site.btaAlbania Recognizes Bulgarian Minority, Bulgarian Politicians React

Tirana, October 14 (BTA) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva thanked the Albania's Parliament, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister for the adoption Friday of a national minorities protection act which formally recognizes the Bulgarian minority in the country.

Zaharieva told journalists that Bulgaria has put in a lot of efforts and that the historical justice has been restored.

"In a democratic country which strives to be a member of the European Union, it is important that people are able to choose freely their national identity particularly when there are historical facts," said Zaharieva. She recalled that Albania and Bulgaria signed an agreement in 1932 which recognized the Bulgarian minority but it was never enforced.

Zaharieva also thanked the Bulgarian minority in Albania.

The recognition of the Bulgarian minority by Albania was raised by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov in a phone conversation with Albanian counterpart Edi Rama. Rama made a commitment that Albania wouldn't encroach on the interests of the Bulgarian minority.

Until a few weeks ago, Albania's official position was that Bulgarians who have lived in the country for centuries have no special status. However, this caused an outcry among the Bulgarian community and it demanded that it is recognized as a minority group. The European Parliament has also called for the recognition of the Bulgarian ethnicity of Bulgarians in Prespa, Golo brdo and Gora.

The Bulgarian minority in Albania is estimated at 50,000 people.

On Saturday, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov said that this is yet another success for Bulgaria's policy in the Balkans following the historic breakthrough in relations between Bulgaria and Macedonia.

"Until now, our compatriots were perceived as part of the  Macedonian community. This act has restored the historical justice and ended attempts to assimilate the Bulgarian minority and force on it a foreign national identity," said Karakachanov.