others easier. Nobody here wants to replace Macedonian, but if some person gets a job in central Macedonia, the government should be able to offer services in Albanian along with Macedonian; translators, paperwork etc. How would Macedonian's feel if Macedonian is banned on parts of the country where they make less than 20% of the people. No paperwork, no services in Macedonian.This is what this is about.

Some people complained about open borders. What do you think EU means? It is open borders. With open borders one removes the incentive for extreme nationalism. Nobody prevents trade, contact, communication, etc. based on the understanding that we all win by not isolating each other. It should be everyone's goal.

Macedonia it's finished. What are we going to call ourselves? Omg 😩

Even when the ottomans, albanian allies,ruled the balkans????

If albanians had a starship they would claim all the stars way past alfa centuri and beyond.
(Kent Prince, 3 March 2017 16:26)

Opening Albanian schools during the Ottomans was an offense that was punishable by death. Our teachers were killed for that. It's why so many of our schools carry their names. You are consumed by fear. Having the option to have government service in Albanian as well Macedonia does not make Macedonia weaker, it makes it stronger. It sends the message that Albanians can see their Macedonian neighbors as partners. Forbidding Albanian from government institutions sends the opposite message. Why would Albanians be obliged to cooperate if they are told your language isn't worthy, you aren't worthy. Again this is not a 1% minority. This is 20% of the country that have agreed to form a country with you. If they feel oppressed and if they feel institutionalized bias against them, one day they may rescind that agreement. It will be the day that Macedonia stops existing. You have a choice to make. Russian backed Balkan type authoritarian leaders like Gruevski or Ivanov, or equal treatment of a state forming ethnicity and a functional country. The choice is yours to make.

Disclaimer: I'm an American and married to an Albanian.

As an outsider who absolutely loves the Balkans, you need to stop all the pointless controversies. Your nations are all weak and divided against each other. The instability ensures that none of your economies will grow. Stop arguing about the name Macedonia, or that Kosovo was Serbia in 1400, or that Macedonian is really close to Bulgarian, that Alexander the Great was really Greek, etc... Its pointless and divisive and your just yelling in the echo chamber of people that already agree with you. Instead of fighting, work together! Cooperate! Form a union of Balkan states like France and Germany did with the EU after WW2! If France and Germany can end WW2 and start the EU, then there is no reason Serbia and Albania can't become allies (yes I said allies!). Look at Switzerland, they have 4 official languages and they don't let the EU or the UN or the USA or Russia or anyone else push them around. Unity is strength, division is weakness. If your not going to do this, the region is going to constantly be at the mercy of stronger powers just like it was during the Ottoman period.

(Kent Prince, 3 March 2017 23:04)

Relax boy . This fake country of Macedonia with somebody's ales language, history, and territory it's over . Your days are numbered. Thanks gruefski-ivanov, the end it's here

@j and @azir.

If you base your argument on indigenous rights your greatest ally, the US need to acknowledge the rightful official language of the US as Spanish. The Mexicans who speak spanish inhabited much of modern day America during the pre colonial era. Further, the spanish speaking population is very significant in America.

Let your ally make Spanish official, give back New Mexico,Texas and California back to the mexicans since the pilgrims took it away by force then your arguement may be considered.

Savvy?
(Kent Prince, 3 March 2017 23:44)

My argument is not based on being indegenous. There are two major peoples in Macedonia. Macedonians and Albanians. Together they have made a social country to have a country; a country that is equal and fair to both of these constituent people. Institutionalized bias against one of these people essentially breaks this contract.

The US has no official language. There is a language that is spoken the most but the government provides services even in the language of all of the groups you mention. Macedonia has three choices. No official language. Two official languages. Or one official language and breaking of this social contract. The laws in question are not about forcing Macedonians to speak Albanian; such a thing should be unconstitutional. They're about making life easier for Albanians and making that Macedonia is treating us equally as a cosntituive people of the republic.

Gruevskis has spend too much time on his antiquization program creating a false history via his 2014 program. By creating the myth which has permeated all levels of Slavic Macedonia's society he has alienated the Albanians. They either change their name and destroy their cheap Italian reproduction statues and become an inclusive society or the country will disintegrate. Had Gruevski not forged along with brainwashing of his population, Slavic Macedonia would have been a productive member of Europe. They know what they have to do. The Albanians are on standby. 2001 was merely a warning. The USA has proven loyalty to the Albanians in Kosovo. They would not hesitate to fund an offensive against Slavic Macedonia in the name of selling arms.It will all turn nasty i feel. They need to change their name. They need to remove all reference to antiquity. They need to embrace the Albanians. They need to make friends with their neighbors. Politicians like Ljubo Georgievski and Zoran Zaev offer hope. The Slavic population must swallow their pride and listen to the world. Irredentist and antiquization platforms need to be eradicated. Albanians and Turks make up 35% of Slavic Macedonia's population. This is too high of a percentage to ignore. They either work with their minority groups or the territory will be partitioned via a nasty civil war. Think twice Slavic Macedonia before commissioning another statue from the Italians and naming another airport

Kent, I'm an atheist. I don't care if you think that your middle Eastern religion makes you feel like a superior being bacause you didn't choose that other middle Eastern religion. I don't believe in figments of imaginations and personal friends in the sky. So I don't care how "some" people like these perceive me or my people. I don't base my life on that.

