Albania Recognised the Bulgarian Minority

Albanian Parliament passed on 13^th of October the Law on National Minorities. It recognizes nine minorities, including the Bulgarian one. The law was adopted after two-day debates in the plenary hall.

Thus, the Bulgarian local community in Albania in the three areas of Mala Prespa, Golo Bardo and Gora receives equal collective rights alongside other ethnic communities in Albania.

The decision was greeted by Bulgaria’s Prime Minister Boyko Borissov. "A moment of history for Bulgaria, After 104 years Albania recognized the Bulgarian ethnic community," Bulgarian Prime Minister Borissov wrote in a post on Facbook. Borissov thanked the Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama and everyone who had worked in recent years to make it happen. “Bulgaria will support the European integration of Albania, in which we see a true partner and close friend, “ he said.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva described the recognition of the Bulgarian minority in Albania as restoration of historical justice. She thanked the Albanian Parliament and said that a lot of effort was made. An agreement on the recognition of the Bulgarian minority in Albania has existed since 1932. However, it has not been signed and has not entered into force, she added. “I thank the Bulgarian minority in Albania for collecting about 3,000 signatures for about a month and a half," she said.