APRIL 22, 2014
ALBANIAN-AMERICANS PROTEST IN FRONT
OF THE WHITE HOUSE & MONTENEGRIN EMBASSY AGAINST THE DISCRIMINATION OF
THE ALBANIAN NATIONAL
MINORITY IN MONTENEGRO
WASHINGTON, DC – On Tuesday April 8, 2014 Albanian-Americans
from around the United States gathered in Washington DC and protested before
the White House and the Montenegrin Embassy against Montenegro’s systemic discriminatory
policies towards its Albanian national minorities. This peaceful demonstration followed similar rallies
throughout Montenegro where ethnic Albanians vehemently objected the continued
sociopolitical disparities that have plagued them for decades, particularly
refusal by the Montenegrin Government to fully comply with the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including the Charter of Local
Self-Government in granting the region of Malësia a full and comprehensive
municipality with all the legitimate and administrative authority of a
decentralized self-government.
This rally was purposely arranged to coincide with the
arrival of Montenegro's Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic, and his attempt to
lobby the U.S. Government for support of Montenegro's aspirations to join the
EU and NATO. The strong showing of
protesters objected to any such support and appealed to the White House.
Following the peaceful demonstrations, Djukanovic met with
elected officials and Albanians to discuss various issues confronting Albanian
communities in Montenegro, specifically a “promise” he made to the U.S.
Congress in 2005 – where he vowed to grant the region of Malësia a full and
independent municipality within four years (2009). During this meeting, Djukanovic “promised”
that his government will support the “will” of Albanians in Malësia, and all
they had to do was formally request their desire for the establishment of an
independent municipality.
Prime
Minister Djukanovic’s repeated “promises” on the matter of an independent
municipality have no bearing in past or current negotiations between his
government and the Albanian minority. For
the past 15 years the Albanian Community in Malësia has expressed its “will” by
repeatedly requesting an independent municipality given this administrative
region meets and exceeds all the economic, territorial and organizational requirements
for a full and independent commune. In
the same vein, Djukanovic has made similar “promises” in the past while
campaigning for re-election, and like the past has failed to honor each and
every one.
Until these “promises” are kept, the Albanian Diaspora cannot
support Montenegro’s bid for EU/NATO membership. It is not in our best interest to support a
government who repeatedly violates the most basic forms of minority rights to
join a family of democratic institutions of Western Europe. Furthermore, until such time that Albanians
in Montenegro are afforded these rights, the Albanian Diaspora will continue
lobbying members of U.S. Congress to review Montenegro’s minority rights
policies and continue to communicate via protests our previous
demands that the Montenegrin Government fully comply with the Charter of
Fundamental Rights of the European Union, including the Charter of Local
Self-Government by means of granting the region of Malësia a full and
comprehensive municipality with all the legitimate and administrative authority
of a decentralized self-government.
Wherefore, we
urge Prime Minister Djukanovic to recognize our following demands:
- Initiate equal rights and prohibit discrimination
with programs that incorporate all people regardless of social, economic,
political, linguistic, religious, and/or ethnic background;
- Implement policies and programs aimed at leveling
the playing field for Albanians in pursuit of jobs, admission to
universities, and even government contracts;
- Encourage public institutions such as
universities, hospitals and police forces to be more representative of the
population. Employ Albanians as judges, police chiefs, and medical
directors in areas where Albanians constitute a majority. This will ensure
public trust, public confidence and equal representation.
- Establish a Commune in Malësia and create
policies to provide employment and long term welfare to Albanians at the
municipal level. This would no doubt encourage social, economic, and
political development, bring government closer to the people and embolden
a minority group that has been disenfranchised for so many years.
- Redistribute a fair proportion of the national
wealth in areas where Albanians comprise a majority, such as 85% in Ulqin
and 92% in Malësia. Reinvestment in these regions guarantees increased
wealth, growth, development and public consumption. The returns on these
investments can be invaluable.
- Stop illegal state privatization of industries
and businesses in the municipality of Ulqin, including renunciation of the
Maritime Laws that allow for the unlawful seizure of land in Ulqin, which
is grossly disproportionate other coastal regions in Montenegro.
- Forfeit plans to confiscate private property in the
town of Martinaj where the state plans to build an orthodox church amongst
a population of 100% Muslim Albanians (Martinaj’s).
- Encourage equity ownership, representation at
both employee and management level, procurement to initiate Albanian-owned
businesses and social investment programs, amongst others.
- Create government-sponsored programs to educate
the majority about the important contributions that Albanians bring to the
country, including diversity, rich history, aptitude, and an unsurpassed
work ethic – characteristics that can build a country and not break it
apart.
- Tear down state monopolies and encourage private
ownership. Give back to Albanians those enterprises that were wrongfully
taken away and given to corrupt government elites driven by personal gain
instead of public service.
In lieu of these
aforementioned rights, propagated by international human rights laws and
organizations, Montenegro has opted to isolate the Albanian communities of
Montenegro and discourage their growth and protection.
The Albanian-American
Diaspora will not tolerate this behavior and vows to aggressively exploit
Montenegro’s oppression and abusive tactics to all international institutions
and policy makers in an effort to prove that Montenegro has no place in a
democratic Europe until it affords its Albanian citizens basic human rights and
stops its campaign of abuse, discrimination, intimidation and expulsion.
For more information, please contact the Albanian-American
Association (“Shoqata Malësia e Madhe”) at (586) 530-0373.
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