P.S Albania has one language because all of our minorities combined don't make 20% of the country. It can lose a few villages and still be a country. Macedonia is not in that position. It's two ethnicities of considerable size that form a country. If one ethnicity feels they're not being treated equally, the the country risks disintegrating.

(Dr Grey, 4 March 2017 09:17)

It's the so-called macedonians who refused the census because they will be disappointed. Don't forget over 60 thousand Bulgarian passports recently, torbesh people no longer forced to be called so-called macedonians , etc,etc. Macedonia it's not a country, so better act smart or will lose more that you bargain for

MikeD
thankyou for the support
Macedonians acknowledge Kosovo is part of Serbia
they always have
the actions of the Government dont represent the people.

Macedonia
should end Diplomatic relations with in response to Tirana fragrant interference in Macedonian internal affairs
and the International Community firstly the EU condemn Albania and Kosovo’s actions rather than promote and invent destabilising in Macedonia for a greater geo-political reasons

What are the official languages of the US, France, UK and Germany along with its large ethnic minorities??????
(Kent Prince, 2 March 2017 18:31)

US does not have official Language at all - and in 100years it could be Spanish.

What are the official languages of the US, France, UK and Germany along with its large ethnic minorities??????
(Kent Prince, 2 March 2017 18:31)

The US has no official language.

As for France, UK, Germany there were no two different ethnic peoples in those countries that were state forming people that decided to form this social contract that we call a country. Instead Macedonia is not like them in that respect. Macedonia is more like Switzerland. Different sizeable ethnic people that have decided to uphold a social country that is what a country is. At the same time that social countract dies when bias, inequality, and injustice is institutionalized against one particular group.

(Kent Prince, 3 March 2017 14:21)

Cyrill was a Serb or Bulgarian?

You stole all from Bulgarians.

Again, your greatest ally the US has greater than 20% population of spanish speaking minorities which includes indigenous, illegals, and families of legal immigrants but do not have spanish as an official language. So the issue is not about the amount of minority population in Albania, Macedonia, or Serbia with special attention to kosovo.

The issue is the minorities agenda.
The agenda is to break away and form a greater federation with respect to Abania at the expense of other ethnic groups.

The albanians in countries other than Albania intend to break away whether they get official language status or not. This is the issue.
Everything else is smoke and mirrors.

Get over it, people see through the game.
(Kent Prince, 7 March 2017 22:58)

Kent, again the US has no official language. I'd be OK with Macedonia having no official language. The US even without an official language makes it easy to get government services in different languages. I'd be OK with a Macedonia that resembles the US in this way.
You are speaking from fear. Out of all former Jugoslavia, Macedonia has the best chance to actually make something better out of itself. It will not do this if it institutionolizes bias. It's very easy to assuage your fears. When the law for the Albanian official language passes require that the Albanians sign that Macedonia does not become a federation. Ivanov and Gruevski won't do that though. They're afraid of the special prosecutor;they might go to jail.

This might be one of those decisions that destroyed FYROM. Remember after the war in former Yugoslavia when people were asking when it did begin and how?

@ Kent Prince

When did Macedonians started to write Macedonian?

And what does that even mean? What is the "time limit" (how old written language) you need to have to ask for equal rights with your superior race?

@j

What you and the pro albanian, greater albanian agenda are hypocrites.

P.S Albania has one language because all of our minorities combined don't make 20% of the country. It can lose a few villages and still be a country. Macedonia is not in that position. It's two ethnicities of considerable size that form a country.


Again, your greatest ally the US has greater than 20% population of spanish speaking minorities which includes indigenous, illegals, and families of legal immigrants but do not have spanish as an official language. So the issue is not about the amount of minority population in Albania, Macedonia, or Serbia with special attention to kosovo.

The issue is the minorities agenda.
The agenda is to break away and form a greater federation with respect to Abania at the expense of other ethnic groups.

The albanians in countries other than Albania intend to break away whether they get official language status or not. This is the issue.
Everything else is smoke and mirrors.

Get over it, people see through the game.

The agenda is to break away and form a greater federation with respect to Abania at the expense of other ethnic groups.
(Kent Prince, 7 March 2017 22:58)

That was not the agenda actually, but it could be. It all depends on whether Macedonians are ready to accept Albanians as equals.