The Minister of Education in North Macedonia, Vesna Janevska, has repeated her action against Albanian journalists and politicians for speaking Macedonian.
During a public appearance about changes to the higher education law, Janevska repeatedly asked the professors and directors of the University of Tetova to speak Macedonian, because she could not understand them, even though she was clear in advance that she had gone into a debate with a university where the Albanian language was spoken.
Although reporters told her that she should have taken a translator with her, Janevska said that the official language in the country is Macedonian.
-Do you think you should take a translator with you next time to understand the Albanian language?
Vesna Janevska: North Macedonia has one official language and another spoken by the communities. I am in Tetovo where Albanian is spoken, I don’t need a translator, you need to know Macedonian. I understand a little, but so that I don’t make mistakes in the translation, please translate for me in the most civilized way.
-Next time you come to Tetovo, you should get a translator, the law requires it…
Vesna Janevska: I am not obliged by law. Do you want to talk about the law and ruin the beautiful event I came for? Thank you!
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The Albanian language in North Macedonia is not a community language, as the minister claims, but an official language guaranteed by law.
On another occasion, she asked the mayor of Tetova, Bilal Kasami, to speak Macedonian because she did not understand it, but the latter continued communicating in Albanian.
In December 2024, Janevska warned of punitive measures against the “7 Marsi” primary school in Čelopek after reports that students were dressed in KLA uniforms.
© BalkansWeb